Williamson County Courts at Law Filing Timing and Cure Windows

CRITICAL

A Jane Doe case application may be filed with either clerk; the County Clerk must accept an application it receives and immediately transfer it to the District Clerk.

A “Jane Doe case" application may be filed with either the District Clerk or the County Clerk, but if an application is received by the County Clerk, the County Clerk shall accept it and shall immediately transfer the application to the District Clerk.

CRITICAL

An accepted electronically transmitted document is recognized as the original record for filing or evidentiary purposes when it bears the Clerk's official date-and-time file stamp.

An electronically transmitted document accepted for filing will be recognized as the original record of file or for evidentiary purposes when it bears the Clerk's official date and time file stamp.

CRITICAL

A Jane Doe application may be filed with either clerk; the County Clerk must accept an application it receives and immediately transfer it to the District Clerk.

A “Jane Doe case" application may be filed with either the District Clerk or the County Clerk, but if an application is received by the County Clerk, the County Clerk shall accept it and shall immediately transfer the application to the District Clerk.

CRITICAL

After the bankruptcy concludes, the party or counsel must promptly file a notice of conclusion with the appropriate clerk.

Once a bankruptcy has been concluded, the party or the party’s counsel and shall promptly file with the appropriate clerk notice of conclusion of the bankruptcy.

CRITICAL

When a party files for bankruptcy protection, that party and counsel must promptly file a suggestion of bankruptcy with the appropriate clerk’s office.

Whenever any party of litigation files for protection under the bankruptcy laws of the United States, it shall be the responsibility of that party and the party's counsel to promptly file a suggestion of bankruptcy with the appropriate clerk’s office

CRITICAL

Electronic transmission does not itself constitute filing; filing is complete when the Clerk’s official date-and-time file stamp is affixed, while the last page’s receipt imprint determines receipt time only.

12. Filing. Electronic transmission of a document does not constitute filing. Filing is complete when the Clerk's official date and time file stamp is affixed to the document. Each page of any document received by the Clerk will be automatically imprinted with the date and time of receipt. The date and time imprinted on the last page of a document will determine the time of receipt but not time of filing.

CRITICAL

Accepted transmissions completed before 5:00 p.m. on a normal business day are filed that day; transmissions after 5:00 p.m. or on weekends or holidays are verified and filed before 10:00 a.m. on the first following business day, and senders must check for changes to normal business hours.

Transmissions completed during a normal business day before 5:00 p.m. and accepted for filing will be filed on the day of the receipt. Transmissions completed after 5:00 p.m., on weekends or holidays will be verified and filed before 10:00 a.m. on the first business day following receipt transmission. The sender is responsible for determining if there are any changes in normal business hours.

WARNING

After filing an electronically transmitted document, the Clerk will send the sender an electronic acknowledgment and any cost receipts.

After filing an electronically transmitted document, the Clerk will electronically transmit to the sender an acknowledgement of the filing, together with cost receipts, if any.

WARNING

Upon receiving an electronically transmitted document, the Clerk must verify that the transmission is complete.

The Clerk upon receipt of an electronically transmitted document shall verify the completeness of the transmission.

WARNING

Defense attorneys must arrange their clients’ appointments before sentencing to avoid delays in resolving the case.

Attorneys representing defendants shall be responsible for making appointments for their clients in advance of the sentencing date so that no delays are incurred in disposing of the case.

WARNING

If the Clerk rejects a filing, the Clerk will notify the sender as soon as practicable.

If the Clerk rejects a filing, the clerk will notify the sender as soon as practicable.

CRITICAL

Rule 166a(i) motions may not be set before the date specified in the order.

Rule 166a(i) motions may not be set before this date.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pre trial motion

Pre-trial motions must be filed at least seven days before the pre-trial hearing.

All pre-trial motions must be filed at least seven (7) days before the date of the pre-trial hearing.

CRITICAL

The client must make any objection to the withdrawal in writing within 10 days after the letter is mailed.

The letter required under TRCP shall be sent to the client advising that the client has ten (10) days after the date of the mailing of the letter to make any objection to such withdrawal to the Court, in writing, and that if not done and no objection raised, the motion shall be granted.

CRITICAL

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.

The written designation must be filed with the Clerk with a copy to all Court Coordinators no less than ninety (90) days in advance of the vacation. This rule operates only where lead Counsel, as defined by T.RC.P. 8, is affected, unless the Court expands coverage to other Counsel.

