Travis County District Courts Filing Timing and Cure Windows

CRITICAL

Agreed orders and other uncontested orders may be presented to the Duty Judge for signature only at the uncontested docket times posted on the court's website.

All agreed orders or other uncontested orders submitted to the Duty Judge for signature must be presented to the Duty Judge only at the times specified on the Travis County Civil District Courts' website for the uncontested docket.

CRITICAL

Settings will not be accepted after the Friday preceding the announcement period, except by agreement of all parties or where a statute requires a hearing prior to the next available setting week.

No setting will be accepted after the Friday preceding the announcement period except by agreement of all parties, unless it is governed by a statute requiring a hearing prior to the next available week on which settings may be scheduled.

CRITICAL

Required pre-trial forms and any amendments to pleadings must be filed before 5:00 p.m. on the Monday two weeks before the week of the trial setting.

Each party must file the required pre-trial forms and any amendment to pleadings before 5:00 p.m. on the Monday two weeks before the week of the trial setting.

CRITICAL

A party filing a motion to retain must file any objection to mediation at the same time.

Parties filing motions to retain must file any objection to mediation simultaneously with a motion to retain.

CRITICAL

Pre-trial forms and amendments to pleadings must be filed before 5:00 p.m. on the Monday two weeks before the week of the trial setting.

Each party must file the required pre-trial forms and any amendment to pleadings before 5:00 p.m. on the Monday two weeks before the week of the trial setting.

CRITICAL

Motions submitted for consideration without a hearing must first be filed with the District Clerk's office; the Court will not consider any motion in a case that has not been filed with the District Clerk.

All motions submitted for consideration without a hearing pursuant to this Local Rule must be filed in a new or existing case with the District Clerk’s office prior to being submitted to the Court. The Court will not consider any motion in a case that has not been filed with the District Clerk.

CRITICAL

Motions must be filed with the District Clerk's office before being submitted for consideration without a hearing, and the Court will not consider any motion in a case not filed with the District Clerk.

All motions submitted for consideration without a hearing pursuant to this Local Rule must be filed in a new or existing case with the District Clerk's office prior to being submitted to the Court. The Court will not consider any motion in a case that has not been filed with the District Clerk.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Pre-trial motions must be filed at the time required by the Texas Rules of Criminal Procedure.

All pre-trial motions must be filed at the appropriate time in accordance with the Texas Rules of Criminal Procedure.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Necessary trial motions must be filed at the time required by statute.

The defendant is expected to execute all necessary trial motions with the District Clerk, and have filed other motions, such as: motions in-limine, an application for probation, an election of punishment, and any other motions necessary, at the statutorily required time.

WARNINGCriminal cases

The request must be made early enough for attorneys and parties to confer, contact witnesses, and be heard about whether coverage should be allowed and on what conditions.

Such request shall be made in time to afford the attorneys and parties sufficient time to confer, to contact their witnesses and to be fully heard by the Court on the questions of whether media coverage should be allowed and, if so, what conditions, if any, should be imposed on such coverage.

INFO

The request should generally be made at the beginning of the case; requests made after significant litigation are less likely to be granted.

Generally, the request should be made at the beginning of the case, and requests made after significant litigation are less likely to be granted because the benefit of one judge has diminished.

CRITICAL

Deadline

30 calendar days

Unless the assigned judge instructs otherwise, all briefing must be filed and delivered to the court at least 30 days before the merits hearing.

(c) Unless otherwise instructed by the assigned judge, all briefing must be filed and delivered to the court at least 30 days prior to the date of the hearing on the merits.

CRITICAL

Deadline

14 calendar days

A motion to retain must be filed at least 14 days before the dismissal date specified in the notice.

must be filed at least 14 days prior to the dismissal date specified in the notice of dismissal.

CRITICAL

Late-filed amendments to pre-trial forms or pleadings are allowed only by party agreement or leave of court, with leave granted absent a showing of surprise to the opposing party.

Amendments to pre-trial forms and amendments to pleadings may be filed after the deadline above only by agreement of the parties or upon leave of court, which leave will be granted unless there is a showing that the filing will operate as a surprise to the opposite party.

