what does the state attorney general of texas do

by Eunice Schneider 6 min read

The main responsibilities of the Office of the Attorney General are defending the State of Texas and its duly elected laws by providing legal representation to the State, serving the children of Texas through the enforcement of the state's child support laws, securing justice for Texans, protecting Texans from waste, ...

What are the duties of the Attorney General in Texas?

the Office of the Attorney General. Attorney General Ken Paxton is the lawyer for the State of Texas and is charged by the Texas Constitution to: defend the laws and the Constitution of the State of Texas. To fulfill these responsibilities, the Office of the Attorney General serves as legal counsel to all boards and agencies of state government, issues legal opinions when requested …

How do you contact Texas Attorney General?

Each day, we go to work on behalf of Texas children and families. Whether you are a mom, a dad, a grandparent or a guardian—we are here to help. Committed to Excellence Each year, we collect more child support than any state in the U.S.—but our work won’t be done until every child receives the support they need and deserve.

What is the job of the Attorney General of Texas?

While varying from one jurisdiction to the next due to statutory and constitutional mandates, the role of attorney general typically includes: Issuing formal opinions to state agencies. Acting as public advocates in areas such as child support enforcement, consumer protections, antitrust and utility regulation. Proposing legislation.

What are the duties of the Attorney General?

Serve as your lawyer. File lawsuits on your behalf or on behalf of individual consumers. Bring criminal charges for deceptive practices. Provide legal counsel or interpretations of the law to individuals. Routinely resolve individual complaints.

image

What is the state's attorney responsible for?

A State's Attorney, along with a phalanx of Assistant State's Attorneys, prosecutes criminal and civil cases for the people. Prosecuting attorneys are the voice of the people in America's courtrooms, enforcing the law and representing the duly elected government at all levels.

What is the most important duty of state Attorney General?

Attorneys general are the top legal officers of their state or territory. They advise and represent their legislature and state agencies and act as the “People's Lawyer” for the citizens. Most are elected, though a few are appointed by the governor.

What are the duties of the attorney general check all that apply?

The Attorney General's responsibilities include safeguarding Californians from harm and promoting community safety, preserving California's spectacular natural resources, enforcing civil rights laws, and helping victims of identity theft, mortgage-related fraud, illegal business practices, and other consumer crimes.

Who is the attorney general of Texas?

Ken Paxton (Republican Party)Texas / Attorney generalKen Paxton is the 51st Attorney General of Texas. He was elected on November 4, 2014, and sworn into office on January 5, 2015.

What is the Attorney General of Texas?

The Attorney General is the constitutional, statewide elected official who acts as the attorney for the State of Texas. The Attorney General: 1 enforces state consumer protection laws; 2 collects court-ordered child support; and 3 administers the Crime Victims' Compensation Fund.

What is the state bar of Texas?

The State Bar of Texas is the agency with authority to regulate attorneys in Texas. If you have a complaint about the actions of an attorney, contact the State Bar’s Grievance Committee at (800) 932-1900. I have a complaint against a private business.

How to contact the Attorney General for child support?

For information about child support services, call the Office of the Attorney General’s Child Support Division at (800) 252-8014 or consult your phone directory for the number to your local office. Information is also available on the Office of the Attorney General Web site at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov.

Who has jurisdiction in Texas?

In Texas, the county or district attorney has original jurisdiction to pursue alleged violations of the law. These prosecutors are granted discretion in determining which cases will be prosecuted. The Attorney General has no role or oversight of their decisions.

Can the Attorney General represent private citizens?

By law, the Office of the Attorney General may not represent private citizens in legal disputes . The Lawyer Referral Service at the State Bar of Texas can assist you in contacting an attorney in Texas with expertise relevant to your situation. The Lawyer Referral Service can be reached at (800) 252-9690.

What is the phone number for a small claims court?

The State Bar offers a Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 252-9690.

What is the PUC in Texas?

The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) is the agency charged with ensuring that regulated electric and local telephone utilities observe state rules and service standards. Contact the PUC regarding your concerns at (888) 782-8477 or on the Web at www.puc.state.tx.us.

What is the Attorney General of Texas?

14 Footnotes. The Attorney General of Texas is the chief lawyer and legal officer for the state of Texas. According to the Texas Constitution, the attorney general defends the laws and the constitution of the state of Texas, represents the state in litigation, and approves public bond issues.

Who won the 2010 Texas election?

To view the electoral history dating back to 2002 for the office of Texas Attorney General, Click to expand the section. On November 2, 2010, Greg Abbott won re-election to the office of Texas Attorney General. He defeated Barbara Ann Radnofsky (D) and Jon Roland (L) in the general election.

Who did Greg Abbott defeat?

He defeated Barbara Ann Radnofsky (D) and Jon Roland (L) in the general election. Election results via Texas Secretary of State. On November 7, 2006, Greg Abbott won re-election to the office of Texas Attorney General. He defeated David Van Os (D) and Jon Roland (L) in the general election.

HEROES for MILITARY CHILDREN

Military and veteran families have unique needs when it comes to paternity establishment and child support. The HEROES program is here to help.

Family Violence

If you are a victim or survivor of family violence, we have information to help you pursue child support safely.

Incarcerated Parents

Help is available for parents and family members supporting children during and after a parent's incarceration.

What is the role of an attorney general?

As chief legal officers of the states, commonwealths, District of Columbia, and territories of the United States, the role of an attorney general is to serve as counselor to state government agencies and legislatures, and as a representative of the public interest.

What is the People's Lawyer podcast?

The People’s Lawyer is a biweekly podcast from NAAG that explores the role of state and territory attorneys general as chief legal officers and their work protecting the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution.

What is the role of a public advocate?

Issuing formal opinions to state agencies. Acting as public advocates in areas such as child support enforcement, consumer protections, antitrust and utility regulation. Proposing legislation. Enforcing federal and state environmental laws. Representing the state and state agencies before the state and federal courts.

How to file a complaint against a company?

The more details you can provide, the more effectively we can review your complaint. Important information includes: 1 The name of the business or individual you're filing a complaint against 2 The business/individual's full address, including zip code 3 A detailed description of your complaint 4 Explanation of how you came into contact with the business/individual 5 Transaction dates and amounts 6 Contract information (when appropriate) with payment details 7 How you may have attempted to resolve the dispute, including the names of people you spoke with

What do you do when you are sued?

File lawsuits on your behalf or on behalf of individual consumers. Bring criminal charges for deceptive practices. Provide legal counsel or interpretations of the law to individuals. Routinely resolve individual complaints.

What is the job of an attorney general?

The attorney general is the chief legal representative for the state and serves as general counsel for most of the state’s government agencies. Each state’s attorney general manages all legal representation of the state in civil and criminal matters on a state and federal level. Most attorneys general manage specific assistance programs ...

Who is responsible for enforcing the law?

The State's Attorney General is the head of the state's legal office and is responsible for enforcing the law. A state’s attorney general is responsible for enforcing the law in the state where he or she was elected. The attorney general is the chief legal representative for the state and serves as general counsel for most ...

image