Coryell County District Courts
Court-Level Rules, Filing Procedures & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Document Format Requirements1 rule
Please provide an 8.5 by 11 copy of any oversized exhibits.
- Paper size
- Letter
- Exhibits
Document Filing Requirements52 rules
This form must be signed by both parties before the Coordinator may consider approving the date(s).
This cover sheet should be completed and filed with the original petition or, in a family law case, when a petition for modification or enforcement is filed.
All pleadings, motions, and other relief requested for the Court to consider shall be filed with a cover letter with instructions to the clerk regarding the specific relief requested.
The notice shall clearly state that any party may either request a hearing or submit a written response on or before a specific submission date that is _at least ten (10) days after service of such statement.
To obtain a contested proceeding setting, an attorney must first contact the appropriate court coordinator, coordinate the date with opposing counsel, and forward an agreed setting form with the agreed date to the coordinator for signature and filing.
Court's wording
Any attorney ofrecord may obtain a setting' for a contested proceeding by first contacting the court coordinator of the appropriate Comt for available dates. All setting dates shall be coordinated with opposing counsel. After an agreed date is reached between the attorneys, an agreed setting form shall be forwarded with the agreed date requested to the court coordinator. The agreed setting form will then be signed by court coordinator and filed with the clerk of the Court.
When presenting an ex parte application, counsel must certify in writing that the opposing party is unrepresented or satisfy one of the stated notice conditions.
Court's wording
Counsel presenting any application for an ex parte order shall, at the time the application is presented to the Court, certify in writing that: a. to the best of Counsel knowledge, the party against whom the relief is sought is not represented by Counsel; or b. if the party against whom the relief is sought is represented by Counsel, that (i) such Counsel has been notified of the application and does not wish to be heard by the Court; or (ii) Counsel presenting the application has diligently attempted to notify opposing Counsel, has been unable to do so, and the circumstances do not permit additional efforts to give such notice.
To request a remote hearing, file a motion for the relief requested with the Clerk.
If coordination does not produce an agreed setting date, the requesting attorney must file a motion explaining the basis for the request, coordination attempts, and requested dates.
Court's wording
If an agreed setting date cannot be achieved after attempting to coordinate a date with opposing counsel, the requesting attorney shall file a motion for a notice of hearing for the contested proceeding explaining the basis for motion, the attempts made to coordinate with opposing counsel, and the dates requested.
The proposed notice-of-hearing order must identify the case, requested proceeding or ruling, each attorney’s contact information, and the estimated hearing time for both sides.
Court's wording
The notice of hearing proposed order shall provide the following information. (a) the cause number and style of the case. (b) the nature of the hearing, trial or ruling sought. (c) the name, address, email, and telephone number of each attorney. (d) the amount of time estimated by the requesting party to be required for such hearing for both sides.
After an opposing party answers or appears, a party may request a trial or applicable pretrial setting by a motion with a trial-setting order and certificate of service, or orally with a confirming filed letter served on opposing counsel; every request must estimate court time.
- Document
- Trial setting request
Must include
- •Certificate of service
Court's wording
At any time after the filing of an answer or entry of an appearance by the , opposing party, any party may request a setting for a trial on the merits or, where applicable, a pretrial hearing, by (i) filing with the Court a motion requesting a trial and an order setting the trial, accompanied by a certificate of service to · opposing Counsel; or (ii) orally requesting the Court to schedule the hearing and confirming the setting by letter filed with the clerk of the Court, a copy of which shall be served on opposing Counsel in accordance with Rule 21 a of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, as amended. All requests for a setting shall include an estimate of the amount of court time required for the pretrial hearing and the trial.
In the specified circumstances, withdrawing counsel must notify the client in writing that the Court will be asked to grant withdrawal no earlier than ten days after the notice date.
Court's wording
If another attorney is not to be substituted as attorney for the party or if the party does not consent to the motion to withdraw, the withdrawing attorney shall notify the client in writing that the Court will be requested to sign an order granting the withdrawal on or after ten ( 10) days following the date of such notice.
Unless Counsel for all parties consent in writing to the request for a continuance and the same is approved by the Court, a motion must be filed pursuant to the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, as applicable, and the motion must be accompanied by an order setting the motion for a hearing.
Prior to the final hearing, the Court shall be furnished a copy of each party's inventory.
A copy of the list shall be presented to opposing counsel at least twenty-one (21) days before trial and to the Court prior to any testimony being offered.
In cases involving property in dispute, counsel for each party shall prepare a sworn list of property involved with estimates of value noted thereon.
Once date is selected and agreed upon, all attorneys of record/pro se parties must sign and send completed Coryell County Setting Request Form (hereinafter "SRF") to the Court Coordinator for final approval and confirmation.
If the parties cannot agree on a setting date after coordinating, the requesting attorney must either file a motion explaining its basis, coordination attempts, and requested dates, or follow statutory requirements and Local Rule 2.3 et al.
