Denton County District Courts
Court-Level Rules, Filing Procedures & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Adjournments
- The first continuance or pass must be requested and granted by announcement day without showing cause, subject to the trial judge's approval.
- Continuances and subsequent passes may be granted only for a fair disposition of litigation, a higher-priority setting conflict, or as provided by law.
- Substitution of counsel ordinarily does not constitute good cause for a subsequent continuance.
- +2 more
Request must include
- Unless good cause is shown, a motion for continuance must be filed at least 10 days before trial and will be heard if set by the trial date.
Communication
Clerk
Document Format Requirements20 rules
Audio or video media may contain only the segments offered as an exhibit, not unrequested portions of the recording.
Only segments offered as an exhibit can be on the audio or video media. (i.e., a DVD of jail phone calls with 50 calls, if only certain calls are being offered, copy only those calls onto a separate disk and offer that disk as an exhibit, not all 50 calls).
Non-document photographs must be at least 2,048 by 1,536 pixels; higher resolutions are discouraged, with 12- to 18-bit color used when full color is necessary and grayscale otherwise encouraged.
Photographic images other than documents (e.g., photos of physical exhibits) must be included within the computer file as images with a resolution of not less than 2,048 x 1,536 pixels (approximately 3 megapixels). Higher resolutions are not encouraged. If a full color rendition is necessary, color depth should be between 12-bit and 18-bit. Otherwise, grayscale images are encouraged.
If the appellate court cannot open an offered exhibit, the sponsoring party must provide the court reporter with the exhibit in an acceptable format.
If at any time in the future the case is on appeal and the court of appeals cannot open the exhibit that was offered, the sponsoring party that offered the exhibit will be responsible to provide the court reporter with the exhibit that is in the acceptable format.
Text-document files must be searchable PDFs compatible with the latest Adobe Reader and must not be password-protected, encrypted, or subject to rights management.
Each computer file of a text document must be prepared in text-searchable Portable Document Fonnat (PDF), compatible with the latest version of Adobe Reader. The computer file must not be password-protected, encrypted, or protected by rights management.
Audio and video recordings must use a format supported by VLC or Windows Media Player, and unsupported video files must be converted to a supported format.
An audio/video recording must be included in the record in a format supported by VLC media player (VideoLAN Organization) or Windows media player (Microsoft). JCIT Technology Standards §3.2. If a video file is not supported by at least one of the media players listed above, the file must be converted to another format supported by at least one media player listed.
Scanned document images must be black and white and have a resolution of 300 dpi.
Images of documents must be included within the computer file as images scanned in black and white with a resolution of 300 dots per inch (dpi).
Audio files are limited to 100 MB and video files are limited to 2 GB.
Audio files must not exceed 100 MB. Video files must not exceed 2 GB.
If the exhibit number does not appear on the exhibit image, a preceding page showing the exhibit number is required.
If an exhibit number is not on the exhibit image, there must be a page preceding the image to show the exhibit number.
Combined filings are prohibited, and each filing must be submitted separately.
A document may not contain combined filings; each filing must be separate. For example, you cannot file a combined motion and order.
All documents must comply with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure requirements concerning sensitive data.
5.3.7 (f) All documents must comply with the requirements of the TRCP on sensitive data.
Documents must have at least a one-inch margin on every side of the page.
5.3.7 (d) There must be a minimum of a one-inch margin on all sides of the page.
Documents must be free of malware and viruses, and electronic filing certifies that the filer checked the document for them.
5.3.7 (g) A document must not contain any malware or viruses. Thee-filing of a document constitutes certification by the e-filer that the document has been checked and is clear of any malware or viruses.
Every document submitted for filing must comply with the specified Technology Standards and the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.
5.3.5 Every document submitted for filing shall conform to the requirements for filing established in the Technology Standards issued by the Judicial Committee on Information Technology, subsection 3.1 as well as those established by the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.
Data compression is encouraged, but the submitter must ensure sufficient audio and video quality; files should not be password-protected, encrypted, or subject to rights management.
Data compression is encouraged, though the submitter must assure that the video and audio content have sufficient quality. The files should not be password-protected. encrypted, or protected by rights management.
Scanning text documents should be avoided when possible, and documents should be converted directly to PDF when feasible.
