Hidalgo County Courts at Law Filing Timing and Cure Windows

CRITICALCivil cases

Except in an emergency when the clerk’s office is closed, an application for immediate or temporary relief must be filed and assigned to a court before being presented to a judge.

Except in emergencies when the clerk’s office is not open for business, no application for immediate or temporary relief shall be presented to the judge until it has been filed and assigned to a Court as provided in these rules.

CRITICALCivil cases

Deadline

1 business days

For an inmate housed in the Hidalgo County Detention Center, the Attorney Ad Litem must email the request by 10:00 a.m. on the business day before the hearing.

3. If the inmate is housed in the Hidalgo County Detention Center, the Attorney Ad Litem representing the incarcerated parent email the request no later than 10:00 a.m. on the business day prior to their scheduled hearing.

CRITICALCivil cases

For an inmate housed at the Hidalgo County Detention Center, the request must be emailed by 10:00 a.m. on the business day before the scheduled hearing.

If the inmate is housed in the Hidalgo County Detention Center, the Attorney Ad Litem representing the incarcerated parent email the request no later than 10:00 a.m. on the business day prior to their scheduled hearing.

CRITICALCivil cases

Outstanding orders more than 30 calendar days old when this order was entered must be submitted by April 3, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.

IT IS ORDERED that all outstanding orders older than thirty (30) calendar days from the entry of this order shall be submitted to the Court no later than April 3, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.

CRITICALCivil cases

Outstanding orders more than 30 calendar days old when this order was entered were due April 3, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.; failure to submit them may lead to a show-cause hearing and sanctions.

IT IS ORDERED that all outstanding orders older than thirty (30) calendar days from the entry of this order shall be submitted to the Court no later than April 3, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. Should the DEPARTMENT or Movant fail to submit the outstanding orders, the Court may set a Show Cause hearing at which the party must show cause for failing to submit the orders timely. Failure to cure the defect by the time of Show Cause Hearing may result in the imposition of sanctions, including dismissal or the denial of the relief granted.

CRITICALCivil cases

If a Status Hearing has already been held, the Department must file each child's verification of birth or birth certificate no later than 45 days after the order is signed.

For case in which a Status Hearing has already been held, the DEPARTMENT shall file the VERIFICATION OF BIRTH and/or BIRTH CERTIFICATE for each child who is the subject of a suit no later than Forty-Five (45) days after the signing of this order.

CRITICALCivil cases

Amended petitions, including any corrections, are due within 30 days after the verification of birth or birth certificate is filed.

The DEPARTMENT shall file their amended Petitions, with any corrections, within thirty (30) days of the filing of a VERIFICATION OF BIRTH and/or BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

CRITICALCivil cases

Deadline

3 business days

A party seeking to appear or present witness testimony electronically at an in-person hearing must request leave by written motion at least three business days before the hearing, and the request requires an order granting or denying it.

Parties wishing to appear or present witness testimony electronically for an in-person hearing must request leave of Court by way of written motion filed at least three (3) business days prior to the hearing and an order granting or denying the request.

CRITICALCivil cases

A request for a county inmate must not be filed more than five business days before the hearing.

5. Do not file a request for a county inmate more than five (5) business days prior to a hearing.

CRITICALCivil cases

Vouchers more than 60 days old from the last hearing were due by April 3, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.

IT IS ORDERED that all attorney vouchers submitted requesting payment for services rendered, older than sixty (60) days from the last hearing held, be submitted by e-file to the Court no later than April 3, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.

CRITICALCivil cases

The Motion and Bench Warrant must be filed at least three weeks before the trial setting.

Motion and Bench Warrant shall be filed least three (3) weeks prior to the trial setting

CRITICALCivil cases

IT IS ORDERED that the DEPARTMENT shall file with the Court, on or before the Status Hearing, the VERIFICATION OF BIRTH and/or BIRTH CERTIFICATE for each child who is the subject of a suit.

IT IS ORDERED that the DEPARTMENT shall file with the Court, on or before the Status Hearing, the VERIFICATION OF BIRTH and/or BIRTH CERTIFICATE for each child who is the subject of a suit.

CRITICALCivil cases

The Joint Pretrial Order must be filed with the Clerk 14 days before the Final Pretrial Conference.

The Joint Pretrial Order shall be signed by the parties or their attorneys of record and filed with the Clerk 14 day’s prior to the Final Pretrial Conference scheduled by the Court.

CRITICALCivil cases

A motion and bench warrant must be filed at least three weeks before the trial setting.

IT IS ORDERED that any Motion and Bench Warrant shall be filed least three (3) weeks prior to the trial setting

CRITICALCivil cases

Deadline

3 business days

The written motion requesting leave to appear or present witness testimony electronically at an in-person hearing must be filed at least three business days before the hearing.

Parties wishing to appear or present witness testimony electronically for an in-person hearing must request leave of Court by way of written motion filed at least three (3) business days prior to the hearing and an order granting or denying the request.

CRITICALCivil cases

For an inmate housed outside the Hidalgo County Detention Center due to overflow, the request must be emailed at least two business days before the hearing.

If the inmate is housed outside of the Hidalgo County Detention Center due to overflow, the Attorney Ad Litem representing the incarcerated parent email the request at least two business days prior to their hearing.

CRITICALCivil cases

Amended petitions with any corrections are due within 30 days after the birth verification and/or birth certificate is filed.

The DEPARTMENT shall file their amended Petitions, with any corrections, within thirty (30) days of the filing of a VERIFICATION OF BIRTH and/or BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

CRITICALCivil cases

Mediation is mandatory in every contested case unless an objection is filed and the court excuses the parties at least 60 days before trial.

