Harris County District Courts Filing Timing and Cure Windows
160 rules from official source documents
Rules 1 to 50, page 1 of 4
Filing cutoffs, deemed-filed rules, rejection handling, cure periods, and outage procedures.
Cutoffs and deemed-filed rules
CRITICALCivil cases
Responsive pleadings must be filed by 3:00 PM on the last business day before the hearing, with holiday adjustment; late filings not considered.
Any responsive pleading must be filed by 3:00 pm the last business day before the hearing. If Friday before oral hearing setting is a Court holiday, then responsive pleadings must be filed by 3:00 PM on the Thursday before. Late filed responsive pleadings will not be considered by the court.
CRITICAL
- Deadline
- 1 business days
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.
CRITICALCivil cases
All pleadings must be filed by 4:00 pm on the Monday before the hearing; late pleadings will not be considered.
All pleading must be filed by 4:00 pm the Monday before the hearing. Late filed pleadings will not be considered by the court.
CRITICAL
Failure to appear at the virtual docket call may result in dismissal for want of prosecution.
Failure to appear the virtual docket call will be grounds for dismissal for want of prosecution.
CRITICAL
The virtual docket call is held 2 weeks before trial on Mondays at 8:00 am via Zoom.
The virtual docket call is held 2 weeks before trial on Monday at 8:00 am via ZOOM.
CRITICAL
Submission docket occurs on Mondays at 8:00am with proper notice, excluding holidays and dead weeks.
Submission docket are Mondays at 8:00am with proper notice, exclude any Holidays and Dead Weeks.
CRITICALCivil cases
Oral Monday dockets close the Wednesday before at noon; notices must be filed by then.
The oral Monday dockets close the Wednesday before at 12:00 pm noon. Your notice must be filed by this date.
CRITICALCivil cases
The Court Clerk will remove noncompliant motions from the docket and notify the requesting party.
PLEASE NOTE: The Court Clerk will remove from the docket any motions that do not comply with this rule and will notify the requesting party of the same.
CRITICALCivil cases
The first motion to retain may be granted only if substitute service was granted at least six months before filing.
The first Motion to Retain may be granted only if a Motion for Substitute Service was granted at least 6 months prior to the filing.
CRITICALCivil cases
File a proposed Final Judgment before contacting the Clerk for a minor-settlement hearing date.
A proposed Final Judgment must be filed before contacting the Clerk to obtain a hearing date on the minor’s settlement.
CRITICAL
- Deadline
- 1 business days
Exhibits must be sent to the Court by 2:00 p.m. on the business day before the hearing.
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.
CRITICALCivil cases
All expert witness challenge motions must be set for hearing before the trial date.
Parties shall set all motions to challenge expert for hearing before the trial date. Parties should not wait until the day of trial to challenge expert testimony.
CRITICALCivil cases
File a notice of oral hearing only after the clerk provides a hearing date and time, not before.
Once the clerk has provided a hearing date and time, then file a notice of oral hearing, not before.
CRITICALCivil cases
Parties must exchange motions in limine before the pre-trial conference as required by the pre-trial order.
The parties must exchange motions in limine prior to the pre-trial conference in accordance with the pre-trial order.
CRITICALCivil cases
Responsive pleadings must be filed by noon on the last business day before the hearing.
Any responsive pleading must be filed by 12:00 p.m. on the last business day before the hearing.
CRITICALCivil cases
The electronic jury-charge copy is due by 4:00 p.m. on the day before trial begins.
Each party shall provide the Court with an electronic copy in Microsoft Word format no later than 4:00 p.m. on the day before trial begins.
CRITICALCivil cases
Responsive pleadings are due by 12:00 p.m. on the last business day before the hearing, and late responses will not be considered.
Any responsive pleading must be filed by 12:00 p.m. on the last business day before the hearing. Late-filed responses will not be considered.
CRITICALCivil cases
Submission docket filings are due Mondays at 8:00 AM with proper notice.
Submissions are Mondays at 8:00 AM with proper notice.
CRITICALCivil cases
Expert-exclusion motions should be filed and set for hearing well before trial.
All motions to exclude experts should be filed AND set for hearing WELL IN ADVANCE OF TRIAL.
CRITICALCivil cases
Responsive pleadings must be filed by 4:00 pm on the last business day before the hearing.
Any responsive pleading must be filed by 4:00 pm the last business day before the hearing.
WARNINGCivil cases
After settlement notice, parties have 45 days to submit proposed final judgment/dismissal, with consequences for failure.
