Judge Charles Collins
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Communication
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Document Format Requirements5 rules
For property divisions involving marital estates with numerous assets or debts, include with the exhibits an editable file (i.e., .xls) containing the party’s proposed property division.
Exhibits must be pre-marked on the document, numbered with numerals, and named to match the marked exhibit.
Court's wording
Exhibits must be pre-marked and numbered using numerals. Exhibits must be pre-marked on the document itself, and the title of each exhibit file shall correspond with the pre-marked exhibit, for example, “Petitioner Ex. 01.”
Exhibits must be provided by emailing a cloud-storage share link to the designated exhibit email, with the required subject information and without using an account-required collaboration share feature.
Court's wording
Create and email a file share link using your cloud storage service to the designated exhibit email listed on the court’s website. The subject line of the email shall state the full cause number, your party identification, and the date of the court proceeding. Do not use the share feature intended for collaboration that requires an account with that service.
Movant must attach a proposed order to the motion to enter (do not mark with exhibit label) and the proponent must sign indicating approval as to form.
In all divorces, a sworn inventory and appraisement must be pre-marked and submitted as an exhibit before the trial by default begins. (See Rule 6.4, above.)
Document Filing Requirements14 rules
Nonmovant must attach markup identifying proposed edits and a clean copy signed indicating approval as to form.
Movant must attach a proposed order to the motion to enter (do not mark with exhibit label) and the proponent must sign indicating approval as to form.
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 3 days before the submission date, or longer if required by statute or rule.
If the order has all signatures, file the proposed order before your entry date for the judge’s signature.
In all divorces, a sworn inventory and appraisement must be pre-marked and submitted as an exhibit before the trial by default begins. (See Rule 6.4, above.)
If the respondent has not filed an answer or appeared in the case, a certificate of last known address and nonmilitary affidavit/declaration must be on file before trial.
Counsel wanting to be placed on a wheel shall send the application located on the court’s website to Melissa_Love@justex.net.
When satisfied that the final order meets form, the attorney will file a *Notice of Review*.
For cases meeting the above criteria that are ready to be finalized, the self-represented litigant(s) shall apply and attach their final documents for review at www.dro.hctx.net under the “Self-Represented Assistance” tab, then contact the Domestic Relations Office, Legal Services Division (713-274-7393) to request a review.
The litigant presenting the suit should not proceed to prove-up or submission until a DRO *Notice of Review* has been filed.
Rebuttal or impeachment exhibits that were not exchanged before the hearing must be responsive to a matter raised by the other side.
As available, the DRO staff attorney shall review the final order/decree, any necessary attachments, and any other necessary documents.
DRO review is available only when a qualifying family law case is pending in Harris County, is uncontested by agreement or default, and neither party is represented by an attorney.
Court's wording
Required criteria: - *A petition for divorce, a suit affecting parent child relationship, or other family law case is currently pending in Harris County.* - *The suit is uncontested, either by agreement (decree/order is signed by the other party) or default (other party has signed a global waiver or has been served and failed to file an answer following the prescribed time-period); and* - *Neither party to the suit is presently represented by an attorney.*
Self-represented litigants in qualifying uncontested family law cases filed after June 17, 2022, may request DRO review of proposed final orders.
Court's wording
To assist the Court in conducting its uncontested docket in an efficient manner, IT IS ORDERED that self-represented litigants in uncontested family law cases filed in the 310th District Court after June 17, 2022, may have their proposed final orders reviewed by the Harris County Domestic Relations Office (DRO).
Filing & Service rules
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
If a respondent has not appeared, a case may be dismissed unless a return of service or a properly executed waiver is on file before the dismissal date.
If a respondent has not appeared, a case may be dismissed unless a return of service or a properly executed waiver is on file before the dismissal date.
Page 2 | 5.2. Dismissals for Want of Prosecution
If all respondents have appeared, the case may be dismissed unless it is settled and proven up before the dismissal date, trial is set and approved within 90 days of that date, or a motion to retain is granted before that date.
If all respondents have appeared, the case may be dismissed unless: (1) the case has been settled and proven-up before the dismissal date, (2) trial has been set and approved to occur within 90 days of the dismissal date, or (3) before the dismissal date, a motion to retain has been granted by the court.
