The Law Library has forms for many types of cases. Some forms, such as for a name change, we have preprinted to hand out. Other forms will need to be copied from books by you. The copy charge is 20 cents per page.
Your case is unique. A librarian can show you the form books we have and then you can select which form you need based on your situation. Librarians are not permitted to choose forms for you. Librarians cannot tell you what to write in the blanks. The form books, such as the Texas Family Bar Practice Manual, have hundreds of forms in them. It is a good idea to check with a lawyer before you file any form in your case.
Here are some frequently requested forms and how we would help you find them:
| Form Needed: | Source we would look to first: |
|---|---|
| Adoption of a Child | The State Bar of Texas Family Law Practice Manual book is often consulted for forms on adoptions. |
| Divorce (getting a divorce) | We have pre-printed divorce forms at the Law Library. You can print the same forms from the website TexasLawHelp.org. |
| Divorce (enforcing child support or property settlement) | The State Bar of Texas Family Law Practice Manual book has forms many attorneys use for this situation. |
| Mechanic’s Liens | The Complete Guide to Mechanic’s and Materialman’s Lien Laws of Texas includes forms you can photocopy. |
| Probate | The Law Library has several form books on probates. The most popular is How to Probate and Settle an Estate in Texas |
| Small Claims | The Travis County Justices of the Peace have forms for both filing and answering a small claims suit on their websites. |
| Terminating Parental Rights | Terminating someone’s parental rights can be very complicated. We would refer you to the State Bar of Texas Family Law Practice Manual book to start learning about the process. |
| Wills | How to Write Your Own Will in Texas is an easy-to-use form book for basic wills. |
We can -
- Show you the forms and form books we have.
- Review your form to make sure you filled it out completely.
- Help you find books and resources that might help you with your case.
- Give you general information about court rules, procedures and practices
- Direct you to useful Internet sites containing information helpful to others in your situation
- Show you how to use our computer legal research tools, including Lexis
- Provide you with attorney-written information.
We cannot -
- Tell you which forms you should use.
- Fill out your form for you or tell you what words to use.
- Tell you what to do in your case.
- Tell you whether you should bring your case to court or speculate as to what a judge might decide.
- Do computer research for you or type your documents for you.
- Interpret or explain cases and laws for you, or tell you how they apply to your case.
- Analyze your case beyond our attorney-written information or give you legal advice.
If you want to finish your case (without representation by your own attorney) then you must have your case reviewed by a Law Library family law reference attorney.
Our in person walk-in case review is closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reference attorney case review is now available by phone and email.
The reference attorney will review your case and explain any additional forms or steps required.
When your case is ready to be finished, the reference attorney will help you submit your forms to the Court by email.
Reference attorneys can only help when a Travis County family law case is uncontested. This means:
- The case is filed in Travis County.
- The case is a family law case (example: divorce, name change, modification of child support).
- All parties agree on all the issues or the case is a default.
If you would like a family law reference attorney to review your case, please contact the Law Library by phone at 512-854-8677 or email at
The reference attorneys cannot give legal advice. If you need legal advice, talk to a private lawyer.
If you are low income, you may qualify for free help from a Legal Aid lawyer (956-996-TRLA (8752) or toll-free 833-329-TRLA (8752)).
You may obtain free legal advice from a volunteer lawyer by applying online at www.VLSOCT.org/get-help/. Family Law applications are open on Mondays between 9am and 5pm, or when they reach capacity. General Law applications open Mondays at 9am and close on Wednesdays at 5pm, or when they reach capacity.
You can also hire a lawyer just to give you legal advice. This is called "limited scope representation." The Lawyer Referral Service (512-472-8303) has a list of lawyers willing to provide limited scope representation.
Get information about these and other community resources at the Law Library or at TexasLawHelp.org.
A Travis County judge may refer you to the driver’s license attorney to help you resolve issues with your driver’s license. You do not need a court referral to speak with the reference attorneys but you do need to either live in Travis County or have a case in the Travis County courts.
The driver's license reference attorney is available Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
You can speak with the driver's license reference attorney for FREE. We do not have walk-in services available for this program. This service will only be offered remotely until further notice.
To speak with the driver's license reference attorney, contact the Law Library by phone at 512-854-8677 or e-mail at
You will need the following information:
-
Certified Abstract (Type AR) of driving record:
Be careful: To get your certified Abstract online, you MUST verify that ALL of your DPS records (DL, ID or unlicensed record) have been CONSOLIDATED or you risk purchasing incomplete information and may need to purchase additional records.
If you have determined that your records are consolidated, you may purchase your driving record online, with a credit card and print it out. The online cost is $22. You will need to enter your driver’s license number and license audit number from your most recent DL (or ID, if your records are CONSOLIDATED) and the last four digits of your social security number at: https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/how-order-driver-record
To get a Certified Abstract by mail, print the DR-1 form called “Request for a Certified Abstract of a Driver Record” from https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/how-order-driver-record. Mail the completed form and a $20 check or money order to Texas DPS. This form does not require the audit number or your social security number.
- SR-22 proof of insurance from your insurance company
-
Proof that you need to drive to go to work, school, or perform essential household duties, etc.
Examples of proof: your school schedule or registration, a current pay stub, a letter from your job, or an affidavit or unsworn declaration explaining your need to drive.