Hidalgo County District Courts Filing Timing and Cure Windows

The signed Joint Pretrial Order must be filed with the clerk 14 days before the scheduled 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.

The Department’s birth-verification filing is due 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.

When the status hearing has already been held, the birth-verification filing deadline is 45 days after the standing order was 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.

The amended petition must be filed 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.

Future service vouchers are due 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.

Older attorney vouchers were due to the Court 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.

Deadline

3 business days

A written motion requesting electronic appearance or remote witness testimony must be filed at least three business days before the hearing and receive a written ruling.

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.

A 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 and

Required

Always

For cases whose status hearing has already been held, the filing deadline for the birth verification or certificate is 45 days after the order was signed.

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.

Amended petitions with corrections are due within 30 days after the birth verification 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.

Court-appointed counsel must electronically submit future requests for payment for services rendered in or out of court no later than 60 days after the corresponding hearing.

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.

Attorney vouchers for services older than 60 days from the last hearing had to be submitted to the court 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.

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 preceding business day.

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.

Deadline

2 business days

For an inmate housed outside the Hidalgo County Detention Center because of overflow, the Attorney Ad Litem must email the request 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.

Deadline

5 business days

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.

A untimely request will not result in the inmate/client being brought to the courtroom, and the hearing will proceed without the inmate/client’s presence.

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.

A motion and bench warrant for a parent in state or federal custody 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

The Attorney Ad Litem must notify the court by email as soon as possible after filing the motion and bench warrant.

Attorney Ad Litem representing the incarcerated parent shall notify the Court of the filing by email to childprotectioncourt@co.hidalgo.tx.us as soon as possible.

Untimely attorney-voucher submissions may result in payment denial, 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.

Deadline

2 business days

An objection to electronic appearance or remote witness testimony 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.

Late submission of an attorney voucher 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.