Denton County District Courts Document Format Requirements
34 rules from official source documents
Font, margin, spacing, and file format requirements for court filings. This page is scoped to Denton County District Courts; use the court rules overview to switch categories without leaving this court.
- 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.
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).
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 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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
- Required
- Always
- Margins
- top 1 in, bottom 1 in, left 1 in, right 1 in
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.
- Required
- Always
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.
- Required
- Always
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.
Leave the date line blank, and obtain a judge’s signature for documents using “order” or “shall” language.
Please use a blank line for the date. Reminder that ‘order’ and ‘shall’ language require a judge’s signature.
Premarked exhibits must be submitted to the court reporter on USB and by email under the county evidence order, with hard copies provided for the judge and witness stand.
All pre-marked for identification exhibits must be submitted to the Court Reporter on a USB drive AND by email. THE EXHIBITS MUST BE SUBMITTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DENTON COUNTY STANDING ORDER REGARDING EVIDENCE. ADDITIONALLY, hard copies must be provided for the Judge and the witness stand.
- Format
- DOCX
The proposed jury charge must be submitted in Word format in the same form as it would be presented to the jury.
The jury charge must be submitted in Word format in exactly the same form as it would be presented to the jury.
- Format
- DOCX
A proposed order on a motion in limine or another pretrial motion must be submitted in Word format using the form on the court's website.
The proposed Order on Motion in Limine, etc. must be submitted in Word format in exactly the same form as located on the Court’s Website at 442nd District Court.
The language of the court-created CPS Scheduling Order is fixed and cannot be edited.
5. The Court has created a CPS Scheduling Order. It is required for ALL CPS cases. It will be entered at the Status hearing. No other language is permitted to be edited.
Each attorney ad litem selfie must be date-and-time stamped using DateStamper on iPhones or PhotoStamp Camera Free on Android devices.
The Court further requires that the selfie is date and time stamped using the DateStamper app for iPhones and the PhotoStamp Camera Free app for Androids.
Proper courtroom attire is required for an in-person divorce prove-up appearance.
NOTE that proper Courtroom attire is REQUIRED.
Premarked exhibits must be submitted to the court reporter by both USB drive and email, comply with the county evidence standing order, and include hard copies for the judge and witness stand.
c. All pre-marked for identification exhibits must be submitted to the Court Reporter on a USB drive AND by email. THE EXHIBITS MUST BE SUBMITTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DENTON COUNTY STANDING ORDER REGARDING EVIDENCE. ADDITIONALLY, hard copies must be provided for the Judge and the witness stand.
- Format
- DOCX
Proposed jury instructions must be submitted in Word in the form presented to the jury, cite authority at the end of each question or instruction, and omit judicial signature blocks.
b. The proposed jury instructions and issues. The jury charge must be submitted in Word format in exactly the same form as it would be presented to the jury. However, please cite your authority or source at the end of each question or instruction. Please do not include signature blocks for the Judge to grant, deny or modify any requested definition, instruction or question.
- Format
- DOCX
A proposed order for each motion in limine or other pretrial motion must be submitted in Word using the form on the court's website.
c. The proposed Order on Motion in Limine or other proposed orders on pre- trial motions. The proposed Order on Motion in Limine, etc. must be submitted in Word format in exactly the same form as located on the Court’s Website at 442nd District Court.
Premarked exhibits must be submitted to the court reporter on a USB drive and by email under the Denton County evidence standing order, with hard copies also provided to the judge and witness stand.
All pre-marked for identification exhibits must be submitted to the Court Reporter on a USB drive AND by email. THE EXHIBITS MUST BE SUBMITTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DENTON COUNTY STANDING ORDER REGARDING EVIDENCE. ADDITIONALLY, hard copies must be provided for the Judge and the witness stand.
The proposed jury charge must be submitted in Word format in the form presented to the jury, cite authority for each question or instruction, and omit judicial signature blocks.
The jury charge must be submitted in Word format in exactly the same form as it would be presented to the jury. However, please cite your authority or source at the end of each question or instruction. Please do not include signature blocks for the Judge to grant, deny or modify any requested definition, instruction or question.
A proposed order for a motion in limine or another pretrial motion must be submitted in Word format matching the court website form.
The proposed Order on Motion in Limine, etc. must be submitted in Word format in exactly the same form as located on the Court’s Website at 442nd District Court.
- Format
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.
- Format
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.
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.
- Required
- Always
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.
- Required
- Always
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.
The court reporter's USB and the judge's and witness stand's exhibit binders may be brought to the pretrial conference if all counsel have received copies.
*Exception: The USB for the Court Reporter and Exhibit Binders for the Judge and Witness Stand may be brought to the pre-trial conference as long as all counsel have received a copy.
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
What formatting rules apply to filings in Denton County District Courts?
Denton County District Courts' formatting rule includes file format docx and the proposed jury charge must appear in exactly the same form as it would be presented to the jury.. The proposed jury charge must be submitted in Word format in the same form as it would be presented to the jury.
What formatting rules apply to filings in Denton County District Courts?
Denton County District Courts' formatting rule includes file format PDF, text-searchable pdf compatible with the latest version of adobe reader, must not be password-protected, must not be encrypted, and must not be protected by rights management. 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.
What formatting rules apply to filings in Denton County District Courts?
Denton County District Courts' formatting rule includes margins top 1 inches, bottom 1 inches, left 1 inches, right 1 inches. Documents must have at least a one-inch margin on every side of the page.
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.