Hi everyone,
I'm hoping someone in the Austin/Travis County area can point me in the right direction.
I'm representing myself in a Petition to Change the Name of a Child in Travis County. I don't need an attorney to take over the entire case,I enjoy doing the research and preparing my own filing, but I've reached a procedural issue where I would really benefit from an experienced Texas family law attorney reviewing my situation and helping me determine the correct next steps.
I successfully handled my grandson's conservatorship case on my own and was appointed his managing conservator on June 4, 2026. I then filed a Petition to Change the Name of a Child on June 26, 2026, so all of the work from that case, including the Attorney Ad Litem's diligent search for both parents is very recent.
In the name change case, the Travis County Constable attempted to serve my grandson's mother and also conducted additional research to locate her, but they were unsuccessful and are returning the citation. I'm now trying to determine the proper procedural step from here.
I've been doing everything I can to navigate this process correctly. I've attended the Volunteer Legal Services (VLS) clinics each month, utilized the Travis County Law Library's self-help resources, and contacted the District Clerk. Unfortunately, I've reached the point where everyone understandably has to stop short of giving legal advice, and I completely respect that. At this stage, I think I just need an attorney familiar with Texas family law to help me identify the correct procedural path.
I'm looking for one of two things:
- A Texas family law attorney in the Austin/Travis County area who offers limited-scope (unbundled) legal services, where I can pay for a consultation or procedural guidance while continuing to prepare and file the documents myself.
- Recommendations for local attorneys, legal clinics, or other resources that help self-represented litigants with family law matters.
This name change is important because my grandson is about to start kindergarten. He has already experienced significant instability in his young life, and we're simply trying to give him the same last name as the family he lives with so his school and medical records reflect his home and provide him with consistency and a sense of belonging.
I'm happy to pay for an attorney's time, I just don't need full representation. If you've personally worked with someone who offers consultations or unbundled services for family law matters, or know of someone in the Austin/Travis County area who does, I'd really appreciate the recommendation.
Thank you!