H.B. No. 887




AN ACT

relating to the award of attorney's fees and expenses in a suit 
affecting the parent-child relationship.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 106.002, Family Code, is amended to read 
as follows:     
	Sec. 106.002.  ATTORNEY'S FEES AND EXPENSES. (a)  In a suit 
under this title, the court may render judgment for [order] 
reasonable attorney's fees and expenses [as costs] and order the 
judgment and postjudgment interest [fees] to be paid directly to an 
attorney.
	(b)  A judgment for [An award of] attorney's fees and 
expenses may be enforced in the attorney's name by any means 
available for the enforcement of a judgment for debt.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003, and 
applies to a suit affecting the parent-child relationship pending 
in a trial court on that date or filed on or after that date.




______________________________              ______________________________
 
   President of the Senate                               Speaker of the House      

	I certify that H.B. No. 887 was passed by the House on April 
3, 2003, by a non-record vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House   

	I certify that H.B. No. 887 was passed by the Senate on May 
21, 2003, by a viva-voce vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Secretary of the Senate    



APPROVED:  _____________________                                            
 
                   Date                                                      




 
          _____________________                                          
 
                 Governor