McLennan County District Courts Filing Rules

The district clerk may print an electronic order and treat the printed version as the official copy.

Electronic filing and service of court documents are optional unless a court orders otherwise under subsection (b).

Cases submitted for the judge’s reference may be emailed to the Court Administrator instead of e-filed with the Clerk, but must be emailed at least four hours before the hearing.

McLennan County has been subject to mandated electronic filing since July 1, 2014.

Electronic filing alone does not require electronic service on other parties unless the court orders electronic service.

A filer may serve documents electronically by transmitting them to the receiving party's email address.

A copy of each written request to the Court must be sent to the opposing party.

A registered filer must use their confidential, unique electronic identifier when e-filing, and that use constitutes a digital signature.

A certificate of conference must be attached to every discovery motion.

A signed and notarized Waiver of Service must be filed with the District Clerk before setting the case for final hearing under the first service prerequisite.

In a divorce case, both parties must preserve records and must not falsify writings or records relating to either party's property.

When a guilty plea and PSI are anticipated, the client must complete the PSI packet and email it to the Probation Department before the plea date.

A document transmitted to the EFSP by its filing deadline remains timely if the clerk receives it no more than 10 days late.

Transmission to the filer's EFSP constitutes delivery and generally filing, and a timely-transmitted document received no more than ten days late will be deemed filed on time, with the EFSP transmission report as prima facie timing evidence.

The Court will not consider exhibits that are not timely emailed to the court reporter.

A request for a CPS de novo hearing must be emailed to the Court Administrator when it is filed with the district clerk.

To set a case for final hearing, a pro se litigant should call the District Court Coordinator or Administrator.

An attorney must discuss the details of a special hearing setting with the Court Administrator.

Requests regarding settings should be directed to Jessica Ficker or Deeanna Ayres by phone, fax, or mail.

Requests about settings should be sent to Trisha Dees by phone, fax, or mail.

A participant's device name must display the participant's given name to be permitted to access a Zoom hearing.

Documents requiring verification, notarization, acknowledgment, oath, or sworn status may be filed electronically only as scanned images.

TexasOnline specifies the permissible electronic filing and service formats under JCIT standards.

The Court strongly disfavors continuance motions and requests, especially requests to continue trial dates.

A motion for continuance must be filed and set by 9:00 a.m. on the Friday morning of the jury docket call when announcing that a case is not ready, unless the motion is uncontested or the case is passed by agreement and court consent.

A motion for continuance must be filed and set by 9:00 a.m. Friday before the jury trial if counsel will announce that the case is not ready, unless opposing counsel does not contest the motion or all parties agree and the court consents to passing the case.

the attorneys must have secured an official “Pass” or an Order granting a Continuance.

Electronic filers must pay regular filing fees through TexasOnline using a method specified by TexasOnline.

(h) The district clerk may Gharge filers a Gonvenience fee to electronically file documents. This fee will be in addition to regular filing fees, credit card fees, or other fees.

Attorneys must confer and attempt to resolve every discovery dispute before requesting a hearing.

Attorneys must attempt to resolve discovery disputes through discussion before requesting a court hearing.

A filer may include only one document in an electronic transmission to TexasOnline, except for an attached document permitted under Rule 4.5(b).

Public access to pleadings, orders, and documents in DFPS suits under Chapters 261, 262, and 264 is restricted by the District Clerk, with access limited to the parties, their attorneys, the attorney ad litem, and the guardian ad litem unless the court orders otherwise.