Tarrant County Courts at Law Document Filing Requirements

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

A proposed order authorizing private service under Rule 103 must be accompanied by counsel's signed certificate identifying the proposed server and affirming the required qualifications.

(b) 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 (18) years of age, is not a party, and has no interest in the outcome of the suit in which the authorization is sought.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Bankruptcy notice

The written bankruptcy notice to affected courts and all counsel must identify the bankruptcy court and its location, the bankruptcy cause number and style, the filing date, and bankrupt counsel’s name and address.

within three (3) days of any bankruptcy filing, to provide written notice to the affected courts) and all counsel that a bankruptcy has occurred giving the name and location of the bankruptcy court, the bankruptcy cause number and style, the date of filing and the name and address of counsel for the bankrupt.

CRITICAL

Must include

certificate of conference

A qualifying motion, objection, or special exception must include the specified conference certification or explanation, unless it is among the proceedings excluded from Rule 3.06(b).

No motions, objections or special exceptions will be set for hearing unless the moving party shall have certified in such motion or in a letter substantially the following: 'A conference was held on (date) with (name of attorney for opposing party) on the merits of this motion. A reasonable effort has been made to resolve the dispute without the necessity of court intervention and the effort failed. Therefore it is presented to the Court for determination." or A conference was not held with (name of opposing attorney) on the merits of this motion because (explanation of inability to confer)." Section (b) of this Rule does not pertain to dispositive motions, e.g., Motions for Summary Judgment, Motions to Dismiss and Special Exceptions seeking to dismiss a cause of action, or a Motion for New Trial.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to

Motion

Must include

proposed order

Every motion must be accompanied by a proposed order.

All motions shall be accompanied by a proposed order.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to

Notice of absence

An attorney with a scheduled vacation or CLE commitment must give the court written notice at least 30 days before the absence; the notice does not prevent the Court from setting a hearing or trial during that period.

If an attorney has a scheduled vacation or CLE commitment, the attorney shall provide written notice thereof to the court no later than 30 days before the first day of the planned absence. Submission of such notice does not preclude the Court from setting a case for hearing or trial during the noticed period.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Ex parte application

Each ex parte application must include a certificate signed by counsel stating one of the specified circumstances regarding opposing counsel's representation or notice.

(c) Ex Parte Applications. Every application for relief ex parte shall contain a certificate signed by counsel that: (•) To the best of his or her knowledge that party against whom relief is sought ex parte is not represented by counsel in the matter made the basis of the relief sought; or, (Z) Counsel for the party against whom relief is sought ex parte has been notified of the application and has stated whether he or she wishes to be heard; or, (3) Diligent attempts to notify counsel for the party against whom ex parte relief is sought have been unsuccessful, and the circumstances do not permit additional efforts to give notice.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Exhibits

Unless the parties agree otherwise, the Court will not consider exhibits that were not emailed or filed timely.

Unless agreed by the parties the Court will not consider any exhibits not emailed or filed in a timely manner.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to

Attorney compensation disclosure

Appointed attorneys must disclose to the Court all compensation received on the defendant’s behalf.

Attorneys appointed to represent indigent defendants must disclose to the Court all compensation received from any source on behalf of the defendant.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Trial witness or exhibit

A witness or exhibit omitted from the required lists may be used at trial only with leave of the Court.

Any witnesses and exhibits not shown on such list can be used at the trial only upon leave of the Court.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to

Ai assisted document certification

If AI was used, the certification must also state that a human verified the AI-created or AI-contributed content and that the filing party accepts responsibility for violations.

If A.I. was used to create the document, the certification in Rule 5.33(c) shall also include the following statements: (1) All drafted language, quotations, sources, citations, arguments, and legal analyses created or contributed to by A.I. have been verified as accurate by a human being, and (2) The filing party understands and acknowledges that he or she will be held responsible for any document he or she files that violates this Rule regardless of who drafted the document.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to

Notice of appearance

An attorney retained to replace appointed counsel must file a notice of appearance.

If an attorney is retained to replace existing appointed counsel, the newly retained attorney shall file a notice of appearance,

CRITICAL

Applies to

Trial setting request

A party seeking a trial setting must submit a written request and represent that the case will be ready for trial.

Cases will be set for trial by the Court upon written request and representation of any party that the case will be ready for trial.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to

Supplemental document

A supplemental document must include “supplemental” or a variation in its title.

A supplemental document shall include the word “supplemental” or a variation thereof in the document’s title.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Court reporter certificate

The requirement to file the court reporter's certificate under Rule 203 remains in effect.

Nothing in this rule shall alter the requirement for filing the court reporter's certificate required by Rule 203, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of intention to dismiss

The clerk must provide notice of the court's intention to dismiss for want of prosecution in compliance with Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 165a(1).

