Hays County District Court Document Filing Requirements

Applies to

Court submission or proceeding

Must include

ai disclosure

Self-represented litigants and attorneys using artificial intelligence for legal research or drafting in civil or criminal cases must provide a written certification before filing or presenting AI-generated information in a court submission or proceeding.

All self-represented litigants and attorneys who utilize any form of artificial intelligence for legal research or drafting in connection with any civil or criminal case shall before filing or presenting to a court any AI-generated information in a court submission or proceeding certify in writing that:

Applies to

Proposed disposition of issues

Each party must prepare and deliver a Proposed Disposition of Issues stating separately in brief complete sentences each trial decision sought.

Additionally, each party must also prepare and deliver a Proposed Disposition of Issues, which must state separately in brief complete sentences each trial decision that is sought by that party.

Applies to

Income evidence

Unless income or net resources are stipulated, each party must furnish—but not file—the court and opposing parties at trial the prior two years of federal tax returns or, if none were filed, the specified payroll and tax forms for those years.

Additionally, in any suit requiring a determination of child support or spousal maintenance, unless the parties agree or stipulate to a party's income and/or net resources as defined by the Texas Family Code, each party is required to furnish to the Court (but not file), and to opposing parties, copies of the following at the time of trial: 1. The party's federal income tax returns for the previous two calendar years, or if no such return(s) have been filed, then all payroll statements, pay stubs, W-2 forms, 1099 forms, and Schedule K-1 for such years; and

Applies to

Income evidence

Unless income or net resources are stipulated, each party must furnish the court and opposing parties at trial all specified payroll and tax records from January 1 through the trial date, without displacing discovery obligations.

2. All payroll statements, pay stubs, W-2 forms, 1099 forms, and Schedule K-1 for the calendar year of the trial from January 1 through the date of the trial. 3. This Rule does not supersede any requirement to respond to discovery requests.

Applies to

Proposed parenting plan

In a suit concerning conservatorship, possession, or child access, each party must submit a fully completed and signed Proposed Parenting Plan, a single agreed plan signed by both parties, or a brief summary of the requested relief.

(iv) In any suit requiring a determination or modification of conservatorship, or possession and access to a child, each party must prepare and deliver a Proposed Parenting Plan, pursuant to Texas Family Code Section 153.603, fully completed and signed by the party, a single agreed Proposed Parenting plan signed by both parties, or must summarize the requested relief in brief

Applies to

Pretrial forms

Each party must prepare and deliver the required pre-trial forms before a temporary or interim orders hearing in specified divorce and parent-child relationship cases.

Before any hearing on temporary or interim orders in any divorce suit or suit affecting the parent-child relationship (which include, but are not limited to, modification suits, paternity suits, and original suits) each party must prepare and deliver pre-trial forms as follows:

Applies to

Proposed support decision

Each party must prepare and deliver a fully completed and signed Proposed Support Decision in suits requiring child support or spousal maintenance determinations.

In any suit requiring a determination of child support or spousal maintenance, each party must prepare and deliver a Proposed Support Decision using the form using the form prescribed by the Texas Family Law Practice Manual published by the State Bar of Texas or a similarly appropriate form. The form must be fully completed and signed by the party.

Applies to

Ai certification

The artificial-intelligence certification must state that all generative-AI-created or contributed information was verified through traditional legal sources by a Texas-licensed attorney before submission.

1. All information created or contributed to by generative artificial intelligence – including all language, quotations, sources, citations, arguments, and legal analysis – was verified as accurate through traditional (non-AI) legal sources by an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Texas prior to submission, and

Applies to

Ai certification

The artificial-intelligence certification must acknowledge responsibility and possible sanctions for noncompliance.

2. The person understands and acknowledges that they are and will be held responsible and subject to possible sanction under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 10, and the inherent power of the Court, or for contempt of court for failing to comply with this Rule.

Applies to

Notice of setting

Must include

certificate of conference

Every notice of setting must include the specified certificate of conference.

To that end, every notice of setting must include a certificate of conference confirming that “counsel has conferred with (or made reasonable efforts to confer with) all parties about the date and time of the setting as well as the proposed time announcement.”

Applies to

Motion

Must include

certificate of conference

Every nondispositive motion must contain one of two prescribed certificate-of-conference statements.

Additionally, every motion (other than dispositive motions) must contain a certificate of conference certifying either: 1. “Counsel has conferred with all parties who may be affected by the relief sought in this motion in a good faith effort to resolve or narrow the issues raised.”; or 2. “Counsel has made reasonable efforts to confer with all parties who may be affected by the relief sought in this motion but has been unable to do so.”

