Williamson County Courts at Law Filing Rules

An attorney may designate up to four weeks of vacation during which the attorney will not be assigned to trial or required to participate in pretrial proceedings; a written designation must be filed with the Clerk and copied to all Court Administrators, and the rule applies to affected Lead Counsel unless the Court expands it.

The vacation designation must be filed at least 90 days in advance, and this rule applies to lead Counsel unless the Court expands it to other Counsel.

Before presenting a TRO or other request for relief, an attorney must notify the opposing attorney and provide copies of the pleadings and proposed orders if the respondent is represented.

Attorneys must observe the ethical canons concerning media discussions and improper ex parte communications with the judge.

Before setting a case, counsel and self-represented litigants must confer in an attempt to agree on a setting; after conferring, the requesting party may set the hearing or trial, and an opponent’s failure to respond does not prevent obtaining a setting.

Attorneys must file documents electronically.

Electronically transmitted filings are received as plain-paper facsimiles and printed by laser printer; documents printed on thermal paper may not be filed.

A final hearing setting made at the dismissal docket may be changed only if a formal motion for continuance is granted under the Rules of Civil Procedure.

Court costs and fees must be paid by a Clerk-authorized method before an electronically transmitted document will be accepted for filing.

All parties in Chapter 33 proceedings must comply with the requirements protecting the identity of the minor involved.