Court Rules

Matagorda County District Courts Filing Timing and Cure Windows

21 rules from official source documents

14 of 21 checked against the court's document. Each rule says how far it was checked. A value with a question mark is not in the court's wording on its card.

Filing cutoffs, deemed-filed rules, rejection handling, cure periods, and outage procedures. This page is scoped to Matagorda County District Courts; use the court rules overview to switch categories without leaving this court.

Cutoffs and deemed-filed rules

Filing deadlines

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

DFPS must file all drug tests with the court within five business days after receipt.

DFPS shall file all drug tests, including, but not limited to, urinalysis, hair follicle and fingernail with the Court, within five (5) business days of receipt, with a notice of confidentiality affixed.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Criminal cases

An amended application must be filed with the Matagorda County District Clerk within 21 days after any change to the application information.

Should any change to this information occur, I certify that I will file an Amended Application with the District Clerk of Matagorda County, Texas within twenty-one (21) days of change.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

A non-summer vacation designation must be filed by February 1, 2026.

Non summer designation — MUST BE FILED BY FEBRUARY 1, 2026

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Summer vacation designations for June, July, and August must be filed by May 15, 2026.

Summer designations: MUST BE FILED BY MAY 15, 2026 (for the months of June, July and August)

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Applies to
Summer vacation designation

Summer vacation designations must be filed with the district clerk by May 15.

Written designation for vacation weeks during June, July and August must be filed with the district clerk by May 15.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Applies to
Non summer vacation designation

Non-summer vacation designations must be filed with the district clerk by February 1.

Written designation for vacation in months other than June, July or August must be filed with the district clerk by February 1.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Deadline
2 business days

When a response is needed, the movant must contact the opposing side and allow at least two full business days for a response before filing the motion.

In all situations in which a response is necessary from another attorney/party, the movant shall accord the other side a reasonable response time before filing their motion and setting a hearing. The Court's definition of reasonable response time means that the movant has reached out to resolve the issue and has given the opposing party a minimum of two (2) full business days to respond before filing their motion.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

A response to a motion set for submission must be filed at least three days before the submission date, subject to exceptions for good cause.

A. Responses to the motion shall be filed at least three (3) days before the submission date. Exceptions can be made on a finding of good cause.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Deadline
48 hours

Non-movant responses must be sent at least 48 hours before the telephone conference.

F. The Non-Movant responses must be e-mailed to the other parties in the case and the court coordinator at 130thDistrictCourt@co.matagorda.tx.us no later than forty eight (48) hours before the telephone conference.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Deadline
24 hours

Amendments, exhibits, and responses filed within 24 hours of the submission date are not considered timely filed.

B. Amendments, exhibits, or responses filed within twenty-four (24) hours of the submission date are not deemed timely filed.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Deadline
3 business days

Motions to retain will be considered only if filed at least three business days before the dismissal date.

Motions to retain will be considered so long as they are filed no later than three business days prior to the dismissal date.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026WARNING

Criminal cases

The application and required attachments should be returned as soon as possible to the Court Coordinator for the 130th Judicial District Court.

This application and all required attachments should be returned at your earliest convenience to the Court Coordinator for the 130th Judicial District Court.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Please note the deadline for timely designating summer vacations is May 15th.

Summary: A timely 2026 summer-vacation designation is due by May 15.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Applies to
Vacation designation motion ?

The motion shall be filed with the Court Coordinator for the 130th Judicial District Court and set on the Court’s submission docket with at least 10 days notice.

Summary: The motion must be filed with the Court Coordinator and set on the Court's submission docket with at least 10 days' notice.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Deadline
10 working days

Submit all time to the court within 10 working days after hearing is compete.

Summary: All time must be submitted to the court within 10 working days after the hearing is complete.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

3.1 Notice. The party setting the hearing by submission shall give notice to all parties for a date not less than ten (10) days from the filing and notice (or longer if statute requires).

Summary: The party setting a submission hearing must give all parties notice for a date at least ten days after filing and notice, or later if a statute requires.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

A. Responses to the motion shall be filed at least three (3) days before the submission ruling date.

Summary: Responses to the motion must be filed at least three days before the submission ruling date.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Parties incarcerated out-of-county or Texas Department of Corrections requires a Bench Warrant Request to be requested a minimum of two (2) weeks before the trial.

Summary: A Bench Warrant Request for a party incarcerated out of county or in the Texas Department of Corrections must be requested at least two weeks before trial.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Deadline
7 business days ?

It is the responsibility of parties or their attorneys to verify with the District Clerk, within seven business days after filing the proposed order, that the order has been signed by the Court.

Summary: Parties or their attorneys must verify the status of a proposed order within seven business days after filing it.

Common questions about Matagorda County District Courts filing timing and cure windows rules

What filing deadlines apply to drug test filings in Matagorda County District Courts?

Judge Denise M. Fortenberry: DFPS must file all drug tests with the court within five business days after receipt.

View ruleOfficial source Source: page 1, section 1. Lab Test Results

What filing deadlines does Matagorda County District Courts set?

Judge Denise M. Fortenberry: An amended application must be filed with the Matagorda County District Clerk within 21 days after any change to the application information.

View ruleOfficial source Source: page 1, section Application to Be Placed on Public Appointment List

14 more rules answer this question in the list above.

What filing deadlines apply to summer vacation designation filings in Matagorda County District Courts?

Judge Denise M. Fortenberry: Summer vacation designations must be filed with the district clerk by May 15.

View ruleOfficial source Source: page 3, section REGIONAL RULES OF ADMINISTRATION — Rule 11: ATTORNEY VACATIONS

What filing deadlines apply to non summer vacation designation filings in Matagorda County District Courts?

Judge Denise M. Fortenberry: Non-summer vacation designations must be filed with the district clerk by February 1.

View ruleOfficial source Source: page 3, section REGIONAL RULES OF ADMINISTRATION — Rule 11: ATTORNEY VACATIONS

What filing deadlines apply to vacation designation motion filings in Matagorda County District Courts?

Judge Denise M. Fortenberry: The motion must be filed with the Court Coordinator and set on the Court's submission docket with at least 10 days' notice. Machine summary, not yet verified; check the linked order.

View ruleOfficial source Source: page 3, section Procedure for Late Filed Vacation Designation or Request to Amend Timely Vacation Designation

When is a filing treated as filed in Matagorda County District Courts?

Judge Denise M. Fortenberry: The Court Coordinator does not add a case to the calendar until the completed notice of hearing is received.

View ruleOfficial source Source: page 8, section 5.3 Hearings

1 more rule answers this question in the list above.