Williamson County District Courts Filing Rules

An expense payment request must include sufficiently detailed supporting invoices.

The application must be verified.

The original petition for divorce must be filed with the District Clerk and remain on file for the required 60-day waiting period, except in limited situations involving family violence.

When a motion to withdraw is opposed, both parties must file their respective motions, objections or responses, and proposed orders, and set the matter for a hearing.

Attorneys on the appointment list must annually file a Certificate of Compliance attesting to required CLE by November 1, or submit qualifying board-certification documentation.

Before presenting a TRO or other request for relief, the attorney must notify the represented opposing attorney and provide copies of the pleadings and proposed order.

Formal service by a sheriff, constable, or private process server requires a copy of the petition, a return of citation on file for 10 days, and expiration of the time to file an answer.

Service of the divorce petition may be completed when the respondent signs and files a notarized waiver of service with the District Clerk's office.

The attorney must certify service of the application and notice by certified and first-class mail to each obligated party.

The proponent of virtual testimony shall give written notice via email to all parties/counsel and Shirley Pogue at shirley.pogue@wilcotx.gov at least seven(7) days prior to the hearing of which witnesses will be appearing virtually and confirmation that they understand these conditions;

An attorney's written vacation designation must be filed with the Clerk and copies provided to all Court Administrators at least 90 days before the vacation.

Electronic filing should occur at least 24 hours before the desired hearing date.

The notice and certificate of service must be on file for 10 days before default may be taken.

The Original Petition for Divorce must be on file for the required 60-day waiting period, except in limited situations involving family violence.

The defense attorney must electronically sign and electronically file all paperwork as a proposed order.

Attorneys must file court documents through the electronic filing system.

All exhibits must be uploaded through the court's exhibit portal for use by the court and court reporter.

The court permits communication only by email through Shirley Pogue at the listed address.

Questions about the name-change process may be submitted by email to Court Administrator Marlys Tidrick.

After completing the checklist steps, the litigant must call or email the Court Administrator so the filings can be reviewed and sent to Judge Larson’s electronic queue.

An attorney submitting an hourly-fee compensation form must attach detailed invoices and, when the request exceeds the cap, a copy of the court’s authorization.

Before a pre-trial matter may be set for hearing, the moving party must communicate with opposing counsel to determine whether the contemplated motion will be opposed.

A summary judgment hearing may be scheduled online for up to one hour, subject to the Docket Control Order and the TRCP.

Each exhibit must be placed in a separate file and marked sequentially with numbers.

All signatures on the relevant divorce documents must be handwritten and must not be typed names.

Attorneys should provide one paper copy of trial exhibits, with plaintiffs or petitioners using a white exhibit binder and defendants or respondents using a black binder.

The Court will determine whether there is good cause to allow filing protected health information under seal if the parties request it.

Every criminal trial continuance motion must comply with Chapter 29 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure and must be submitted in writing under oath.

Counsel must provide the court one courtesy copy of an appellate brief in a Williamson County criminal case by email.