Wharton County District Court, Texas Filing Rules

A case may be placed on the Active Trial Docket only after a party or attorney submits a written trial-setting request certifying the listed information and case-readiness matters.

Drug test filings must have a notice of confidentiality affixed.

A party is entitled to 45 days’ notice after service of a setting request and before jury docket call.

1.1 IT IS ORDERED that the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) attorney of record shall be added as a recipient of all lab test results. DFPS shall add attorney@co.wharton.tx.us to all lab test paperwork to identify the County Attorney's office of all results.

A party seeking to schedule a motion or short hearing should preview the Court’s calendar and contact the Court Coordinator by telephone or email to determine an acceptable hearing date and time.

DFPS must file all drug tests with the Court within five business days after receipt and affix a notice of confidentiality.

The divorce petition must have been on file for at least 60 days before the final hearing.

Before jury docket call, the Court must hear unresolved pretrial motions, conduct a Rule 166 pretrial conference, and assign a trial date unless it grants a continuance.

Setting priority follows the order requests are received and is maintained until trial or removal by a granted continuance, but priority is lost if a continuance is granted at docket call.