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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the liability of a spouse in certain divorce suits for |
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costs, attorney's fees, and expenses. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 6, Family Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 6.7085 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 6.7085. LIABILITY FOR COSTS, ATTORNEY'S FEES, AND |
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EXPENSES IN CERTAIN DIVORCE SUITS. (a) In this section, "family |
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violence" has the meaning assigned by Section 71.004. |
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(b) Notwithstanding any other law, in a suit in which a |
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divorce is granted in favor of one spouse under Section 6.003 based |
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on adultery committed by the other spouse, or under Section 6.002 or |
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6.004 based on the commission of family violence by the other |
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spouse, the spouse who has not committed adultery or family |
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violence, as applicable, is not liable to the other spouse for the |
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payment of costs, attorney's fees, or expenses in the suit. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a suit for dissolution of a marriage filed on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. A suit filed before that date is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the suit was filed, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |