Tarrant County Civil District Courts Service and Proof of Service Rules
29 rules from official source documents
16 of 29 checked against the court's document. Each rule says how far it was checked. A value with a question mark is not in the court's wording on its card.
E-service, mail, personal service, proof of service, certificate, and timing requirements. This page is scoped to Tarrant County Civil District Courts; use the court rules overview to switch categories without leaving this court.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL
Discovery responses and related material must be served on all other lead counsel or parties and filed with the Clerk, although items designated optional need only be served and may be filed.
The following discovery responses and related material SHALL be served upon all other lead counsel or parties and filed with the Clerk in accordance with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code; those denoted [OPTIONAL] SHALL be served, and MAY be filed, accordingly:
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL
A responding or initiating party must serve the Rule 1.07(b) discovery materials on all other lead counsel or parties and may not file them with the clerk except on special order.
(1) Serve upon all other lead counsel or parties, discovery material listed in Rule 1.07 (b) as required therein; but the same shall NOT be filed with the Clerk except on Special Order.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Videotaped deposition or film
Unless otherwise agreed or ordered, counsel must make qualifying videotapes and films available and serve page-and-line designations at least 14 days before trial when they were taken 45 or more days before trial; impeachment-only materials are excepted.
Unless otherwise expressly agreed to by the parties or ordered by the Court, counsel intending to offer videotaped depositions, or other films or videotapes at trial, except those offered solely for impeachment, must make such videotapes and films available to opposing counsel, and serve opposing counsel with page and line designations for videotaped depositions, not later than fourteen (14) days prior to trial for all depositions or other films taken forty-five (45) days or more in advance of trial.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Page and line designations
The proffering attorney must serve opposing counsel with page-and-line designations for any additional deposition portions intended for trial no later than 7 days before trial.
The proffering attorney shall then serve opposing counsel with page and line designations of any portion of the videotape deposition they further intend to introduce at trial not later than seven (7) days prior to trial.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Videotaped deposition or film
Videotaped depositions and films taken within 45 days of trial must be made available, with required designations, as soon as possible and sufficiently early for an objections hearing before trial.
All videotaped depositions and other films taken within forty-five (45) days of trial must be made available , and the aforementioned designations made, as soon as possible to opposing counsel and sufficiently in advance of trial so that a hearing on any objections can be held before commencement of trial.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL
Civil cases
- Deadline
- 14 calendar days
Unless otherwise agreed or ordered, counsel must make qualifying trial videos available and serve page-and-line designations at least 14 days before trial when the recordings were taken at least 45 days before trial; the rule does not apply to materials offered solely for impeachment.
Unless otherwise expressly agreed to by the parties or ordered by the Court, counsel intending to offer videotaped depositions, or other films or videotapes at trial, except those offered solely for impeachment, must make such videotapes and films available to opposing counsel, and serve opposing counsel with page and line designations for videotaped depositions, not later than fourteen (14) days prior to trial for all depositions or other films taken forty-five (45) days or more in advance of trial.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL
Civil cases
- Applies to
- Hearing notice
Immediately after receiving the hearing date and time, the moving party must notify all other parties in writing of the date, time, and subject and provide a copy to the Court Coordinator.
Upon receiving the date and time of hearing, the moving party shall immediately notify all other parties in writing as to the date, time and subject matter of the hearing. A copy of this communication shall be provided to the Court Coordinator.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL
Civil cases
- Deadline
- 7 calendar days
The proffering attorney must serve opposing counsel with page-and-line designations for any further intended trial portions no later than 7 days before trial.
The proffering attorney shall then serve opposing counsel with page and line designations of any portion of the videotape deposition they further intend to introduce at trial not later than seven (7) days prior to trial.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Discovery responses
The listed discovery responses and related material must be served on all other lead counsel or parties and filed with the Clerk.
The following discovery responses and related material SHALL be served upon all other lead counsel or parties and filed with the Clerk in accordance with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code;
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Discovery documents and related materials
Discovery documents and related materials must be served on all other lead counsel or parties but must not be filed with the clerk absent a special order.
(b) The following discovery documents and related materials SHALL be served upon all other lead counsel or parties in accordance with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, but SHALL NOT BE FILED with the clerk except on Special Order.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL
Civil cases
- Applies to
- Videotape deposition or film
Videotaped depositions and other films taken within 45 days of trial must be made available to opposing counsel, with the required designations, sufficiently in advance to permit an objection hearing before trial.
