Jefferson County District Courts Document Filing Requirements

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Applies to

Notice of hearing

A notice of hearing must be filed at the same time as the motion for summary judgment.

a notice of hearing is to be filed contemporaneously with the filing of a motion for summary judgment.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Applies to

Notice of hearing

The notice of hearing must be submitted as a separate document.

The notice of hearing shall be filed as a separate document.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Applies to

Rehearing request

After discovery expires, the movant may request rehearing of the summary judgment and must file a notice of hearing with that request.

Once the discovery period expires, the movant may request a rehearing on the summary judgment. A notice of hearing is to be filed along with the request for rehearing.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Applies to

Proposed order

The proposed order must include a hearing date and time that complies with applicable Texas and local procedural rules.

Include a date and time for the hearing that complies with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and any applicable local rules;

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Applies to

Proposed order

The proposed order must allow sufficient time for notice to every party.

Allow sufficient time for notice to all parties;

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Applies to

Proposed order

The proposed order's hearing setting must be coordinated with the Court Coordinator to confirm docket availability.

Be coordinated with the Court Coordinator to confirm availability on the Court's docket.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Applies to

Motion

Must include

proposed order

Each motion must be in writing and include a separate proposed order granting the relief sought.

Motions shall be in writing and accompanied by a proposed order granting the relief sought. The proposed order shall be a separate instrument.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Applies to

Response

Must include

proposed order

Each written response must be accompanied by a proposed order.

Responses shall be in writing and accompanied by a proposed order.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Applies to

Motion

Must include

certificate of conference

Before a motion or other contested matter is heard, the parties must make a good-faith attempt to resolve it, and the required certificate of conference extends to motions, pleas, and special exceptions subject to the listed exceptions.

Before any motion or other contested matter will be heard, the parties must make a good-faith attempt to resolve the disputed matter by agreement. Certificates of conference required by the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure are extended to all motions, pleas and special exceptions except summary judgments, default judgments, agreed judgments, motions for voluntary dismissal or nonsuit, post-verdict motions and motions involving service of citation.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Applies to

Summary judgment motion

A summary judgment may not be filed before the discovery period expires unless the court grants leave.

Absent leave of court, no summary judgment shall be filed until the expiration of the discovery period.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Applies to

Notice of hearing

A notice of hearing must be filed contemporaneously with each summary-judgment motion as a separate document.

To ensure the Courts are in compliance with the new rule, a notice of hearing is to be filed contemporaneously with the filing of a motion for summary judgment. The notice of hearing shall be filed as a separate document.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Applies to

Notice of hearing

A notice of hearing must be filed and served on all parties after confirmation of the hearing date and must state the hearing time, date, and whether the matter will be heard orally or by submission.

Once a hearing date has been confirmed with the court coordinator, a notice of hearing must be filed and served on all parties and state the time and date of the hearing and whether the hearing is an oral hearing or the matter will be heard by submission.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Temporary orders support request

A request for temporary spousal support, child support, or division of expenses must be accompanied by financial information, income documents, and, in temporary spousal support cases, proof of expenses.

If you are asking the Court to order temporary spousal support, child support or to divide expenses, in addition to information required under Texas Family Code §154.063, you must provide a financial information statement, paystubs, or other income reporting documents, as well as proof of expenses for temporary spousal support cases.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of court proceeding

Only after the Court reviews and approves the scheduling request may the requesting party schedule the modification proceeding and submit a Notice of Court Proceeding.

Once the Court has reviewed and approved the request to schedule a court proceeding to modify temporary orders, the requesting party may schedule the appropriate court proceeding and submit a Notice of Court Proceeding in compliance with these Local Rules.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Continuance motion

A continuance must be requested through a verified motion accompanied by an email to the coordinator seeking a court proceeding.

File a verified motion for continuance and email the coordinator to request a court proceeding (by submission, Zoom or in person).

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Temporary support or expense division request

A request for temporary spousal support, child support, or expense division must be accompanied by financial information, income documents, and, in temporary spousal support cases, proof of expenses, with the items exchanged at least 24 hours before the hearing.

If you are asking the Court to order temporary spousal support, child support or to divide expenses, you must provide a financial information statement, paystubs, or other income reporting documents, as well as proof of expenses for temporary spousal support cases. These items should be exchanged at least twenty-four hours before the scheduled temporary court proceeding.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Discovery motion

Discovery-sanction, discovery-ruling, and motion-to-compel papers must identify the disputed interrogatory or request and the disputed objection and response in the motion body.

All motions for discovery sanctions, request for rulings on discover objections, and motions to compel discovery shall set out within the body of the motion the interrogatory or request which is in dispute, and the objection and answer or response which is in dispute, so that all matters necessary for the Court's consideration are set out in the pleadings.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion to withdraw

Every motion to withdraw must comply with all requirements of Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 10.

Motions to Withdraw must comply with all requirements of Tex. R. Civ. P. 10.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion to withdraw

A withdrawal motion must state the client's last known physical and email addresses.

The withdrawal motion and order must contain the client's last known physical and email address.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Scheduling order

A final in-person pretrial court proceeding is required for cases called to jury trial and must be included in the scheduling order when filed.

A final in-person pre-trial court proceeding is required for those cases being called to jury trial. This pre-trial court proceeding is required and must be included in the scheduling order at the time of filing.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed jury charge

The parties must submit a proposed jury charge and motions in limine to the court at the pretrial court proceeding.

