Harris County District Courts Filing Timing and Cure Windows

Deadline

3 calendar days

Parties must exchange and file exhibit lists, motions in limine, deposition offers, and proposed jury charges or proposed findings of fact and conclusions at least 3 days before trial (or the Thursday before a Monday trial setting).

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.

Expert challenges must be filed by the date set in the Court's docket control order.

Expert challenges should be filed by the date set out in the Court's docket control order.

Deadline

7 calendar days

Motions to challenge experts must be set for hearing at least 7 days before trial.

Parties should set all motions to challenge experts for hearing at least seven (7) days before trial.

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.

Deadline

30 calendar days

Motions to exclude experts must be filed and set for hearing at least 30 days before trial.

All motions to exclude experts should be filed AND set for hearing well in advance of trial (at least 30 days). Do not wait until the eve of or morning of trial to file your motion.

Deadline

24 hours

Responses must be filed at least 24 hours before the hearing or they may be treated as no opposition.

All responses should be filed at least 24 hours before the hearing or unless otherwise required at a different time under the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. The failure to file a written response prior to the hearing or submission date may be considered a representation of no opposition.

Deadline

10 calendar days

Motions placed on the submission docket must be noticed for submission at least 10 days from filing, or the hearing will be passed.

Motions set for submission must be noticed for submission at least ten (10) days from filing, except on leave of the Court. Submission hearings set without timely notice will result in the Court passing the hearing.

Deadline

5 calendar days

Motions in limine, exhibit/lists, witness lists, and deposition excerpts must be exchanged at least 5 days prior to the assigned trial.

The parties should exchange motions in limine, exhibit lists, witness lists, deposition excerpts and any objection them at least five (5) days prior to the assigned trial. Discuss the matters among yourselves and attempt agreements.

Deadline

10 calendar days

A default judgment for unliquidated damages requires an oral hearing on Mondays at 10:30 AM with at least ten days' notice.

Default judgments asking for unliquidated damages will need an oral hearing on Mondays at 10:30am with a ten days’ notice.

Deadline

35 calendar days

A summary-judgment motion may not be set for hearing less than 35 days after the motion is filed.

All MSJ must be set no sooner than 35 days after the motion has been filed.

Deadline

60 calendar days

Summary judgment motions must be heard within 60 days of filing or be automatically denied without prejudice.

PER RULE 166A: Motions for Summary Judgment must be heard within 60 days of filing. If a Motion for Summary Judgment is not set or heard within 60 days, it will be automatically denied without prejudice.

Deadline

90 calendar days

If a reset is granted, the summary judgment motion must be heard within 90 days of filing or be automatically denied without prejudice.

If the reset is granted, the motion MUST be heard within 90 days of filing, or the motion will be automatically denied without prejudice.

Daubert motions must be filed and set for hearing well in advance of trial; motions filed after the docket control order deadline will not be considered without leave showing exceptionally good cause.

All motions to exclude experts should be filed AND set for hearing WELL IN ADVANCE OF TRIAL. The court will NOT consider such motions filed after the deadline in the docket control order without a motion for leave demonstrating exceptionally good cause. The court is not likely to consider such a motion on the eve, or morning, of trial.

Submissions are due Mondays at 8:00 AM with proper notice.

Submissions are Mondays at 8:00 AM with proper notice.

Deadline

0.5 hours

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.

Dead weeks are scheduled for Regional Conference (April 20, 2026), State Bar Convention (June 18, 2026), Annual Conference (September 7, 2026), and Christmas Week (December 22, 2025).

Dead Week Schedule Regional Conference Week of April 20th, 2026 State Bar Convention Week of June 18th, 2026 Annual Conference Week of September 7th, 2026 Christmas Week Week of December 22nd, 2025

Deadline

10 calendar days

Most motions must receive at least 10 days' notice before being set on Monday's submission docket at 8:00 AM.

Submission docket takes place on Monday at 8:00 AM after 10 days’ notice for most motions.

Deadline

10 calendar days

Motions to sever should be placed on the submission docket any Monday at 8:00 AM with ten days’ notice.

Motions for Severance should be set on the submission docket, any Monday at 8:00am with ten days’ notice.

Summary judgment motions must be heard at least one month before trial; late-filed motions are addressed at the Court's discretion.

Summary judgments must be heard at least one month before trial. Late-filed summary judgments will be addressed at the Court's discretion.

Deadline

0 calendar days

Parties should brief or bring cases on unusual legal and evidentiary issues before the pretrial conference.

Please brief and/or bring cases on unusual legal and evidentiary issues before the pretrial conference.