CRITICAL

Each party must file required pre-trial forms and any pleading amendments before 5:00 p.m. on the Monday two weeks before the week of trial.

(i) Each party must file the required pre-trial forms and any amendment to pleadings before 5:00 p.m. on the Monday two weeks before the week of the trial setting.

CRITICAL

In every non-CPS termination suit and all adoption suits, the petitioner must file the completed pretrial information form with the District Clerk and serve a copy on the Family Court Services Manager fourteen days before the final hearing.

In every termination suit, except those brought by CPS, and in all adoption suits, the petitioner must file a completed pretrial information form with the District Clerk and serve a copy on the Family Court Services Manager fourteen days before the final hearing.

CRITICAL

A party receiving notice of a motion to retain must file any objection to mediation at least 7 days before the noticed dismissal date.

Parties receiving notice of a motion to retain must file any objection to mediation at least 7 days prior to the dismissal date specified in the notice of dismissal.

CRITICAL

Objections to an Associate Judge must be filed on or before ten days from receipt of the notice of setting on the Family docket or from receipt of notice of referral to an Associate Judge for a trial on the merits.

The time for filing an objection is: (i) On or before ten days from receipt of a notice of setting on the Family docket; or (ii) On or before ten days from receipt of notice that a judge referred a specific case to an Associate Judge for a trial on the merits.

CRITICAL

Objections to a motion to retain must be filed at least 7 days prior to the dismissal date.

Any objection to a motion to retain must be filed at least 7 days prior to the dismissal date specified in the notice of dismissal.

CRITICAL

Late amendments to pre-trial forms or pleadings are permitted only by party agreement or court leave, which must be granted unless the filing would surprise the opposing party.

Amendments to pre-trial forms and amendments to pleadings may be filed after the deadline above only by agreement of the parties or upon leave of court, which leave will be granted unless there is a showing that the filing will operate as a surprise to the opposite party.

CRITICALCriminal cases

For cases requiring an evidentiary hearing, motions must be filed at least 21 days before the hearing unless the parties agree otherwise.

In all cases necessitating an evidentiary hearing, motions must be filed and served on the District Attorney at least 21 days prior to the hearing, unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties.

CRITICAL

Motions to retain must be filed at least 14 days before the dismissal date specified in the notice of dismissal.

Motions to retain must set forth the factual and legal basis for retaining the case and must be filed at least 14 days prior to the dismissal date specified in the notice of dismissal.

CRITICAL

An objection must be filed on or before ten days after receipt of either specified notice.

The time for filing an objection is: (i) On or before ten days from receipt of a notice of setting on the Family docket; or (ii) On or before ten days from receipt of notice that a judge referred a specific case to an Associate Judge for a trial on the merits.

CRITICAL

In termination suits not brought by CPS and in all adoption suits, the petitioner must file a completed pretrial information form fourteen days before the final hearing.

In every termination suit, except those brought by CPS, and in all adoption suits, the petitioner must file a completed pretrial information form with the District Clerk and serve a copy on the Family Court Services Manager fourteen days before the final hearing.

CRITICAL

Deadline

24 hours

A party may request a setting only after filing the motion with the required certifications or by filing it immediately, and must file it no later than 24 hours after obtaining the setting.

A party must not request a setting unless the party has filed the motion with the certifications required in Local Rule 2.2 or will file the motion immediately, but in no event later than 24 hours after obtaining the setting.

CRITICAL

A party filing a motion to retain must file any objection to mediation at the same time.

Parties filing motions to retain must file any objection to mediation simultaneously with a motion to retain.

CRITICAL

A motion to retain must be filed at least 14 days prior to the dismissal date specified in the notice of dismissal.

Motions to retain must set forth the factual and legal basis for retaining the case and must be filed at least 14 days prior to the dismissal date specified in the notice of dismissal.

CRITICAL

Objections to mediation must be filed at least 7 days before the dismissal date specified in the notice of dismissal.