The parties are required to submit a proposed jury charge and Motions in Limine to the Court at the pre-trial court proceeding.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Scheduling order

Mediation is required at least 14 days before a final court proceeding or trial expected to exceed three hours, and scheduling orders must include the mediator's name or names or they will be rejected.

Mediation is required and must be completed at least fourteen (14) days before any scheduled final court proceeding or trial that is expected to exceed three hours of court time. Scheduling orders without mediator name(s) will be rejected.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Property inventory

When requesting property division, the parties must file a sworn, verified inventory of all assets and debts at least seven days before the final court proceeding.

If the parties are asking the Court to divide property, a sworn, verified inventory listing all assets and debts must be filed at least seven (7) days before any final court proceeding.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Health insurance statement

In every case involving children, the parties must file a pleading or statement describing the children's health insurance.

In every case involving children, the parties must file a pleading or statement describing health insurance for the children.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Applies to

Motion

Must include

proposed order

Failure to file the proposed order contemporaneously may result in the motion being stricken, reset, or held unconsidered until compliance is achieved.

Failure to file a proposed order setting a hearing concurrently with the motion may result in the motion being stricken, reset, or not considered until proper compliance is achieved.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Applies to

Motion

An unopposed motion must be labeled “Unopposed” in the caption.

Unopposed motions shall be labeled “Unopposed” in the caption.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Applies to

Letter

If trial dates cannot be agreed upon, the parties should e-file a letter describing their efforts and attach attempts to obtain a signed scheduling order.

If dates cannot be agreed to, please e-file a letter describing your efforts and attach all attempts at obtaining a signature for the scheduling order.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Applies to

Comparative inventory

Petitioner's counsel must prepare a comparative inventory showing the proposed or requested division of property and debts.

Counsel for Petitioner shall be responsible for preparing a comparative inventory with a proposed or requested division of property and debts.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Applies to

Financial information statement

When requesting spousal support or expense division in the Final Decree, the parties must provide a financial information statement listing income and expenses.

If a party is asking the Court to order spousal support or divide expenses in the Final Decree, the parties must provide a financial information statement listing income and expenses.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026INFO

Civil cases

Applies to

Summary judgment motion

If the movant does not set the summary judgment for hearing, the court will set it.

Absent a setting by the movant, the summary judgment shall be set by the court.

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

Civil cases

Applies to

Original petition

IT IS ORDERED that a copy of these orders shall be attached to all original petitions by the filing party.

Summary: The filing party must attach a copy of the standing orders to every original petition.

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

Civil cases

Applies to

Original petition

IT IS ORDERED that a copy of these orders shall be attached to all original petitions by the filing party.

Summary: The filing party must attach a copy of the standing orders to every original petition.

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

Civil cases

Applies to

Motion

Must include

proposed order

Any party or attorney who files a Motion for Summary Judgment or Motion for Partial Summary Judgment in the 279th or 317th District Court shall, at the time of filing the motion, contemporaneously file a separate proposed order setting the motion for hearing.

Summary: A party or attorney filing a motion for summary judgment or partial summary judgment must contemporaneously file a separate proposed order setting the motion for hearing.

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

Civil cases

Applies to

Withdrawal motion ?

Must include

caption, judge name, case number ?

Motions by counsel to withdraw shall state whether or not the client has agreed to the withdrawal, and, if so, the motion shall be signed by the client evidencing such agreement.

Summary: A motion to withdraw must state whether the client agrees and, when the client agrees, must be signed by the client as evidence of that agreement.

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

Civil cases

Applies to

Withdrawal motion ?

Counsel must also provide, in the motion, the client's full address, email address and telephone number, and certify that the same are, as of the time of filing of the motion, still those of the client.

Summary: The withdrawal motion must provide the client's full address, email address, and telephone number and certify that the information remains current as of filing.

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

Applies to

Ex parte application ?

Counsel or parties presenting any application for an ex parte order shall, at the time the application is presented to the Court, certify in writing that:

Summary: An ex parte application must be accompanied at presentation by a written certification concerning whether the affected party is unrepresented or whether notice was given, attempted, excused, or waived.

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

Applies to

Subpoena

The subpoena must include a certificate that provides the following information: - (a) The party timely attempted to contact the legal representative or chief executive officer on (list dates, times, methods of contact, and persons contacted) and provide a detailed message alerting the person of the reasons for the subpoena, but received no response; or - (b) The party conferred with an authorized representative and was unable to agree on a representative to appear or provide documents sought were critical for the following reasons: (list all reasons that apply)

Summary: A subpoena directed at a non-party government employee must include a certificate documenting either the timely but unsuccessful contact attempt or the unsuccessful conference with an authorized representative.

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

Applies to

Final judgment or order ?

indicating whether it is approved by all parties as to form or substance

Summary: A written final judgment or order must indicate whether all parties approve it as to form or substance.

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

Applies to

Ex parte application ?

Advance notification is not required if:

Summary: Advance notification for an ex parte application is not required in the three circumstances stated in the standing order.

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

Civil cases

Applies to

Motion

All motions should comply with TRCP Rule 10.

Summary: Attorneys are encouraged to ensure that all motions comply with TRCP Rule 10.