Harris County District Courts Document Filing Requirements

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Video deposition excerpts

Video deposition excerpts should be prepared before trial and kept as short as possible.

Prepare video deposition excerpts prior to trial, keeping the length as short as possible.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Courtroom attire

Ripped clothing is not permitted in court.

No ripped clothing

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

If the parties cannot agree on deposition form objections, the party seeking to overrule an objection should file a motion for a ruling.

Separately, if there are “form” objections in the deposition transcript that cannot be agreed upon, the party seeking to overrule the objection should file a motion for a ruling on these objections.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Courtroom conduct

Witnesses and support staff should be informed of courtroom decorum and limit activity while witnesses are questioned and attorneys address the jury.

Please make witnesses and support staff aware of courtroom decorum and limit activity while witnesses are being questioned and while attorneys are addressing the jury.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Mediation objection

A party who believes its case is definitely unsuitable for mediation should file an objection as soon as practicable and place it on the submission docket.

If you believe that your case is definitely not appropriate for mediation, file an objection to mediation as soon as practicable and put it on the submission docket.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Case conduct

Counsel are expected to act professionally at all times.

Counsel are expected to act professionally at all times.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Unopposed or agreed motion

Unopposed and agreed motions should be titled to identify them as unopposed or agreed.

All unopposed or agreed motions should be titled as such.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Exhibit

Redact exhibits before offering them.

Redactions should be made prior to the exhibit being offered.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Courtroom attire

Midriff-baring and suggestive clothing are not permitted in court.

No midriffs or suggestive clothing

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Courtroom attire

Clothing with offensive language or images, or advertising alcohol or drugs, is not permitted in court.

No clothing with offensive language or images, or advertising alcohol or drugs

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Courtroom attire

Counsel are expected to wear professional attire and should advise parties, witnesses, and support staff to dress appropriately.

Cousnel are expected to wear professional attire. Please advise all parties, witnesses, and support staff to dress appropriately as well.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Exhibit

An exhibit redacted after admission must be marked as an “A” exhibit, and the court reporter keeps the original unredacted exhibit for the record.

Exhibits redacted after the exhibit is admitted (subject to redaction or without initial objection) are to be marked as an “A” exhibit and the original, unredacted exhibit is kept by the court reporter for the record.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Ad litem or other appointee fee form

Ad litems and other appointees must use the Texas Supreme Court form to report their fees and who pays them.

The Texas Supreme Court has created a new form for ad litems (of all types) and other appointees to fill out regarding the amounts of their fees and by whom they are paid.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Exhibit

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.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Certificate of conference

Sending a motion copy alone does not constitute a conference.

Note: sending a copy of a motion, without more, is not a conference.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Certificate of conference

An email or telephone message alone does not constitute a conference.

Sending an e-mail or leaving a telephone message, without more, is not a conference.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion or request to dismiss or nonsuit minor claim

When dismissing or nonsuiting a minor’s claim, provide information on whether the minor is receiving a settlement so the Court can assess appointment of a guardian ad litem.

If you are seeking to dismiss or nonsuit a minor's claim, the Court will want to know whether the minor is receiving a settlement to determine whether a guardian ad litem should be appointed.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Written deposition testimony

When reading written deposition testimony aloud, say “Question” before each question and “Answer” before each answer.

When one person is reading from written deposition testimony, the reader must say “Question” prior to reading each question and “Answer” prior to reading each answer.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Jury questionnaire

Any jury questionnaire questions the parties cannot agree on should be presented to Judge Aston by submission or oral hearing before Docket Call.

If there are any questions not agreed on, present the questions to Judge Aston by submission or oral hearing PRIOR to the docket call.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Courtroom attire

Tank tops and halter-style garments are not permitted in court.

No tank tops or halter-style garments

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Filing with exhibits

Filings with exhibits should include an exhibit index.

Please index your exhibits.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Courtroom attire

Excessively low-rise pants, skirts, and shorts are not permitted in court.

No excessively low-rise pants, skirts, or shorts

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Jury charges

Draft proposed jury charges should be exchanged before the Docket Call date.

Drafts of proposed jury charges should be exchanged PRIOR to the docket call date.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Deposition excerpts

Opposing counsel must promptly advise the producing party of any objections to deposition excerpts.

Opposing counsel must promptly advise of any objections.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Rule 106 affidavit

Statements from neighbors or abode residents must provide the person’s full name and a description.

Statements by neighbors or by people residing in the abode must include the full name of the person and a description.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Special exception motion

Special exceptions require attaching the pleading or stating verbatim paragraphs, and proposed orders list each exception separately.

Attach a copy of the pleading you are excepting to as an exhibit (unless the exception is only to the amount of damages sought) or state verbatim which paragraphs you except to. Proposed orders should list each exception separately.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion in limine

Motions in limine should not duplicate the standing order but only address case-specific items.

The Court has adopted a standing Order in Limine applicable to all cases. Do not duplicate these items in your Motions in Limine. Your motion should be limited to only those items specific to the facts and circumstances in your case.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Proposed order

Proposed orders for discovery motions must list each discovery issue separately.

