Denton County District Courts Filing Rules

The parties must exchange inventories and appraisements before the final hearing in original divorce proceedings and provide copies to the judge at the final hearing.

A written deposition notice must include the specified statement concerning the parties’ conference or attempt to confer.

After receiving the hearing date and time, the moving party must immediately file a written notice of hearing with the District Clerk or County Clerk.

If the case is not reached for trial on its scheduled date, the existing deadlines are not extended without court approval and a new scheduling order.

Audio or video media may contain only the segments offered as an exhibit, not unrequested portions of the recording.

The proposed jury charge must be submitted in Word format in the same form as it would be presented to the jury.

Each party must provide the listed witness and exhibit materials to the court reporter and serve them on all other parties by 3 p.m. on the day before the pretrial conference.

Opposing counsel must serve the proffering attorney with all objections to the testimony and page-and-line designations for intended trial portions within 10 days after receiving the initial designation.

Do not communicate directly with Judge Haertling unless the judge or Court Administrator specifically directs communication.

All opposing parties must be copied on emails to the Court Coordinator, including emails requesting final hearing settings.

Denton County departments filing into an existing case must file electronically through the County Clerk's preferred method.

For an agreed continuance in a case younger than 18 months, a proposed Agreed Order Granting Motion for Continuance must be e-filed as a separate lead document.

Typically, only one extension is permitted for completing an order; after that, counsel must attend the Court’s Entry Docket.

Unless good cause is shown, a motion for continuance must be filed at least 10 days before trial and will be heard if set by the trial date.

The moving party must certify in the motion or a letter substantially as specified before any motion, objection, or special exception is set for hearing.

The court will not hear motions on the trial date without first obtaining leave of court.

The child name-change petition, applicable consent, and order or decree must be fully completed and filed as separate lead documents.

PDF packages and portfolios are prohibited; documents for one filing must be combined into one PDF or have their exhibits filed as attachments.

Provide copies of the Exhibit List to the opposing counsel or self-represented litigant, the Court Reporter, and the Judge.

The trial summary should be limited to one page if possible.

The clerk will not accept electronically submitted documents until applicable court costs and fees are paid; payment may be made by debit or credit card within the electronic filing manager.