Fort Bend County Justice of the Peace Courts Service and Proof of Service Rules

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Request for disclosure

Requests for Disclosure under TRCP 194 may be served without filing them with the Court or obtaining prior Court approval.

The Court ORDERS that all discovery requests that comply with “Request for Disclosure” under TRCP 194 is approved by the Court, without serving the requests on the Court and without getting Court approval prior to service on the opposing party.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Dismissal notice

The court clerk must give notice that certain cases will be dismissed for want of prosecution.

The court clerk shall give notice that certain cases will be dismissed for want of prosecution.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Trial setting

If the Court retains a case, it will set the case for trial and notify the parties of the setting.

If the Court decides to retain the case, the Court will set the case for trial at the convenience of the Court. The Court will notify the parties of the setting.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Pleading motion application or other request

Pleadings, motions, applications for an order, and other requests must be served on all other parties under TRCP 501.4.

The Court further Orders that all pleadings, motions, or applications for an Order, or other form of request, must be served on all other parties as set forth in TRCP 501.4.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Ruling on motion to retain

The Court must notify all parties of its ruling on a motion to retain.

The Court shall notify all parties of the Court's ruling on the motion.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Pretrial discovery request

Pre-trial discovery requests require Court approval before service, subject to the order’s stated exceptions.

It is ORDERED that, except as provided herein, all requests for pre-trial discovery must be approved by the Court, before service of the discovery on the other party.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transfer order

A copy of a transfer order must be delivered to each party or their attorney of record.

and a copy of the Order shall be delivered to each party or their attorney of record.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

Service

Mail to all parties

The clerk mails the hearing notice to the filing party and all respondents listed in the petition.

The case is docketed by the court clerk and notice of hearing is mailed to the filing party and all other respondents listed in the petition (i.e., towing company, vehicle storage facility, person/entity/law enforcement agency who authorized the towing, etc.).

CRITICAL

A copy of the transfer order must be delivered to each party or the party’s attorney of record.

a copy of the Order shall be delivered to each party or their attorney of record.

WARNING

If no attorney will be substituted, the withdrawal motion must be delivered to the party.

If no other attorney is to be substituted, the motion must be delivered to the party and contact information for the party must be provided in the motion.

WARNING

Applies to

Petitions and accompanying documents

Parties must provide enough copies of petitions and accompanying documents for all parties being served, except when the documents are e-filed.

In accordance with Part V of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (TRCP), parties in Justice Court suits are responsible for providing an adequate number of copies of petitions and accompanying documents filed with the Court for all parties being served, except when documents are e-filed.

INFO

Applies to

Juror summons

Service

Mail

In most instances, juror summonses are sent to individuals by regular U.S. mail.

In most instances, a juror summons is sent to individuals by regular mail via the U.S. Postal Service.

INFO

Applies to

Juror summons

Service

Personal service

When jury requests are made under short time restrictions, the Court may arrange for the precinct constable’s office to hand-deliver summonses to randomly selected individuals determined to reside in Fort Bend County.

In some instances when jury requests are made and the Court is under short time restrictions, the Court may provide the Fort Bend County Constable's office in the precinct in which the trial is to be held with juror summons for hand delivery to individuals chosen at random from public places in the county, who are determined to reside in Fort Bend County.