Tex. Fam. Code § 71.0021 · Chapter 71. DEFINITIONS
DATING VIOLENCE.
Text — Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
(a) "Dating violence" means an act, other than a defensive measure to protect oneself, by an actor that:
(1) is committed against a victim or applicant for a protective order:
(A) with whom the actor has or has had a dating relationship; or
(B) because of the victim's or applicant's marriage to or dating relationship with an individual with whom the actor is or has been in a dating relationship or marriage; and
(2) is intended to result in physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault or that is a threat that reasonably places the victim or applicant in fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault.
(b) For purposes of this title, "dating relationship" means a relationship between individuals who have or have had a continuing relationship of a romantic or intimate nature. The existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on consideration of:
(1) the length of the relationship;
(2) the nature of the relationship; and
(3) the frequency and type of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.
(c) A casual acquaintanceship or ordinary fraternization in a business or social context does not constitute a "dating relationship" under Subsection (b).
Notes and commentary — not statutory text
History
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 91, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Amended by:
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 872 (S.B. 116), Sec. 2, eff. June 17, 2011.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 117 (S.B. 817), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.
Source of truth
- Edition
- Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
- Official file
- https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/FA/htm/FA.71.htm
- Text hash
- sha256 f04f95b72f7e2b470aeff54bff86f65fe8f0338a2c2c26e93885e822f41cd402
- Composed by
- compose_tx.py 2026-10-05: the Legislative Council's chapter files read in document order; verify_tx.py's independent reading (lxml DOM walk) agrees character for character
Cited by 19 provisions
Provisions in this library whose text cites Tex. Fam. Code § 71.0021. Each shows the citation as that text prints it.
Code of Criminal Procedure
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 12.01FELONIES.Printed as Section 71.0021(b), 71.003, or 71.005, Family Code
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 12.02MISDEMEANORS.Printed as Section 71.0021(b), 71.003, or 71.005, Family Code
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 38.371EVIDENCE IN PROSECUTION OF OFFENSE COMMITTED AGAINST MEMBER OF DEFENDANT'S FAMILY OR HOUSEHOLD OR PERSON IN DATING RELATIONSHIP WITH DEFENDANT.Printed as Section 71.0021(b), 71.003, or 71.005, Family Code
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 56A.001DEFINITIONS.Printed as Section 71.0021(b), 71.003, or 71.005, Family Code
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 56A.0521ADDITIONAL RIGHTS OF VICTIMS OF CERTAIN FAMILY VIOLENCE OFFENSES, STALKING, AND VIOLATION OF PROTECTIVE ORDER OR CONDITION OF BOND.Printed as Section 71.0021(b), 71.003, or 71.005, Family Code
Education Code
Family Code
- Tex. Fam. Code § 15.112FAMILY VIOLENCE.Printed as Section 71.0021(b)
- Tex. Fam. Code § 54.0325DEFERRAL OF ADJUDICATION AND DISMISSAL OF CERTAIN CASES ON COMPLETION OF TEEN DATING VIOLENCE COURT PROGRAM.Printed as Section 71.0021
- Tex. Fam. Code § 71.004FAMILY VIOLENCE.Printed as Section 71.0021
- Tex. Fam. Code § 82.002WHO MAY FILE APPLICATION.Printed as Section 71.0021(a)(1)(B)
Government Code
Health and Safety Code
Human Resources Code
Penal Code
- Tex. Penal Code § 22.01ASSAULT.Printed as Section 71.0021(b), 71.003, or 71.005, Family Code
- Tex. Penal Code § 22.02AGGRAVATED ASSAULT.Printed as Section 71.0021(b), 71.003, or 71.005, Family Code
- Tex. Penal Code § 25.11CONTINUOUS VIOLENCE AGAINST THE FAMILY.Printed as Section 71.0021(b), 71.003, or 71.005, Family Code
- Tex. Penal Code § 43.261ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF CERTAIN VISUAL MATERIAL DEPICTING MINOR.Printed as Section 71.0021, Family Code
Transportation Code
- Tex. Transp. Code § 521.1016PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION CERTIFICATE ISSUED TO VICTIMS AND CHILDREN OF VICTIMS OF DATING OR FAMILY VIOLENCE.Printed as Section 71.0021, Family Code
- Tex. Transp. Code § 521.1811WAIVER OF FEES FOR FOSTER CHILD OR YOUTH, HOMELESS CHILD OR YOUTH, OR VICTIM OR CHILD OF VICTIM OF DATING OR FAMILY VIOLENCE.Printed as Section 71.0021, Family Code
Procedural information only. Not legal advice and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Confirm the current text with the official publisher before relying on it.