Applies to

Setting request

Every setting request must estimate the total time needed by all participants for the entire hearing or trial, including time to read submitted materials.

Each request for a setting must include an estimate of the total amount of time required for the entire hearing or trial, on all matters, for all participants, including the time necessary to read any materials presented.

Applies to

Order or judgment

Orders and judgments must be approved as to form by all attorneys of record and self-represented litigants and include full signature blocks for each.

All orders and judgments must be approved as to form by all attorneys of record and/or self-represented litigants and contain full signature blocks for all attorneys of record and/or self-represented litigants.

Applies to

Notice of setting

Must include

case number

Every Notice of Setting must identify the motion or state that it concerns a final trial on the merits, and must include the time announcement.

All Notices of Setting must include the following: (a) A reference to the specific motion(s) being set, or, if the setting is for final trial, a statement that the case is being set for a final trial on the merits; (b) The time announcement;

Applies to

Application for ex parte relief

Must include

certificate of conference

Except for requests under Subchapter B of Chapter 262 of the Texas Family Code, every application for ex parte relief must include a certificate signed by counsel or a party.

Except with respect to a request presented under Subchapter B of Chapter 262 of the Texas Family Code, every application for ex parte relief shall contain a certificate signed by counsel or a party that:

Applies to

Ex parte relief filing

Must include

proposed order

A proposed order must be e-filed with the relevant pleading or motion in an ex parte relief request.

Attorneys and self-represented parties seeking ex parte relief from the Court shall e-file a relevant pleading or motion and a proposed order and then contact the office of the District Court Administrator to request that the pleading or motion for ex parte relief be brought to the attention of the Court.

Applies to

Motion to withdraw

A motion to withdraw does not require a hearing only if it complies with Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 10 and includes the specified consents, address certificate, and certification.

A hearing is required for a motion to withdraw unless the motion complies with Rule 10 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and is filed with: (a) A written consent to the withdrawal signed by the withdrawing attorney's client(s); (b) A written consent to the withdrawal signed by all other parties in the action who have appeared; (c) A certificate of last known address of the client(s), containing the client's address, telephone number, email address, and, if available, fax number; and (d) A certification that there are no rulings of the Court that have yet to be reduced to writing.

Applies to

Motion to substitute attorneys

Must include

certificate of service

A motion to substitute attorneys does not require a hearing only if it complies with Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 10 and includes the specified consent, service certificate, attorney information, and certification.

A hearing is required for a motion to substitute attorneys unless the motion complies with Rule 10 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, and is filed with: (a) A written consent to the substitution signed by all other parties in the action who have appeared; (b) A certificate of service notifying the withdrawing attorney of the motion to substitute; (c) The substituting attorney's name, State bar number; address, telephone number, email address, and, if available, fax number; and (d) A certification that there are no rulings of the Court that have yet to be reduced to writing.

Applies to

Agreed order or judgment

An agreed proposed order or judgment must be signed by all attorneys of record and self-represented litigants and state the specified agreement language.

Any proposed agreed order or judgment must be signed by all attorneys of record and/or self-represented litigants and state "Agreed" or "Agreed as to Form and Substance."

Applies to

Motion to retain

A motion to retain must state the factual and legal basis for retention and be filed at least 14 days before the noticed dismissal date.

Motions to retain must set forth the factual and legal basis for retaining the case and must be filed at least 14 days prior to the dismissal date specified in the notice of dismissal.

Applies to

Motion to withdraw

Must include

certificate of service

The withdrawal motion must include a certificate of service showing notice to previous counsel and the District Attorney.

The motion must also have attached a certificate of service reflecting notice to both previous counsel in the case and the District Attorney.

Applies to

Pretrial motion

Must include

case number

All pretrial motions must attach a separate-page order stating the proper cause number and style of the case.

On pretrial motions, attach by separate page on all motions an order with the proper cause number and style of case.

Applies to

Income documents

Unless income or net resources are agreed or stipulated, each party must furnish the preceding four payroll statements or paystubs and the preceding year's filed income tax return to the judge without filing and to the opposing party before the hearing.

Additionally, unless the parties agree or stipulate to a party's income and/or net resources as defined by the Texas Family Code, each party is required to furnish copies of the party's preceding four payroll statements or paystubs and the party's preceding year's income tax return (if the tax return has been filed) to the Page | 36 ===== PAGE 38 ===== judge (but not file) at the time of the hearing and to the opposing party prior to the hearing.