Because scanning creates larger file sizes with images of lesser quality, scanning must be avoided when possible. To the extent possible, each text document must be converted directly into a PDF file using Adobe Acrobat, the word processing program's PDF conversion utility, or another software program.
Exhibits may be scanned if necessary, but scanned materials must be made searchable with optical-character-recognition software.
Exhibits, however, may be scanned if necessary. Any scanned materials must be made searchable using optical-character-recognition software. such as Adobe Acrobat.
All pleadings, motions, orders, other documents, and attached exhibits must be descriptively titled when offered for filing or entry.
5.3.7 (a) All pleadings, motions, orders and other documents, including exhibits attached thereto, when offered for filing or entry, shall be descriptively titled.
Each page of each instrument must be numbered and titled in the lower margin.
5.3.7 (b) Each page of each instrument shall, in the lower margin thereof, be numbered and titled; e.g., Plaintiff's Original Petition - Page 2.
Photographs may be captured directly with a digital camera or scanned from a photographic print.
Photographs may be captured directly with a digital cainera or scanned from a photographic print.
A recording that exceeds one file may be divided into multiple files.
If the recording is too long to fit in one file, it may be broken into multiple files
Document Filing Requirements27 rules
The certification must state that a human verified all generative-AI-created or contributed language, quotations, sources, citations, arguments, and legal analysis through traditional non-AI legal sources before submission.
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-Al) legal sources by a human being
Document Type
Certification Form
The certification must state that the submitting attorney or self-represented litigant acknowledges responsibility and potential sanctions for noncompliance by the filer, staff, or co-counsel.
The attorney or self-represented litigant 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.
Document Type
Certification Form
Self-represented litigants and attorneys using artificial intelligence must sign and submit the attached certification form before using AI-generated information in a court submission or proceeding.
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
Document Type
Certification Form
The document is a certification regarding use of artificial intelligence signed by the attorney of record or self-represented litigant.
CERTIFICATION REGARDING USE OF ARTIFICAL INTELLIGENCE I, the undersigned attorney of record or self-represented litigant in the above-entitled and numbered cause pending in the District Courts of Denton County, Texas, hereby certify as follows:
Document Type
Certificate
The filer must certify review and understanding of the Denton County artificial-intelligence standing order and commitment to comply with it throughout the case.
1. I have reviewed and understand the Standing Order Regarding Use of Artificial Intelligence issued by the Denton County District Courts, and I will comply with that Order throughout this case.
Document Type
Certificate
The filer must certify that a human independently verified all generative-AI-created or contributed information through traditional non-AI legal sources before submission to the court.
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.
Document Type
Certificate
The opposing party must approve the proposed order as to form or file written, specific objections with the Court.
The opposing party must either approve the proposed order as to form or file specific objections in writing with the Court.
Document Type
Proposed Order
Every ex parte relief application must include a certificate signed by counsel using one of the three specified forms.
2.1.3 Every application for relief ex parte shall contain a certificate signed by counsel in one of the forms set forth below:
Document Type
Ex Parte Relief Application
A written deposition notice must include the specified statement concerning the parties’ conference or attempt to confer.
Any written notice of deposition shall state as follows: "A conference was held (or attempted) with the attorney for opposing party to agree on a date, time, place, and materials to be furnished. Agreement could not be reached (or counsel will not respond) and the deposition is therefore being taken pursuant to this notice (or agreement was reached and this notice complies with the agreement)."
Document Type
Deposition Notice
Requests for court settings and deposition notices must include a certificate substantially conforming to Rule 2.6.2.
Requests of an attorney or party for a court setting and notices for depositions require a certificate substantially in the form as set out in Rule 2.6.2
Document Type
Court Setting Request
Every application for an ex parte order or other ex parte relief must include a written certification substantially conforming to one of the prescribed forms.
All applications for ex parte orders or relief shall be accompanied by a written certification from the party or attorney substantially in one of the following forms:
Document Type
Ex Parte Application
An unopposed motion must be accompanied by a proposed order signed by all counsel indicating approval.
If not opposed, the moving party shall accompany the motion with a proposed order signed by all counsel indicating approval of same.
Document Type
Motion
A party sending an inventory to opposing counsel or an opposing party must file a certificate of compliance with the District Clerk.
however, when a party sends an inventory to opposing counsel or the opposing party, he/she shall file a certificate of compliance with the District Clerk certifying that the inventory has been sent to the opposing counsel or opposing party.
