Dallas County Civil District Courts
Court-Level Rules, Filing Procedures & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Communication
Letter via ECF
Clerk
Document Filing Requirements6 rules
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
The attorney filing a case that is so related to another previously filed case shall disclose in the original pleading or in a separate simultaneous filing that the case is so related and identify by style, case number and Court the related case. If no such disclosure is made, the signature of the attorney filing the case on the original pleading shall be that attorney's certification that the case is not so related to another previously filed case.
Summary: Attorneys filing a case related to a prior case must disclose the related case in the original pleading or a simultaneous filing, identifying it by style, case number and Court; otherwise the signature certifies no related case exists.
Document Type
Original Pleading
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
I will promptly submit orders to the Court. I will deliver copies to opposing counsel before or accurately reflect the substance of the rulings of the Court.
Summary: Orders must be submitted to the Court promptly, must accurately reflect the substance of the Court's rulings, and copies must be delivered to opposing counsel.
Document Type
Proposed Order
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Important?
The attorney answering any filed case shall point out in the original defensive pleading or in a separate simultaneous filing any failure of the attorney filing the case to have made a proper and accurate disclosure.
Summary: The attorney answering a filed case must point out in the original defensive pleading or a simultaneous filing any failure of the filing attorney to make a proper and accurate related-case disclosure.
Document Type
Defensive Pleading
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Important?
A request by an attorney not licensed to practice law in the State of Texas to appear in a pending case must comply with the requirements of Rule XIX of the Rules Governing Admission to the Bar.
Summary: Out-of-state attorneys seeking to appear must comply with Rule XIX of the Rules Governing Admission to the Bar.
Document Type
Request To Appear
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Important?
All counsel and any self-represented person appearing in the civil courts of Dallas County shall by entering an appearance acknowledge that he or she has read and is familiar with these Local Rules, the Rules of Decorum set forth in Appendix 2, and The Texas Lawyers Creed set forth in Appendix 3.
Summary: Counsel and self-represented persons must acknowledge, when entering an appearance, that they have read and are familiar with the Local Rules, Rules of Decorum, and Texas Lawyers Creed.
Document Type
Appearance
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Note?
Self-represented litigants are required to provide address, email, and telephone listings at which they can be reached by Court personnel and opposing counsel.
Summary: Self-represented litigants must provide address, email, and telephone contact information to the Court and opposing counsel.
Document Type
Pro Se Litigant Contact Information
Filing & Service rules
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
A Suggestion of Bankruptcy must be filed no more than 20 days after a party receives notice of another party's bankruptcy petition.
The Suggestion of Bankruptcy shall be filed as soon as practicable, but in no event more than 20 days after a party receives notice of the filing of a petition in bankruptcy by any other party.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.
Page 6 | 1.13
Applications for immediate or temporary relief must be filed and assigned to a Court before being presented to a Judge, except in emergencies when the Clerk's office is closed.
Except in emergencies when the Clerk's office is not open for business, no application for immediate or temporary relief shall be presented to a Judge until it has been filed and assigned to a Court as provided in Local Rule 1.01.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.
Page 6 | 2.01
In emergencies when the Clerk's office is closed, the case must still be docketed and assigned to a Court at the earliest practicable time, with all writs and process returnable to that Court.
Whenever immediate action of a Judge is required in an emergency when the Clerk's office is not open for business, the case shall nevertheless at the earliest practicable time be docketed and assigned to a Court as provided in Local Rule 1.01 and all writs and process shall be returnable to that Court.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.
Page 6 | 2.01
Service and Proof of Service Rules
The Suggestion of Bankruptcy must be filed with the clerk of the Court and copies served on all counsel of record.
Such notice shall be made by filing a Suggestion of Bankruptcy with the clerk of the Court and serving copies on all counsel of record.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.
Page 6 | 1.13
A self-represented litigant's failure to accept or pick up mail is constructive receipt, provable by postal service receipt or comparable proof of delivery.
Failure to accept delivery or to pick up mail addressed to the address provided by a self-represented litigant will be considered constructive receipt of the mailed or delivered document and may be established by a postal service receipt for certified or registered mail or comparable proof of delivery.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.
Page 13 | 4.05. SELF-REPRESENTED/PRO SE LITIGANTS (revised)
Motions and pleadings must not be served in any manner that unfairly limits another party's opportunity to respond.
I will not serve motions or pleadings in any manner that unfairly limits another party's opportunity to respond.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.
Page 23 | III. LAWYER TO LAWYER
Filing Fees and Waivers
Before a severed claim is assigned a new cause number, plaintiff's attorney must satisfy the Clerk's deposit-for-costs requirement.
Before the severed claim is assigned a new cause number, the attorney for plaintiff in the new cause shall meet the Clerk's requirement concerning deposit for costs.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.
Page 5 | 1.09
Chambers Communication Rules
Attorneys may reserve up to three vacation weeks per year by sending a vacation letter to the Court Coordinator and opposing counsel; once filed, no hearings, depositions, or trials may be set during reserved weeks except upon notice and hearing.
Any attorney may reserve up to three weeks in any calendar year for vacations by sending a "vacation letter" for each case (with appropriate cause number and style) to the Court Coordinator and opposing counsel, reserving weeks in which no hearings, depositions, or trials are set as of the date of the letter. Once a letter is on file, no hearings, depositions, or trials may be set during the reserved weeks except upon notice and hearing.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.
Page 13 | 4.04. VACATION LEITERS
Lawyers must not send correspondence or copies of correspondence to the Court or its staff to gain an unfair advantage.
I will not attempt to gain an unfair advantage by sending the Court or its staff correspondence or copies of correspondence.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.
Page 23 | III. LAWYER TO LAWYER