Judge Richard T. Bell
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Vacation Letter
Adjournments
- A continuance motion must be set for submission or hearing at least ten days before trial.
Communication
Phone
Court-wideDocument Format Requirements1 rule
Exhibits should be pre-marked identifying the offering party (Petitioner, Respondent, Intervenor, etc.) and using numbers only. For example, “Petitioner Ex. 1,” but not “Petitioner Ex. A.”
- Exhibits
Formatting
- •Pre-mark exhibits with the offering party’s identity and numbers only, not letters
Document Filing Requirements30 rules
The mediator’s report and MSA must be filed.
If child support/medical support is at issue, the Financial Information Statement SHALL contain sufficient information regarding each party’s available health and dental insurance, including but not limited to the cost for the children, so the Court may render a medical support order regarding health and dental insurance for the children.
Each party shall also furnish sufficient information to enable the Court to render a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO), if applicable.
Sworn Inventories or the Proposed Division of Property SHALL list and total, in column format, all property values and liabilities, and shall show the net worth of the community estate and the net worth of any claimed separate estate.
THE ABOVE MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE COURT DURING THE HEARING.
For any hearing for Temporary Orders for child support, the Financial Information Statement SHALL contain sufficient information regarding each party’s available health and dental insurance, including but not limited to the cost for the children, so the Court may render a medical support order regarding health and dental insurance for the children.
Each Sworn Inventory and Proposed Division of Property must list and characterize property, liabilities, creditors, security, and employment-related insurance and benefit interests as specified.
Court's wording
Each Sworn Inventory and Proposed Division of Property shall list each item of property and its fair market value, each liability and amount, property securing payment, and name of each creditor. Any property or liability shall be characterized as separate or community. All beneficial interests in insurance and benefits arising from a party's employment (such as pensions, profit sharing plans, savings or thrift plans, whether vested or non-vested) shall be identified.
A Motion for Modification of Temporary Orders must have a supporting affidavit and must be approved by the Court.
Failure to file an order signed by all parties and file all required documents, shall result in removal from this docket.
The notice must state that: (1) the motion will be heard by submission; (2) no party may appear for the hearing in person; and (3) any response to the motion must be on file at least three (3) days before the submission date, or longer if required by statute or rule.
Movant’s Motion to Enter must have the Proposed Order as an exhibit.
- Document
- Motion
Must include
- •Proposed order
Nonmovant’s Response must have a marked up copy of Movant’s Proposed Order which identifies the proposed edits.
An opposed motion must include a Certificate of Conference documenting a good-faith effort to resolve the matter or, if the parties could not confer, all attempted communications, including dates and methods.
- Document
- Motion
Must include
- •Certificate of conference
Court's wording
Opposed motions shall contain a Certificate of Conference which (1) states that the parties have conferred with each other and in good faith have attempted to resolve the matter or (2) states that the parties have not been able to confer and detailing all efforts made to confer, including dates and methods of attempted communication.
Failure to file a Proposed Order by the entry date and time may result in the case being dismissed.
If an objection is filed, all counsel and self-represented litigants need to appear at 9:00 a.m. via Zoom on the entry date or alternatively set a hearing for a contested entry.
ALL Orders must be signed as APPROVED TO FORM by the parties’ counsel and self-represented litigants.
For final orders, all required documents and information must be filed by the entry date before the Court will sign; failure may result in dismissal.
Court's wording
For finals orders, all required documents/information must be filed by the entry date. The Court will not sign an order until all required documents/information have been filed. Failure to file all required documents at the time of entry may result in the case being dismissed.
An opposed continuance motion must include a Certificate of Conference describing either the parties' good-faith conference or detailed efforts to confer, including dates and communication methods.
- Document
- Motion
- Placement
- Certificate section
Must include
- •Certificate of conference
Court's wording
Opposed motions shall contain a Certificate of Conference which (1) states that the parties have conferred with each other and in good faith have attempted to resolve the matter or (2) states that the parties have not been able to confer, and states in detail all efforts made to confer, including dates and methods of attempted communication.
Prove-Up Affidavits/Declarations must include the same information that would be elicited during a prove-up with a witness in the courtroom and must contain the actual signature of the party.
All required documents/information must already be on file or be filed when the Agreed Order is filed. The Court will not sign orders unless all required documents/information have been filed.
Agreed Orders must be signed by all parties, counsel, and self-represented litigants. Signatures are accepted pursuant to T.R.C.P. A Respondent must have made a prior appearance or filed a Waiver or Answer before the Court will consider an Agreed Order signed by a Respondent.
- Document
- Agreed order
- Placement
- Signature block
If an Agreed Order is submitted by Prove-Up Affidavit/Declaration, the appearances section of the Agreed Order must indicate that the parties did not appear in person and that the making of a record was waived (if applicable).
An Agreement Incident to Divorce (AID) does not have to be filed. If an AID is not filed, it must be sent to the court coordinator for the Court’s review.
A Mediated Settlement Agreement (MSA) must be filed.