Document Type
Inventory
An opposed motion must include the prescribed certificate of conference, or substantially similar language, signed by the designated lead attorney or pro se party.
If the motion will be opposed, the following certificate (or language substantially similar thereto) shall be attached to the motion and signed by the designated lead attorney (or pro se party):
Document Type
Motion
When a newly retained attorney replaces an existing attorney, the newly retained attorney must also file a motion to substitute counsel bearing the appropriate signatures in the motion or the proposed substitution order.
If the Defendant/Respondent is currently represented by another attorney, including a court-appointed attorney, the newly retained attorney shall also file a Motion to Substitute Counsel with the appropriate signatures in the Motion or the proposed Order granting the substitution.
Document Type
Motion To Substitute Counsel
An attorney must file a letter of representation with the applicable court clerk within three business days of being retained.
4.1.1 Attorneys shall file with the applicable court clerk a letter of representation within 3 business days of being retained to represent a Defendant/Respondent.
Document Type
Letter Of Representation
A filing document must be signed by the filing party or the party's attorney of record.
A document submitted for filing must be signed by the party or the party's attorney of record.
Document Type
Filing Document
A filing document must include the party's address, phone number, fax number, email address, and State Bar of Texas identification number when applicable.
A document submitted for filing must include the party's address, phone number, fax number, email address, and State Bar of Texas identification number, if applicable.
Document Type
Filing Document
Every document's signature block must include the filer's complete name, address, phone number, and email address.
5.3.7 (e) All documents must contain the filer' s complete contact information m the signature block, including the filer' s name, address, phone number, and email address.
Document Type
Document
The filing party or attorney of record must maintain the original document bearing the required original signature.
5.3.6 The party or the party' s attorney of record shall maintain the original of the document with original signature affixed as required by Section 51.806, Texas Government Code.
Document Type
Document
If a proposed order requires a subsequent form for a law enforcement agency, that form must be submitted when the proposed order is submitted.
5.3.7 (n) Any proposed order submitted to this office that requires a subsequent form to be submitted to any law enforcement agency to effectuate the details of the order must be included at the time the proposed order is submitted.
Document Type
Proposed Order
A continuance or other fiat must be filed as a separate Notice of Hearing, not as part of the pleading, and must identify the associated pleading.
5.3.7 (h) Fiats must be filed as a separate Notice of Hearing and cannot be part of the pleading. It must contain the name of the pleading to which it is associated—for example, Notice of Hearing on Motion for Continuance.
Document Type
Notice Of Hearing
In cases involving a minor, pleadings and related orders must identify the minor by full name and full date of birth in the body.
District Court cases filed involving a minor may identify the minor m ' ;;:~TY the style of the case, but shall identify the minor by full name and full date of birth in the body of the pleadings and related orders.
Document Type
Pleadings And Related Orders
The moving party must provide a copy of the written hearing notice to the Court Coordinator.
A copy of this communication shall be provided to the Court Coordinator.
Document Type
Notice Of Motion
The prescribed form should be used for a Notice of Hearing on all matters except where otherwise required by law.
The following form should be used as a otice of Hearing on all matters (except as otherwise required by law):
Document Type
Notice Of Hearing
Every party must keep a current physical or mailing address on file with the clerk until the court closes the case.
All parties are required to provide a current physical and/or mailing address to the clerk until the case is ordered closed by the Court.
Document Type
Party Address Information
Except when tendered at the hearing, the prevailing party should submit a proposed order on a contested matter after receiving notice of the Court's ruling.
Except for proposed orders tendered at a hearing, proposed orders on contested matters should be submitted by the prevailing party after notification of the Court's ruling.
Document Type
Proposed Order
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Every application for action or relief must be filed electronically.
2.1.2 Every application for action or relief of any kind shall be filed electronically.
Page 7 | Rule 2.1: Ex Parte Communications
Denton County departments filing into an existing case must file electronically through the County Clerk's preferred method.
Denton County departments filing into an existing case, must file electronically through the preferred method of the County Clerk.
Page 20 | Rule 5.2: Rules Governing Filing for County Clerk
Audio and video media may not be filed electronically with the clerk and must instead be delivered to the applicable court under its protocols.
