Dallas County District Courts Document Filing Requirements

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Default judgment

Default judgment damages must be calculable from written instruments attached to the pleading; parties must substantiate their damages calculations.

In cases where damages are proved by affidavits, the Court must be able to calculate the proposed damages from written instruments attached to the pleading on which the default judgment is based. Therefore, parties must “show their work” to substantiate and support calculations, i.e., proposed damages.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

Your notice should state: “The hearing will be by ZOOM on _____________ , 202_ at _____ a.m./p.m. You may access the ZOOM link at https://txcourts.zoom.us/j/82836274342.”

Your notice should state: “The hearing will be by ZOOM on _____________ , 202_ at _____ a.m./p.m. You may access the ZOOM link at https://txcourts.zoom.us/j/82836274342.”

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion to withdraw

When a corporate party would be left without counsel, counsel must also advise the corporate party that it cannot represent itself pro se and only an attorney licensed in Texas can represent it in Court.

If the party that will be left without counsel (if the motion is granted) is a corporate entity, contemporaneous with advising the party of its right to object, counsel must also advise the corporate party that only an attorney licensed in this State can represent its interest in Court. That is, that it cannot represent itself pro se.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Brief or motion

Briefs and Motions containing argument or authorities in excess of ten pages should have a table of contents and a table of authorities and begin with a summary of the argument.

Briefs and Motions containing argument or authorities in excess of ten pages should have a table of contents and a table of authorities and begin with a summary of the argument.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Default judgment motion

Default Judgments that are liquidated should only be submitted by motion and supporting affidavits, if any.

Default Judgments that are liquidated should only be submitted by motion and supporting affidavits, if any.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Scheduling order

After a plea is answered, a scheduling conference is set; before it the parties must meet, agree on a trial date and mediator, stay within the trial range, and file a signed agreed scheduling order, or else all parties must appear.

Cases are set for a scheduling conference once a defendant has answered and made an appearance on a case. The parties are to confer before the conference, agree upon a trial date, agree upon a mediator, must be set within the trial range that is given on the scheduling conference notice and file an agreed scheduling order with all the parties' signatures. Failure to do so will require all parties to appear for the scheduling conference.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Brief

ONLY copies of the case or cases which are controlling as to the issue presented should be attached and provided to opposing counsel highlighted in the same manner as the Court’s copy.

ONLY copies of the case or cases which are controlling as to the issue presented should be attached and provided to opposing counsel highlighted in the same manner as the Court’s copy.

WARNING

Applies to

Defensive pleading

Absent a plea pointing out disclosure failures, the answering attorney's signature on the original defensive pleading certifies that the disclosure was accurate or that the case is not related to a prior filed or disposed of case.

In the absence of any such plea, the signature of the attorney filing the original defensive pleading shall be that attorney's certificate either that the disclosure of the attorney filing the case was accurate, or, if no disclosure was made by the attorney filing the case, that the case is not so related to a prior filed or disposed of case.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Pretrial order

If the court must rule on page/line designations, attach transcripts with designations highlighted and only necessary pages.

If rulings are required from the court, please copy and paste and attach any transcripts with the designations highlighted, necessary pages only)

WARNING

Applies to

Defensive pleading

The answering attorney must point out in the original defensive pleading or a simultaneous filing any failure by the filing attorney to make a proper and accurate related-case disclosure.

The attorney answering any filed case shall point out in the original defensive pleading or in a separate simultaneous filing any failure of the attorney filing the case to have made a proper and accurate disclosure.

WARNING

Applies to

Suggestion of bankruptcy

A party must promptly notify the Court of another party's bankruptcy petition by filing a Suggestion of Bankruptcy with the clerk and serving copies on all counsel of record.

Any party to a pending case shall promptly notify the Court of the filing by any other party of a petition in bankruptcy. Such notice shall be made by filing a Suggestion of Bankruptcy with the clerk of the Court and serving copies on all counsel of record.

