Fort Bend County, TX Document Format Requirements

CRITICAL

Format

PDF

Text-document exhibit files must be searchable PDFs compatible with the latest Adobe Reader, unprotected, and converted directly when possible; scanning should be avoided when possible and scanned materials must be made searchable by OCR.

Each computer file of a text document must be prepared in text-searchable Portable Document Format (PDF), compatible with the latest version of Adobe Reader. The computer file must not be password- protected, encrypted, or protected by rights management. 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. Any scanned materials must be made searchable using optical-character-recognition software, such as Adobe Acrobat.

CRITICAL

Photographic exhibit images must have a resolution of at least approximately 3 megapixels; higher resolutions are discouraged, color depth should be 12-bit to 18-bit when full color is necessary, and grayscale is encouraged otherwise.

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 1,536vpixels (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. Photographs may be captured directly with a digital camera or scanned from a print.

CRITICAL

If an exhibit image does not display its exhibit number, a preceding page must show the number.

If an exhibit number is not on the exhibit image, there must be a page preceding the image to show the exhibit number.

CRITICAL

Audio recordings included in the record must be MP3 files using a constant bit rate, unprotected, and no larger than 100 MB each; 44.1 kHz sampling and 64 Kbits/second are preferred, and longer recordings may be split into multiple files.

If an audio recording is part of the record, the audio file must be included as an MPEG-1 Audio-Layer 3 file (usually referred to as .mp3). The preferred sampling rate for the file is 44.1 kHz and the preferred bit rate for the audio file is 64 Kbits/second, though a court May Request bit rates as high as 128 Kbits/second. The mp3 audio files must use a constant bit rate. The files must not be password-protected, encrypted, or protected by rights management. Each audio file must not exceed 100 MB. If the recording is too long to fit in one file, it may be broken into multiple files.

CRITICAL

Parties must pre-mark and pre-number anticipated exhibits on the front of the first page and ensure they match the exchanged exhibit list.

All parties shall pre-mark and pre-number any exhibits they anticipate offering into evidence in advance of trial or hearing on the front of the first page of the exhibit. The exhibits marked, their description and number must match up with the current exhibit list which has been exchanged with all parties, the Court, and the court reporter.

CRITICAL

Exhibits must use numbers rather than letters, but they need not be offered in numerical order.

All exhibits shall be numbered as opposed to lettered (e.g., as Exhibit 1, 2, & 3, not as A, B & C). Exhibits need not be offered in sequential order.

CRITICAL

Parties must personally mark and number exhibits that were not pre-marked; exhibit stickers are available from the court reporter upon request.

Since the court reporter cannot record court proceedings while marking exhibits, the parties shall personally mark and number exhibits which have not been pre-marked. Exhibit stickers are available from the court reporter upon request.

CRITICAL

Oversized exhibits must have accompanying 8-1/2 x 11 copies with a marked exhibit sticker on the front for the court reporter to retain.

Oversized exhibits shall be accompanied by 8-1/2 x 11 copies, with a marked exhibit sticker on the front, which the court reporter will retain for the record on appeal, if any.

CRITICAL

Motions and proposed orders must be filed as separate documents.

Motions and Proposed Orders must be filed as separate documents.

CRITICAL

A proposed order’s judge-signature block must appear on the same page as the order, or the order will not be signed.

Furthermore, the judge’s signature block should be included on the same page as the order, not on a separate blank page. The order will not be signed, if the signature block is not included on the same page as the order.

CRITICAL

Exhibits are to be marked with exhibit stickers and numbered rather than lettered.

Exhibits are to be marked with exhibit stickers. Use only numbers when marking exhibits instead of letters.

CRITICAL

Before deposition testimony is offered, provide the Court Reporter its page-and-line designations and a non-condensed transcript copy.

Page/line designations of deposition testimony, along with a non-condensed copy of the transcript, are to be furnished to the Court Reporter prior to the offer.

CRITICAL

Exhibits must be marked with exhibit stickers and numbered, not lettered.

Exhibits are to be marked with exhibit stickers. Use only numbers when marking exhibits instead of letters.

CRITICALCivil cases

The District Clerk must attach the appropriate Standing Temporary Mutual Injunctions under a separate tab to every divorce or parent-child-relationship cause.

This Order confirms the District Clerk of Fort Bend County shall attach the appropriate Standing Temporary Mutual Injunctions to every cause, under a separate tab, in which a divorce or suit affecting the parent child relationship is filed.

CRITICAL

Audio and video exhibit files must be provided on a USB flash drive.

AUDIO/VIDEO: Audio and video files must be on a USB Flash Drive.

CRITICAL

Documents must be PDF, images must be JPG or PNG, and audio and video files must be MP4.

The only formats accepted are PDF for documents, JPG and PNG for images, and MP4 for audio and videos.

CRITICAL

The court will not accept paper copies of exhibits.

No paper copies will be accepted.

CRITICAL

The court accepts PDF documents, JPG or PNG images, and MP4 audio or video files.

The only formats accepted are PDF for documents, JPG and PNG for images, and MP4 for audio and videos.

CRITICAL

The court accepts documents in PDF, images in JPG or PNG, and audio and video in MP4.

The only formats accepted are PDF for documents, JPG and PNG for images, and MP4 for audio and videos.

WARNING

A video recording included in the record must be in MPEG-4 Part 14 (.mp4) format, have sufficiently clear video and audio, and not be password-protected, encrypted, or rights-managed; compression is encouraged.

