Fort Bend County, TX Electronic Filing Rules
42 rules from official source documents
Electronic filing requirements, permitted filing channels, EFSP portals, and exceptions.
CRITICALCriminal cases
- Applies to
- Documents
Counsel in misdemeanor cases must be proficient with the County’s e-Discovery portal and able to e-file documents with the County Clerk.
(A). E-Discovery & E-File. Counsel must be proficient in the use of Fort Bend County's e-Discovery portal and counsel must be able to e-File documents with the Fort Bend County Clerk in all misdemeanor cases.
CRITICALCriminal cases
- Applies to
- Certificate of contact
An attorney must e-file a certificate of contact in the corresponding appointed case file within 72 hours after appointment.
A certificate of contact must be e-filed with the clerk’s office in the corresponding appointed case file, no later than seventy-two (72) hours after the appointment.
CRITICALCriminal cases
- Applies to
- Bail form
The Judicial Officer or designee must electronically submit the completed bail form through the Public Safety Report System within 48 hours after bail is set.
After setting bail, the Judicial Officer (Magistrate), or the Judicial Officer (Magistrate's) designee, shall complete the bail form described by Section 72.038 Government Code, and promptly, but not later than 48 hours after the time bail is set, submit the bail form electronically to the Office of Court Administration through the Public Safety Report System.
CRITICALCriminal cases
- Applies to
- Defense motion
An arrestee who remains jailed after the individualized hearing may obtain an adversarial bail review hearing upon a properly filed or e-filed defense motion served on the State.
Any arrestee who remains in jail after the individualized hearing must be provided with the opportunity for an adversarial bail review hearing before a District Court Judge, County Court at Law Judge or Associate Judge upon a properly filed or e-filed defense motion served upon the State.
CRITICALCriminal cases
- Applies to
- Motion for review of bail decision
District Attorney's Office counsel must e-file a motion for bail review or similar request with a proposed order.
The role of the counsel from the District Attorney's Office is to efile a "Motion for Review of Bail Decision" or similar request, together with a proposed Order to DENY or to GRANT bail modification or modification of bond conditions.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Reset agreement
E-filing of reset agreements is required when the court requires it.
The reset agreement must be submitted for approval to the Court and subsequently filed with the Fort Bend County District Clerk, unless the court requires e-filing of resets.
CRITICALCivil cases
- Applies to
- Interpreting services request form
When interpretation is anticipated for one of the listed languages, the parties must submit the ISR Form to the Court by email at least 72 hours before the proceeding.
If an interpreter is required for the Initial Trial Setting or any other court proceeding, the parties shall submit an Interpreting Services Request Form (ISR Form) to the Court by email at least 72 hours before the Initial Trial Setting or court proceeding at which the parties reasonably anticipate the need for language interpretation in one of the following nine languages: Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Hindi, Tagalog, or Arabic.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Exhibits and lists
Exhibits for an evidentiary hearing, as well as an exhibit list and witness list, must be e-filed; the exhibits must be filed at least 24 hours before the hearing.
Exhibits for an evidentiary hearing must be e-filed at least 24 hours before the hearing date. An exhibit list and witness list must also be e-filed.
CRITICAL
Documents must be filed with the District Clerk’s Office, not sent or faxed to the Court unless the Court instructs otherwise; this also applies to notices when e-filing.
Any document that a party wishes to file should be filed with the District Clerk’s Office. Do not send or fax documents to the Court, unless otherwise instructed by the Court. This also pertains to noticing the Court when e-filing documents.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Electronic reset
Attorneys must obtain written Court approval before emailing an electronic reset.
Attorneys MUST receive an approval from the Court in writing for an electronic reset prior to emailing a reset to the Court.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Electronic reset
The Court will not accept electronic resets for defendants with an active capias.
THE COURT WILL NOT ACCEPT ELECTRONIC RESETS FOR DEFENDANTS WITH AN ACTIVE CAPIAS.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Electronic reset
Electronic resets will not be approved on the day of the defendant’s court setting unless the Court states otherwise.
