Bexar County Civil District Courts Document Filing Requirements

Applies to

Notice of setting

Must include

judge name

The Notice of Setting must include the Presiding Court Zoom ID information and the name of the Visiting Judge that previously heard the matter.

Include (a) the Presiding Court ZOOM ID information in the Notice of Setting, and (b) the name of the Visiting Judge that previously heard the matter.

Applies to

Motion

Must include

certificate of conference

Every motion must include a certification that the party has conferred with (or made reasonable efforts to confer with) all parties about the date, time, and format of the setting.

every motion must include a certification that “[counsel/self-represented litigant] has conferred with (or made reasonable efforts to confer with) all parties about the date, time, and format of the setting”

Applies to

Motion

Must include

certificate of conference

Every non-dispositive motion must also certify either a good-faith conferral to resolve or narrow the issues or reasonable but unsuccessful efforts to confer, and the court may strike any setting lacking these certificates.

every motion (other than dispositive motions) must also certify either: 1. “[Counsel/Self-represented litigant] has conferred with all parties who may be affected by the relief sought in this motion in a good faith effort to resolve or narrow the issues raised.”; or 2. “[Counsel/Self-represented litigant] has made reasonable efforts to confer with all parties who may be affected by the relief sought in this motion but has been unable to do so.” The court retains discretion to strike any setting in which the motion (or an amended version of the motion) does not include such certificates.

Applies to

Motion to enter order

If the proponent cannot secure approval of a proposed order, a Motion to Enter must be filed and set in the court that heard the motion, should be accompanied by the Judges' Notes or the court reporter's record, and must succinctly state any disagreement over the order's terms.

If a proponent of the order is unable to secure the approval of the other counsel and/or self-represented litigants, a Motion to Enter the order must be filed and set in the Court which heard the motion. A copy of the Judges’ Notes for the hearing at which the Judge rendered the order or a copy of the court reporter’s record of the hearing should accompany all Motions to Enter. The motion must succinctly set forth any disagreement regarding the terms of the order.

Applies to

Agreed order

Agreed orders must bear full signature blocks for all counsel and self-represented litigants and state 'Agreed' or 'Agreed as to Form and Substance.'

If the order involves a matter that is agreed to by counsel and/or self-represented litigants, the order must bear full signature blocks for all counsel and/or self-represented litigants and state “Agreed” or “Agreed as to Form and Substance.”

Applies to

Agreed order

Agreed orders announced to Presiding Court must be efiled with the statement 'Presiding Court [Time/Type of Docket] Docket [Date of Docket]' included in the Comment Section.

Agreed orders announced to Presiding Court must be efiled within two weeks of the announcement with the following statement included in the Comment Section – “Presiding Court [Time/Type of Docket] Docket [Date of Docket]”.

Applies to

Agreed order

Agreed orders requiring Staff Attorney review (Default Judgment, Rule 106 and 109 Motions for Substituted Service, Gestational Agreement) must be efiled with '[Type of Order] – Staff Attorney Review Required' in the Comment Section.

Agreed orders that require review by the Staff Attorney’s Office prior to being presented to the court (Default Judgment, Rule 106 and 109 Motions for Substituted Service, Gestational Agreement) must be efiled with the following statement included in the Comment Section – “[Type of Order] – Staff Attorney Review Required”.

Applies to

Order

Orders on matters set and heard by the Presiding Judge must be efiled with the statement 'Presiding Court [Time/Type of Docket] Docket [Date of Docket]' included in the Comment Section.

Orders on matters set and heard by Presiding Judge must be efiled with the following statement included in the Comment Section – “Presiding Court [Time/Type of Docket] Docket [Date of Docket]”.

Applies to

Proposed order or judgment

All proposed orders and judgments presented for a judge's signature must bear approval signature blocks from the presenting party and all other counsel of record or self-represented litigants, unless the Court orders otherwise.

Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, all proposed orders and judgments presented for a judge’s signature must have appropriate signature blocks for the counsel and/or self-represented litigant presenting the order and all other counsel of record and/or self-represented litigants indicating their approval as to form and substance or approval as to form, as appropriate.

Applies to

Proposed order or judgment

A full signature block must include the counsel's or self-represented litigant's number (if applicable), telephone number, fax number (if available), and the identity of the party represented (if applicable).

A full signature block consists of counsel’s and/or self-represented number (if applicable), telephone number, fax number (if available), and the identity of the party represented (if applicable).

Applies to

Docket control order

Within 30 days of the first responsive pleading, counsel and self-represented litigants must confer and present an agreed docket control order to the assigned court.