Page 2 | 5.2. Dismissals for Want of Prosecution
Exhibits must be sent to the Court by 2:00 p.m. on the business day before the hearing, and late exchange may result in exclusion.
For all settings, exhibits must be exchanged by the parties and sent to the Court by 2:00 p.m. the business day before the hearing. Failure to timely exchange exhibits may result in the exclusion of those exhibits.
Page 3 | 6.4. Exhibits — Exchange by Parties
If an order has all signatures, the proposed order must be filed before the entry date for the judge’s signature.
If the order has all signatures, file the proposed order before your entry date for the judge’s signature.
Page 4 | 8.4. Uncontested Entries
Responses must be filed and served at least 3 days before the submission date, or earlier if required by statute or rule.
Must be filed and served at least 3 days before the submission date, or earlier if required by statute or rule.
Page 4 | 7.4. Responses
Any response to a motion set for submission must be on file at least 3 days before the submission date, or earlier if required by statute or rule.
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 3 days before the submission date, or longer if required by statute or rule.
Page 4 | 7.3. Notice
Failure to enter a final order before the court-set entry date may result in dismissal of the case.
Failure to enter the order before that date may result in dismissal of the case.
Page 4 | 8.2. Final Orders
Service and Proof of Service Rules
For all settings, parties must exchange exhibits and send them to the Court by 2:00 p.m. on the business day before the hearing; late exchange may result in exclusion.
For all settings, exhibits must be exchanged by the parties and sent to the Court by 2:00 p.m. the business day before the hearing. Failure to timely exchange exhibits may result in the exclusion of those exhibits.
Page 3 | 6.4. Exhibits — Exchange by Parties
Responses must be served at least 3 days before the submission date, or earlier if required by statute or rule.
Must be filed and served at least 3 days before the submission date, or earlier if required by statute or rule.
Page 4 | 7.4. Responses
Notice of submission setting must be served at least 10 days before the date of the hearing, or more if required by statute or rule.
Notice of submission setting must be served at least 10 days before the date of the hearing, or more if required by statute or rule.
Page 4 | 7.3. Notice
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Upon request, a 90-day continuance should be granted presumptively when lead counsel has a child by birth or adoption, subject to rebuttal.
The birth or adoption of a child by lead counsel shall create a rebuttable presumption that a 90-day continuance should be granted upon request.
Page 5 | 13. Birth or Adoption of Child
Chambers Communication Rules
Counsel seeking placement on an appointment wheel must email the application to Melissa_Love@justex.net.
Counsel wanting to be placed on a wheel shall send the application located on the court’s website to Melissa_Love@justex.net.
Page 5 | 12.2. Applications for Inclusion
After submitting the review application and final documents, self-represented litigants must contact the DRO Legal Services Division by phone at 713-274-7393 to request review.
For cases meeting the above criteria that are ready to be finalized, the self-represented litigant(s) shall apply and attach their final documents for review at www.dro.hctx.net under the “Self-Represented Assistance” tab, then contact the Domestic Relations Office, Legal Services Division (713-274-7393) to request a review.
Page 1 | Standing Order Regarding Self-Represented Litigants
Matters may be scheduled for oral hearings or submission by emailing the listed address.
Matters can be scheduled for oral hearings or consideration by submission by emailing 246hearings@justex.net.
Page 1 | 2.1. Scheduling
For a non-electronically filed motion, a self-represented litigant should contact the Court Clerk to schedule a hearing.
For non-electronically filed motions by self-represented litigants, the party should contact the Court Clerk to schedule a hearing.
Page 1 | 4.1. Online Scheduling
If running late for a hearing, email the court’s listed late address and copy all counsel or self-represented litigants.
If you are running late for a hearing, email the “late” email address listed on the court’s website with a copy to all counsel or self-represented litigants.
Page 2 | 6.1. Late Calls
Parties may contact the court coordinator to request that a scheduling order be generated.
You may also contact the court coordinator to request that a scheduling order be generated.
Page 5 | 9.4. Scheduling Trial