If you are using forms, a Final Decree or Order can not contain any blanks. If a provision does not apply it should be marked N/A or None.
All required documents pertaining to your case as listed in the 501st Judicial District Court Checklist for Entry of Final Decrees/Orders must be filed prior to the Court hearing your case.
The caption of the Motion must state either Opposed or Unopposed.
- Document
- Motion
- Placement
- Caption
The Motion should contain if the parties have mediated and or if mediation has been scheduled and the date.
If an Agreed Order is pursuant to a Mediated Settlement Agreement (MSA) the Agreed Order should not state the Court makes findings regarding the best interest of the child(ren) or just and right division of the community estate.
Supporting documentation may be either attached or submitted as an exhibit.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
The paperless Court requires documents and pleadings to be filed with the District Clerk.
The 501st District Court is paperless. Documents and pleadings shall be filed with the District Clerk.
Page 1 | 1. GENERAL POLICIES
Court appointment applicants must complete and email the annual application to the Court coordinator.
For consideration for Court Appointments, each year, an Application for Court Appointments (located on the Court’s website), must be completed and submitted to the Court coordinator via email to: 501courtcoordinator@fortbendcountytx.gov.
Page 13 | COURT APPOINTMENTS
Prove-up affidavits or declarations should be e-filed as a separate document at the same time as the agreed order and other necessary forms.
Prove-Up Affidavits/Declarations should be e-filed as a separate document at the same time as the Agreed Order along with all other necessary forms.
Page 10 | 14. PROVE-UP OF AGREED FINAL ORDERS AND OTHER AGREED ORDERS
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Self-represented litigants must sign up no later than 72 hours before the docket.
Self-represented litigants must sign up for this docket no later than 72 hours before the docket by emailing the court coordinator at 501courtcoordinator@fortbendcountytx.gov.
Page 7 | 10. THURSDAY SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANT DOCKET
All orders and closing documents must be filed 72 hours before the Thursday docket.
All orders and closing documents must be filed 72 hours before the docket.
Page 7 | 10. THURSDAY SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANT DOCKET
Responses must be filed at least three days before the submission date, or earlier if required by statute or rule.
Responses must be filed and served at least three (3) days before the submission date, or earlier if required by statute or rule.
Page 8 | 11. SUBMISSION DOCKET — Responses
For entries by submission, an objection to a proposed order must be filed by noon on the day before entry.
On entries by submission, an objection to the Proposed Order must be filed by 12:00 p.m. on the day before the entry date.
Page 9 | 13. ENTRY OF ORDERS
Annual applications for Court Appointments are due January 31 each year.
*The Deadline for Annual Applications is January 31 of each year
Page 13 | COURT APPOINTMENTS
Service and Proof of Service Rules
For every Temporary Orders hearing, the parties must exchange Proposed Requested Relief by noon on the preceding business day.
For all hearings for Temporary Orders, the parties SHALL exchange by 12 noon on the business day before the hearing Proposed Requested Relief.
Page 5 | 5. DISCLOSURES FOR TEMPORARY ORDERS AND FINAL TRIAL — a. Temporary Orders
When child or spousal support is disputed at a Temporary Orders hearing, the parties must exchange the listed financial materials by noon on the preceding business day.
In any hearing for Temporary Orders in which child or spousal support is in dispute, the parties SHALL exchange by 12 noon on the business day before the hearing a Financial Information Statement, income tax returns for the previous two years, each party's two most recent payroll stubs, and Proposed Support Calculations.
Page 5 | 5. DISCLOSURES FOR TEMPORARY ORDERS AND FINAL TRIAL — a. Temporary Orders
Each party must exchange the specified final-trial financial materials and proposed documents no later than ten days before trial begins.
Each party's final Sworn Inventory, Financial Information Statement and financial information required under the Tex. Fam. Code including, but not limited to, the party's income tax returns for the past two years and the party's two most recent payroll stubs, last statement furnished to the employee concerning the employee's rights and monetary interest in each retirement and savings plan, Proposed Child Support Calculation, Proposed Division of Property, and Proposed Requested Relief SHALL be exchanged no later than ten (10) days before commencement of final trial.
Page 5 | 5. DISCLOSURES FOR TEMPORARY ORDERS AND FINAL TRIAL — b. Final Trial
Notice and proof of notice to opposing counsel and self-represented litigants must comply with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and be filed.
Notice and proof of notice to opposing counsel and self-represented litigants shall be pursuant to the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and shall be filed.
Page 6 | 7. HEARING SETTINGS
Exhibits must be pre-marked, exchanged, and copied for all counsel and self-represented litigants by noon on the business day before any hearing or trial.
Exhibits shall be pre-marked, exchanged and copies provided to all counsel and self-represented litigants by 12 noon on the business day before any hearing or trial.
Page 6 | 6. EXHIBITS/WITNESSES
The Exhibit List and Witness List must be exchanged and filed with the clerk by noon on the business day before any hearing or trial.
