Rehab for Minors in Texas | Parental Consent and Court-Ordered Treatment

Court-Ordered and Voluntary Rehab for Minors in Texastexasrehabs.net

In Texas, a licensed chemical dependency facility can admit a minor voluntarily at a parent's, managing conservator's or guardian's request, and a minor who is 16 or 17 can request admission without parental consent. If voluntary admission isn't possible, a parent can apply for court-ordered treatment, and the minor always gets an appointed attorney.

Parent-requested admission

A minor under 16 admitted at a parent's request isn't released on their own request if the parent objects in writing. Since a 2025 change (H.B. 2035), a facility that refuses to admit a minor has to give the parent or guardian written notice of their right to seek treatment at another facility.

16 and 17-year-olds

A 16- or 17-year-old can admit themselves. They generally must be released within 96 hours of a written request, though a request in the first 15 days or a physician's certificate can delay release.

Court-ordered treatment for minors

The same Chapter 462 process applies, with extra protections: a juvenile commitment is heard in a district or statutory court with juvenile or probate jurisdiction, and the court must appoint an attorney for the minor regardless of the family's finances. Separately, a juvenile court can remand a child whose delinquent conduct was related to chemical dependency to treatment for 30 to 90 days.

Each county handles intake a little differently. Find your county's court, the office that helps families file, and nearby detox programs on our court-ordered treatment by county page.

This guide is general information about Texas law, not legal advice. Local court procedures differ; check with your county clerk, the county attorney's office or an attorney before filing.

Talk to someone today

Free, confidential help finding residential treatment or detox in Texas.

Call (832) 583-1066

Find treatment

Residential Addiction Treatment in Texas Browse by county

Find county filing details: court-ordered treatment by county.

Sources

Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 462: Treatment of Persons With Chemical Dependencies