Hockley County District Court, Texas Document Filing Requirements

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion for continuance

Must include

certificate of conference

A continuance motion must include a certificate stating that the request was discussed with all opposing parties or counsel and whether the motion is agreed or opposed.

All motions for continuance shall contain a certificate of conference that the request has been discussed with all opposing parties or counsel and that such motion is agreed or opposed.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Agreed order or judgment

All counsel and/or pro se parties must approve agreed orders or judgments as to form.

All agreed orders or judgments shall be approved as to form by all counsel and/or *pro se* parties.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Default judgment

Counsel must approve default judgments as to form.

Default judgments shall be approved as to form by counsel.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Jury trial setting request

An early jury-trial setting request must include a certification addressing discovery completion, payment of the jury fee, and filing of the jury demand.

Requests for settings for jury trials at an earlier date shall include a certification that all discovery is complete, or will be complete at least twenty (20) days prior to the first docket date, that the jury fee has been paid, and that a demand for jury has been filed.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Property inventory and proposed division

In disputed property division cases, each attorney must submit an inventory of property, values, and debts, plus a proposed property division, by the commencement of trial.

In disputed property division cases, each attorney shall submit to the Court and opposing counsel not later than the commencement of trial an inventory of property, with values, and debts and a proposed property division including property claimed or recognized as separate property.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Financial information report

In cases seeking temporary spousal support or child support, each side must submit a financial information report to the court and opposing side.

Each side shall submit a financial information report to the court and the opposing side in each case seeking temporary spousal support and/or child support.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Temporary order

Temporary orders involving children must prohibit disparaging remarks, alcohol or drug use within 24 hours before and during possession, and overnight stays by an unrelated adult during possession.

All temporary orders involving children shall include injunctive relief prohibiting disparaging remarks, using alcohol/drugs 24 hours prior to and during any possession of the child(ren), and overnight stays by an unrelated adult during the possession of the child(ren).

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion to modify temporary orders

A motion to modify temporary orders will not be heard unless it includes an affidavit with facts showing a serious, immediate concern that cannot be addressed at a final hearing.

Motions to Modify Temporary Orders shall not be heard unless an affidavit is attached to the motion including facts supporting a serious and immediate concern that cannot be addressed at a final hearing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Financial information report

Whenever spousal support is requested, each party must submit to the court and opposing side a financial information report showing minimum reasonable needs.

In all cases where spousal support is requested, each party shall submit a financial information report to the court and the opposing sides showing minimum reasonable needs.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Written notice of employment

Immediately upon being employed, defense counsel must file written notice with the District Clerk and provide copies to the attorney for the State and the Court Coordinator.

Immediately upon employment, the defense attorney shall file written notice thereof with the District Clerk and provide a copy of same to the attorney for the State and to the Court Coordinator.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of substitution

Must include

proposed order

An attorney substituting for counsel of record must file a client-signed written notice of substitution and a proposed order permitting the substitution.

Any attorney substituting for another attorney of record shall file with the Clerk a written notice of substitution signed by the client together with a proposed order permitting the substitution.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion to withdraw

Without a substitution under Rule 6.02, an attorney of record may withdraw only by presenting a motion and obtaining a court order granting leave.

If there is no substitution of counsel as provided in Rule 6.02, no attorney of record shall attempt to withdraw without presenting a motion and obtaining from the Court an order granting leave to withdraw.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion to withdraw

A motion to withdraw must include either the client's written consent or a certification that the motion was mailed to the client with notice of the presentation date at least 10 days after mailing and the deadline for written objections.

Such motion shall be accompanied by the client's written consent to such withdrawal or a certification that a copy of such motion has been mailed to the client at his/her last known address, with notice advising the client that the motion will be presented to the Court at a date not less than ten (10) days after mailing, and that any objection to such withdrawal should be made to the Court in writing before such date.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion to withdraw

The notice to the client must be included in the motion or supplied as an attachment to it.

Such notice shall be included within the motion or a copy of the letter attached to the motion.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Evidence

Physical or documentary evidence may not be published to the jury unless the Judge has been asked for and granted leave.

No physical or documentary evidence shall be published to the jury without leave requested and granted by the Judge.

WARNING

Applies to

Contested order

In contested matters, counsel and pro se parties must make a reasonable effort to agree in writing on the form of the order submitted to the Court.

In contested matters, all counsel and *pro se* parties shall make reasonable effort to agree, in writing, to the form of the order to be submitted to the Court.