WARNING

Applies to

Case information sheet

Pro se litigants must not check the Title IV-D Agency box on the Civil Case Information Sheet.

If you are representing yourself and you are the person completing the Civil Case Information Sheet, do not check the “Title IV-D Agency” box.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Application

This application form must be submitted every year.

THIS FORM MUST BE SUBMITTED ANNUALLY

WARNING

Applies to

Agreed matter

Must include

proposed order, certificate of conference

The Court does not require a separate motion or hearing on agreed matters, except for continuances in cases over one year old or as otherwise provided. All uncontested or agreed matters should be presented with a proposed form of order and should reflect the agreement of all parties either (a) by personal or authorized signature on the form of order, or (b) in the certificate of conference on the motion. This Rule does not apply to cases involving financial settlements to minors.

The Court does not require a separate motion or hearing on agreed matters, except for continuances in cases over one year old or as otherwise provided. All uncontested or agreed matters should be presented with a proposed form of order and should reflect the agreement of all parties either (a) by personal or authorized signature on the form of order, or (b) in the certificate of conference on the motion. This Rule does not apply to cases involving financial settlements to minors.

WARNING

Applies to

Original pleading

Attorneys filing a case related to a previously filed case must disclose the relationship in the original pleading or a simultaneous filing, identifying the related case by style, case number, and court.

The attorney filing a case that is so related to another previously filed case shall disclose in the original pleading or in a separate simultaneous filing that the case is so related and identify by style, case number and Court the related case.

WARNING

Applies to

Original pleading

If no related-case disclosure is made, the filing attorney's signature on the original pleading certifies that the case is not related to another previously filed case.

If no such disclosure is made, the signature of the attorney filing the case on the original pleading shall be that attorney's certification that the case is not so related to another previously filed case.

WARNING

Applies to

Case information sheet

Pro se litigants must select only one case type or issue on the Civil Case Information Sheet.

You must select only one case type or issue on the Sheet.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion to withdraw

Attorney withdrawals require strict compliance with TRCP Rule 10 and Local Rule 4.02, and counsel must advise a corporate party that only a Texas-licensed attorney can represent it in Court.

The Court requires strict compliance with Rule 10 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and Local Rule 4.02. If the party that will be left without counsel (if the motion is granted) is a corporate entity, contemporaneous with advising the party of its right to object, counsel must also advise the corporate party that only an attorney licensed in the State of Texas can represent its interest in Court. That is, that it cannot represent itself Pro Se.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Mediation notice

Parties opposing mediation must notify the Court of the reasons, and counsel must inform the Court if no mediator is agreed within 30 days after the trial notice is issued.

If the parties are opposed to mediation, they must notify the Court of the reasons for such opposition. It is Counsels responsibility to inform the Court if they have been unable to agree to a mediator 30 days after the trial notice has been issued.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Order

All agreed orders should be signed off by all parties.

All agreed Orders should be signed off by all parties.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Notice of hearing

The notice of hearing must specify the method of hearing, and the requesting party must set up the CourtCall teleconference.

Telephonic hearings are allowed through Court Call. The notice of hearing must provide the method of hearing and the party must set up the teleconference with CourtCall.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Default judgment order

Default judgment orders for liquidated damages must be submitted by motion with supporting affidavits; non-liquidated damages must be set for hearing or by affidavit.

Orders for Default Judgments may be submitted for consideration for liquidated damages as long as they are submitted by Motion and all supporting affidavits. Non-liquidated damages must be set for hearing or by affidavit.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Final trial announcement

Final trial announcements must include witness counts, estimated trial length, and any coronavirus symptoms among parties, witnesses, or attorneys.

At the time of announcement, the parties need to provide the following information: a. How many witnesses each side will call; b. Estimated length of the trial; and c. If any parties, witnesses or attorneys are exhibiting any symptoms associated with the coronavirus.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Brief

Briefs must highlight the issues and the relevant passages in the caselaw.

