Aransas County
Fourth Administrative Judicial Region (Region 4) · official region site ✓ · County seat: Rockport
Rules that apply here (county → region → statewide)
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Rules of Court of the 36th, 156th and 343rd District Courts (Aransas, Bee, Live Oak, McMullen and San Patricio Counties; signed and ordered promulgated June 16, 2026; Aransas County edition)
The 2026 local rules of the 36th, 156th and 343rd District Courts: bench exchange and emergency matters, judicial vacation, the Local Administrative Judge's duties, time standards, where juvenile and CPS cases are filed (county courts at law, except Bee County's CPS cases in the district courts), court calendars apportioned by county population, rotating assignment of cases and felony styling, transfers by consent, settings through the Court Administrators with docket control orders, preferential settings, ex parte relief with the applicant present, pre-trial and pre-trial motions, severance, continuances (presented at pre-trial or ten days before trial), summary-judgment courtesy copies by mail or delivery only, ADR referrals and objections, settlements, conflicting engagements, interpreters, a minute order on audio/video evidence and English translations, jury charges seven days before trial, the family standing order and parent-education course, sworn inventories and proposed property divisions, pro se divorce and adoption procedures (Exhibits C and D), criminal appearance, retention notices and interpreters, attorney vacation letters, courtroom decorum, entry of orders within seven days, and no photography or recording in the courtroom.
Standing Order Regarding Persons Seeking Conservatorship in Family Law Cases — parent education and family stabilization course (36th, 156th and 343rd District Courts, San Patricio County Courts at Law Nos. 1 and 2, Aransas County Court at Law and 2nd Multicounty Court at Law; effective June 15, 2026; Aransas County)
Every party seeking conservatorship, possession or access in a SAPCR or modification must complete a four-to-twelve-hour parent education and family stabilization course meeting Texas Family Code § 105.009 (petitioner within 31 days of filing, respondent within 31 days of first appearance or answer), offered by a qualified mental-health professional or religious practitioner, with a certificate of completion; non-completion may be sanctioned by contempt, striking pleadings or Rule 215 sanctions but does not delay judgment, and the assigned judge may waive the course for good cause.
Standing Order Regarding Children, Property, and Conduct of the Parties — San Patricio, Aransas, Bee, Live Oak and McMullen County Family Law Courts (36th, 156th and 343rd District Courts, San Patricio County Courts at Law Nos. 1 and 2, Aransas County Court at Law; effective June 15, 2026; Aransas County)
The automatic standing order attached to every divorce, SAPCR and modification petition filed in the five counties: no disruption, removal, hiding, disparagement or overnight dating guests concerning the children, no substance use before possession, no violence; no harassment, mail or account intrusion, interception, social-media posting or exclusion from the residence; in a divorce no dissipation of property, records, insurance or accounts beyond the specifically authorized business, living and legal expenses; served with the petition, effective on filing until final order or dismissal, subordinate to protective orders, bond waived.
Pro-se Divorce Procedures in the District Courts of Aransas, Bee, Live Oak, McMullen and San Patricio Counties (36th, 156th and 343rd District Courts and the 2nd Multicounty Court at Law; 2026; Aransas County edition)
A self-represented petitioner must serve the respondent under the Rules of Civil Procedure or file a waiver of citation dated and signed after the petition was filed; before requesting a setting must serve the Attorney General and consolidate any child-support case into the divorce, attend the family counseling program if children are involved (as must the spouse, with limited out-of-area exceptions), know the service or waiver date and whether the respondent answered or has counsel, and place a fully completed divorce decree and vital statistics form in the clerk's file; then requests a court date from the court administrator of the court where the case is filed, giving the case number — no date is set without service, waiver or answer and a decree on file, and every blank must be filled in before seeing the judge; the petitioner must keep a current address with the District Clerk or risk dismissal and loss of the filing fee.
Adoption Procedures in the District Courts in Aransas, Bee, Live Oak, McMullen and San Patricio Counties (36th, 156th and 343rd District Courts; 2026; Aransas County edition)
The petitioner's attorney must provide an order appointing the pre-adoptive home screening and post-placement report provider (the judge chooses the provider; the attorney notifies the provider of the appointment, deadlines and dates and the client pays the provider), obtain the DPS criminal history required by Family Code § 162.0085 (the hearing is passed until the report is on file and the attorney must request a reset), provide an order appointing the ad litem (the judge chooses; the attorney notifies the ad litem of the appointment, the court of hearing dates) or give the judge a written waiver before obtaining a hearing date, and have the clients complete the Adoption Vital Statistics form before leaving the courthouse.
