Texas Guardianship Forms Free — Where to Find Official Court Documents

Many forms for a guardianship or custody case in Texas are available for free from official sources. You do not need to purchase official forms from a legal document website. Here's where to find them and what each one does.

TexasLawHelp.org — The Primary Free Source

TexasLawHelp.org, maintained by the Texas Legal Services Center, provides verified court forms with fillable fields and basic instructions. The key forms for nonparent caregivers:

• FM-SAPCR-100 — Original Petition in Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship. This is the form you file to request managing conservatorship (custody) in district or family court.
• FM-34-109 — Authorization Agreement for Nonparent Adult Caregiver under Family Code Chapter 34. The voluntary out-of-court agreement that lets a parent delegate school and medical authority to you.
• FM-SAPCR-103 — Waiver of Service. Used when a parent agrees to the case and voluntarily waives formal service of process.
• CB-CFFW-100 — Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs. The Supreme Court-approved fee waiver form under TRCP Rule 145.

TexasLawHelp also provides information sheets explaining basic terminology and filing steps, though they do not provide legal advice or help you decide which route to take.

DFPS Forms

The Department of Family and Protective Services publishes forms specific to kinship care:

• DFPS Form 2638 — Authorization Agreement for Nonparent Adult Caregiver under Family Code Chapter 34. It is commonly used when the parent is cooperating and you need school enrollment and medical consent authority without a court filing.
• Form FM-TA-TFC34-101 — Revocation of Authorization Agreement. Used when a parent wants to revoke a previously signed Chapter 34 agreement.

These are available on the DFPS Kinship Care page.

Texas Judicial Branch and State Law Library

The Texas Judicial Branch website and the Texas State Law Library provide:

• Guardianship application forms for probate court (Estates Code guardianship of the person or estate)
• Local county-specific cover sheets and standing orders
• The JBCC background check authorization forms required for guardian applicants
• Annual Report of the Guardian of the Person form

Some forms are statewide; others vary by county. Harris, Dallas, Bexar, and Tarrant counties publish their own packets with local cover sheets and instructions. Always check your specific county's district clerk or probate court website.

eFileTexas.gov

Texas attorneys must e-file court documents through eFileTexas. Pro se (self-represented) filers may e-file voluntarily or file paper documents at the clerk's counter, depending on local court rules. The eFileTexas system does not provide blank forms; you prepare your documents separately and upload them.

What Free Forms Don't Include

The official forms give you the blanks to fill in, but they don't explain:

• Which legal route fits your situation (guardianship vs. conservatorship vs. Chapter 34)
• How to establish standing under §102.003 or §102.004 after the HB 2350 changes
• How to draft the threshold affidavit required by SB 2052
• What to say at the hearing or how to prepare your evidence
• How to serve an incarcerated or missing parent

These are process navigation questions that fall outside what a form or clerk can provide. Legal aid organizations can help if you qualify by income, and our Texas Guardianship and Custody Court Process Guide walks through the entire sequence — from choosing the right route through the hearing — so you understand what each form does before you fill it in.

Avoid Paid Form Sellers

Websites selling "Texas guardianship form packages" for $35–$129 are typically selling generic minor power of attorney templates that don't match Texas statutes. The actual Texas-specific forms — Chapter 34 agreements, SAPCR petitions, fee waiver statements — are public domain documents available at no cost. Check the official sources above before spending money on something you can download today.

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