(b) The clerk shall provide notice of the court's intention to dismiss for want of prosecution by complying with the provisions of Paragraph (1) of Rule 165a of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to

Conflicting setting notice

An attorney with a conflicting setting must immediately file a notice informing every affected court.

When a conflicting setting occurs, the attorney with the conflict shall immediately file a notice informing all affected courts.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to

Motion or brief

Must include

ai disclosure

Every motion and brief filed with the court must include a certification signed by the filing party stating whether AI was used to create it.

All motions and briefs filed with the court shall include a certification, signed by the filing party, attesting either that the document was created using A.I. or that the document was not created using A.I.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to

Motion or response

A motion or response must clearly state if an evidentiary hearing is required or requested.

If an evidentiary hearing is required or requested, the movant or the respondent shall clearly state that fact in the motion or response.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to

Document created with ai

A party filing a document created with AI assistance must ensure the accuracy of all AI-created or AI-contributed content listed in the rule.

A party who files a document created with the assistance of A.I. shall ensure the accuracy of all drafted language, quotations, sources, citations, arguments, and legal analyses created or contributed to by A.I.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Before final disposition, an appointed or retained attorney seeking to withdraw must file a written motion complying with Local Rule 5.4, subject to the exception in Local Rule 5.42(b).

Except as provided in Local Rule 5.42(b), if an appointed or retained attorney has reason to withdraw before final disposition of the case, the attorney shall file a written motion to withdraw with the Court in compliance with Local Rule 5.4.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to

Amended document

An amended document, except an indictment or information, must include “amended” or a variation in its title.

An amended document, other than an indictment or information, shall include the word “amended” or a variation thereof in the document’s title.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to

Initial pleading

At a party’s first appearance through counsel, the attorney signing the initial pleading is attorney in charge unless another attorney is specifically designated, and remains so until final disposition or Court permission.

Upon a party’s first appearance through counsel, the attorney whose signature appears on the initial pleading shall be the attorney in charge, unless another attorney is specifically designated. The attorney’s appearance shall be a general appearance, and the attorney shall remain as the attorney in charge until final disposition of the case or until permission is otherwise granted by the Court.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

Must include

proposed order

A motion seeking affirmative relief must include an order in a form granting or denying the motion, or the order must be brought to the hearing.

All filed motions seeking affirmative relief from the court will either be accompanied by an Order in such form as to grant or deny the motion, or said Order will be brought to the hearing on the motion.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Trial submissions

When reporting for trial, parties must deliver witness and exhibit lists and any motion in limine; jury-trial parties must also deliver requested instructions and questions, and non-jury parties must deliver proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law.

At the time the parties report for trial they will deliver to the Court and the other parties a witness list, exhibit list, any motion in limine and any requested instructions and questions if a jury trial and proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law if a non-jury trial.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Certificate of written discovery

When Rule 1.07(b) discovery materials are retained or sent to another party, the responsible party must sign and file a Certificate of Written Discovery identifying the document, its recipients, and the service date; one certificate may list multiple documents.

(3) Sign and file A Certificate entitled "Certificate of Written Discovery" with the Clerk whenever discovery materials listed in Rule 1.07 (b) are retained and/or sent to another party. The certificate may list more than one document. The certificate shall identify: 1. the document containing the discovery material, 2. counsel or parties to whom the document is sent, and 3. the date the discovery response or related matter is served on other counsel or parties.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to

Motion

An unopposed or agreed motion must identify that status in its title.

If a motion is unopposed or is agreed, the word “unopposed” or “agreed” shall appear in the title of the motion and shall include a certificate of conference confirming that fact.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to

Continuance motion

The continuance request must be a sworn motion under Chapter 29 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.

If a Court setting, including a trial, conflicts with an attorney’s scheduled vacation or CLE commitment, the attorney shall file a sworn motion for continuance under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 29 no later than 7 days after receiving notice of the setting. The Court may grant or deny the continuance in its discretion.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Deposition notice

Before initiating an oral deposition, a party must attempt to reach agreement with opposing counsel on its date, time, place, and materials; the written notice must state whether a conference was held or attempted and its outcome, and failure to confer adequately may be grounds to quash the deposition.

(b) A party initiating an oral deposition shall first attempt to communicate with opposing counsel to determine whether agreement can be reached as to date, time, place and material, to be furnished at the time of deposition. Any written notice of deposition shall state as follows: A conference was held (or attempted) with the attorney for opposing party to agree on a date, time, place and materials to be furnished. Agreement could not be reached (or counsel will not respond) and the deposition is therefore being taken pursuant to this notice (or Agreement was reached and this notice complies with the agreement)." Failure to hold such conference or to make adequate attempt to hold such conference prior to noticing a deposition shall be grounds to quash the deposition.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Applies to

Document created with ai

At the Court’s request, the filing party must identify the AI-assisted parts of the document and the AI used.

Upon the court’s request, the filing party shall disclose the specific parts of the document created with the assistance of A.I. and the name of the A.I. used.