Harris County Dispute Resolution Center

Co-Parenting · Texas · Free

Free mediation for Harris County residents handling 2,800+ disputes per year including divorce, custody, child support, and visitation. No attorney required — mediation is open to self-represented parents. Trained mediators help facilitate agreements that can be filed with the court. Located in Houston's Harris County courthouse complex. Call to schedule; both parties must agree to mediate. Agreements reached in mediation are typically faster and less costly than contested hearings.

Contact & Details

Address: 49 San Jacinto Street, Suite 220, Houston, TX 77002

Hours: Mon-Thu 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Visit Website

About Co-Parenting for Fathers

Co-parenting programs help separated and divorced parents share custody constructively, minimize conflict, and raise children across two households. Most states require court-ordered parent education (often called 'parenting classes' or 'children first' programs) before finalizing a divorce or custody order involving minor children. These classes are usually four to six hours, available online or in person, and cost 5–$75. Private co-parenting mediation is available through court-based mediation programs (often free or sliding-scale) and through private mediators certified by state mediation councils. Digital tools like OurFamilyWizard, Talking Parents, and 2Houses provide court-admissible communication logs, shared calendars, expense tracking, and messaging — many family courts now encourage or require their use in high-conflict cases. This directory includes all three: state-required classes, mediators, and co-parenting apps.

Co-Parenting in Texas

Texas district courts hear family matters across its 254 counties, with many urban counties operating dedicated family courts. The Texas Attorney General's Child Support Division runs enforcement statewide. Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, and Fort Worth are the largest metros. Texas Legal Services Center, Lone Star Legal Aid, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid cover the state.

More Co-Parenting in Texas

4
  • OurFamilyWizard Co-Parenting App — Court-recognized co-parenting platform with shared calendars, documented messaging, expense tracking, and a secure info bank. Creates an una
  • TalkingParents Co-Parenting App — Tamper-proof co-parenting communication app with accountable messaging, recorded calls, shared calendar, and expense tracking. Premium plan
  • Dallas County Dispute Resolution Center — Free family mediation for Dallas County residents covering custody, visitation, child support, and co-parenting disputes. All mediators serv
  • Harris County DRO — Supervised Visitation Center — Court-connected supervised visitation and exchange center for families with active Harris County family court cases. Safe, monitored environ
  • Travis County DRO — Parenting Coordination (Austin) — Court-ordered parenting coordination and high-conflict co-parenting coaching under Texas Family Code Chapter 153. Custody evaluations, paren

    • Co-Parenting — Common Questions

    Is a parenting class required for divorce?
    In most states, yes — a short court-approved co-parenting course (4–6 hours, 5–$75, often online) is required before any divorce or custody order involving minor children is finalized. Check your state court's approved provider list.
    What's the difference between mediation and court?
    Mediation is a confidential negotiation with a neutral third party helping both parents agree on a parenting plan. It's faster, cheaper, and less adversarial than litigation. If mediation fails or one parent refuses, the court decides. Court-based mediation programs are usually free or sliding-scale.
    Which co-parenting apps do courts accept?
    OurFamilyWizard, Talking Parents, and 2Houses are court-admissible in most US jurisdictions. They provide tamper-proof message logs, shared calendars, expense tracking, and documentation judges will read if conflict escalates.
    What is a parenting plan?
    A written document (required in every custody order) detailing where the child lives, when each parent has parenting time, how decisions are made, how holidays are handled, how to resolve disputes, and how to handle changes. Courts provide templates; customized plans are stronger than boilerplate.