Court's wording
If an agreed setting date cannot be reached after attempting to coordinate a date with opposing counsel/parties, the requesting attorney shall: 1.) File a motion to set a hearing for the contested proceeding explaining the basis for motion, the attempts made to coordinate with opposing counsel, and the dates requested, or 2.) If the hearing is not agreed, follow all statutory requirements and Local Rule 2.3 et al.
The Petitioner must attach this order to the original petition and every copy; if the Petitioner fails to do so, the Clerk must ensure it is attached when the petition is filed.
Court's wording
(1) The Petitioner shall attach a copy of this order to the original petition and to each copy of the petition. At the time the petition is filed, if the Petitioner has failed to attach a copy of this Order to the petition and any copy of the petition, the Clerk shall ensure that a copy of this Order is attached to the petition and every copy of the petition presented.
A completed civil case information sheet must be submitted when the specified initiating or family-law post-judgment filings are made.
Court's wording
A civil case information sheet must be completed and submitted when an original petition or application is filed to initiate a new civil, family law, probate, or mental health case or when a post-judgment petition for modification or motion for enforcement is filed in a family law case.
If the original petition, application or post-judgment petition or motion is e-filed, the case information sheet must not be the lead document.
3. Insupportability is the only acceptable finding for submission. Any other finding requires live testimony.
1. Submitted orders must be agreed final decrees with the signature of ail parties.
7. No protective, restraining, injunctive, or family violence orders or relief may be incorporated Into the submitted decree.
2. All respondents must have an answer or waiver of citation on file prior to submission.
To have a Final Decree of Divorce, SAPCR or Modification Order signed by submission, counsel must file the proposed order with the clerk's office and then coordinate a setting with the court coordinator on the next available docket.
- Document
- Final decree of divorce SAPCR or modification order
Must include
- •Proposed order
6. No deviation from statutory child support and insurance requirements and guidelines (i.e., no agreements not to pay or to deviate from support guidelines due to "split custody" arrangement).
4. No deviation from the statutory standard possession order.
8. No default cases may be submitted.
5. No provisions for child under 3.
Include
- •No provisions for child under 3
The Petitioner must attach this Order to the original petition and each copy; if the Petitioner fails to do so, the Clerk must ensure the copies presented are attached.
Court's wording
(1) The Petitioner shall attach a copy of this order to the original petition and to each copy of the petition. At the time the petition is filed, if the Petitioner has failed to attach a copy of this Order to the petition and any copy of the petition, the Clerk shall ensure that a copy of this Order is attached to the petition and every copy of the petition presented.
Ali charging ihstiuinents shall irtclude,the defendant's· SID number; date or birth/I'RN number; complain:trturnbet? statute and-citation, assi~ed prosecut<>t;,tet~ined or appointed defense :attorney, and. the, designated CblJrt,
Proposed final decrees/orders for future hearings will not be retained by the clerk or the Court unless specifically requested at the time of filing.
A case may not be set for trial during a week covered by the attorney in charge’s vacation notice, which may be filed in writing with the appropriate clerk and court coordinator.
Court's wording
A case shall not be set for trial during a week for which an attorney in charge, as defined by Rule 8, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, has given a vacation notice. Attorneys may give vacation notices by filing a written notification with the appropriate clerk and court cooridinator in which such attorney has a pending case.
Prior to requesting a setting, Counsel shall attempt to coordinate an agreed scheduling order and trial setting with opposing Counsel.
Failure to timely file, exchange, or present the inventory shall be cause to pass the hearing
If you have audio/videotape items that could possibly be displayed in court, please make a copy available to give to the reporter.
List of all pre-marked exhibits with a party designation, number and brief description.
List of names of your potential witnesses.
Include
- •List of names of your potential witnesses
If there is a crossclaim filed, please use proper name designations (i.e., Smith Exhibit 1) rather than a generic "Plaintiff Exhibit" or "Defendant Exhibit."
(NOTE: If the name of a party to a case is confidential, enter the party’s initials rather than the party’s name.)
An electronically submitted case information sheet may use a scanned signature or “/s/” followed by the filer’s typed name.
Court's wording
When a case information sheet is submitted electronically, the signature may be a scanned image or “/s/” and the name of the person completing the case information sheet typed in the space where the signature would otherwise appear.
Select the damages being sought in the case: (NOTE: If the claim is governed by the Family Code, do not indicate the damages sought.)
Select the case category that best reflects the most important issue in the case. You must select only one.
Attach an additional page as necessary to list all parties.
The case information sheet must include the completer’s listed contact details and signature, with a fax number if available and State Bar number if the completer is an attorney.
Court's wording
Enter the following information: name; address; city, state, and zip code; email address; telephone number; fax number, if available; State Bar number, if the person is an attorney; and signature.
9. Regardless of whether a particular case meets all the requirements stated above,the Court at its discretion, may require live "prove up" testimony in any case in which it deems such testimony necessary or helpful.
Submission of noncomplying decrees for signature may result in the Court requiring live testimony on all of the particular lawyer or firm's future cases.