Once the Court is notified of the settlement, the Parties have 45 days to submit a proposed final judgement/dismissal. Parties who fail to submit a proposed judgment/dismissal will be ordered to appear in person. If the Parties do not appear, the case will be dismissed for want of prosecution. Failure to obtain an enforceable settlement agreement will not be good cause to avoid dismissal or to reinstate the case.
WARNING
Self-represented litigants should arrive at least thirty minutes early for court to allow time for parking, security, and locating the courtroom.
Always get to court on time. A good rule of thumb is to arrive at least thirty minutes early in order to allow for time to locate parking, clear the security check and locate the proper courtroom.
WARNING
Motions challenging deposition excerpts or expert witnesses must be set for hearing before the trial date if an advance ruling is sought.
If you seek an advance ruling on deposition excerpts or expert witness challenges, please set all motions to challenge for hearing before the trial date.
WARNING
MSJ submission dockets are held on Tuesdays.
MSJ submission dockets are on Tuesdays.
WARNING
Parties should exchange and file motion in limine, exhibits, exhibit lists, witness lists, deposition excerpts, and objections before the assigned trial.
The parties should exchange and file motion in limine, exhibits, exhibit lists, witness lists, deposition excerpts, and any objections before the assigned trial.
WARNING
Hearing dates must be selected within the court's 30-day scheduling window.
When selecting a date please stay within the courts 30-day window to select a date.
WARNINGCivil cases
Responses, replies, and sur-replies filed after Thursday at 11:00 am before a Monday hearing are unlikely to be considered.
Any responses, replies, sur-replies, etc. filed after the Thursday before at 11:00 am for a Monday oral hearing are unlikely to be considered by the Court prior to the hearing.
WARNINGCivil cases
Parties should make every effort to file necessary replies or sur-replies by Thursday before a Monday hearing.
Please do everything in your power to file any necessary replies (or sur-replies, etc.) by Thursday before a Monday hearing.
WARNINGCivil cases
If objections remain, then the party seeking to exclude the testimony should file a motion to rule on the objections as soon as possible so that the court can promptly rule on the objections prior to voir dire.
If objections remain, then the party seeking to exclude the testimony should file a motion to rule on the objections as soon as possible so that the court can promptly rule on the objections prior to voir dire.
WARNINGCivil cases
Replies filed after noon Friday for a Monday oral hearing are unlikely to be considered.
Any replies that are filed after Friday at NOON for a Monday oral hearing are NOT LIKELY to be considered by the Court.
WARNINGCivil cases
The Court may refuse to consider responses or replies filed after noon Friday before a Monday oral hearing or submission.
The Court reserves the right to refuse to consider responses or replies filed after noon on a Friday before a Monday oral hearing or submission setting.
WARNINGCivil cases
Parties must file proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law before the day of trial per the pre-trial order.
Parties should file their proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law with the Court prior to the day of trial in accordance with the pre-trial order.
WARNINGCivil cases
Counsel should consult the Docket Control Order for the appropriate filing time for no-evidence summary judgment motions.
Counsel should consult the Docket Control Order regarding the appropriate timing for filing such motions.
WARNINGCivil cases
The Court is unlikely to consider an expert-exclusion motion on the eve of trial or the morning of trial.
The court is not likely to consider such a motion on the eve, or morning, of trial.
WARNINGCivil cases
Continuance motions should be filed early.
Continuance motions should be filed early.
INFOCivil cases
The Court may extend the 14-day settlement filing deadline if appropriate.
The Court may extend this deadline if appropriate.
Filing deadlines
CRITICAL
The required financial documents must be exchanged at least 10 days before trial.
5.2.1 If either party is seeking final orders for child support, spousal maintenance, or attorney's fees, both parties shall exchange the following documents at least 10 days before trial:
CRITICAL
- Deadline
- 1 business days
The listed documents must be exchanged by 2:00 p.m. on the business day before the temporary orders hearing.
5.1 Before temporary orders hearings. If either party is seeking temporary orders for child support, spousal support, payment of family expenses, or attorney's fees, both parties shall exchange the following documents by 2:00 p.m. the business day before the hearing.
CRITICALCivil cases
Non-summer vacation designations must be filed with the district clerk by February 1; designated weeks do not protect an attorney from a trial set by an order signed before the designation was filed.
Written designation for vacation in months other than June, July, or August must be filed with the district clerk by February 1. Non-summer vacation weeks may not run consecutively for more than two weeks at a time. Non-summer vacation weeks so designated will not protect an attorney from a trial by an order signed before the date the designation is filed.
CRITICALCriminal cases
- Deadline
- 1 hours
Attorneys must announce whether they are ready when the trial or motion docket is called and, for an on-call case, be available within one hour after notification that it is ready to proceed.