Mediation is mandatory for every contested case unless an objection is filed and the parties are excused by the court at least 60 days before trial.

CRITICALCivil cases

For an order rendered on a non-Department party's motion for relief, the movant must submit the required orders within 30 calendar days after the Court renders the order.

If an order is rendered pursuant to a motion for relief by a party other than the DEPARTMENT, the Movant shall submit any required hearing orders and/or any orders for which relief has been sought, regardless of whether it has been granted or denied, no later than thirty (30) calendar days after the order is rendered by this Court.

CRITICALCivil cases

If waiver is allowed, the statement waiving arraignment must be filed no later than the day before the scheduled arraignment.

Where allowed by the court in which an indictment is filed, a defendant may waive arraignment only by filing a statement containing the defendant’s plea and signature, and the signature of the defendant’s attorney, no later than the day before arraignment is scheduled.

CRITICALCivil cases

Deadline

2 business days

For an inmate housed outside the Hidalgo County Detention Center due to overflow, the Attorney Ad Litem must email the request at least two business days before the hearing.

4. If the inmate is housed outside of the Hidalgo County Detention Center due to overflow, the Attorney Ad Litem representing the incarcerated parent email the request at least two business days prior to their hearing.

CRITICALCivil cases

Deadline

30 calendar days

The Department must submit the specified orders no later than 30 calendar days after the Court renders the order.

IT IS ORDERED that the DEPARTMENT shall submit hearing orders and/or any orders for which relief has been sought, regardless of whether it has been granted or denied, no later than thirty (30) calendar days after the order is rendered by this Court.

CRITICALCivil cases

The Department must submit hearing orders and other orders for which relief was sought within 30 calendar days after the Court renders the order.

IT IS ORDERED that the DEPARTMENT shall submit hearing orders and/or any orders for which relief has been sought, regardless of whether it has been granted or denied, no later than thirty (30) calendar days after the order is rendered by this Court.

CRITICALCivil cases

Future vouchers must be submitted no later than 60 days after the hearing for which the services were rendered.

IT IS ORDERED that Court Appointed Counsel shall submit all future vouchers requesting payment for services rendered, in and out of court, no later than sixty (60) days after that hearing for which the services were rendered by e-file.

CRITICALCivil cases

Unless the parties are excused from mediation, the mediation conference must occur before the deadline to file the Joint Pretrial Order.

Otherwise, a mediation conference must be held prior to the deadline for filing the Joint Pretrial Order.

CRITICALCivil cases

The Department must file the birth verification and/or birth certificate on or before the Status Hearing.

IT IS ORDERED that the DEPARTMENT shall file with the Court, on or before the Status Hearing, the VERIFICATION OF BIRTH and/or BIRTH CERTIFICATE for each child who is the subject of a suit.

CRITICALCivil cases

If the Status Hearing has already occurred, the Department must file the birth verification and/or birth certificate within 45 days after the order is signed.

For case in which a Status Hearing has already been held, the DEPARTMENT shall file the VERIFICATION OF BIRTH and/or BIRTH CERTIFICATE for each child who is the subject of a suit no later than Forty-Five (45) days after the signing of this order.

CRITICALCivil cases

Deadline

30 calendar days

For an order resulting from a non-Department party’s motion for relief, the movant must submit the specified orders no later than 30 calendar days after the Court renders the order.

If an order is rendered pursuant to a motion for relief by a party other than the DEPARTMENT, the Movant shall submit any required hearing orders and/or any orders for which relief has been sought, regardless of whether it has been granted or denied, no later than thirty (30) calendar days after the order is rendered by this Court.

CRITICALCivil cases

The parties must file a Joint Pretrial Order at least 14 days before the court-scheduled final pretrial conference.

A Joint Pretrial Order shall be filed by the parties at least 14 days before the final pretrial conference scheduled by the court.

WARNINGCivil cases

In family law cases, if no Docket Control Conference has been scheduled within 60 days after suit is filed, the Court must schedule one automatically.

If no Docket Control Conference has been scheduled in family law cases by the expiration of 60 days from the date suit is filed, then such conference shall be automatically scheduled by the Court.

WARNINGCivil cases

If counsel does not submit the request on time, the inmate will not be brought to the courtroom and the hearing will proceed without them.

If counsel does not submit the request timely, the inmate/client will not be brought to the courtroom and the hearing will go forward without their presence.

WARNINGCivil cases

A request for a county inmate must not be filed more than five business days before the hearing.

Do not file a request for a county inmate more than five (5) business days prior to a hearing.

WARNINGCivil cases

Deadline

2 business days

An objection to a request for electronic appearance should be filed no later than two business days before the hearing.

Any objection should be filed no later than two (2) business days prior to the hearing.

WARNINGCivil cases

Deadline

2 business days

An objection to a request for electronic participation should be filed no later than two business days before the hearing.

Any objection should be filed no later than two (2) business days prior to the hearing.

WARNINGCivil cases

Untimely attorney vouchers may result in denial of payment, suspension from the appointment wheel, or both.

The untimely submission of attorney vouchers pending request for payment either within the sixty (60) days after a hearing, or older vouchers due by April 3, 2023, can result in the denial of payment and/or suspension from the appointment wheel.

WARNINGCivil cases

If no Docket Control Conference has been held within 120 days after suit is filed, the Court must schedule one automatically.

If no Docket Control Conference has been held by the expiration of 120 days from the date suit is filed, then such conference shall be automatically scheduled by the Court.