Within 30 days of the filing of the first responsive pleading, counsel and/or self-represented litigants must confer and present to the court to which the case is assigned at filing an agreed docket control.

Applies to

Docket control order

The docket control order must include a trial setting within Texas Supreme Court time standards and a summary-judgment cutoff deadline at least 60 days before the trial setting.

The docket control order must include: (1) a trial setting that is within the time standards for the disposition of cases established by the Texas Supreme Court (see page 1 of these rules); and (2) a deadline (at least 60 days before the trial setting to allow compliance with Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 166a) after which no summary judgment motions may be filed.

Applies to

Motion to enter docket control order

Must include

proposed order

If parties cannot agree on a docket control order, a motion to enter must be set with the assigned court within 45 days of the first responsive pleading, must state each side's agreements and disagreements, and must attach a proposed docket control order, with failure risking dismissal.

If counsel and/or self-represented litigants cannot agree on the docket control order, a motion to enter must be set with the assigned court within 45 days of the filing of the first responsive pleading. The motion must succinctly set forth the respective side’s agreements and disagreements and attach a proposed docket control order. Failure to file a motion to enter and set it for hearing within the prescribed time limits may result in dismissal of the proceeding.

Applies to

Written submission motion or order

Written submission filings must include the statement 'Presiding Court, Written Submission Docket, [Date Submitted]' in the e-filing Comment Section.

The motion or order must be efiled with the following statement included in the Comment Section – "Presiding Court, Written Submission Docket, [Date Submitted]".

Applies to

Default judgment

All default judgments must comply with the Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act, 50 U.S.C. Appendix, section 521.

All default judgments must comply with the Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act, 50 U.S.C. Appendix, section 521.

Applies to

Default judgment or motion for substituted service

Default judgments and Rule 106/109 substituted service motions must be reviewed by the Staff Attorney's Office before submission to a judge for signature.

All default judgments and Rule 106 and 109 motions for substituted service must be reviewed by the Staff Attorney's Office prior to submission to a Judge for signature.

Applies to

Uncontested divorce written submission

Uncontested divorces presented on written submission require an affidavit or sworn interrogatories to prove up the divorce (including the parties' bankruptcy status declaration) and the agreed Final Decree of Divorce.

For uncontested divorces where the parties do not want an evidentiary hearing, the following must be filed: 1. an affidavit or sworn interrogatories to prove up the divorce (the parties' declaration of bankruptcy status must be included); and 2. the agreed Final Decree of Divorce.

Applies to

Uncontested adoption

Uncontested adoptions require filing all statutorily-required documents, an affidavit or interrogatories to prove up the adoption, and the Decree of Adoption.

The parties must file all statutorily-required documents and an affidavit or interrogatories to prove up the adoption order, along with the Decree of Adoption, including affidavits and/or interrogatories to prove up the adoption and the Decree of Adoption.

Applies to

Joint notice of hearing

To have a 9:00 Presiding Court docket hearing heard by Zoom, the parties must file a joint notice of hearing stating the hearing requires 2.5 hours or less and that all parties agreed in writing to Zoom; hearings exceeding 2.5 hours will be referred back for in-person reassignment.

Counsel and/or self-represented litigants must file a joint notice of hearing stating that the time required for the hearing is 2.5 hours or less and that the parties have agreed to have the matter heard by Zoom.

Applies to

Fiat or notice of setting

Fiats, orders setting hearings, and orders to appear must state whether the hearing will be in person in Presiding Court or remote on the Presiding Court Zoom.

All fiats, orders setting hearings, and orders to appear must identify whether the hearing will occur in person in Presiding Court OR remotely on the Presiding Court Zoom.

Applies to

Fiat or notice of setting

Fiats, Notices of Setting, orders setting hearings, and orders to appear must include the time announcement, telephone numbers for all counsel/self-represented litigants, and whether an interpreter is required with the desired language.

All Fiats, Notices of Setting, orders setting hearings, and orders to appear must also include the following: 1. The time announcement; 2. Telephone numbers for all counsel and/or self-represented litigants; ... 4. Whether an interpreter is required and the desired language.

Applies to

Pleading

Must include

ai disclosure

All pleadings must include a signed AI certification, on the approved form from the Presiding Court website, attesting that generative AI-produced content was verified through traditional (non-A.I.) legal sources and acknowledging responsibility for compliance.

A.I. Certification. All pleadings shall include a certificate on the form approved by the Civil District Court Judges and available on the Presiding Court website, signed by counsel or self-represented litigant, attesting that: a. all drafted language, quotations, sources, citations, arguments, and legal analyses produced by generative A.I. will—before submission—be verified by counsel licensed in Texas (or admitted to appear in the cause) or a self-represented litigant as accurate through traditional (non-A.I.) legal sources, and b. that counsel of record and/or self-represented litigant understands and acknowledges that they are responsible for any failure to comply with this order.

