Harris County District Courts Electronic Filing Rules

Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

All cases in the 190th District Court must be electronically filed.

In accordance with the Local Rules of Harris County District Courts, all cases in the 190th District Court shall be electronically filed.

Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Applies to

Civil document

All cases in the 164th Civil District Court must be electronically filed.

In accordance with the Local Rules of Harris County District Courts, all cases in the 164th Civil District Court shall be electronically filed.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Sep 20, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion for summary judgment

All MSJs must be filed via the District Clerk's online E-hearing portal submission docket.

All MSJs must be put on the MSJ submission docket. 2. The MSJ submission docket is only accessed via the District Clerk's online E-hearing

Checked against the court's document on Sep 20, 2026CRITICAL

Oral hearing requests for the motion docket must be made through the E-Hearing Portal.

Any party requesting an oral hearing for the motion docket should use our E-Hearing Portal. You can go to www.hcdistrictclerk.com; Online Services; My Filings.

Checked against the court's document on Sep 20, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

All other contested motions must be set on the Law Day Docket via the E-hearing portal.

All other types of contested motions must be set under the Law Day Docket using the E-hearing portal.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Applies to

Document

Documents must be filed electronically through efiletexas.gov, subject to exceptions permitted by the Texas Supreme Court's e-filing rules.

All documents shall be filed electronically through efiletexas.gov except as permitted by the Texas Supreme Court's e-filing rules effective January 1, 2014.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Applies to

Emergency hearing motion

If only one side considers the matter an emergency, file a motion for emergency hearing.

If only one side thinks it is an emergency, efile a motion for emergency hearing.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Applies to

Notice to pass hearing

To pass an oral hearing or submission, use the e-Hearing system and/or e-file a notice identifying the setting's time, date, and motion.

If you wish to pass an oral hearing or submission setting. Pass the setting on the e-Hearing system and/or efile a Notice to Pass the hearing. Specify the time, date and motion to be discussed.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Sep 20, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Litigants must electronically file documents with the Harris County District Clerk; hand-delivery or fax requires prior court authorization.

The Rules of Civil Procedure require litigants to electronically file documents and pleadings with the Harris County District Clerk. Litigants need prior authorizations from the Court before hand-delivering or faxing documents directly to the Court. The District Clerks will not accept documents delivered directly to the court for filing. Litigants are responsible for ensuring that documents become part of the Court’s record by e-filings the documents.

Checked against the court's document on Sep 20, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Applies to

Response

Responses to motions must be e-filed at least 24 hours before the hearing and include a proposed order.

E-File responses to motions at least 24 hours prior to the hearing and include a proposed order.

Checked against the court's document on Sep 20, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

The court requires mandatory electronic filing and does not accept filings by email or fax except for free fax filing until new e-filing rules take effect.

The 129th District Court is a mandatory e-file Court. The Court does not accept filings by e-mail or fax (except via free fax filing and only until the newly promulgated e-filing rules take effect).

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

All cases filed in the 133rd Civil District Court must be filed electronically.

In accordance with the Local Rules of the Harris County District Courts, all cases filed in the 133rd Civil District Court must be electronically filed.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Applies to

All documents

All documents must be filed electronically through efiletexas.gov, subject to the stated Texas Supreme Court rule exceptions.

All documents shall be filed electronically through efiletexas.gov except as permitted by the Texas Supreme Court's e-filing rules effective January 1, 2014.

Checked against the court's document on Sep 20, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

All cases in the 189th Civil District Court must be electronically filed.

In accordance with the Local Rules of Harris County District Courts, all cases in the 189th Civil District Court shall be electronically filed.

Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

All cases in the 157th Civil District Court must be filed electronically.

In accordance with the Local Rules of Harris County District Courts, all cases in the 157th Civil District Court shall be electronically filed.

Checked against the court's document on Sep 20, 2026WARNING

Applies to

Motion

A motion for emergency/expedited hearing must be e-filed when only one side deems the matter an emergency.

If only one side feels that it is an emergency, they should e-file a motion for emergency/expedited hearing and email a courtesy copy directly to the Clerk who will then give it to the Court for review and to set an expedited hearing or provide further guidance.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Applies to

Proposed jury charge

After assignment to trial, parties should email the Trial Coordinator their proposed charge in Microsoft Word format.

Only when actually assigned to trial, the parties should email the Trial Coordinator their proposed charge to the court in Microsoft Word format so that the court may compile the court’s charge as the trial proceeds.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026INFO

Civil cases

Applies to

Longer or more complex proposed order

The Court may require longer or more complex proposed orders to be emailed to the Clerk in Word format.

In some instances, the Court may require that longer or more complex proposed orders be emailed to the Clerk in Word format.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026INFO

Civil cases

Applies to

Notice of settlement

Parties need not appear in person to announce settlement if an e-filed Notice of Settlement is on file.

Parties are not required to appear in person to announce a settlement if a Notice of Settlement is on file (efiled).

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Applies to

Motion emergency expedited hearing ?

If only one side feels it is an emergency, e-file a motion for emergency/expedited hearing. Please send a courtesy copy directly to the Clerk who will then give it to the judge to review and set an expedited hearing or provide further guidance to the parties, as appropriate.

Summary: A party claiming an emergency must e-file a motion for emergency/expedited hearing and send a courtesy copy to the Clerk.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Applies to

Emergency motion

In order to receive an emergency hearing, you must e-file an emergency motion that provides a detailed explanation of why it is needed.

Summary: Emergency hearing requests must be e-filed as an emergency motion with a detailed explanation of necessity.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Applies to

Motion response

E-file motion responses at least 48-hours before the hearing and include a proposed order.

Summary: Motion responses must be e-filed at least 48 hours before the hearing and must include a proposed order.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Applies to

Motion for summary judgment

ALL motions for summary judgments must be set on the submission docket.

Summary: All motions for summary judgments must be set on the submission docket.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Applies to

Default judgment ?

Can be set on the oral docket ONLY. Utilize the E-Hearing System for an available date.

Summary: Default judgment motions are set on the oral docket only, using the E-Hearing System.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Applies to

Answer

You can mail or use the drop box at 201 Caroline, on the outside of the building to drop your answer off for filing.

Summary: Answers may be filed by mail or by depositing them in the outside drop box at 201 Caroline.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Applies to

Motion for summary judgment ?

If a party is a pro-se litigant, then the MSJ hearing must be set on the Law Day Docket, under Other Type of Motions.

Summary: Pro se litigants set MSJ hearings on the Law Day Docket under 'Other Type of Motions' instead of the submission docket.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Applies to

Temporary injunction ?

Please use the District Clerk's E-Hearing Portal to obtain a hearing date.

Summary: Temporary injunction hearings are scheduled through the District Clerk's E-Hearing Portal.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Applies to

Motion to withdraw ?

A hearing must also be set on the Law Day Docket.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Civil cases

If time is short and e-filing is impractical, please contact our court clerk for further instructions. Keep in mind that processing times for e-filing have shortened a great deal lately, so it is preferable to file your documents electronically and then bring the filing to the clerk's attention.

Summary: It is preferable to file documents electronically for emergency filings; if time is short and e-filing is impractical, contact the court clerk for instructions.