ELECTRONIC RESETS WILL NOT BE APPROVED THE DAY OF THE DEFENDANT’S COURT SETTING, UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED BY THE COURT.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Motion to retain
A Motion to Retain must be e-filed with the District Clerk no later than one week before the DWOP Docket.
The Motion to Retain must be e-filed with the District Clerk no later than one week prior to the date of the DWOP Docket.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Notice of hearing
After obtaining a hearing date and time, a notice of hearing must be e-filed with the District Clerk for every civil case.
After obtaining a hearing date and time, please e-file a notice of hearing for all civil cases with the District Clerk's Office.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Reset
All resets must be e-filed with the District Clerk, and notice must be given to the District Attorney's Office.
ALL RESETS SHALL BE EFILED WITH THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE WITH NOTICE GIVEN TO THE FORT BEND COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
CRITICALCivil cases
- Applies to
- Attendance certificate
A certificate verifying seminar attendance must be e-filed upon completion.
A certificate verifying attendance at the parent education seminar shall be e-filed upon completion.
CRITICALCivil cases
The referenced parties, lawyers, and ad litems may e-file documents for inclusion in the confidential files.
The above referenced parties, lawyers and ad litems shall be allowed to e-file documents for inclusion in these confidential files.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Exhibits
Exhibits must be delivered to the court by email or USB flash drive; paper copies require court approval.
No paper copies will be accepted without court approval. Exhibits for all proceedings must be delivered to the court via email to: 387Exhibits@fortbendcountytx.gov or on a USB Flash Drive as specified below.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Exhibits
MORE THAN 50 PAGES: If a party's combined exhibits exceed 50 total pages, the exhibits may only be delivered to the court on a USB Flash Drive.
MORE THAN 50 PAGES: If a party's combined exhibits exceed 50 total pages, the exhibits may only be delivered to the court on a USB Flash Drive.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Exhibit list
Exhibit Lists may be e-filed with the District Clerk's office, but the exhibits should NOT be filed.
Exhibit Lists may be e-filed with the District Clerk's office, but the exhibits should NOT be filed.
CRITICAL
All pleadings and documents must be filed with the District Clerk.
ALL pleadings and/or documents are to be filed with the District Clerk.
CRITICAL
Faxes and e-filings must be sent directly to the District Clerk’s office, not to the Court or Coordinator.
Any faxes or e-filing shall be directly to the District Clerk’s office and not to the Court or the Coordinator.
CRITICAL
Pleadings and documents must be filed with the District Clerk’s Office, either in person or online; online filing information is available from the Clerk’s website.
e. The 505th is a paperless court. All pleadings and/or documents must be filed with the Fort Bend County District Clerk’s Office. Documents may be filed in person or online. Please visit the Fort Bend County District Clerk’s website for more information on e-filing.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Exhibits
Exhibits must be delivered to the court by email to the specified address or on a USB flash drive; they must not be emailed to the Court Coordinator or Court Reporter or filed with the Clerk’s Office, though Exhibit Lists may be filed.
Exhibits for all proceedings must be delivered to the court via email to: 505Exhibits@fortbendcountytx.gov or on a USB Flash Drive as specified below. Do not email exhibits to the Court Coordinator or to the Court Reporter. Do not file exhibits with the Clerk’s Office. (Exhibit Lists may be filed).
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Exhibits
If a party’s combined exhibits exceed 50 pages, they must be delivered to the court on a USB flash drive.
MORE THAN 50 TOTAL PAGES: If a party’s combined exhibits exceed 50 total pages, the exhibits must be delivered to the court on a USB Flash Drive – no exceptions.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Audio video files
Audio and video files must be provided on a USB flash drive.
AUDIO/VIDEO: Audio and video files must be on a USB Flash Drive – no exceptions.
CRITICAL
The court is paperless, and documents and pleadings must be filed with the District Clerk.
The 328th District Court is paperless. Documents and pleadings shall be filed with the District Clerk.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Application for court appointments
To be considered for Court Appointments, applicants must complete the annual application and submit it to the Court coordinator by email.
