Clerical error?

Your experience is unfortunately typical of that of tens of thousands of other Harris County residents who are caught up in the vast and vastly incompetent web of the Harris County Family Courts system.

If it makes you feel any better, most lawyers and paralegals get exactly the same sorry treatment that you're getting. It is a continuing disgrace in my opinion.

But I don't regularly practice in family courts — for this among many other reasons — and I'm going to move your question from Litigation, where you (not improperly) posted it, to the Family forum, where it will be seen by more lawyers who do regularly practice in those courts. Perhaps they'll have better suggestions for you than I have.

I suspect that this is indeed worth trying to fix. I would suggest that you continue telephoning and, if possible, emailing the deputy district clerks assigned to whichever of the state district (family) courts rendered your decree. Be an exquisitely polite but very squeaky wheel. (No threats, no curses, no insults, even if entirely deserved.)

It's also probably possible to file a formal motion to correct the clerk's records, but you'd probably need a lawyer's help to prepare and present that. You might well be able to find someone who'd do that for you for a relatively modest flat fee. Your ex's lawyer may well agree that such a motion could be filed jointly, in both his name and yours, in which event you could submit a proposed agreed order mandating the correction. (Agreed motions and orders get quicker attention than anything which is contested, which is a not-so-subtle but largely effective way of forcing reasonable people to agree on family law matters; otherwise the system would instantly collapse under its own weight of inefficiency.)

Good luck!

I'm *a* lawyer, but not *your* lawyer, until we've documented my hiring through a written Representation Agreement signed by us both. The impressions given here are to help you decide whether you should consult a lawyer directly; don't rely on my impressions or opinions for any further purpose.