Dawson County District Court, Texas Document Filing Requirements

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Petition

In accordance with HB 1973, when a Petition is filed in a Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship, the Petitioner shall additionally submit to the court a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate if available to the Petitioner.

In accordance with HB 1973, when a Petition is filed in a Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship, the Petitioner shall additionally submit to the court a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate if available to the Petitioner.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Birth certificate

The Petitioner must deliver the birth certificate in person to the court at the first available in-person hearing.

Instead, said birth certificate shall be delivered in person by the Petitioner to the court at the first available in-person hearing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion for continuance

Must include

certificate of conference

A motion for continuance must include a certificate documenting the parties’ unsuccessful good-faith effort to resolve the dispute.

All Motions for Continuance mustinclude a "Certificate ofConference" documenting that the parties have made a good faith effort to resolve the dispute at issue and have failed.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Hearing request

Before any temporary or final hearing, each party must provide the Court a list of requested relief without commentary or reasons.

Prior to ANY hearing(Temporary or Final)each Party shall furnish the Court a list ofall relief requested without commentary and without the reason for the request.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Income information

If income is relevant. Parties should have a firm grasp of his or her own current income or income from the preceding year and be prepared to declare same. Parties are ordered to furnish last tax returns filed with I.R.S.

If income is relevant. Parties should have a firm grasp of his or her own current income or income from the preceding year and be prepared to declare same. Parties are ordered to furnish last tax returns filed with I.R.S.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed findings conclusions

When findings and conclusions are requested, each party must prepare proposed findings and conclusions in a form suitable for the judge’s signature within 10 days of the request.

If Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law are requested of the Court by either Party, the other Party is Ordered to be noticed and each is Ordered to prepare proposed Findings ofFact and Conclusions of Law in a form appropriate for the Judge's signature within ten (10) days of request.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Hearing order

Must include

proposed order

Unless the parties agree or the Court orders otherwise, the prevailing party drafts the hearing order; if that party is pro se and the other party is represented, the represented party’s counsel drafts it.

In the absence of an agreement or unless otherwise ordered by the court, the prevailing party in a hearing will draft the order. If the prevailing party is pro se and the other party is represented, counsel for the other party will draft the Order.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Divorce pleading served by publication

When a divorce pleading is served by publication, the case requires either a filed statement that the respondent owns nothing of value and has no minor children or an order appointing an attorney ad litem to represent the respondent.

If a Divorce pleading is served by publication, either 1) filing of a statement that they own nothing of value and they have no minor children, or 2) an Order Appointing an Attorney Ad Litem to represent the respondent will be required.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Default judgment

A Certificate of Last Known Address and an Affidavit of Military Status must be filed before any default judgment is granted.

Before any Default Judgment will be granted, a Certificate of Last Known Address and an Affidavit of Military Status must first be filed in the case.

WARNING

Applies to

Hearing request

A request that deviates from a standard must be as specific as an order; a supervised-visitation request must state where, how, and with whom visitation will occur.

However, deviations from any standard must be as specific as an Order, e.g. request for supervised visitation must contain where, how and with whom.