Applies to

Petition

In every divorce and original suit affecting the parent-child relationship, the Petitioner must attach a copy of the Bexar County Standing Order Regarding Children, Property and Conduct of the Parties to the original petition and to each copy of the petition.

Bexar County Civil District Courts require in every divorce case and in original suits affecting the parent-child relationship, that the Petitioner shall attach to the original petition and to each copy of the petition a copy of the Bexar County Standing Order Regarding Children, Property and Conduct of the Parties.

Applies to

Default judgment

On entry of default divorce decrees, parties must comply with Texas Rules of Civil Procedure 239 and 239a, including filing a certificate of the defaulting party's last known address.

On entry of default divorce decrees, all parties shall comply with the requirements of Texas Rules of Civil Procedure 239 and 239a including the requirement that a certificate of last known address of the defaulting party be filed.

Applies to

Default judgment

All default judgments must be accompanied by a non-military affidavit (or Department of Defense Manpower Data Center documentation) with sufficient facts for the Court to determine the defaulting party's military status.

Pursuant to the Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act, all default judgments must be accompanied by a non-military affidavit with sufficient facts for the Court to determine the military status of the defaulting party or with a ... Center attached.

Applies to

Sworn inventory and appraisement

Unless waived by the Court, litigants appearing for divorce trials involving property or liability issues must present a sworn Inventory & Appraisement in the Presiding Court website sample format, itemizing values of all contested property and debts.

Unless waived by the Court, all litigants appearing for trial involving property or liability issues shall present the Court with a sworn Inventory & Appraisement substantially in the format of the sample posted in the Forms section of the Presiding Court website, which shall contain an itemization including values of all contested items of property and all debts.

Applies to

Income and expense itemization

Unless waived, litigants in child or spousal support trials or hearings must present an income and expense itemization in the website sample format, at least the prior 3 months of wage and income information, and a tax return from the previous year.

Unless otherwise waived by the Court, all litigants involved in trials or hearings relating to child support or spousal support shall present to the Court an itemization or summary of all of their income and expenses, substantially in the format of the sample in the Forms section of the Presiding Court website, as well as a minimum of the prior 3 months of wage and income information and a tax return from the previous year, if child support and/or spousal support is an issue in the trial or hearing.

Applies to

Trial appearance

Failure to appear at a trial docket may result in dismissal or default judgment.

Failure to appear at a trial docket may result in the case being dismissed or a judgment being rendered by default.

Applies to

Motion

Must include

certificate of conference

Before setting a hearing, parties must make reasonable efforts to confer, and every motion must include a certificate that counsel and/or self-represented litigant has conferred (or made reasonable efforts to confer) with all parties about the date, time, and format of the setting.

Prior to setting a hearing, the parties must make reasonable efforts to actually speak to one another regarding the date, time, and format (i.e., whether in-person or remote) of a hearing or trial and the substance of the motion in a genuine effort to narrow their disputes before seeking court intervention. To that end, every motion must include a certification that "[counsel and/or self-represented litigant] has conferred with (or made reasonable efforts to confer with) all parties about the date, time, and format of the setting"

Applies to

Motion

Must include

certificate of conference

Every motion other than a dispositive motion must also certify either a good-faith conferral with all parties affected by the requested relief to resolve or narrow the issues, or that reasonable efforts to confer were made but were unsuccessful, and the court may strike any setting lacking these certificates.

and every motion (other than dispositive motions) must also certify either: ... who may be affected by the relief sought in this motion in a good faith effort to resolve or narrow the issues raised."; or 2. "[Counsel and/or self-represented litigant] has made reasonable efforts to confer with all parties who may be affected by the relief sought in this motion but has been unable to do so." The court retains discretion to strike any setting in which the motion (or an amended version of the motion) does not include such certificates.

Applies to

Fiat

Fiats setting remote hearings by ZOOM must include the Monitoring Court ZOOM link, the telephone access number 1-346-248-7799, the meeting ID 992-478-8545, and the telephone access code 992-478-8545.

All fiats setting hearings to occur remotely by ZOOM must include the following: 1. The link to Monitoring Court ZOOM: https://zoom.us/my/monitoringcourt. 2. The Zoom telephone access number for Monitoring Court: 1-346-248-7799. The personal meeting identification number: 992-478-8545. 3. The Monitoring Court telephone access code: 992-478-8545.

