Bastrop County District Court, Texas Pre-Motion Conference Requirements

All parties in contested family law cases must attempt some form of alternative dispute resolution before the final hearing, unless the Court waives the requirement case by case.

All parties to all contested family law cases shall attempt some type of alternative dispute resolution before any Final Hearing heard by the 423rd District Court such as mediation through a private mediator or through the Frank G. Evans Dispute Resolution Services of Bastrop County. The Court reserves the right to waive this requirement on a case by case basis.

A contested family law case must first be set for a Rule 166 pretrial/status conference before receiving a final hearing setting, unless the Court waives the requirement case by case.

No contested family law cases (divorces and suits affecting the parent-child relationship) heard by the 423rd Judicial District Court of Bastrop County, Texas shall receive a final hearing setting unless the case is first set for a Rule 166 (Texas Rules of Civil Procedure) Pre-trial conference hearing ("status conference") on the Court's uncontested docket. The purpose of the hearing will be for the Court to determine the issues surrounding the final hearing, determine if the parties have completed a parenting class (if necessary) and for the Court to determine if sworn inventories and Proposed Property Divisions have been exchanged by the parties. The Court will also determine if alternative dispute resolution (mediation) is possible. The Court reserves the right to waive this requirement on a case by case basis and set an appropriate case for a final hearing without the Pre-trial conference hearing.