Calhoun County District Court, Texas Document Filing Requirements

Applies to

Pleading and decree

Fill-in-the-blank pleadings and decrees must be completed in full, with no blanks.

ALL fill in the blank pleadings and decrees MUST be FULLY filled in. NO BLANKS.

Applies to

Petition and decree

Do not include form provisions that do not apply to you and your spouse in the petition or decree.

If anything contained in the forms you are using do not apply to you and your spouse, DO NOT include them in your petition or your decree.

Applies to

Decree

If the divorce involves a motor vehicle, the decree must identify its manufacturer, model year, and vehicle identification number.

If your divorce involves motor vehicles, you MUST describe the vehicle by manufacturer, model year, and vehicle I.D. number.

Applies to

Decree

If the divorce or decree involves real estate, include its proper legal description and information about the bank or lienholder.

If the divorce/decree involves real estate, you MUST include the proper legal description of the real estate and information concerning the bank or lien holder.

Applies to

Decree

If children were born during the marriage, the decree must provide for their custody and state with whom they will live.

Provision for custody of the children and with whom they will live.

Applies to

Decree

If children were born during the marriage, the decree must include a visitation schedule or possession order.

A schedule of visitation (possession order).

Applies to

Decree

If children were born during the marriage, the decree must provide for their health insurance and identify the parent ordered to provide and pay for it.

Provision for the children to be covered by health insurance, and must identify the parent who is ordered to provide and pay for health insurance.

Applies to

Decree

If children were born during the marriage, the decree must provide for child support in accordance with the Texas Family Code guidelines.

Provision for child support in accordance with the guidelines in the Texas Family Code.

Applies to

Decree

Child support cannot be waived without court approval, which the instructions state will rarely be given.

CHILD SUPPORT CANNOT BE WAIVED without approval of the Court which will rarely be given.

Applies to

Decree

A child born during the marriage who is not the spouse’s child must be listed in the decree, and paternity must have been established by a prior court order.

If a child is not the child of the spouse but was born during the marriage, the child MUST be listed in the decree and paternity MUST be established by a prior court order.

Applies to

Certified copy of paternity order

A certified copy of the prior court order establishing paternity must be presented to the court.

A certified copy of the court order MUST be presented to the Court.

Applies to

Certified copy of prior child order

If a prior court order governs possession, access, or child support, present a certified copy to the court.

If there is a prior court order which governs possession and access to a child or child support, a certified copy of that order MUST be presented to the Court.

Applies to

Bureau of vital statistics form

Obtain the Bureau of Vital Statistics form from the District Clerk’s office and complete it before coming to court for the divorce.

Obtain the Bureau of Vital Statistics form from the District Clerk's office and have it completely filled out before you come to court for your divorce.

Applies to

Decree of divorce

ALL Decrees of Divorce MUST be submitted to the Judge hearing the NexpolDISEarikop m the docket on the final hearing date.

ALL Decrees of Divorce MUST be submitted to the Judge hearing the NexpolDISEarikop m the docket on the final hearing date.

Civil casesCourt notice

Applies to

De novo hearing request

A de novo hearing request must be in writing and specify the issues to be presented to the referring court.

A request for a De Novo Hearing Before the Referring Court must be in writing and must specify the issues that will be presented to the referring court. Tex. Fam. Code §201.015(a) & 201.015 (b).

Civil cases

Applies to

Summary judgment hearing notice or order

Notices setting summary-judgment motions and orders setting hearings on them must state that argument is limited to 15 minutes per side.

Setting notices on motions for summary judgment (or orders setting hearing on same we should interlineate) are to include the following: "Counsel is advised that argument on the motion is limited to 15 minutes per side"

Applies to

Setting request

The shall certify that the requesting party's attorney ha:ebnferred*ith counsel for-all parties and :the heating date requested is agreed.upon by all counsel.

The shall certify that the requesting party's attorney ha:ebnferred*ith counsel for-all parties and :the heating date requested is agreed.upon by all counsel.

Applies to

Setting request

If the parties do not agree on a setting, the request must certify that the requesting attorney discussed the date with each party’s counsel and, after a good-faith effort, the attorneys could not agree.

In the event the requested settingis,not agreed upon by all ;parties, the requestfor setting Shall. certify that the-ono-ivy :for the requesting partyhas disciiSted the requested-setting date, sy.ith corinscl for each. party and, after good faith effort to reach agreement, the attorneys have been unable to mutually agree upon a setting date,

Applies to

Setting request

The jury-trial setting request must certify that the requesting attorney conferred with all counsel and that all counsel agree to the requested trial date.

The requ:esfshall certify' that the requesting party's attorney has conferred with counsel for all parties and the trial date requested is agreed upon by :all counsel.

Applies to

Setting request

If the parties do not agree on a jury-trial setting, the request must certify that the requesting attorney discussed the date with each party’s counsel and, after a good-faith effort, the attorneys could not agree.

In the event the requested setting is not agreed upon by all parties, the request for setting :Shall certify that the attorney for the requesting party has discussed the requested setting date with counsel for each party and, after-good faith effort to reach agreement, the attorneys have been unable to mutually agree upon a trial date.

Applies to

Ex parte relief application

Applications for ex parte relief must state whether the opposing party is represented by counsel and, if so, identify counsel.

All applications for ex parte relief shall state whether or not within the knowledge of the applicant and his attorney the opposing party is represented by counsel and if so the names of such counsel.

Applies to

Trial setting request

A counsel-requested trial setting must be requested in writing to the District Clerk, with copies to opposing counsel and any self-represented parties.

If counsel for either party is requesting a setting for trial, the request shall be in writing and directed to the District Clerk, with a copy to opposing counsel and any pro se parties.