All videotaped depositions and other films taken within forty-five (45) days of trial must be made available , and the aforementioned designations made, as soon as possible to opposing counsel and sufficiently in advance of trial so that a hearing on any objections can be held before commencement of trial.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL
Discovery responses and related material must be served on all other lead counsel or parties and filed with the Clerk; items marked optional must be served but may be filed.
The following discovery responses and related material SHALL be served upon all other lead counsel or parties and filed with the Clerk in accordance with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code; those denoted [OPTIONAL] SHALL be served, and MAY be filed, accordingly:
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL
Discovery documents and related materials must be served on all other lead counsel or parties and generally must not be filed with the clerk except upon a special order.
(b) The following discov.ery documents and related materials SHALL be served upon all other lead counsel or parties in accordance with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code,but SHALL NOT BE FILED with the clerk except on Special Order.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL
- Service
- Email to all parties
Exhibits offered at a hearing must be emailed to all parties, the Court Coordinator, and the Court Reporter by 4:00 p.m. the day before the hearing.
If you intend to offer any exhibits during the hearing, you need to e-mail them to all parties, the Court Coordinator (KLStewart@TarrantCounty.com), and the Court Reporter (MFEscobar@TarrantCounty.com) no later than 4:00 p.m. the day before the hearing.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING
Civil cases
The clerk must provide notice of the court’s intention to dismiss for want of prosecution by complying with Paragraph (1) of Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 165a.
The clerk shall provide notice of the court's intention to dismiss for want of prosecution by complying with the provisions of Paragraph (1) of Rule 165a of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING
Civil cases
- Deadline
- 10 calendar days
- Applies to
- Deposition notice
A deposition notice providing less than ten calendar days is presumptively unreasonable under the cited Texas rules.
Notice of less than ten (10) calendar days under Rules 21a and 199.2(a), Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, shall be presumed to be unreasonable.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?
(b) The following discov.ery documents and related materials SHALL be served upon all other lead counsel or parties in accordance with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, but SHALL NOT BE FILED with the clerk except on Special Order.
Summary: Discovery documents and related materials must be served on all other lead counsel or parties but generally must not be filed with the clerk except by special order.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?
- Applies to
- Page and line designations
Opposing counsel shall then serve the proffering attorney with page and line designations of any portion of the videotape deposition they intend to introduce at trial not later than ten (10) days prior to trial.
Summary: Opposing counsel must serve the proffering attorney with page-and-line designations for intended deposition portions no later than 10 days before trial.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?
- Applies to
- Exhibits
- Service
- Email to all parties ?
If you intend to offer any exhibits during the hearing you need to email them to all parties and the Court Reporter (MABrantley@tarrantcountytx.gov) no later than 4:00 p.m. the day before the hearing.
Summary: Exhibits offered at a hearing must be emailed to all parties by 4:00 p.m. on the preceding day.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?
Civil cases
- Deadline
- 10 calendar days ?
Opposing counsel shall then serve the proffering attorney with page and line designations of any portion of the videotape deposition they intend to introduce at trial not later than ten (10) days prior to trial.
Summary: Opposing counsel must serve the proffering attorney with page-and-line designations for intended portions of a videotaped deposition no later than 10 days before trial.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?
Civil cases
All videotaped depositions and other films taken within forty-five (45) days of trial must be made available, and the aforementioned designations made, as soon as possible to opposing counsel and sufficiently in advance of trial so that a hearing on any objections can be held before commencement of trial.
Summary: Videos taken within 45 days of trial must be made available and the required designations served as soon as possible and sufficiently before trial for an objection hearing.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?
- Applies to
- Discovery material
(1) Serve upon all other lead counsel or parties, discovery material listed in Rule 1.07 (b) as required therein; but the same shall NOT be filed with the Clerk except on Special Order.
Summary: A responding party or discovery initiator must serve the listed discovery material on all other lead counsel or parties and must not file it with the clerk absent a special order.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?
Civil cases
- Applies to
- Videotape deposition or film ?
Unless otherwise expressly agreed to by the parties or ordered by the Court, counsel intending to offer videotaped depositions, or other films or videotapes at trial, except those offered solely for impeachment, must make such videotapes and films available to opposing counsel, and serve opposing counsel with page and line designations for videotaped depositions, not later than fourteen (14) days prior to trial for all depositions or other films taken forty-five (45) days or more in advance of trial.