5.3.10 No audio or video media files may be filed with the clerk using the electronic filing manager or eFiling system. All audio and video media should be delivered to the applicable Court ofrecord as needed per that Court's protocols.
Page 22 | 5.3.10
For an original petition filed by non-electronic means, the Clerk must ensure that the order is attached to the petition and every copy presented if the Petitioner failed to do so.
At the time an original petition is filed by non-electronic means, if the Petitioner has failed to attach a copy of this order to the petition and any copy of the petition, the Clerk shall ensure that a copy of this order is attached to the petition and every copy of the petition presented.
Page 3 | 7. SERVICE AND APPLICATION OF THIS ORDER
After electronically signing an order, the judge must forward it electronically to the clerk, who may treat it as the official copy.
(2) Upon electronically signing an order, the Judge shall electronically forward the order to the clerk who may treat the electronic order as the official copy of the order.
Page 23 | 5.3.15(a)(2)
The clerk may accept for filing through E-File Texas any document that may be filed in a court action, except original signed orders or judgments.
5.3.2. The clerk of the District Courts is authorized to accept for filing any document submitted for filing via the electronic filing manager commonly known as "E-File Texas" or e- filing system (referred herein and throughout this section as 'electronic filing manager') and received which might be filed in a court action except: (a) original signed orders or judgments.
Page 21 | 5.3.2
Unless a local rule requires it, a party need not file a paper copy of an electronically filed document.
5.3.11 Paper Copies - Per the TRCP, unless required by local rule, a party need not file a paper copy of an electronically filed document.
Page 22 | 5.3.11
A judge may electronically sign an order using a digitized signature.
(1) A Judge may electronically sign an order by applying his or her digitized signature to the order.
Page 23 | 5.3.15(a)(1)
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
After receiving the hearing date and time, the moving party must immediately file a written notice of hearing with the District Clerk or County Clerk.
Upon receiving the date and time of hearing, the moving party shall immediately notify all other parties in writing as to the date, time, and subject matter of the hearing, and shall immediately file a written notice of hearing with the District Clerk or County Clerk, as applicable.
Page 5 | Rule 1.11.3
An opposition brief on a summary-judgment motion must be filed and served no later than the response due date.
briefs in opposition to a motion for summary judgment must be filed and served at or before the time the response is due;
Page 6 | Rule 1.12: Briefs
Except in an emergency, briefs on motions other than summary judgment must be served and filed no later than three working days before the hearing.
Except in case of emergency, briefs relating to a motion (other than for summary judgment) set for hearing must be served and filed with the District Clerk or County Clerk not later than 3 working days before the scheduled hearing.
Page 6 | Rule 1.12: Briefs
A summary-judgment reply brief must be filed and served at least three days before the hearing.
reply briefs in support of a motion for summary judgment must be filed and served no less than 3 days before the hearing.
Page 6 | Rule 1.12: Briefs
A summary-judgment support brief must be filed and served together with the summary-judgment motion.
Briefs in support of a motion of summary judgment must be filed and served with that motion;
Page 6 | Rule 1.12: Briefs
The letter of representation is due within three business days after the attorney is retained.
4.1.1 Attorneys shall file with the applicable court clerk a letter of representation within 3 business days of being retained to represent a Defendant/Respondent.
Page 19 | Rule 4.1: General Rules in Criminal Cases and Juvenile Cases
A compliant electronic document becomes the original court or evidentiary record when the clerk's official date-and-time file-mark or file-stamp is applied.
5.3.4 A document submitted for filing via the electronic filing manager, compliant with all applicable filing requirements, shall be accepted and will be recognized as the original record for the Court' s file or for evidentiary purposes when the document bear' s the clerk' s official date and time file-mark or file-stamp.
Page 21 | 5.3.4
Electronic submission alone is not an accepted filing; acceptance is complete only when the clerk affixes the official date-and-time file-mark or file-stamp.
5.3.9 Electronic submission of a document does not constitute an accepted-filing. Accepted-filing is complete when the clerk' s official date and time file-mark or file-stamp is affixed to the document.
Page 22 | 5.3.9
A filer must correct a returned document within three business days using the Texas E-File System's copy docket/date feature to retain the original submission date.
5.3.7 (m) All submitted documents that are returned for correction to the filer will have three (3) business days to make the required correction to receive the original submission date. Filer is required utilize the copy docket/date feature of the Texas E-File System.