Applies to

Inventory

In cases requiring division of property or liabilities, each spouse must file a sworn inventory with the Court or exchange one by written mutual agreement.

(b) In all cases requiring a division of property and/or liabilities, the husband and wife shall each file with the Court or upon written mutual agreement exchange between themselves, sworn inventories.

Applies to

Inventory

Each inventory must state property values, specified details about liabilities, and identify any property or liability claimed as separate.

Each inventory shall list the value of each item of property and shall list each liability, the number of periodic payments in arrears, if any, the property securing its payments, and the name of the creditor. Any property or liability claimed to be separate shall be so characterized.

Applies to

Financial information sheet

For a hearing or trial involving support or property rights, furnish the Court and opposing counsel a Financial Information Sheet showing each party’s income and expenses no later than commencement.

(c). A Financial Information Sheet showing the income and expenses of each party shall be furnished to the Court and opposing counsel not later than the commencement of hearing or trial in which the payment of support or property rights will be an issue.

Applies to

Proposed property division

Each attorney must submit a proposed property division, including property claimed or recognized as separate, to the Court and opposing counsel.

(d) Each attorney shall submit a. proposed property division, including property claimed or recognized as separate property, to the Court and opposing counsel.

Applies to

Family law trial decree

At the conclusion of any trial on family law cases, the appropriate BVS forms and information on. child (suit affecting parent-child relationship forms) shall be filled out and a decree prepared and presented to the Court forthwith. Where practical a decree should be presented at hearing; if not, the same should be presented within 10 days of final hearing.

At the conclusion of any trial on family law cases, the appropriate BVS forms and information on. child (suit affecting parent-child relationship forms) shall be filled out and a decree prepared and presented to the Court forthwith. Where practical a decree should be presented at hearing; if not, the same should be presented within 10 days of final hearing.

Applies to

Child support income withholding order

Any child-support income-withholding order must be accompanied by the obligor's employer name and address.

The name and address of the obligor's employer must accompany any order for withholding from income for child support.

Applies to

Request for judgment

A documented written-instrument or open-account monetary claim may be presented without a hearing if attorney-fee affidavits or other supporting documents are presented with the request for judgment.

A monetary claim represented by;an instrument in writing or on open account supported by documentary evidence shall be presented without necessity of hearing, provided that affidavits with respect to attorney fees or other supporting documents are presented to the Court at the time of request for judgment.

Applies to

Retainer notice

In criminal cases, attorneys must give the Judge’s office and Clerk written notice of their employment before a hearing, pretrial hearing, arraignment, or trial; failure may result in appointment of counsel and may limit substitution of retained counsel.

Attorneys are required to notify the office of the. Judge and of the Clerk that they are employed in the'case in writing. If such retainer notice is not given to the Clerk prior to the dates of hearing, pre-trial hearing, arraignment or trial, the Court may make an appointment from among the attorneys available to the Court for appointment and the client may be required to pay for such services and substitution of retained counsel who failed to notify the Court of retention may only be permitted by leave of the Court.

Applies to

Motion

In criminal cases, an attorney of record may withdraw only with leave of Court after a written motion and, if the Court requires, a hearing.

In criminal cases, an attorney who has entered an appearance and became counsel of record by being retained by the defendant or his family, by signing a bail bond, or by appointment of the Court, may not withdraw as counsel of record except upon leave of Court after a motion in writing and, if required by the Court, a hearing thereon.

Applies to

Objection to judgment

Must include

proposed order

An objection to a judgment must include a form of order setting a hearing on the objection.

Any objections to the judgment must include .a form of order setting:a hearing on objection.

Applies to

SAPCR

Parties in covered SAPCR cases must complete the specified course and file evidence of completion before the final hearing.

shall attend and successfully complete a "Parent Education and Stabilization Course" that meets the requirements of §105.009 of the Texas Family Code and file evidence of completion prior to the final hearing date

Applies to

Certification

Must include

ai disclosure

Attorneys and self-represented litigants using AI for legal research, drafting, or analysis must sign and submit the attached certification before using AI-generated information in a court submission or proceeding, confirming human verification and responsibility for compliance.

All self-represented litigants and attorneys who utilize any form of artificial intelligence for legal research, drafting, or analysis in connection with a case before this Court shall, before using any AI-generated information in a court submission or proceeding, sign and submit the attached certification form, stating that: 1. All language, quotations, sources, citations, arguments, and legal analysis created or contributed to by generative artificial intelligence were, before submission, verified as accurate through traditional (non-AI) legal sources by a human being; and 2. The self-represented litigant or attorney submitting such information understands and acknowledges that they are and will be held responsible and potentially sanctioned for their own, their staff's, or their co-counsel's failure to comply with this Order.

Applies to

Ai certification

Must include

ai disclosure

The AI-use certification states that the signer will comply with the Standing Order, independently verify AI-contributed information before submission, and remains responsible for filings and subject to possible sanctions.

1. I have reviewed and understand the Standing Order Regarding use of Artificial Intelligence issued by the District Courts of Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Refugio and Victoria Counties and I will comply with that Order throughout this case. 2. Any information created or contributed to by generative artificial intelligence – including, but not limited to, language, quotations, sources, citations, arguments, and legal analysis – was, before submission to this court, independently verified as accurate using traditional (non-AI) legal sources by a human being. 3. I understand that I remain personally responsible for all filings and submissions to this Court, and that I may be subject to sanctions under the Texas Disciplinary rules of Professional Conduct, the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 10, the inherent power of the Court, or for contempt of court, for failing to comply with the Court's Standing Order on this certification.