Applies to

Agreed order

Agreed orders must contain a complete signature block and be signed by counsel for each party and any self-represented litigant, with electronic signatures and signatures by permission acceptable.

All agreed orders must have a complete signature block for counsel representing each party to the proceeding and each self-represented litigant and the order must be signed by counsel for each party and any self-represented litigant (electronic signatures and signatures by permission remain acceptable).

Applies to

Order pursuant to hearing

Orders following a hearing must include the signature block for each party's counsel and signatures for each counsel or self-represented litigant.

Orders pursuant to a hearing also need to include the signature block for each counsel representing a party and signatures for each counsel or self-represented litigant.

Applies to

Default order

For orders obtained by default, the words 'did not appear' must be included in the signature block of the non-appearing counsel or self-represented litigant.

If the order was obtained by default, “did not appear” should be included in the signature block for counsel and/or self-represented litigant who did not appear.

Applies to

Proposed order

A proposed order not signed by all counsel and/or self-represented litigants must be presented to the Court by a motion to enter.

If the proposed order is not signed by all counsel and/or self-represented litigants, the order must be presented to the Court by a motion to enter.

Applies to

Motion for referral to monitoring court

Non-jury matters expected to last longer than two days require a Motion for Referral to the Monitoring Court, which must be filed and set at 8:30 in Presiding Court.

If the non-jury matter is expected to last longer than two days, a Motion for Referral to the Monitoring Court must be filed and set at 8:30 in Presiding Court.

Applies to

Temporary restraining order request

TRO applicants (counsel or self-represented litigants) must state in writing one of four facts: respondent is unrepresented, movant could not contact opposing counsel, opposing counsel was notified and does not wish to be heard, or notification would cause irreparable harm.

Counsel or the self-represented litigant making the request shall state in writing that: (1) to the best of his knowledge the respondent is not represented by counsel, (2) he has tried and has been unable to contact opposing counsel about the application and the means by which the attempt was made, (3) opposing counsel has been notified of the application and does not wish to be heard, or (4) notifying the respondent or his counsel would cause irreparable harm to the movant.

Applies to

Protective order

Two prescribed forms, available on the Presiding Court website, must be attached to all ex parte and final protective orders.

In the case of ex parte and final protective orders, there are two forms which must be attached to all said orders. The forms may be found in the Forms section of the Presiding Court website.

Applies to

Mediation order

Mediation orders must state the mediator's name, the fee split, the mediation deadline, and must contain a provision authorizing sanctions for noncompliance.

All orders must state the mediator's name, how the fee will be split, the deadline for mediation, and must contain a provision authorizing sanctions for noncompliance.

Applies to

Vacation unavailability notice

Counsel must give written notice of vacation or unavailability to the District Clerk and counsel-in-charge at least two weeks in advance, and the notification letter must include an address, telephone number, email address, and telecopier number.

Counsel who plan to take a vacation, or who know that they will be unavailable for hearings, and who wish to prevent the scheduling of hearings during their absence must give written notice to the Bexar County District Clerk and to the counsel-in-charge for other parties and/or self-represented litigants in the cases affected at least two weeks before the vacation or period of unavailability will begin. The notification letter must provide an address, telephone number, email address, and telecopier number for service of notice.

Applies to

Vacation unavailability notice

In family-law cases, the vacation/unavailability notification letter must also designate alternate counsel in case of an emergency.

In family-law cases, the notification letter must also designate alternate counsel in the event an emergency arises during the vacation or period of unavailability.

Applies to

Hearing request

When requesting a hearing, attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide a total time announcement covering hearing time, reading time if needed, and any chambers conference time, and parties who significantly under-announce will be stepped aside with remaining time heard at the end of the day or rescheduled.

Attorneys/self-represented litigants are to provide a total time announcement that includes time for the hearing, reading time if needed, and time to confer in chambers prior to the hearing if so desired. Parties will be given a date and specific start time. Parties should be ready to begin at their assigned time. If parties under announce by any significant amount of time they will be asked to step aside to allow for the next case to be heard. Parties will conclude their hearing at the end of the day if time permits or they may elect to schedule additional time at a later date.

Applies to

Docket control order

All docket control orders must incorporate specific deadlines, such as deadlines to mediate and to have dispositive motions heard, with sample orders available on the 225th website.

There are specific deadlines that are to be incorporated into all docket control orders such as deadlines to mediate and have dispositive motions heard. See the 225th website for sample docket control orders.

Applies to

Pleading

Must include

ai disclosure

All pleadings must include a signed certificate attesting that any generative-AI-produced language, quotations, sources, citations, arguments, and legal analyses were verified as legally accurate before submission, with the filer acknowledging responsibility for noncompliance.