If a video recording is part of the record, the video file must be included as an MPEG-4 Part 14 file (usually referred to as .mp4). 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.

WARNING

Each video file is limited to 5 GB, and a recording that is too long for one file may be split into multiple files.

Each video file must not exceed 5 GB. If the recording is too long to fit in one file, it may be broken into multiple files.

WARNING

All parties may use demonstrative exhibits and trial aids used by another party, but no party may mark or permanently attach anything to an opposing party’s aids without permission.

Demonstrative exhibits and trial aids used by one party may be used by all other parties. No party shall mark or permanently attach any item to an opposing party’s demonstrative aids without permission.

WARNING

A routine order submitted for signature should have only one date left blank, above the signature block.

Routine orders submitted to the Court for signature should contain only one date to be filled in – above the signature block.

WARNING

Exhibits with multiple pages should be stapled, bound and/or assembled so that they may be accurately preserved.

Exhibits with multiple pages should be stapled, bound and/or assembled so that they may be accurately preserved.

WARNING

Mark exhibits with stickers using numbers rather than letters; parties may provide their own stickers, and multipage exhibits should be stapled, bound, or assembled for preservation.

Exhibits are to be marked with exhibit stickers. Use only numbers when marking exhibits instead of letters. Parties may provide their own exhibit stickers. Exhibits with multiple pages should be stapled, bound and/or assembled so that they may be accurately preserved.

WARNING

An assigned exhibit number cannot be reused, even if the original exhibit is withdrawn or unused.

Once an exhibit number has been assigned, the same exhibit number may not be used for another exhibit, even if the original exhibit is withdrawn or not used in the hearing or trial.

WARNING

After assignment for trial, the parties should arrange to email their proposed jury charges to the Court in Microsoft Word format.

2. Once assigned trial, the parties should make arrangements with the Court coordinator to e- mail their proposed charge to the Court in Microsoft Word format so that the Court may compile the Court’s charge as the trial proceeds.

WARNING

Exhibits with multiple pages should be stapled, bound and/or assembled so that they may be accurately preserved.

Exhibits with multiple pages should be stapled, bound and/or assembled so that they may be accurately preserved.

WARNING

Exhibits with multiple pages should be stapled, bound and/or assembled so that they may be accurately preserved.

Exhibits with multiple pages should be stapled, bound and/or assembled so that they may be accurately preserved.

WARNING

Videos, audio recordings, and other electronically stored data should be provided to the Court and Court Reporter on an electronic drive.

Videos, audio recordings, and other electronically-stored data should be provided to the Court and the Court Reporter on an electronic drive (i.e., thumb drive / flash drive or computer disc) so as to preserve the exhibit and to allow the Court to consider such items as part of the case presentation.

WARNING

Exhibits are to be marked with exhibit stickers; number markings are preferred when possible, and parties may provide their own stickers.

Exhibits are to be marked with exhibit stickers. When possible, use only numbers when marking exhibits instead of letters. Parties may provide their own exhibit stickers if they wish.

WARNING

Each side should email its proposed jury charge to the Court Coordinator in a word processing format other than PDF shortly before trial.

Each side’s proposed jury charge should also be emailed to the Court Coordinator in a word processing format (not pdf) shortly before the start of the trial.

WARNING

Exhibits must be delivered on a USB flash drive when color is important.

If color is important, exhibits must be delivered on a USB Flash Drive as indicated below.

WARNING

The party tendering the exhibits is responsible for ensuring that files are saved correctly. Documents and photos should be as clear as possible and scanned upright (not sideways or upside down).

The party tendering the exhibits is responsible for ensuring that files are saved correctly. Documents and photos should be as clear as possible and scanned upright (not sideways or upside down).

WARNING

Save or attach each exhibit as a separate file whose name includes the exhibit number and a brief description.

Each exhibit must be saved or attached as a separate file and the file name must include the exhibit number AND a brief description of the exhibit.

WARNING

The party tendering the exhibits is responsible for ensuring that files are saved correctly. Documents and photos should be as clear as possible and scanned upright (not sideways or upside down).

The party tendering the exhibits is responsible for ensuring that files are saved correctly. Documents and photos should be as clear as possible and scanned upright (not sideways or upside down).

WARNING

Flash drives must be clearly labeled with the cause number, party name, and hearing date.

Flash Drives must be clearly labeled with the cause number, party name and hearing date.

WARNING

Each exhibit must be a separate file named with its exhibit number and a brief description.

Each exhibit must be saved or attached as a separate file and the file name must include the exhibit number and a brief description of the exhibit.

WARNING

Exhibits should be pre-marked with the offering party identified and numbered using numbers rather than letters.

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."

WARNING

Exhibits should identify the offering party and use numbers, not letters, in their pre-marking.

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.”

INFO

Parties may provide their own exhibit stickers.

Parties may provide their own exhibit stickers.

INFO

The parties should arrange with the Court Coordinator to email the proposed jury charge to the Court in Microsoft Word format.

The parties should make arrangements with the Court Coordinator to email their proposed charge to the Court in Microsoft Word format.

INFO

The Court prefers proposed orders to use the stated signature-block format.

In order to expedite the handling and processing of Court orders using technology instead of paper, the Court prefers to receive signature blocks on all proposed orders that provide as follows: Signed on: _____________________ _____________________________ Hon. Edward M. Krenek 400th Judicial District Court