Proposed Orders should list each discovery issue separately so that the Court may sign a specific order granting or denying the requested relief.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Discovery motion

Discovery motions must specify each discovery response at issue and include a copy or state the request and answer verbatim.

Discovery Motions should specify each specific discovery response at issue and include a copy of the response(s) at issue as sub-documents when e-filing, or state verbatim the request and answer in the body of your motion.

WARNING

Applies to

Notice of hearing

The court has also established a permanent zoom link which should be put in notices of hearings and provided to parties/lawyers/witnesses who are part of the hearing - permanent zoom link.

The court has also established a permanent zoom link which should be put in notices of hearings and provided to parties/lawyers/witnesses who are part of the hearing - permanent zoom link.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Discovery motion

Must include

proposed order

After filing a discovery motion, contact the Court for a hearing; proposed orders must list each issue separately, and both movant and non-movant must submit proposed orders.

After filing the motion, the complaining party should contact the Court about a hearing. Proposed orders should list each discovery issue separately. Both the movant and non-movant must submit a proposed order.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Proposed order

Failure to include required information in a severance proposed order may result in denial of the motion.

Failure to include the necessary information in the proposed order may result in denial of the Motion.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

Severance motions may be set for submission or oral hearing and must state the basis for severance.

Motions for Severance may be set either for submission or oral hearing. The motion must state the basis for the severance.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

Must include

certificate of conference

Failure to include a certificate of conference may cause the hearing to be passed.

Failure to include a Certificate of Conference may result in a hearing being passed.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Legal authority

When presenting statutory or case law at a hearing, provide a copy with relevant portions highlighted.

If statutory or case law will be presented to the Court at any hearing, a copy of the statute or case should be made available with highlighted portions of the relevant language.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Proposed order

The proposed order must include the exact title of the motion it addresses.

The proposed order should include the exact title of the motion being considered.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

Rule 106 substituted service requests must use the court's suggested form.

Parties requesting an Order for Substituted Service under Rule 106 shall use the court’s suggested form: 157th Order Granting 106 Substitute Service.docx

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Default judgment

Default judgment motions may be set for oral or submission hearing; the Non-Military Affidavit must comply with the Soldiers and Sailors Relief Act.

A motion for default judgment can be set for an oral hearing or submission hearing. The Non-Military Affidavit must comply with recent amendments to the Soldiers and Sailors Relief Act.

INFO

Applies to

Refusal of child support services

An obligee entitled to services may decline them by filing a written Refusal of Child Support Services with the District Clerk, unless other law requires acceptance; a later written application remains permitted.

Unless required to accept IV-D child support services pursuant to other laws, a child support obligee entitled to receive services pursuant to this rule may decline services by filing a written Refusal of Child Support Services with the District Clerk. Refusal of IV-D child support services pursuant to this rule does not preclude a subsequent written application for services.

INFO

Applies to

Proposed final order

Self-represented litigants in qualifying uncontested family law cases filed after June 17, 2022, may request DRO review of proposed final orders.

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).

INFOCivil cases

Applies to

Order substituted service

Parties should use the court's suggested form for Rule 106 substituted service orders.

Parties requesting an Order for Substituted Service under Rule 106 should use the court’s suggested form: 164th Order Granting Rule 106 Substitute Service.pdf.

INFOCivil cases

Applies to

Order substituted service publication

Parties should use the court's suggested form for Rule 109 substituted service by publication orders.

Parties requesting an Order for Substituted Service by Publication under Rule 109 should use the court’s suggested form: ORDER GRANTING SERVICE BY PUBLICATION(revised Aug. 2022).pdf

INFOCivil cases

Applies to

Default judgment hearing

At the HOA default hearing, the Court will review the lien foreclosure language, the deed, and the accounting.

The Court would like to review the following three documents at the hearing: the lien foreclosure language in the declarations; the deed; and the accounting.

INFOCivil cases

Applies to

Request for oral hearing

A party wanting an oral hearing on a submission docket motion should file a written request with the Court.

If any party wants an oral hearing on a motion that has been placed on the submission docket that party should file a written request with the Court.

INFOCivil cases

Applies to

Motion in limine

Motions in limine should not duplicate the standing order and should be limited to case-specific issues.

Do not duplicate these items in your motions in limine. Rather, your motion should be limited to other items, and specifically to limine issues that are peculiar to the facts of your case.

INFO

Applies to

Motion to reinstate

Motions to reinstate are submitted to the Court for review upon filing.

Will be submitted to the court for review upon filing.

INFOCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

If an agreed motion is denied without a hearing, a subsequent oral hearing may be requested.

If an agreed motion is denied without a hearing, you can request a subsequent oral hearing on the motion.

INFOCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

All oral hearings are held in person.

All oral hearings are in-person.

INFOCivil cases

Applies to

Supreme court ad litem fee report

The Court prefers advance filing of the Supreme Court Ad Litem Fee Report, but it is not required to obtain a hearing date.

The Court prefers that the Supreme Court Ad Litem Fee Report be filed in advance of the hearing; however, it is not required in order to obtain a hearing date.