CRITICAL

Within 120 days after the answer date of the last defendant served in a non-family civil case, the parties shall submit an agreed docket control order. If an agreement cannot be reached, counsel for Plaintiff shall set a hearing for entry of a docket control order.

Within 120 days after the answer date of the last defendant served in a non-family civil case, the parties shall submit an agreed docket control order. If an agreement cannot be reached, counsel for Plaintiff shall set a hearing for entry of a docket control order.

CRITICAL

The written settlement-conference certification is due by 5:00 p.m. seven days before the date set.

Settlement Conference Certification. Before 5:00 p.m. on the date that is seven (7) days prior to the date set, the parties shall certify in writing to the Judge that a settlement conference has been held.

CRITICAL

Special exceptions must be timely filed and presented at the pre-trial hearing or they are waived.

All special exceptions shall be considered waived if not timely filed and presented to the Court at the pre-trial hearing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Expert witness designation

The plaintiff must designate expert witnesses within 120 days after the answer is filed.

Plaintiff’s expert witnesses to be designated within 120 days from the date answer is filed.

CRITICAL

The suggestion of bankruptcy must be filed promptly after the party files for bankruptcy protection.

Whenever any party of litigation files for protection under the bankruptcy laws of the United States, it shall be the responsibility of that party and the party's counsel to promptly file a suggestion of bankruptcy with the appropriate clerk’s office

CRITICAL

Unless the court orders otherwise, decisions or settlements must be put in writing and provided for signature within 30 days after the order is rendered or settlement announced.

Unless ordered otherwise, within thirty (30) days after rendition of an order or an announced settlement by the parties, the decisions or settlements shall be reduced to writing and be provided to the court for signature.

CRITICAL

Motions to exclude testimony and expert-testimony evidentiary challenges must be filed by the specified date unless the court extends the deadline.

All motions to exclude testimony and evidentiary challenges to expert testimony must be filed by this date, unless extended by leave of court.

CRITICAL

All parties must submit the filings required under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 166 by the specified date.

By this date, all parties must submit all filings required under Rule 166 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.

CRITICAL

Additional parties must be joined within 90 days after the answer is filed.

Any additional parties to be joined within 90 days from the date answer is filed.

CRITICAL

When a presentence investigative report is requested or ordered in a case where the defendant is to be placed on probation, a probation intake interview must be scheduled with the department before sentencing unless the Court permits otherwise.

In cases where a defendant is to be placed on probation and has requested a pre-sentence investigative report or the trial court ordered a pre-sentence investigative report, a probation intake interview shall be scheduled with the Williamson County Community Supervision Department on a day prior to the date set for sentencing unless otherwise permitted by the Court.

CRITICAL

A written vacation designation must be filed with the Clerk and copied to all Court Administrators at least 90 days before the vacation, subject to the stated Lead Counsel limitation unless the Court expands coverage.

Any attorney may designate not more than four weeks during the year as vacation, during which time the attorney will not be assigned to trial or required to engage in any pre-trial proceedings. The written designation must be filed with the Clerk with a copy to all Court Administrators no less than ninety (90) days in advance of the vacation. This rule operates only where Lead Counsel, as defined by T.RC.P. 8, is affected, unless the Court expands coverage to other counsel.

CRITICAL

Each party must file the inventory within 50 days of the appearance date.

Within fifty days of appearance date, each party shall file with the District Clerk, a copy being furnished to the Judge, opposing Counsel and pro se parties, a sworn inventory and appraisement of all property (both separate and community) of the parties, including any property belonging to children of the parties.

CRITICAL

Written notice that bankruptcy has occurred must be provided to the affected court and all counsel within three days of the bankruptcy filing.

within three (3) days of any bankruptcy filing, to provide written notice to the affected court and all counsel that a bankruptcy has occurred.

CRITICAL

The discovery checklist must be filed with the Court upon completion of discovery.

To encourage the expeditious disposal of cases, to promote judicial economy, and without the diluting the rights of Defendants and in the interest of justice, the District Attorney's office will provide a check list of discovery material provided to the defense attorney and the list will be filed with the Court upon completion of discovery.

CRITICAL

Deadline

5 business days

The District Clerk must notify the applicant of the hearing’s time and place no later than the fifth business day after filing, unless the applicant files for postponement.