Applies to

Sworn affidavit

Each party not represented by counsel must submit a sworn affidavit, and unsworn declarations under section 132.001 will not be accepted as proper proof.

not represented by counsel, each party is required to submit a sworn affidavit. Unsworn declarations under section 132.001 of the Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code shall not be considered as proper proof.

Applies to

Agreed order

Attorneys and self-represented parties must email the Family Court Court Coordinator either the fully signed agreed order with required proof or a request for a remote setting.

Attorneys and self-represented parties are ordered to email the agreed order (signed by all necessary parties) to the Court Coordinator for the Family Court together with the appropriate required proof, or with a request for a remote setting.

Applies to

Initial pleading

The petitioner must attach a copy of the Family Law Cases Standing Order to the original pleading and every copy of the initial pleading.

The Petitioner shall attach a copy of the Standing Order for Family Law Cases to their original pleading and each copy of their initial pleading.

Applies to

Pretrial forms and amended pleadings

Before a final merits trial in an enumerated family-law suit, each party must prepare and deliver the required pretrial forms and any amended pleadings.

Before the final trial on the merits in any divorce suit or suit affecting the parent-child relationship (which include, but are not limited to, modification suits, paternity suits, and original suits), each party must prepare and deliver pre-trial forms and any amended pleadings as follows:

Applies to

Proposed property division

Each party in a divorce must submit the prescribed or similarly appropriate Proposed Property Division form, or may instead submit a proposed-division spreadsheet in editable electronic format at the start of trial.

(i) In a divorce suit, each party must prepare and deliver a Proposed Property Division using the form prescribed by the Texas Family Law Practice Manual published by the State Bar of Texas or a similarly appropriate form. In lieu of such form, a party may submit a spreadsheet that reflects that parties proposed property division. If a spreadsheet is used in lieu of the Proposed Property Division form, then a copy of such spreadsheet must be provided to the Court in an editable electronic format at the beginning of the trial.

Applies to

Proposed support decision

In a suit requiring child-support or spousal-maintenance determinations, each party must submit a fully completed and signed prescribed or similarly appropriate Proposed Support Decision form.

(ii) In any suit requiring a determination of child support or spousal maintenance, each party must prepare and deliver a Proposed Support Decision using the form prescribed by the Texas Family Law Practice Manual published by the State Bar of Texas or a similarly appropriate form. The form must be fully completed and signed by the party.

Applies to

Pretrial forms

The parties must deliver the required pretrial forms; if all parties fail to do so, the case will be reset.

If all parties in a case fail to deliver pre-trial forms as required by these rules, the case will be required to be reset.

Applies to

Default judgment

A certificate of last known address, a non-military affidavit, and, where applicable, a statement of evidence must be on file before the court renders a default judgment.

Additionally, a certificate of last known address, non-military affidavit, and (where applicable) a statement of evidence must be on file before the Court will render a default judgment.

Applies to

Motion

Must include

certificate of conference

A setting may be struck if the motion or an amendment lacks the required certificate.

The District Court and the office of the District Court Administrator retain discretion to strike any setting in which the motion and any amendment thereof does not include such certificates.

Applies to

Notice of setting

Must include

certificate of conference

A Notice of Setting must include attorney or self-represented litigant contact information, interpreter information when required, a certificate of conference, and a signature line for the appropriate court coordinator's approval.

(c) Telephone numbers for all attorneys and/or self-represented litigants; (d) Email addresses for all attorneys and/or self-represented litigants; (e) Whether an interpreter is required and the desired language (for specific information regarding interpreters, please see Chapter 6); (f) A certificate of conference as noted in 9.1 above; and (g) A signature line for the approval of the Notice of Setting by the appropriate court coordinator.

Applies to

Case setting order

A show cause order or other case-setting order submitted for a judge's signature must be a separate document and may not be combined with a pleading or motion.

Any show cause order or other order setting a case presented for signature by a judge must be contained in a separate document and not combined with any pleading or motion.

Applies to

Pretrial order

If a uniform pretrial order is adopted by standing order, it must be used in every civil jury trial.

Should such orders be adopted, they will be used in every civil jury trial.

Applies to

Proposed order

Proposed orders are optional, but any proposed order must be filed separately from a motion or other document.

Proposed orders are not required. If a proposed order is filed, it must be filed separately from any motion or other document.

Applies to

Pretrial forms

Required pre-trial forms may be used during trial or hearing and may be marked as exhibits and offered into evidence, subject to applicable evidentiary rules.

Subject to applicable rules of evidence, the pre-trial forms required by these rules may be used during the trial or hearing and may be marked as exhibits and offered in evidence.