(3) Attorneys must announce "ready" or "not ready" upon call of the trial or motion docket. If a case is placed "on-call," the attorneys must be readily available within one hour after notification from the Court that the case is ready to proceed.
CRITICAL
Written vacation designations for months other than June, July, or August must be filed with the District Clerk by February 1.
Written designation for vacation weeks in months other than June, July, or August must be filed with the District Clerk by February 1.
CRITICAL
Judgments and orders must be submitted to the court for signing within ten days after rendition, unless the court directs otherwise.
All judgments and orders must be submitted to the court for signing within ten (10) days of the date of rendition, unless otherwise directed by the court.
CRITICALCivil cases
Summer vacation weeks must be designated in writing with the district clerk by May 15; designated weeks protect the attorney from trials even if the trial-setting order was signed earlier.
Written designation for vacation weeks during June, July, or August must be filed with the district clerk by May 15. Summer vacation weeks so designated will protect the attorney from trials during those summer weeks, even if an order setting the case for trial was signed before the vacation designation was filed.
CRITICAL
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.
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.
CRITICAL
A respondent must make the required disclosures within 30 days after first filing a pleading or making a general appearance, whichever occurs first.
b. by a respondent no later than 30 days after they file their first pleading or make a general appearance in the case, whichever occurs first.
CRITICALCivil cases
Responses must be filed at least two working days before submission unless the court grants leave.
Responses shall be filed at least two working days before the date of submission, except on leave of court.
CRITICAL
Responses must be filed at least 3 days before the submission date, or earlier when 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.
CRITICALCriminal cases
An appointed or retained attorney seeking to withdraw before disposition must file a written motion at least 15 days before trial.
(1) If, prior to the disposition of a case, an appointed or retained attorney wishes to withdraw as attorney of record, the attorney must file a written motion to withdraw at least 15 days prior to a trial setting.
CRITICAL
A petitioner or movant must make the required disclosures within 30 days after the respondent first files a pleading or makes a general appearance, whichever occurs first.
a. by a petitioner or movant no later than 30 days after the respondent files their first pleading or makes a general appearance in the case, whichever occurs first;
CRITICAL
The Court sets the entry date for final orders, and failing to enter the order by that date may result in dismissal.
Entry dates on final orders will be set by the Court in its rendition or at an oral prove-up of an agreement. Failure to enter the order before that date may result in dismissal of the case.
What filing deadlines does Harris County District Courts set?
Harris County District Courts: The required financial documents must be exchanged at least 10 days before trial.
Judge Gloria E. Lopez and Judge Lillian Henny Alexander: 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.
Judge Christine Weems: The parties should exchange and file with the Court exhibit lists, motions in limine, depositions offers and proposed jury charges or proposed findings of facts and conclusion at least three (3) days before trial or the Thursday before a Monday Trial setting.
115 more rules answer this question.
What filing deadlines apply to exhibits filings in Harris County District Courts?
Judge Jim Evans: Exhibits must be sent to the Court by 2:00 p.m. on the business day before the hearing.
When is a filing treated as filed in Harris County District Courts?
Judge Cheryl Elliott Thornton: The rule states a 4:00 PM filing cutoff. All pleadings must be filed by 4:00 pm on the Monday before the hearing; late pleadings will not be considered.
Judge Charles Collins: The rule states a 2:00 p.m. filing cutoff. 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.
Judge Beau A. Miller: The rule states a 3:00 PM filing cutoff. Responsive pleadings must be filed by 3:00 PM on the last business day before the hearing, with holiday adjustment; late filings not considered.
22 more rules answer this question.
What filing deadlines apply to opposition filings in Harris County District Courts?
Judge Jim Evans: Responses to motions set for submission must be on file at least 3 days before the submission date, or earlier if required by statute or rule.
1 more rule answers this question.
What filing deadlines apply to proposed order filings in Harris County District Courts?
Judge Jim Evans: When the order has all signatures, the proposed order must be filed before the entry date.
What filing deadlines apply to motion filings in Harris County District Courts?
Judge Christine Weems: The Court generally does not grant motions to withdraw filed within 30 days of a dispositive event such as a trial setting or a summary judgment hearing.
Related categories
Back to all rules for this courtPage & Word Limits
Maximum page counts and word limits for motions, briefs, and other filings by judge.
Courtesy Copy Requirements
When and how to deliver courtesy copies to chambers, including triggers, timing, and formatting.
Electronic Filing Rules
Electronic filing requirements, permitted filing channels, EFSP portals, and exceptions.
Service and Proof of Service Rules
E-service, mail, personal service, proof of service, certificate, and timing requirements.