The District Clerk shall notify the “Jane Doe" applicant of the time and place of the hearing on the application, which shall be no later than the fifth business day after the day the application is filed, unless an application for postponement is filed by the applicant.

CRITICAL

A client wishing to object to an attorney’s withdrawal must make the objection in writing to the Court within ten days after the required letter is mailed.

The letter required under TRCP shall be sent to the client advising that the client has ten (10) days after the date of the mailing of the letter to make any objection to such withdrawal to the Court, in writing, and that if not done and no objection raised, the motion shall be granted.

CRITICAL

Dispositive motions or pleas subject to interlocutory appeal must be set by the date specified in the order.

Dispositive motions or pleas subject to an interlocutory appeal must be set by this date.

CRITICAL

Rule 166a(i) motions may not be set before the specified date.

Rule 166a(i) motions may not be set before this date.

CRITICAL

Notice of the conclusion of bankruptcy must be filed promptly after the bankruptcy concludes.

Once a bankruptcy has been concluded, the party or the party’s counsel and shall promptly file with the appropriate clerk notice of conclusion of the bankruptcy.

CRITICAL

A written motion to remove a case from the dismissal docket must be presented to the trial Judge before the notified dismissal date.

Written motions to remove a case from dismissal docket must be presented to the trial Judge prior to the notified date of dismissal.

CRITICAL

The discovery checklist must be filed with the Court upon completion of discovery.

To encourage the expeditious disposal of cases, to promote judicial economy, and without the diluting the rights of Defendants and in the interest of justice, the District Attorney's office will provide a check list of discovery material provided to the defense attorney and the list will be filed with the Court upon completion of discovery.

CRITICAL

All parties must submit all filings required under Rule 166 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure by the specified date.

By this date, all parties must submit all filings required under Rule 166 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.

CRITICAL

A settlement conference with both parties present must be held within 250 days after the answer.

A settlement conference must be held with the two parties present within 250 days from the date of answer.

CRITICAL

Discovery must be completed within 180 days after the answer is filed.

Discovery shall be completed within 180 days from the date answer is filed.

CRITICAL

File the vacation designation at least 90 days before the vacation.

The written designation must be filed with the Clerk with a copy to all Court Administrators no less than ninety (90) days in advance of the vacation.

CRITICAL

Dispositive motions or pleas subject to an interlocutory appeal must be set by the specified date.

Dispositive motions or pleas subject to an interlocutory appeal must be set by this date.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Expert witness designation

The defendant must designate expert witnesses within 150 days after the answer is filed.

Defendant's expert witnesses shall be designated within 150 days from the date answer is filed.

CRITICAL

A motion to withdraw may not be presented within 30 days of trial or at a time that would require delaying trial.

No such motion shall be presented within thirty (30) days of the trial date or at a time which would require a delay of the trial.

CRITICAL

In a non-family civil case, the parties must submit an agreed docket control order within 120 days after the last defendant served answers.

Within 120 days after the answer date of the last defendant served in a non-family civil case, the parties shall submit an agreed docket control order.

CRITICAL

Pre-trial motions must be filed at least seven days before the pre-trial hearing.

All pre-trial motions must be filed at least seven (7) days before the date of the pre-trial hearing.

CRITICAL

Summary judgment motions not subject to an interlocutory appeal must be set by the specified date.

Summary Judgment motions not subject to an interlocutory appeal must be set by this date.

CRITICAL

Pre-trial motions must be filed at least seven days before the pre-trial hearing.

All pre-trial motions must be filed at least seven (7) days before the date of the pre-trial hearing.

CRITICAL

The discovery checklist must be filed with the Court upon completion of discovery.

To encourage the expeditious disposal of cases, to promote judicial economy, and without the diluting the rights of Defendants and in the interest of justice, the District Attorney's office will provide a check list of discovery material provided informally to the Defense Attorney and the list will be filed with the Court upon completion of discovery.

CRITICAL

The itemized order must be submitted within ten days after the date of the final ruling.

Not later than ten days after the date of the final ruling, the attorney and guardian ad litem shall submit an itemized order for the Court’s consideration, seeking reasonable and necessary fees and expenses incurred.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Summary judgment motion

Motions for summary judgment must be filed within 210 days after the answer is filed.

Motions for summary judgment to be filed within 210 days from the date answer is filed.