At the conclusion of a DFPS conservatorship case, whether the court holds a contested trial on the merits or the parties mediate a settlement, the court issues a final order. A final order is an order that specifies the parties’ new legal relationship as described in 5550 Outcomes in a Court’s Final Order.

The final order must resolve not only whether the parents’ rights will be terminated and who will be the child’s managing or possessory conservator, but also key issues critical to the child’s and family’s future relationship, such as issues related to:

  •   child support;

  •   custody and visitation;

  •   paternity; and

  •   legal considerations of significance to the child or youth, such as documents that establish the child’s legal name and correct identity or issues related to guardianship. See 5541 Issues to Resolve Before DFPS’s Role in the Lawsuit Ends.

In the case of a final order that is subject to modification, as described in 5542.2 Standard for Modifying a Final Order, final does not always mean permanent in the sense of never subject to change. A final order that names DFPS as the child’s managing conservator must never be a signal to staff that they cease permanency efforts. See 6233 Selecting the Permanency Goal.