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 328th@fortbendcountytx.gov.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Documents and pleadings
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.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Court appointment application
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.
WARNING
- Applies to
- Electronic reset
Electronic resets for First Appearance settings are accepted and should be emailed to the Court at the stated address.
The Court will accept electronic resets for First Appearance settings and should be emailed to 240AJ@fbctx.gov.
WARNING
- Applies to
- Electronic reset
Electronic reset requests for dockets other than First Appearance are considered for approval case by case.
Requests for electronic resets for any other docket will be considered for approval on a case-by-case basis.
WARNING
- Applies to
- Exhibits
For combined exhibits totaling fewer than 50 pages, email submission alone is sufficient.
LESS THAN 50 PAGES: If a party's combined exhibits are less than 50 total pages, submission by email only is sufficient.
WARNING
- Applies to
- Exhibits
USB flash drives may be delivered in person or mailed to the stated court addresses, and parties should account for the deadline when mailing them.
Flash Drives may be delivered in person or mailed to: 387th District Court Attn: Minnie Cadena 301 Jackson Street (mailing address) 1422 Eugene Heimann Circle (physical address) Richmond, TX 77469 1 Please be mindful of the deadline when delivering by mail.
WARNING
- Applies to
- Sworn affidavit
The sworn affidavit should be e-filed as a separate document at the same time as the proposed order and must include the same information solicited during a final hearing with the witness in the courtroom.
The sworn affidavit should be e-filed as a separate document at the same time as the proposed order and must include the same information solicited during a final hearing with the witness in the courtroom.
WARNING
- Applies to
- Exhibit list
Exhibit Lists may be e-filed with the District Clerk, but the exhibits themselves should not be filed.
Exhibit Lists may be e-filed with the District Clerk's office, but the exhibits should NOT be filed.
WARNING
- Applies to
- Exhibits
The court does not accept exhibits through file-sharing links, and parties must not email links.
File-Sharing Links: The court does not accept exhibits via Dropbox, Google Drive, or any other file-sharing links. Please do not email links.
WARNING
- Applies to
- Exhibits
For combined exhibits totaling fewer than 50 pages, email submission is sufficient, but exhibits requiring color must be delivered on a USB flash drive because admitted exhibits are printed in black and white.
LESS THAN 50 TOTAL PAGES: If a party’s combined exhibits are less than 50 total pages, submission by email only is sufficient. However, please be advised that the Court Reporter does not have access to a color printer. Admitted exhibits will be printed and delivered to the District Clerk’s office in black and white. If color is important, exhibits must be delivered on a USB Flash Drive as indicated below.
WARNINGCivil cases
The identified parties, attorneys, and ad litems are permitted to e-file documents for inclusion in the confidential files.
Furthermore. the above referenced parties, lawyers and ad !items sball be allowed to e-fik <lornments for inclusion in these confidential files .
WARNING
- Applies to
- Prove up affidavit
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.
INFO
- Applies to
- Reset
Electronic resets are accepted for all pending cases with scheduled court appearances.
Electronic Resets are being accepted on all pending cases with scheduled court appearances.
INFO
The referenced parties and legal representatives may e-file documents for inclusion in the confidential files.
Furthermore, the above referenced parties, attorneys, amicus attorneys and attorneys ad litem shall be allowed to e-file documents for inclusion in these confidential files.
Is electronic filing required in Fort Bend County, TX?
Fort Bend County, TX: Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. Counsel in misdemeanor cases must be proficient with the County’s e-Discovery portal and able to e-file documents with the County Clerk.
Judge Derek Uchechukwu Obialo: Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. When interpretation is anticipated for one of the listed languages, the parties must submit the ISR Form to the Court by email at least 72 hours before the proceeding.
Judge Jetty John Abraham: Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. A certificate verifying seminar attendance must be e-filed upon completion.
39 more rules answer this question.
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Maximum page counts and word limits for motions, briefs, and other filings by judge.
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Filing cutoffs, deemed-filed rules, rejection handling, cure periods, and outage procedures.
Service and Proof of Service Rules
E-service, mail, personal service, proof of service, certificate, and timing requirements.