Page 22 | 5.3.7(m)
Unless a document has a specific time-of-day deadline, electronic filing before midnight in the court's time zone on the filing deadline is timely and is deemed filed upon transmission to the filing party's electronic filing service provider, subject to stated exceptions.
Each party or party' s attorney of record submitting documents for fi ling through the electronic filing manager or eFiling system will be subject to the Timely Filing rule set forth in the TRCP. Unless a document must be filed by a certain time of day, a document is considered timely filed if it is electronically filed at any time before midnight (in the court's time zone) on the filing deadline. An electronically filed document is deemed filed when transmitted to the filing party's electronic filing service provider, except:
Page 23 | 5.3.16
When a document requires a motion and an order allowing its filing, it is deemed filed on the date the motion is granted.
(B) if a document requires a motion and an order allowing its filing, the document is deemed filed on the date that the motion is granted.
Page 24 | 5.3.16(B)
An electronically transmitted document submitted on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday is deemed filed on the next day that is not one of those days.
(A) if a document is transmitted on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, it is deemed filed on the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday;
Page 24 | 5.3.16(A)
For an electronically filed original petition missing the required order, the Clerk must decline to issue citation until the petition is resubmitted with the order attached.
At the time an original petition is filed electronically, if the Petitioner has failed to attach a copy of this order to the petition and any copy of the petition, the Clerk shall decline to issue citation until the petition is resubmitted with a copy of this order attached in conformity with this section.
Page 3 | 7. SERVICE AND APPLICATION OF THIS ORDER
An attorney expecting to be unavailable for a vacation must file a vacation letter with the appropriate clerk no later than 45 days before the vacation and serve all attorneys and parties; a timely letter prevents new settings and Rule 1.13 orders during the vacation but does not affect existing settings.
If an attorney will be unavailable for Court appearances due to a vacation, the attorney of record shall file a vacation letter with the District Clerk or County Clerk, as applicable, and shall serve all attorneys of record and parties with the vacation letter. If a vacation letter is filed not later than 45 days prior to the start of the attorney' s designated vacation, no hearings or trials shall be set in a case during the attorney' s vacation, and no orders shall be submitted under Rule 1.13 during the attorney' s vacation. However, the filing of a vacation letter shall not affect any settings that exist at the time of filing of the letter.
Page 4 | Rule 1.8: Conflicting Settings and Lawyer Vacations
If a proposed order is neither approved nor challenged in writing with specific objections within five days after submission, the Court presumes no form objections.
If an order is not approved as to form and no specific objections are filed within 5 days of the submission of the proposed order, the Court will presume that there are no objections as to form.
Page 6 | Rule 1.13: Submission of Proposed Orders By Counsel
Proposed orders should not be submitted as an initial filing or envelope and must instead be filed subsequently.
5.3.7 (k) Proposed orders should not be filed as an initial filing/envelope. They must be filed as a subsequent filing/envelope.
Page 22 | 5.3.7(k)
When an electronically submitted document is deficient, the clerk must notify the filer as soon as practicable that it will not be filed and state the reason.
5.3.8 If a document submitted electronically for filing is found to be deficient by the clerk for any reason, the clerk shall notify the filer as soon as practicable that the document will not be filed and the reason why the document will not be filed.
Page 22 | 5.3.8
The order becomes effective when the original petition is filed and remains effective as a temporary restraining order for fourteen days after service.
This order is effective upon the filing of the original petition and shall remain in full force and effect as a temporary restraining order for fourteen days after the date of service of the original petition.
Page 3 | 7.2 SERVICE AND APPLICATION OF THIS ORDER
A party required to complete an approved parent education and stabilization program must file proof of completion with the court when the requirement is met.
Proof of completion of the program must be filed with the court upon meeting this requirement.
Page 4 | 10. PARENT EDUCATION AND STABILIZATION
A proposed order should be provided to the opposing party at least two working days before submission to the Court.
Proposed orders should be tendered to the opposing party at least 2 working days before they are submitted to the Court.
Page 6 | Rule 1.13: Submission of Proposed Orders By Counsel
When an electronic submission is accepted, the clerk applies the official date-and-time file-mark or stamp and the electronic filing system confirms the accepted filing.