Please highlight the issues and highlight the relevant passages in the caselaw.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Notice of hearing

For hearings held by telephone, the moving party must set up a call-in number and include it in the notice of hearing to the court and opposing counsel.

The moving party shall set up the call-in number and provide the number to the court and opposing counsel in its notice of hearing.

WARNING

Applies to

Agreement

The residency restriction presumption can be displaced by the parties' written agreement filed with the Court.

There is a rebuttable presumption that it is in the best interest of the child(ren), unless the parties agree in wTiting and filed wath the Court, that so long as the non-primary parent lives in Dallas County the residency of the children is restricted to Dallas County and contiguous counties.

WARNING

Applies to

Divorce decree

Transferring the prior SAPCR is preferred; if the decree instead references the prior matter, a copy of the prior order must be attached, and modification requires consolidation.

Transfer of prior SAPCR into divorce is preferred procedure, but the Court will accept reference of prior matter in divorce decree with copy of prior order attached. Terms of prior SAPCR order cannot be modified by divorce decree if only attaching the prior order. It must be consolidated to be modified.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Audio visual exhibits

Audio/Visual file names should include the exhibit number and whether it’s a video or audio recording. Audio/Visual exhibits can be send to the Reporter via Dropbox - tina.thompson@dallascounty.org.

Audio/Visual file names should include the exhibit number and whether it’s a video or audio recording. Audio/Visual exhibits can be send to the Reporter via Dropbox - tina.thompson@dallascounty.org.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Exhibits

The completed exhibit jump drive must be provided to the Court Reporter for delivery to the jury during deliberations.

The completed jump drive shall be provided to the Court Reporter so that it may be provided to the jury for their deliberations.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Monthly fee report

Must include

judge name, case number

Clerks must prepare monthly reports of all fees of $500 or more approved for payment, including specified details.

At the end of each month, each district and county clerk shall prepare a report to include each fee approved during that month for payment in the amount of $500 or more. The report shall indicate: (1) the name of each person appointed by the judge of each district court, county court, statutory county court, and statutory probate court in the county to a position for which a fee of $500 or more has been approved during the month to be paid from any source; (2) the name of the judge approving the payment of the fees; (3) the case number and style of the case in which the fee was approved to be paid; (4) the date of the order approving the payment of the fee; (5) the position to which the person was appointed; and (6) whether the appointee is an attorney, a private professional guardian, associated with a public guardianship program, or a friend or family member of the ward or the deceased; and (7) the amount of the fee approved for payment, and the source of such payment.

WARNING

Applies to

No activity report

If no fees were approved during the month, submit a No Activity report indicating no activity for the month.

NO FEES APPROVED DURING MONTH Submit a No Activity report indicating that there was no activity for the month for the court.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Protective order

The Court requires use of its standard Protective Order form when a protective order is needed.

In cases where the parties believe that a standard Protective Order is necessary, the Court requires that this form be utilized.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Attorney fees claim

The verification must state that hours were figured to the nearest 1/10 and that the hours and expenses incurred were reasonable and necessary.

I have figured the hours to the nearest 1/10. The hours worked were reasonable and necessary. The expenses incurred were reasonable and necessary.

WARNING

Applies to

Report

When total compensation paid to an appointee in one case exceeds $1,000 for the month, the report must include the number of hours billed and the total dollar amount of expenses billed.

If the total amount of compensation paid to an appointee for 1 case exceeds $1,000 for the month, report: 11. NUMBER OF HOURS BILLED The number of hours billed to the court for the work performed by the appointee or the appointee’s employees, including paralegals. 12. TOTAL BILLED EXPENSES The total dollar amount of expenses billed to the court for the work performed by the appointee or the appointee’s employees, including paralegals.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

Must include

proposed order

Rule 106 motions should include the attached proposed form order; failure to do so may delay the court's granting of the motion.