Summary: Unless otherwise agreed or ordered, counsel offering videotaped depositions, films, or videotapes taken at least 45 days before trial must make them available to opposing counsel and serve page-and-line designations at least 14 days before trial.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?
Civil cases
- Applies to
- Videotape deposition
Opposing counsel shall then serve the proffering attorney with page and line designations of any portion of the videotape deposition they intend to introduce at trial not later than ten (10) days prior to trial.
Summary: Opposing counsel must serve the proffering attorney with page-and-line designations for intended videotaped-deposition portions no later than 10 days before trial.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?
Civil cases
- Applies to
- Videotape deposition
The proffering attorney shall then serve opposing counsel with page and line designations of any portion of the videotape deposition they further intend to introduce at trial not later than seven (7) days prior to trial.
Summary: The proffering attorney must serve opposing counsel with page-and-line designations for any further videotaped-deposition portions no later than 7 days before trial.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?
(1) Serve upon all other lead counsel or parties, discovery material listed in Rule 1.07 (b) as required therein; but the same shall NOT be filed with the Clerk except on Special Order.
Summary: A party responding to discovery requests or initiating discovery against a non-party must serve the listed discovery material on all other lead counsel or parties and must not file it with the clerk except on Special Order.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?
- Service
- Mail ?
Wherever "counsel" is used it includes a party not represented by an attorney.
Summary: For purposes of these local rules, “counsel” includes a party proceeding without an attorney.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?
- Service
Failure to accept delivery or to pick up mail addressed to the address provided by a pro se 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.
Summary: A pro se litigant’s failure to accept or retrieve mailed documents constitutes constructive receipt, which may be proved by a postal receipt or comparable proof of delivery.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?
- Applies to
- Discovery responses ?
those denoted [OPTIONAL] SHALL be served, and MAY be filed, accordingly
Summary: Discovery responses and related material identified as optional must be served but may be filed.
What service or proof of service rules apply in Tarrant County Civil District Courts?
Tarrant County Civil District Courts: The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Discovery responses and related material must be served on all other lead counsel or parties and filed with the Clerk, although items designated optional need only be served and may be filed.
Judge Dusty Fillmore: The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. The clerk must provide notice of the court’s intention to dismiss for want of prosecution by complying with Paragraph (1) of Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 165a.
2 more rules answer this question in the list above.
What rule applies to service for videotaped deposition or film in Tarrant County Civil District Courts?
The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: recipient: the opposing party, timing: before hearing. Unless otherwise agreed or ordered, counsel must make qualifying videotapes and films available and serve page-and-line designations at least 14 days before trial when they were taken 45 or more days before trial; impeachment-only materials are excepted.
1 more rule answers this question in the list above.
What rule applies to service for page and line designations in Tarrant County Civil District Courts?
The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: recipient: the opposing party, timing: before hearing. The proffering attorney must serve opposing counsel with page-and-line designations for any additional deposition portions intended for trial no later than 7 days before trial.
1 more rule answers this question in the list above.
What rule applies to service by mail in Tarrant County Civil District Courts?
Tarrant County Civil District Courts: The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: method: service by mail. For purposes of these local rules, “counsel” includes a party proceeding without an attorney. Machine summary, not yet verified; check the linked order.
Judge Dusty Fillmore: Proof of service is not required by this specific service rule. Details: method: service by mail. A pro se litigant’s failure to accept or retrieve mailed documents constitutes constructive receipt, which may be proved by a postal receipt or comparable proof of delivery. Machine summary, not yet verified; check the linked order.
What rule applies to serving the opposing party in Tarrant County Civil District Courts?
Judge Dusty Fillmore: The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: recipient: the opposing party, timing: 14 calendar days before hearing. Unless otherwise agreed or ordered, counsel must make qualifying trial videos available and serve page-and-line designations at least 14 days before trial when the recordings were taken at least 45 days before trial; the rule does not apply to materials offered solely for impeachment.
3 more rules answer this question in the list above.
What rule applies to service for hearing notice in Tarrant County Civil District Courts?
Judge Dusty Fillmore: The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: recipient: all parties. Immediately after receiving the hearing date and time, the moving party must notify all other parties in writing of the date, time, and subject and provide a copy to the Court Coordinator.
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