5.3.8 Conversely, when a document submitted electronically for filing is accepted, the clerk shall affix the clerk's official date and time file-mark or file-stamp to the document and the electronic filing manager or eFiling system will provide the filer with confirmation of the accepted filing.
Page 22 | 5.3.8
Service and Proof of Service Rules
The moving party must immediately provide written hearing details to all other parties and immediately file a written notice of hearing with the applicable clerk.
Upon receiving the date and time of hearing, the moving party shall immediately notify all other parties in writing as to the date, time, and subject matter of the hearing, and shall immediately file a written notice of hearing with the District Clerk or County Clerk, as applicable.
Page 5 | Rule 1.11.3
After the Coordinator communicates the trial setting to the requesting party, that party must serve the notice on all other parties.
The Coordinator will inform the requesting party of the trial setting and the party requesting the setting shall serve the notice of the setting on all other parties.
Page 10 | Rule 2.8.5
The party requesting a trial setting must serve the request on every other party.
The party requesting the setting shall serve the request on all other parties.
Page 10 | Rule 2.8.3
The identified affidavits must be served on all other lead counsel or parties, and their attachments must be made available at the requesting party's cost.
The Affidavits described in the preceding paragraphs shall be served upon, and the attachments shall be made available to, all other lead counsel or parties in accordance with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code at the cost of the requesting party.
Page 11 | Rule 2.14: Business Records Affidavits and Affidavits Concerning the Cost and Necessity of Services
Opposing counsel must serve the proffering attorney with all objections to the testimony and page-and-line designations for intended trial portions within 10 days after receiving the initial designation.
Opposing counsel shall serve the proffering attorney with all objections to the testimony and page and line designations of any portions he/she intends to introduce at trial within 10 days of receiving the designation.
Page 12 | Rule 2.15: Use of Visually Recorded Depositions
Unless the parties expressly agree or the court orders otherwise, counsel offering visually recorded depositions, films, or visual recordings at trial, other than solely for impeachment, must serve opposing counsel with page and line designations no later than 30 days before trial.
Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the parties or ordered by the Court, counsel intending to offer visually recorded depositions or other films or visual recordings at trial, except those offered solely for impeachment, must serve opposing counsel with page and line designations for visually recorded depositions not later than 30 days prior to trial.
Page 12 | Rule 2.15: Use of Visually Recorded Depositions
A person obtaining a final-hearing setting before a district judge must send written notice to all opposing parties within two business days.
Any person who obtains a setting for a final hearing before a District Judge shall have the duty to send all opposing parties written notice of such setting within two business days of the date they obtained such setting.
Page 17 | Rule 3.4: Final Hearing Settings
The attorney of record must serve all attorneys of record and parties with the vacation letter when the attorney will be unavailable for a vacation.
If an attorney will be unavailable for Court appearances due to a vacation, the attorney of record shall file a vacation letter with the District Clerk or County Clerk, as applicable, and shall serve all attorneys of record and parties with the vacation letter.
Page 4 | Rule 1.8: Conflicting Settings and Lawyer Vacations
The Clerk must send written notice of dismissal for want of prosecution to all parties or their counsel of record, subject to other rules.
Subject to other provisions of these Rules, the Clerk shall send a written notice of a dismissal for want of prosecution to _all parties or their counsel of record.
Page 10 | Rule 2.7.3
The clerk may electronically transmit official-seal citations, notices, writs, and other issuances to a filing party or attorney of record, except issuances requiring certified supporting filings or attachments.
5.3.13 Citations, notices, writs and other issuance bearing the official seal of the court are permitted to be transmitted electronically when produced and delivered by the clerk of the Court to a filing party or party's attorney of record save and except those issuance that require the accompaniment of certified supportive filings/attachments.
Page 23 | 5.3.13
Filing Fees and Waivers
A severed claim must be filed as a new case in the same court, assigned a new cause number, and requires the standard new-case filing fee.
Whenever a motion to sever is granted, the severed claim shall be filed as a new case in the same Court and shall be assigned a new cause number by the District Clerk. A filing fee is required as in all new cases.
Page 13 | Rule 3.1: Filing, Assignment, and Transfer
The clerk will not accept electronically submitted documents until applicable court costs and fees are paid; payment may be made by debit or credit card within the electronic filing manager.
5.3.3 No documents electronically submitted via the electronic filing manager shall be accepted by the clerk until the applicable court costs and fees have been paid. Court costs and fees may be paid by debit card and credit card within the electronic filing manager.