Supervisory lawyers are responsible for the actions of supervised lawyers and all non-lawyer assistants.
When submitting orders for signature without live testimony, counsel of record is responsible for ensuring that all requirements have been met.
Requests for hearing uncontested matters may be requested in writing to court coordinator of the appropriate court.
The parties may agree or request the Court for an earlier date to exchange inventories.
If applicable, select any of the available procedures or remedies being sought in the case. You may select more than one.
Filing & Service rules
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
The specified submission date must be at least ten days after service of the notice.
The notice shall clearly state that any party may either request a hearing or submit a written response on or before a specific submission date that is _at least ten (10) days after service of such statement.
Civil cases
Page 8 | RULE 2.3. REQUESTING (NON-JURY) SETTINGS
An attorney with conflicting trial settings must notify the courts concerned immediately upon learning of the conflict.
Whenever an attorney has two or more cases on trial dockets for trial at the same time, it shall be the duty of the attorney to bring the matter to the attention of the courts concerned immediately upon learning of the conflicting settings.
Civil cases
Page 10 | RULE 2.7. CONFLICT IN TRIAL SETTINGS
A vacation notice must be filed at least 90 days before each designated vacation week and applies only to cases not already scheduled for trial.
Such notice must be filed at least ninety (90) days in advance of each designated vacation week, and such a notice shall apply only to cases not already scheduled for trial.
Civil cases
Page 10 | RULE 2.7. CONFLICT IN TRIAL SETTINGS — Attorney Vacations
The Court will set motions within the time prescribed by TRCP 21.
The Court will set all motions within the time pr~scribed in TRCP 21.
Civil cases
Page 18 | REQUESTING NON-JURY SETTINGS IN CORYELL COUNTY
An agreed SRF not returned in a timely manner could result in losing the selected hearing time.
Due to court schedules, failure to return agreed SRF in a timely manner could result in the loss of your selected hearing time.
Civil cases
Page 18 | REQUESTING NON-JURY SETTINGS IN CORYELL COUNTY
Service and Proof of Service Rules
When any matter is filed for a ruling without a hearing, the movant must notify all attorneys of record of the submission.
Upon the filing of any matter, the movant shall give notice to all attorneys of record that the matter will be submitted to the Court for a ruling without any hearing.
Civil cases
Page 8 | RULE 2.3. REQUESTING (NON-JURY) SETTINGS
The movant attorney is responsible for notice of the contested proceeding on the agreed date.
Notice of the contested proceeding on the agreed date shall be the responsibility of the movant attorney.
Civil cases
Page 8 | RULE 2.3. REQUESTING (NON-JURY) SETTINGS
The attorney must serve the motion on all attorneys of record.
The attorney shall serve a copy of the motion on all attorneys of record in the case.
Civil cases
Page 9 | RULE 2.3
The notice to the client must be sent by certified mail with return receipt requested.
Notice shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested.
Civil cases
Page 11 | Notice to Client
The movant must serve the completed SRF on all necessary parties, or the hearing will be passed.
Pursuant to TRCP 21 and Local Rule 2.3 et. al., the movant is required to serve completed SRF on all necessary parties. Failure to do so will result in the hearing being passed.
Civil cases
Page 18 | REQUESTING NON-JURY SETTINGS IN CORYELL COUNTY
After court approval, the movant must serve notice on all necessary parties; otherwise, the hearing will be passed.
After Court approval pursuant to TRCP-21 and local rule 2.3et.cil, t e movant ,s require to serve notice on all necessary parties. Failure to do so will result in the hearing being passed.
Civil cases
Page 19 | CORYELL COUNTY SETTING REQUEST FORM
The movant alone is responsible for statutory requirements concerning time, notice, and proof of notice.
Statutory requirments for time, notice, and proof thereof are the sole obligation of the movant.
Civil cases
Page 19 | CORYELL COUNTY SETTING REQUEST FORM
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
A setting cannot be canceled without the agreement of the Court or the Court Coordinator.
No cancellation of settings is effective without the agreement of the Court or the Court Coordinator.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | AGREED CASE RESET REQUEST FORM
A request to continue, pass, postpone, or reset a trial or hearing may be granted only if all parties consent or nonjoining parties receive notice and an opportunity to object.
No request for a continuance, to pass, postpone or reset any trial, pretrial or other hearing shall be granted unless Counsel for all parties consent, or unless all parties not joining in such request have been notified and have had an opportunity to object.
Civil cases
Page 10 | RULE 2.8. REQUESTS FOR CONTINUANCE OR POSTPONEMENT
The Court may consider a continuance motion based on an attorney’s vacation in appropriate circumstances not covered by the vacation-notice provisions.
The Court shall have discretion to consider a motion for continuance on the grounds of an attorney's vacation in appropriate circumstances not covered by subsections 1 and 2 of this rule.
Civil cases
Page 10 | RULE 2.7. CONFLICT IN TRIAL SETTINGS — Attorney Vacations