Exhibit List and Witness List SHALL be exchanged and filed with the clerk by 12 noon on the business day before any hearing or trial.
Page 6 | 6. EXHIBITS/WITNESSES
Notice and proof of notice to opposing counsel and self-represented litigants must comply with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and be filed.
Notice and proof of notice to opposing counsel and self-represented litigants shall be pursuant to the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and shall be filed
Page 7 | 8. TRIAL SETTINGS
Movants must serve the notice of submission setting at least ten (10) days before the date of the hearing, or more if required by statute or rule.
Movants must serve the notice of submission setting at least ten (10) days before the date of the hearing, or more if required by statute or rule.
Page 8 | 11. SUBMISSION DOCKET — Notice
An amended motion requires a new notice of submission setting with 10 days' notice.
An amended motion requires a new 10-day notice of submission setting.
Page 8 | 11. SUBMISSION DOCKET — Notice
Responses must be served at least three days before the submission date, or earlier if required by statute or rule.
Responses must be filed and served at least three (3) days before the submission date, or earlier if required by statute or rule.
Page 8 | 11. SUBMISSION DOCKET — Responses
A proposed order must be sent to opposing counsel or the self-represented litigant five days before entry, unless the Court sets a shorter period.
Proposed Orders must be sent to the opposing counsel or self-represented litigant five (5) days prior to the entry date, unless the Court sets a shorter time period.
Page 9 | 13. ENTRY OF ORDERS
Courtesy Copy Requirements
A courtesy copy of your vacation letter shall be provided to all opposing counsel and self-represented litigants in your case.
A courtesy copy of your vacation letter shall be provided to all opposing counsel and self-represented litigants in your case.
Page 2 | 1. GENERAL POLICIES
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
For cases more than a year old, a continuance motion must be filed by submission or set for hearing.
For cases more than year old, a Motion for Continuance shall be filed by submission or set for a hearing.
Page 9 | 12. MOTIONS FOR CONTINUANCE
A continuance motion must be set for submission or hearing at least ten days before trial.
Motions for Continuance must be set for submission or hearing at least ten (10) days prior to the trial date.
Page 9 | 12. MOTIONS FOR CONTINUANCE
For cases less than a year old, the first continuance motion will generally be granted, subject to Court approval.
Generally, for cases less than a year old, the first Motion for Continuance will be granted, subject to the Court's approval.
Page 9 | 12. MOTIONS FOR CONTINUANCE
Chambers Communication Rules
Announcements of "pass", conflicts, or late appearances shall be communicated to the court coordinator and all opposing counsel and self-represented litigants via email to 501courtcoordinator@fortbendcountytx.gov prior to 9:00 a.m. The email should include the cause number, estimated time of arrival, and specific information regarding the conflict or reason for the late appearance.
Announcements of "pass", conflicts, or late appearances shall be communicated to the court coordinator and all opposing counsel and self-represented litigants via email to 501courtcoordinator@fortbendcountytx.gov prior to 9:00 a.m. The email should include the cause number, estimated time of arrival, and specific information regarding the conflict or reason for the late appearance.
Page 3 | 2. DOCKET
Cases requiring a final trial must be scheduled through the court coordinator by email and added to the docket.
ALL cases that require a final trial must be scheduled through the court coordinator via email at 501courtcoordinator@fortbendcountytx.gov and added to the docket to be heard.
Page 3 | 2. DOCKET
A hearing date must be requested by email to the court coordinator before filing a motion, and the request should state the estimated hearing time.
Request for hearing dates shall be made by emailing the court coordinator at 501courtcoordinator@fortbendcountytx.gov PRIOR to filing a motion. The estimated time needed for the hearing should be included with the request.
Page 6 | 7. HEARING SETTINGS
Self-represented litigants must sign up for the Thursday docket by emailing the court coordinator at least 72 hours before it.
Self-represented litigants must sign up for this docket no later than 72 hours before the docket by emailing the court coordinator at 501courtcoordinator@fortbendcountytx.gov.
Page 7 | 10. THURSDAY SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANT DOCKET
Court staff do not provide legal advice or participate in ex parte communications.
The Court staff does NOT provide legal advice or participate in ex parte communications.
Page 1 | 1. GENERAL POLICIES
Communications with the Court must go through the coordinator by email, including opposing counsel and self-represented litigants except when requesting hearing dates.
All communication with the Court shall be through the court coordinator via email at 501courtcoordinator@fortbendcountytx.gov. Opposing counsel and self- represented litigants shall be included in all communications with the court coordinator, save and except for requesting hearing dates.
Page 1 | 1. GENERAL POLICIES
Request trial dates by email to the court coordinator, include the expected trial length and all counsel and self-represented litigants, and do not use the discontinued form.
Request for trial dates shall be made by emailing the court coordinator at 501courtcoordinator@fortbendcountytx.gov. The expected length of trial should be included in your email. All counsel and self-represented litigants must be included in the email. (The Trial Setting Request form is no longer being used and will not be accepted).
Page 7 | 8. TRIAL SETTINGS