Parties receiving notice of a motion to retain must file any objection to mediation at least 7 days prior to the dismissal date specified in the notice of dismissal.

CRITICAL

Deadline

24 hours

A party may request a setting only after filing the motion with the required certifications or by filing it immediately and no later than 24 hours after obtaining the setting.

A party must not request a setting unless the party has filed the motion with the certifications required in Local Rule 2.2 or will file the motion immediately, but in no event later than 24 hours after obtaining the setting.

CRITICAL

Parties responding to a motion to retain must file any objection to mediation at least 7 days before the dismissal date.

Parties receiving notice of a motion to retain must file any objection to mediation at least 7 days prior to the dismissal date specified in the notice of dismissal.

CRITICAL

A motion objecting to automatic referral to mediation must be set for hearing and heard before the docket announcement period for the trial date or the objection is deemed waived, and if waived or denied the parties must complete mediation before the announcement period to avoid being moved to the bottom of the trial list.

A party to a case may file a motion objecting to the automatic referral to mediation. Any objection to mediation will be decided by the court in the exercise of its discretion. Special consideration may be given to whether or how cases are mediated when there are allegations of domestic violence. A hearing on the objection must be set and heard before the beginning of the docket announcement period for the date of trial or the objection to the referral is deemed waived. If an objection to the referral is waived or denied, parties must complete mediation before the announcement period for the date of trial to avoid being moved to the bottom of the list of cases set for the same date.

CRITICAL

All briefing must be filed and delivered to the court at least 30 days before the merits hearing, unless the assigned judge instructs otherwise.

Unless otherwise instructed by the assigned judge, all briefing must be filed and delivered to the court at least 30 days prior to the date of the hearing on the merits.

CRITICAL

A motion to retain must state its factual and legal basis and be filed at least 14 days before the noticed dismissal date.

Motions to retain must set forth the factual and legal basis for retaining the case and must be filed at least 14 days prior to the dismissal date specified in the notice of dismissal.

CRITICAL

An objection to a motion to retain must be filed at least 7 days before the noticed dismissal date.

Any objection to a motion to retain must be filed at least 7 days prior to the dismissal date specified in the notice of dismissal.

CRITICAL

All administrative appeal briefing must be filed and delivered to the court at least 30 days before the merits hearing, unless the assigned judge instructs otherwise.

Unless otherwise instructed by the assigned judge, all briefing must be filed and delivered to the court at least 30 days prior to the date of the hearing on the merits.

CRITICAL

Deadline

24 hours

A party may not request a setting unless the motion with required certifications is already filed or is filed no later than 24 hours after obtaining the setting.

A party must not request a setting unless the party has filed the motion with the certifications required in Local Rule 2.2 or will file the motion immediately, but in no event later than 24 hours after obtaining the setting.

CRITICAL

Deadline

30 calendar days

Unless the assigned judge directs otherwise, all briefing must be filed and delivered to the court at least 30 days before the merits hearing.

(c) Unless otherwise instructed by the assigned judge, all briefing must be filed and delivered to the court at least 30 days prior to the date of the hearing on the merits.

CRITICAL

Deadline

7 calendar days

An objection to a motion to retain must be filed at least 7 days before the dismissal date specified in the notice.

Any objection to a motion to retain must be filed at least 7 days prior to the dismissal date specified in the notice of dismissal.

CRITICAL

Deadline

24 hours

If the motion has not yet been filed when a setting is requested, the motion must be filed immediately and in no event later than 24 hours after obtaining the setting.

A party must not request a setting unless the party has filed the motion with the certifications required in Local Rule 2.2 or will file the motion immediately, but in no event later than 24 hours after obtaining the setting.

CRITICAL

Deadline

14 calendar days

The petitioner must file the completed pretrial information form and serve a copy 14 days before the final hearing in covered termination and adoption suits.

In every termination suit, except those brought by CPS, and in all adoption suits, the petitioner must file a completed pretrial information form with the District Clerk and serve a copy on the Family Court Services Manager fourteen days before the final hearing.

CRITICAL

In cases involving an incarcerated party, the party wishing to set a hearing must communicate with the Court Administrator at least 30 days before the proposed hearing date, unless leave of court is granted for good cause.