Page 21 | 5.3.3
Filing Bundling Requirements
PDF packages and portfolios are prohibited; documents for one filing must be combined into one PDF or have their exhibits filed as attachments.
5.3.7 (j) PDF packages and portfolios are not permitted. Multiple documents that pertain to a single filing must be combined into a single PDF and or must have all exhibits filed as attachments.
Page 22 | 5.3.7(j)
Documents requiring separate filing fees must be filed separately; one document may not combine multiple such filings.
5.3.7 (i) A document may not contain multiple filings that requires separate filing fees for each document that may have a filing fee associated with the document filed; each filing must be filed separately.
Page 22 | 5.3.7(i)
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
The moving party must certify in the motion or a letter substantially as specified before any motion, objection, or special exception is set for hearing.
No motions, objections, or special exceptions will be set for hearing unless the moving party shall have certified in such motion or in a ktter substantially the following:
Page 5 | Rule 1.11.2
Before setting a motion or other request requiring a post-hearing ruling for decision, the moving party must communicate and confer with opposing counsel or the opposing pro se party, except for the listed motion categories.
o motion or other request on any matter which will require the ruling of the Court after hearing shall be set, except (a) TRCP 13 motions for sanctions, (b) motions to transfer venue, (c) special appearances, and/or (d) pleas to the subject matter jurisdiction of the Court, until the moving party shall first communicate and confer with opposing counsel or the opposing party, if pro se, to determine whether the contemplated motion will be opposed.
Page 15 | Rule 3.4.2
An attorney or pro se party may not set a final hearing without conferring with each opposing attorney or pro se party.
An attorney or prose party may not set a final hearing without conferring with each opposing attorney or pro se party.
Page 16 | Rule 3.4.5
The Rule 1.11.2 conference-certification requirement does not apply to the listed dispositive motions or motions for new trial.
Section 1.11.2 of this Rule does not pertain to dispositive motions, (e.g., Motions for Summary Judgment, Motions to Dismiss, Motions for Default Judgment, and Special Exceptions seeking to dismiss a cause of action) or to Motions for New Trial.
Page 6 | Rule 1.11.6
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Unless good cause is shown, a motion for continuance must be filed at least 10 days before trial and will be heard if set by the trial date.
Except for good cause shown, any Motion for Continuance will be filed no less than 10 days prior to the trial date and will be heard by the Court if set for hearing at or before the time of trial.
Page 5 | Rule 1.9.4
A continuance motion based on facts arising on or after the stated filing deadline must be filed as soon as possible and will be heard at a time set by the Court.
Any motion for continuance based upon facts which occur on or after the deadline set forth in this paragraph will be filed as soon as possible and will be heard at a time to be set by the Court.
Page 5 | Rule 1.9.4
Continuances and subsequent passes may be granted only for a fair disposition of litigation, a higher-priority setting conflict, or as provided by law.
All continuances and subsequent passes shall be_granted only when required for a fair disposition of litigation or when a setting is in conflict with a setting having a higher priority under these Rules or as provided by law.
Page 5 | Rule 1.9: Continuances, Passes, and Subsequent Settings
A case continued or passed due to an attorney's vacation requires party agreement or a showing of good cause to receive a new setting.
A case passed or continued because of an attorney's vacation may not receive a setting except upon agreement of the parties or upon good cause shown.
Page 5 | Rule 1.9: Continuances, Passes, and Subsequent Settings
The first continuance or pass must be requested and granted by announcement day without showing cause, subject to the trial judge's approval.
Rule 1.9 .3 The first continuance and/or first pass shall be granted on or prior to announcement day without necessity of showing cause, subject to approval · by the trial judge.
Page 4 | Rule 1.9: Continuances, Passes, and Subsequent Settings
Substitution of counsel ordinarily does not constitute good cause for a subsequent continuance.
Substitution of counsel is ordinarily not good cause for subsequent continuances.
Page 5 | Rule 1.9: Continuances, Passes, and Subsequent Settings
Chambers Communication Rules
All opposing parties must be copied on emails to the Court Coordinator, including emails requesting final hearing settings.
parties shall be copied on all emails to the Court Coordinator, including all emails requesting final hearing settings.
Page 17 | Rule 3.4: Final Hearing Settings