All pleadings shall include a certificate signed by the attorney or self-represented litigants attesting that all drafted language, quotations, sources, citations, arguments, and legal analyses produced by generative artificial intelligence will before submission, verified by an attorney licensed in Texas or self-represented litigant as legally accurate and that the attorney of record or self-represented litigant understands and acknowledges that they are responsible for their failure to comply with this order.

Applies to

Notice of setting

A Notice of Setting must be delivered to each attorney of record and self-represented litigant and must state the nature of the matter, contact information for each party, and the hearing date, hour, and estimated time.

A Notice of Setting shall be delivered to each attorney of record and/or self-represented litigant. Each Notice of Setting shall state the nature of the contested matter, the name, address, telephone number, and email address of each attorney of record or self-represented litigant and the hearing date, hour and estimated time announcement.

Applies to

Certificate of conference

The Certificate of Conference must detail efforts to resolve the dispute without court intervention, and motions omitting it will not be set for hearing until the certificate is filed.

The Certificate of Conference shall detail the efforts to resolve the dispute without court intervention. Any motion omitting a Certificate of Conference shall not be set for hearing until such certification has been filed.

Applies to

Motion for summary judgment

Must include

proposed order

Each summary judgment motion and each response must be accompanied by both a proposed order granting and a proposed order denying the motion.

Additionally, each motion for summary judgment, as well as each response, must be accompanied by a proposed order granting the motion and a proposed order denying the motion for the court's signature.

Applies to

Docket control order

Must include

proposed order

A Docket Control Order must be submitted to the Court for signature in trial cases.

A Docket Control Order must be submitted to the Court for signature.

Applies to

Certificate

Must include

ai disclosure

Filings containing generative AI-produced content must include a certification that all such language was verified against traditional legal sources and that filers acknowledge responsibility for noncompliance.

I certify that all drafted language, quotations, sources, citations, arguments, and legal analyses produced by generative A.I. in this filing have been verified as accurate through traditional (non-A.I.) legal sources, and all attorneys of record for the parties or self-represented litigant filers submitting this filing understand and acknowledge that the attorneys or self- represented litigants are responsible for their failure to comply with this

Applies to

Agreed submitted order

The agreed submitted order must state the time announcement for trials scheduled on red-listed dates.

The dates listed in red are limited to trials that will not exceed 4 days and the agreed submitted order must state the time announcement.

Applies to

Proposed order or judgment

Orders presented by local counsel on behalf of out-of-county counsel should bear the signature blocks of both the local and out-of-county counsel.

If a local counsel is presenting an order on behalf of an out-of-county counsel, the order should bear the signature block of the local and out-of-county counsel.

Applies to

Joint notice of hearing

Zoom appearance at the Presiding Court call docket is allowed only for non-evidentiary hearings or evidentiary hearings agreed to be 2.5 hours or less with the required joint notice of hearing filed.

Counsel and self-represented litigants may appear at the Presiding Court call docket on Zoom on the date and time listed on the fiat, notice of setting, order setting hearing, and/or order to appear for non-evidentiary hearings or for evidentiary hearings that by agreement will be 2.5 hours or less and the required joint notice of hearing has been filed with the court as set forth in these protocols.

Applies to

Motion to set

If there is no agreement on a trial date or the trial must be set past the scheduling deadlines, a Motion to Set should be filed and a hearing will be scheduled.

If there is no agreement or there is a need to set the trial past the deadlines listed above, then a Motion to Set should be filed and a hearing will be scheduled.

Applies to

Motion to enter

If parties cannot obtain approval as to form of an order, they must file a motion to enter and secure a hearing date.

If the parties are unable to obtain approval as to form, counsel/litigants must file a motion to enter and secure a hearing date.

Applies to

Unopposed proposed order

When the opposing party does not object but cannot sign a proposed order, the party may present the order to the Court during morning docket after alerting the Court of the non-objection.

When at least one pa1ty is represented by counsel and a patty seeks the Cout1's signature but is unable to obtain the opposing side's signature on the proposed order, you may approach the Court during the morning docket to present the order for consideration. Please alert the Cowt at that time that the opposing patty does not object to the relief requested but is unavailable or otherwise unable to sign the order. Upon this noti fication, the Court will review the proposed order and determine whether it is appropriate for signature.

Applies to

Mileage reimbursement request

Mileage reimbursement requires supporting documentation.

Out-of-county mileage reimbursement shall be paid in accordance with Bexar County Standard Mileage Rates, which are based on the IRS standard mileage rate. Reimbursable mileage shall be calculated from the courthouse, and supporting documentation is required.