In all cases in which a party is incarcerated, the party wishing to set a hearing must communicate with the Court Administrator at least 30 days before the proposed date for hearing, except with leave of court with good cause shown.

CRITICAL

Objections to a motion to retain must be filed at least 7 days before the dismissal date in the notice of dismissal.

Any objection to a motion to retain must be filed at least 7 days prior to the dismissal date specified in the notice of dismissal.

CRITICAL

Amendments to pre-trial forms or pleadings may be filed after the deadline only by agreement of the parties or upon leave of court, which will be granted unless the filing would surprise the opposing party.

Amendments to pre-trial forms and amendments to pleadings may be filed after the deadline above only by agreement of the parties or upon leave of court, which leave will be granted unless there is a showing that the filing will operate as a surprise to the opposite party.

CRITICAL

Deadline

7 calendar days

A party receiving notice of a motion to retain must file any objection to mediation at least 7 days before the dismissal date specified in the notice.

Parties receiving notice of a motion to retain must file any objection to mediation at least 7 days prior to the dismissal date specified in the notice of dismissal.

CRITICAL

Deadline

30 calendar days

The hearing-setting communication must occur at least 30 days before the proposed hearing date, unless the court allows otherwise for good cause.

In all cases in which a party is incarcerated, the party wishing to set a hearing must communicate with the Court Administrator at least 30 days before the proposed date for hearing, except with leave of court with good cause shown.

CRITICAL

Each party must file the required pre-trial forms and any amendment to pleadings before 5:00 p.m. on the Monday two weeks before the week of the trial setting.

Each party must file the required pre-trial forms and any amendment to pleadings before 5:00 p.m. on the Monday two weeks before the week of the trial setting.

CRITICAL

A hearing on a motion objecting to automatic referral to mediation must be set and heard before the docket announcement period for the trial date, or the objection is deemed waived.

A hearing on the objection must be set and heard before the beginning of the docket announcement period for the date of trial or the objection to the referral is deemed waived.

CRITICAL

Docket settings will not be accepted after the Friday preceding the announcement period, unless all parties agree or a statute requires a hearing before the next available setting week.

No setting will be accepted after the Friday preceding the announcement period except by agreement of all parties, unless it is governed by a statute requiring a hearing prior to the next available week on which settings may be scheduled.

CRITICAL

An objection to an Associate Judge must be filed within ten days of receipt of the notice of setting on the Family docket or of notice of referral to an Associate Judge for trial on the merits.

The time for filing an objection is: (i) On or before ten days from receipt of a notice of setting on the Family docket; or (ii) On or before ten days from receipt of notice that a judge referred a specific case to an Associate Judge for a trial on the merits.

WARNING

Amendments to pre-trial forms or pleadings may be filed after the deadline only by party agreement or leave of court, which must be granted unless the filing would surprise the opposing party.

(ii) Amendments to pre-trial forms and amendments to pleadings may be filed after the deadline above only by agreement of the parties or upon leave of court, which leave will be granted unless there is a showing that the filing will operate as a surprise to the opposite party.

WARNING

Administrative appeals must be fully briefed by the parties in advance of the hearing on the merits.

Administrative appeals must be briefed by the parties in advance of the hearing on the merits.

WARNING

The recording request must be made far enough in advance to give attorneys and parties sufficient time to confer, contact witnesses, and be fully heard by the court.

Such request must be made in time to afford the attorneys and parties sufficient time to confer, to contact their witnesses, and to be fully heard by the court on the questions of whether the recording, broadcasting, or photographing should be allowed and, if so, what conditions, if any, must be imposed.

WARNING

The request to record, broadcast, or photograph must be made far enough in advance to give attorneys and parties sufficient time to confer, contact witnesses, and be fully heard by the court.

Such request must be made in time to afford the attorneys and parties sufficient time to confer, to contact their witnesses, and to be fully heard by the court on the questions of whether the recording, broadcasting, or photographing should be allowed and, if so, what conditions, if any, must be imposed.