Bexar County District Courts Document Filing Requirements
94 rules from official source documents
Rules 51 to 94, page 2 of 2
Required elements, certificates, and structural requirements for court documents.
CRITICAL
- 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.
CRITICAL
- 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.
CRITICAL
- 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.
CRITICAL
- 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.
CRITICALCriminal cases
- Applies to
- Application for order
- Must include
- proposed order
An application for an order must be written, state its grounds and requested relief, include a proposed order, and be filed with the court.
9.1 An application to the court for an order, whether in the form of a motion, plea or other form of request, shall: 9.1.1 Be made in writing; 9.1.2 State the grounds for the motion; 9.1.3 State the relief sought; 9.1.4 Have a proposed order attached; 9.1.5 Be filed with the court;
CRITICAL
- 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.
CRITICAL
- 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.
CRITICAL
- Must include
- ai disclosure
Any use of generative AI must be verified as legally accurate by an attorney licensed in Texas or a self-represented litigant before submission, with acknowledgment of responsibility for non-compliance.
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.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Docket control order
All contested cases must have a docket control order on file within 45 days of the petition, incorporating deadlines to mediate and have dispositive motions heard, and setting trial within 18 months (civil jury), 12 months (civil non-jury), or 6 months (family law).
Effective July 1, 2026, all contested cases shall have a docket control order on file within 45 days of the filing of the petition. Civil jury cases will be required to be set for trial within 18 months, civil, non-jury in 12 months, and family law cases in 6 months. There are specific deadlines that are to be incorporated into all docket control orders such as deadlines to mediate and have dispositive
CRITICALCivil cases
- Applies to
- Jury instructions
Proposed jury instructions must at minimum include the prima facie elements of each cause of action and defense, required legal definitions, items of damages, and methods of calculating damages.
The instructions shall, at a minimum, include: (1) the prima facie elements of each cause of action and defense asserted, (2) legal definitions required by the jury, (3) items of damages, and (4) methods of calculation of damages.
CRITICALCivil cases
- Applies to
- Trial and evidentiary hearing documents
For all trials and evidentiary hearings, parties must provide an exhibit list, witness list, designations of deposition excerpts, and any objections to an opponent's exhibits, witnesses, or deposition excerpts.
A. Required Documents. 1) For All Trials and Evidentiary Hearings a. Exhibit List b. Witness List c. Designation of deposition excerpts for witnesses called by deposition. A copy of each deposition excerpt highlighted is preferred for the Court. d. Objections, if any, to an opponent's exhibits, witnesses, or deposition excerpts heard at pretrial.
CRITICALCivil cases
- Applies to
- Jury instructions
Each proposed instruction must be accompanied by all authority or related materials the party relies on and presented at the Charge Conference.
Accompanying each instruction shall be all authority or related materials upon which each party relies and presented at the Charge Conference.
CRITICALCivil cases
- Applies to
- Notice of hearing
Parties seeking an in-person or Zoom hearing must confer with opposing counsel to select a date and file a Notice of Hearing stating the selected date and explaining how much time is needed and why.
a. Confer with your Opposing Counsel to select a date. b. File your Notice of Hearing with your selected date. c. Within your Notice of Hearing, explain how much time you need and why.
CRITICALCivil casesCourt notice
- Applies to
- Notice of hearing
A notice of hearing requesting a different date must identify the confirmed date and time, time announcement, and reason for the change.
File a notice of hearing identifying the confirmed date and time, time announcement, and reason for the requested change.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Certificate of conference
The Certificate of Conference must detail the efforts made to resolve the dispute without court intervention.
The Certificate of Conference shall detail the efforts to resolve the dispute without court intervention.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Motion to enter order
If the parties cannot obtain approval as to form of an order, counsel/litigants 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.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Docket control order
- Must include
- proposed order
A Docket Control Order must be submitted to the Court for signature in connection with trial.
A Docket Control Order must be submitted to the Court for signature.
CRITICAL
- 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.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Certificate of conference
The Certificate of Conference must detail the efforts made to resolve the dispute without court intervention.
The Certificate of Conference shall detail the efforts to resolve the dispute without court intervention.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Motion
- Must include
- certificate of conference
A motion filed without a Certificate of Conference will not be set for hearing until the certification has been filed.