Any Rule 106 Motion should be accompanied by the attached proposed form order. Failure to do so may delay the court's granting of an otherwise proper motion.

WARNING

Applies to

Report

Each reported payment must include all fees and expenses resulting from the appointment, including attorneys' fees, related expenses, and fiduciary compensation.

Each payment reported must include any and all fees occurring as a result of the appointment. It shall include attorneys’ fees and related expenses resulting from the appointment and any compensation and/or fees for serving as fiduciary.

WARNING

Applies to

Appointment and fee orders

Appointment and fee-approval orders must be specific enough for clerks to prepare the required monthly reports.

Orders making appointments or approving the payment of fees are to be sufficiently specific to enable the clerks to prepare the required monthly reports.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Request for reporters record

Reporter's record requests require the 134th Request for Reporter's Record Form emailed to the reporter.

When requesting a Reporter’s Record, please fill out the 134th Request for Reporter’s Record Form and email it to the Reporter at tina.thompson@dallascounty.org

WARNING

Applies to

Report

The report must state the entire dollar amount approved for payment, not the hourly rate.

Dollar amount approved for payment. The entire amount should be reported, not the rate approved (i.e., not $15 per hour).

WARNING

Applies to

Fee approval order

If fees exceed $1,000, fee approval orders must include number of hours billed and billed expenses.

If fees exceed $1,000: Number of hours billed for work performed Billed expenses

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

Statements from neighbors or residents included in the affidavit must state the person's full name and a description.

Statements by neighbors or by people residing in the abode must include the full name of the person and a description.

WARNING

Applies to

No activity report

If no appointments were made during the month, submit a No Activity report indicating no activity for the month.

NO APPOINTMENTS MADE DURING MONTH Submit No Activity report indicating that there was no activity for the month for the court.

WARNINGCivil casesCourt notice

Applies to

Transcript request

All transcript requests must be made using the 'Requests for the Reporters' Records' form.

Please download and fill out the “Request for Request’s Records” form, and email ALL transcript requests for the Reporter’s Records forms to Tina Thompson at tina.thompson@dallascounty.org

WARNING

Applies to

Monthly report

Each court must report all appointments and payments made during the month, or submit a no-activity report if none were made.

For each court 1. All appointments made during the month OR report of no appointments made during the month AND 2. All payments approved during the month OR report of no payments made during the month

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion for substitute service

Must include

proposed order

Rule 106 motions should be accompanied by the attached proposed form order; failure to do so may delay granting.

Any Rule 106 Motion should be accompanied by the attached proposed form order. Failure to do so may delay the court's granting of an otherwise proper motion.

WARNING

Applies to

Proposed order

When the court directs counsel to prepare an order, it must be tendered to opposing counsel at least two working days before submission; opposing counsel must approve or file written objections, and failure to do so deems the order approved as to form.

Should the court notify counsel of its decision at any time following the hearing on any contested matter and direct counsel to prepare one or more orders for submission to the court any such order shall be tendered to opposing counsel at least two working days before it is submitted to the court. The opposing party must either approve the proposed order as to form or file objections in writing with the court. If an order is not approved as to form

WARNING

Applies to

Agreed matter

Must include

proposed order

The Court does not require a separate motion or hearing on agreed matters, except for continuances in cases over one year old or as otherwise provided. All uncontested or agreed matters should be presented with a proposed form of order and should reflect the agreement of all parties either (a) by personal or authorized signature on the form of order, or (b) in the certificate of conference on the motion. This Rule does not apply to cases involving financial settlements to minors.

The Court does not require a separate motion or hearing on agreed matters, except for continuances in cases over one year old or as otherwise provided. All uncontested or agreed matters should be presented with a proposed form of order and should reflect the agreement of all parties either (a) by personal or authorized signature on the form of order, or (b) in the certificate of conference on the motion. This Rule does not apply to cases involving financial settlements to minors.