The Order on Release of Certain Information in Child Protective Services Cases is a court order issued by the 196th and 354th Judicial District Courts, sitting in and for Hunt County, Texas. It tells the Department of Family and Protective Services (the "Department") to give attorneys in each case the placement details of the children involved, and it bars those attorneys from passing the details on. The copy on this page is the version signed 1-23-23. You can open the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it; the order itself is published on the Hunt County website.
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What is Order on Release of Certain Information in Child Protective Services Cases – Hunt County, TX?
The Order on Release of Certain Information in Child Protective Services Cases is an order of the 196th and 354th Judicial District Courts of Hunt County, Texas, requiring the Department of Family and Protective Services to release placement information to attorneys.
The order covers the name of the person or persons with whom a child is placed, the address where the child lives, and all contact information for those persons, including address, telephone number and email address. The Department must release it to all attorneys in each case as soon as practicable after the attorney is appointed or the child is placed, as applicable.
The order also sets conditions on that information. The receiving attorney may not share it with the client or any third party, the Department may ask a court to withhold it, no one but the child's attorney ad litem or guardian ad litem may ask a child in Department custody for it, and the attorney must destroy it when discharged from the case.
It is signed by Judge J. Andrew Bench of the 196th Judicial District and Judge Keli Aiken of the 354th Judicial District. It is a signed court order, not an application: its text contains no blanks for a party to complete. It is also not a tax document; it has no connection to Hunt County property tax.
Who needs to file Order on Release of Certain Information in Child Protective Services Cases – Hunt County, TX?
The main group bound by the order is the attorneys in Child Protective Services cases in the 196th and 354th Judicial District Courts, who receive the placement information and must keep it confidential.
- Attorneys in each case: they receive the information. They may not give it to their client at any time, during the case or after it ends. They may not give it to experts, witnesses, friends or family members of the client, or appellate attorneys. Any release to a third party needs a specific written court order, after notice and an opportunity to be heard.
- The Department of Family and Protective Services: it must release the information, but it may seek an ex parte emergency order from the appropriate court to withhold it.
- Parents, parties, relatives and any other person: none of them may ask for or receive the information from a child in Department custody, directly or indirectly.
- Attorney ad litem or guardian ad litem for the child: the only people excepted from that last restriction.
When to file Order on Release of Certain Information in Child Protective Services Cases – Hunt County, TX
The order is not filed by the people it affects, so it has no filing deadline; it operates on events in each case. The Department releases the information as soon as practicable after an attorney is appointed or the child is placed, as applicable.
If the Department obtains an ex parte order allowing the information to be withheld, the court holds a hearing within 14 days of the date of that order. All parties and attorneys receive notice of their right to appear and be heard, and the court decides whether the information is released or withheld.
The attorney's duty of confidentiality lasts during the case and after it is resolved. When the attorney is discharged from further representation, the information must be destroyed immediately.
How to fill out Order on Release of Certain Information in Child Protective Services Cases – Hunt County, TX
Confirm the issuing courts
The heading reads IN THE DISTRICT COURTS OF HUNT COUNTY, TEXAS. The order is issued by the 196th and 354th Judicial District Courts, and the text shows no blanks for you to enter.
Read the Department release paragraph
The first ordering paragraph requires the Department to release the placement name, address and contact details (telephone number and email address) to all attorneys in each case, as soon as practicable.
Note the limits on the attorney
The second paragraph bars the attorney from giving the information to the client or any third party. Release to a third party needs a specific written court order.
Review the ex parte withholding rule
The third paragraph lets the Department seek an ex parte emergency order to withhold the information. A hearing follows within 14 days of that order.
Check the rule on asking the child
The fourth paragraph bars any parent, party, relative or other person, except the attorney ad litem or guardian ad litem, from asking for or receiving the information from a child in Department custody.
Note the destruction requirement
The last ordering paragraph requires the attorney to destroy the information immediately upon discharge from further representation in the case.
Review the signatures and download
Check the signature lines for Judge J. Andrew Bench (196th) and Judge Keli Aiken (354th). Then download or print the PDF from FillingPDF.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Giving the placement information to the attorney's client, whether during the case or after it is resolved; the order forbids this at any time.
- Passing the information to an expert, witness, friend, family member of the client or appellate attorney without a specific written court order.
- Keeping the Department's placement information after being discharged from the case; the order requires immediate destruction.
- Asking a child in Department custody for the placement information, directly or indirectly, when you are not the attorney ad litem or guardian ad litem.
- Assuming that a Department request to withhold the information ends the question; the court must hold a hearing within 14 days of an ex parte order.
- Treating this as a form to complete and send in; it is a signed court order with no blanks or filing address printed on it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Order on Release of Certain Information in Child Protective Services Cases?
It is an order of the 196th and 354th Judicial District Courts of Hunt County, Texas. It requires the Department of Family and Protective Services to release child placement information to attorneys in each case and restricts what the attorneys may do with it.
Is this a Hunt County property tax form?
No. Despite the shared Hunt County label, this is a district court order about Child Protective Services cases. It contains nothing about property tax, and the order does not name an office to contact for tax matters.
What information does the Department have to release to attorneys?
The name of the person or persons with whom the child is placed, the address where the child is placed, and all contact information, including address, telephone number and email address. The release is due as soon as practicable after the attorney is appointed or the child is placed.
Can an attorney share the placement information with the client?
No. The order says the attorney may not give the information to the client at any time, during the case or after it ends. It also bars release to experts, witnesses, friends, family members of the client and appellate attorneys unless the court enters a specific written order.
Can the Department withhold the placement information?
Yes, if it obtains an ex parte emergency order from the appropriate court. The court must then hold a hearing within 14 days of that order, with notice to all parties and attorneys, to decide whether the information is released or withheld.
What happens to the information when the attorney leaves the case?
The attorney must destroy it immediately upon being discharged from further representation in the case. The order sets no exception to this duty.
Who may ask a child in Department custody for placement information?
Only the attorney ad litem or guardian ad litem for the child. No parent, party, relative or other person may ask for or receive the information from the child, directly or indirectly.
Can I fill out this order online on FillingPDF?
The order is a signed court order, so its text has no blanks for you to complete. FillingPDF lets you open the PDF online and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent, is not connected to Hunt County and does not file or deliver court documents.
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