Judge Travis E. Kitchens Jr.
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Communication
Document Format Requirements2 rules
All documents you give to the judge must be originals.
All pleadings and Court orders must appear neat and clean.
- Pleading
- Court order
Formatting
- •Appear neat and clean
Document Filing Requirements14 rules
All contact information MUST be provided on the Settings Request form.
If children were born during the marriage, the decree must include the following.
Make certain you have followed all the steps outlined in the article and make certain you have reviewed the pages entitled, ARE YOU READY FOR COURT.
CHILD SUPPORT CANNOT BE WAIVED without the approval of the Court.
A statement regarding how the children will be covered by health insurance; and
You must present a complete decree that resolves all issues.
BEFORE setting your case on the docket you MUST review the contents of the Webpage entitled, The Uncontested Divorce Process in Texas at www.texaslawhelp.org.
Once you are CERTAIN that you are ready for court, obtain the Bureau of Vital statistics form from the District Clerk’s Office and have it completely filled out before you come to court for your divorce.
A statement regarding who the custody of the children and with whom they will live.
A schedule of visitation.
A statement regarding child support in accordance with the guidelines in the Texas Family Code.
If provisions contained in the forms, you are using do not apply to you and your spouse, do not include them in the petition or decree, or strike through the inapplicable provisions.
You cannot rely on the Court signing the decree as a representation that the decree is accurate and resolves all the issues as you wish or that it adequately covers all the issues you have a right to have covered.
The Court will not review the decree for completion and will not confirm that the decree is properly drafted.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Submit the Setting Request form by email or Efile.
A Setting Request form can be found on the Court’s webpage and must be submitted by email or Efile.
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Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Non-summer vacation designations must be filed with the district clerk by February 1; non-summer weeks cannot exceed two consecutive weeks, and do not protect against a trial set by an order signed before filing.
Written designation for vacation in months other than June, July, or August must be filed with the district clerk by February 1. Non-summer vacation weeks may not run consecutively for more than two weeks at a time. Non-summer vacation weeks so designated will not protect an attorney from a trial by an order signed before the date the designation is filed.
Page 5 | Rule 11.3 Non-Summer Vacations
Summer vacation designations must be filed with the district clerk by May 15 and protect the attorney from trials during those weeks even if a trial-setting order was previously signed.
Written designation for vacation weeks during June, July, or August must be filed with the district clerk by May 15. Summer vacation weeks so designated will protect the attorney from trials during those summer weeks, even if an order setting the case for trial was signed before the vacation designation was filed.
Page 5 | Rule 11.2 Summer Vacations
Chambers Communication Rules
To get the case on the docket, contact the Court Coordinator by email; the District Clerk’s Office can provide court dates but cannot set the case on the docket.
Although the District Clerk’s office can tell you when court will be held, you may get your case on the docket only by contacting the Court Coordinator, Lianne Mueck, via email at 258court@co.polk.tx.us.
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