Hood County District Court, Texas Document Filing Requirements

Applies to

Trial setting request

A written setting request must certify the status of the pleadings, pretrial setting, discovery and ad litem appointments, service, any jury fee, and service of the request; Appendix A’s form letter complies.

A written request for a setting shall certify: (a) That the requesting party' s pleadings are in order; (b) Whether or not a pre-trial setting is necessary; (c) That all necessary discovery has been completed and all necessary ad litem appointments have been made; (d) That service has been perfected on all necessary parties; (e) That a jury fee, if applicable, has been paid; and (f) That a copy of the request has been served on all counsel and prose parties. The use of form letter (Appendix "A") will comply with the foregoing requirements.

Applies to

Proposed special questions and instructions

Counsel must present proposed special questions and instructions to the Judge at the pretrial hearing.

Counsel shall present proposed special questions and instructions to the Judge at the pre-trial hearing.

Applies to

Support financial disclosures

When spousal or child support is at issue, each party must provide the listed financial documents to the Court and opposing counsel at the final hearing, with additional earnings records required for self-employed parties.

5.7 In all cases in which support of a spouse and/or children is in issue, each party shall furnish to the Court and to opposing counsel at the time of the final hearing the following: (a) A summary statement of monthly income and expenses; (b) Payroll stubs or wage statements for the preceding six months; (c) If self-employed, all profit and loss statements, balance sheets, income statements or other evidence of earnings for the previous twelve months; (d) Federal Income Tax Returns for the two years immediately prior to the final hearing.

Applies to

Proposed property and debt division

When division of the marital estate is at issue, each party must submit a written summary of its proposed division of property and debts to the Court and opposing counsel at trial.

5.8 In all cases in which division of the marital estate is in issue, each party shall prepare and submit to the Court and to opposing counsel at the time of trial a written summary of that party' s proposed division of property and debts.

Applies to

Trial submission

When reporting for trial, parties must deliver witness and exhibit lists and any motion in limine to the Court, Court Reporter, and other parties; unlisted witnesses or exhibits require leave, and exhibits must be marked, exchanged, and examined before trial.

7.3 At the time the parties report for trial they will deliver to the Court, the Court Reporter and the other parties a witness list and exhibit list and any motion in limine. Any witnesses or exhibits not shown on such list can be used at the trial only upon leave of the Court. Prior to commencement of trial all exhibits will be marked, exchanged and examined by counsel so that the trial will not be delayed by such examination.

Applies to

Jury instructions

In civil jury trials, submit anticipated special questions, definitions, and instructions in writing at the pretrial hearing or, if none is held, seven days before trial, with copies to opposing counsel or pro se parties.

In all civil jury trial cases, anticipated special questions, definitions and instruction shall be submitted to the Court in writing at the pretrial hearing, or if there is no pretrial hearing, seven (7) days prior to the beginning of the trial, with copies to opposing counsel or pro se parties.

Applies to

Proposed order

A proposed order authorizing private service under Rule 103 must include counsel’s signed certificate identifying the proposed server and affirming the server meets the stated qualifications.

Any proposed order authorizing private service under Rule 103 will not be signed by the judge unless accompanied by a certificate signed by counsel requesting such an appointment. Such certificate shall set out the name and address of the person to be so authorized and affirm that such person is not less than eighteen years of age, is not a party, and has no interest in the outcome of the suit in which the authorization is sought.

Applies to

Joint case questionnaire

In civil cases other than family law cases, plaintiff and defendant’s attorneys must complete and file a Joint Case Questionnaire within 30 days after the defendant’s answer date.

Joint Case Questionnaire. In all civil cases, (except for family law cases), attorneys for plaintiff and defendant shall complete and file with the Court a Joint Case Questionnaire (Appendix "B") within 30 days following answer date for defendant.

Applies to

Joint case questionnaire

The plaintiff must complete and file the joint case questionnaire after service of citation on all defendants and conferral with all counsel and pro se parties.

This form must be completed and filed by plaintiff after service of citation on all defendants and after conferring with all counsel and pro se parties.

Applies to

Witness list

Must include

caption

Each party must identify its trial witnesses in a document bearing the case caption and serve it on the opposing party under Rule 21a.

Each party shall list such witnesses in a document containing the caption of the case and serve it upon the opposing party as provided by Rule 21a , Texas Rules of Civil Procedure .

Applies to

Original petition

At filing, the petitioner’s attorney must certify in writing in the original petition that the petitioner received and reviewed the entire order.

The Petitioner, by his/her attorney, shall certify in writing in the original petition that he/she has received and reviewed the entire contents of this Order upon filing of an original petition, suit affecting the parent-child relationship, or modification.

Applies to

Certificate of conference

Must include

certificate of conference

A Certificate of Conference showing that the required conference occurred must be on file before any Temporary Orders hearing.

A Certificate of Conference establishing that this requirement has been met, must be on file prior to any hearing for Temporary Orders.

Civil cases

Applies to

Original petition and copies

When the petition is filed, the District Clerk must attach a copy of the order to the original petition and every copy.

The District Clerk shall attach a copy of this order to the original petition and to each copy of the petition at the time the petition is filed.

Civil cases

Applies to

Original petition

Upon filing an original petition, suit affecting the parent-child relationship, or modification, the petitioner’s attorney must include a written certification in the original petition that the petitioner received and reviewed the entire order.

The Petitioner, by his/her attorney, shall certify in writing in the original petition that he/she has received and reviewed the entire contents of this Order upon filing of an original petition, suit affecting the parent-child relationship, or modification.

Civil cases

Applies to

Temporary orders hearing

Must include

certificate of conference

A Certificate of Conference showing compliance with the conference requirement must be on file before any Temporary Orders hearing.

A Certificate of Conference establishing that this requirement has been met, must be on file prior to any hearing for Temporary Orders.