The parent or legal guardian of a juvenile charged in municipal court is required to be present in court with his or her child. Failure of a parent or legal guardian to appear with a juvenile constitutes a separate misdemeanor offense by the parent/legal guardian. Juveniles who fail to appear in court may have an additional charge of Failure to Appear filed against them.

Juveniles who fail to appear or fail to satisfy a judgment in municipal court will be denied a driver's license by the Texas Department of Safety. If a juvenile is already in possession of a driver's license, that license will be suspended until the judgment is resolved.

Tobacco and/or Alcohol Offenses

Any defendant under the age of 18 must appear with a parent or legal guardian.

Reporting Change of Address

Juveniles and their parent/legal guardian must provide the Court with a current address of residence in writing. On or before the 7th day after the date on which a juvenile or their parent/legal guardian change residence, the juvenile or parent/legal guardian SHALL notify the court of their current address by Certified U.S. Mail, Return Receipt Requested. 

A violation of this subsection is a Class C misdemeanor and may result in arrest. The obligation to provide notice ends upon final disposition of charges, not when the juvenile becomes 17 years old.