SAPCR Forms in Texas

Last updated: September 9, 2026

Which Form for Which Situation

Where to Download Texas SAPCR Forms Free

Every source below is free. If a site is charging you for a form a Texas court publishes, close the tab.

• TexasLawHelp.org — run by Texas Legal Services Center, the most usable source for self-represented parents. Forms come with plain-language instructions and toolkits that walk you through each step.
• Texas Judicial Branch Self-Help — official court forms and guides from the state judiciary.
• Your county law library — most Texas counties have one, staffed by people who help pro se litigants daily. They cannot give legal advice but they can tell you which form your court expects.
• Your district clerk's office — the authority on local requirements: cover sheets, formatting, copies, and whether your county has its own version.

Filing Your Forms

Texas requires electronic filing through eFileTexas.gov for most filers, though self-represented parties may generally still file in person at the district clerk's office. Filing fees typically run $250–$350 for a new SAPCR, plus service costs — the cost guide breaks that down, including how to file at no cost under Rule 145.

Once filed, the citation has to reach the other parent. That step matters more than any form on this page, and it is where this site's work begins — see the filing process and what happens when service goes wrong.

The Situation With No Form

If you are here because a custody order already exists and you never knew about the case, no form on TexasLawHelp will help you. There is no fill-in-the-blank petition for this.

The remedy is a bill of review — a separate lawsuit that has to plead and prove three specific elements from Baker v. Goldsmith, 582 S.W.2d 404 (Tex. 1979). Texas publishes no standard form for it, because the pleading has to be built around the facts of what happened to you.

Two things that will help more than a form:

• The eligibility checker — walks the three elements and tells you what evidence each one needs.
• The deadline calculator — shows which remedies are still open. A motion for new trial closes in 30 days; a bill of review runs four years.

Before anything else, get the complete file for your cause number from the district clerk and look for two documents: the return of service and any Certificate of Last Known Address filed under Rule 239a. What those say determines everything that follows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there one official SAPCR form for Texas?

No. Texas has no single statewide SAPCR packet the way it has approved uncontested divorce kits. You file separate documents matched to what you are asking for, and county requirements vary.

Where can I download SAPCR forms free?

TexasLawHelp.org and the Texas Judicial Branch self-help centre, plus your county law library and district clerk. All free.

Which form starts a custody case?

An Original Petition in a Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship.

What form do I file if an order was entered without me?

None — a bill of review is a separate lawsuit with no standard form, because it has to plead the three Baker elements around your specific facts.

Do I have to pay the filing fee?

Not if you cannot afford it. File a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs under TRCP 145 with your petition.

Can I write my own instead of using a form?

Yes. Texas forms are a convenience, not a requirement — a pleading that satisfies the Rules of Civil Procedure is valid however it was produced. Forms exist so you do not have to know what the rules require.