Any motion omitting a Certificate of Conference shall not be set for hearing until such certification has been filed.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Notice of hearing
- Must include
- certificate of service
The notice of hearing must include a certificate of service as a required section.
By my signature below, I hereby certify that on the ________(Date) a true and correct copy of the above and foregoing Notice of Hearing was served to Tex. R. Civ. P. 21a, on all counsel of record, via e-service and/or via the e-file manager.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Contested motion
- Must include
- certificate of conference
Before filing any contested motion, the movant must confer with all affected parties and prepare a Certificate of Conference.
Before filing any contested motion, the movant shall confer with all parties affected by the requested relief to determine whether the motion will be opposed and prepare a Certificate of Conference.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Motion to enter order
If the parties cannot obtain approval as to the form of an order, counsel/litigants must file a motion to enter the order 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.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Contested motion
- Must include
- certificate of conference
Motions filed without a Certificate of Conference will not be set for hearing until the certificate has been filed.
Any motion omitting a Certificate of Conference shall not be set for hearing until such certification has been filed.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Summary judgment motion and response
- Must include
- proposed order
Each summary judgment motion and each response must be accompanied by both a proposed order granting the motion and a proposed order denying the motion for the Court's signature.
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.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Agreed order
- Must include
- proposed order
Agreed orders signed by all attorneys of record and any self-represented litigants may be submitted via e-filing as a proposed order.
Agreed Orders bearing the signature of all attorneys of record and self-represented litigants, if any, may be submitted via e-filing as a proposed order.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Summary judgment motion
- 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.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Unagreed motion setting
- Must include
- certificate of conference
Any unagreed-upon MTE setting must include a certificate of conference.
A certificate of conference must be included with any unagreed upon setting.
WARNING
- 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.
WARNINGCourt notice
- 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.
WARNING
- 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.
WARNING
- 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.
WARNING
- 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.
WARNINGCriminal cases
- Applies to
- Application for order
For requests for orders presented during a hearing or trial, compliance with the rule is at the court’s discretion.
9.2 Requests for orders presented during hearings or trials shall comply with this rule at the discretion of the court.
WARNINGCriminal cases
- Applies to
- Summons
A grand jury summons must be directed to a specific individual or an entity’s Custodian of Records and specify any records sought for review.
The summons issued by Grand Juries empaneled by this Court are directed to specific individuals or to the Custodian of Records of a specific entity, and also specify what, if any, records are being sought for review by the grand jury.
WARNING
- 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.
WARNINGCriminal cases
- Applies to
- Summons and subpoena
Grand jury summonses and subpoenas may issue under the signature of either the Foreperson or the attorney representing the State.
The summons and subpoenas issue under either the signature of the Grand Jury's Foreperson or the signature of the attorney representing the State before the grand jury.
WARNING
- Applies to
- Notice of setting
Each Notice of Setting must 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.
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.
WARNING
- Applies to
- Unopposed proposed order
Proposed orders lacking the opposing side's signature may be presented during the morning docket, provided the Court is told that the opposing party does not object but cannot sign.
When at least one party is represented by counsel and a party seeks the Court’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 Court at that time that the opposing party does not object to the relief requested but is unavailable or otherwise unable to sign the order. Upon this notification, the Court will review the proposed order and determine whether it is appropriate for signature.
WARNING
- Applies to
- Proposed order
When at least one party is represented by counsel and a party seeks the Court'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 Court at that time that the opposing party does not object to the relief requested but is unavailable or otherwise unable to sign the order. Upon this notification, the Court will review the proposed order and determine whether it is appropriate for signature.
When at least one party is represented by counsel and a party seeks the Court'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 Court at that time that the opposing party does not object to the relief requested but is unavailable or otherwise unable to sign the order. Upon this notification, the Court will review the proposed order and determine whether it is appropriate for signature.
WARNING
- 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 contested matter, each party's contact information, 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.
INFOCivil cases
- 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.
CRITICAL
- 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.
CRITICAL
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).
Related categories
Back to all rules for this courtPage & Word Limits
Maximum page counts and word limits for motions, briefs, and other filings by judge.
Courtesy Copy Requirements
When and how to deliver courtesy copies to chambers, including triggers, timing, and formatting.
Electronic Filing Rules
Electronic filing requirements, permitted filing channels, EFSP portals, and exceptions.
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Filing cutoffs, deemed-filed rules, rejection handling, cure periods, and outage procedures.