2026 Felony Appointment Certification — requirements for counsel accepting criminal appointments (36th, 156th and 343rd District Courts; November 25, 2025; Aransas County edition)
For 2026 appointments the Board of Judges certifies attorneys on January 2, 2026; proof of CLE hours and the Request for Appointments form were due to the court administrator by December 20, 2025, with a sworn statement of compliance with the Texas Indigent Defense Commission's 2025 reporting; attorney fee requests are due at sentencing; appointed counsel must make face-to-face contact with an incarcerated client within 14 days of appointment or before pre-trial; the district judges' office accepts felony-only requests for San Patricio and Aransas, felony, prison-felony and juvenile for Bee, and felony and juvenile for Live Oak and McMullen, with misdemeanor and (in Aransas and San Patricio) juvenile certifications going to the county courts at law; the enclosed request form lists the case types per county.
Second Amended Administrative Order Regarding Notice Requirements for an Application to Probate a Copy of a Lost Will or a Lost Will Without a Copy (Aransas County Court at Law; signed June 21, 2023)
When a lost will or codicil is offered for probate, the court appoints an attorney ad litem for unknown or disabled heirs whenever a full or partial intestacy would otherwise result (not when a valid original codicil republished the lost will), the applicant deposits ad litem funds and supplies copies for the ad litem, the clerk attaches the court's Notice of Application to every § 258.002 citation, every devisee and every heir (or, for a lost codicil, the original will's beneficiaries) is personally served or signs an affidavit waiving citation, and a waiver affidavit must itself recite all the points of the notice; the court's sample affidavit is preferred but not mandatory.
Rules of Court of the Aransas County Court at Law (effective June 21, 2023; approved by the Presiding Judge of the Fourth Administrative Judicial Region June 22, 2023)
The County Court at Law's local rules: judicial vacation and a published calendar; civil time standards, settings through the Court Manager, telephone docket-control conferences and the consequences of missing one, ex parte relief, six-month dismissal and suspense dockets, pre-trial exchange of motions, witness and exhibit lists seven days out, submission or hearing of preliminary matters, severance, default judgments, summary judgments by submission with courtesy copies, ADR referrals, discovery motions with a certificate of conference, settlements and interpreters; the lost-will administrative order (Exhibit A); the five-county family standing order and parent-education course (Exhibits B and C), pre-trial conferral, income withholding, the VS-165 form, sworn inventories and proposed property divisions five days before trial, and district-court cases (Exhibit D); criminal arraignment within 20 days with a waiver form, the pre-trial hearing and plea deadline four weeks later, indigent appointments, personal appearance, interpreter requests 48 hours out, and no felony matters without two-thirds concurrence of the district judges; preferential settings, continuances ten days out with a reset in the order, conflicting engagements, readiness, juries at 9:00 a.m. Monday, agreed charges five days out; bailiff duties; attorney vacations (30 days a year) and withdrawal; decorum, dress code, electronics and security; ad litem appointments and orders within seven days; no recording without approval.
Judicial Standing Order No. 2 — Docket Settings and Continuances (Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Aransas County; revised January 5, 2023; ordered January 9, 2023)
A defendant or attorney who appears at the clerk's window before pending-warrant status gets a court setting without an appearance bond unless there was a prior bond default; a defendant who misses a properly noticed setting must post an appearance bond (cash after a judgment nisi) to be reset. Motions for continuance must be written and filed three calendar days before the setting; one timely, noticed continuance is available without the other side's agreement or a bond, window requests must carry a proposed order, and further continuances need the court's approval.
Judicial Standing Order No. 8 — Warrants and Capias Pro Fines (Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Aransas County; revised and ordered January 5, 2023)
A defendant with an outstanding warrant who appears voluntarily is arrested unless they make a good-faith effort to resolve it under Standing Order No. 31; cash bonds may be posted by cash, cashier's check, money order or card (no personal checks), a personal bond is accepted after a financial questionnaire, warrants are recalled on bond or payment, appearance bonds must be signed by the principal (attorney bonds with bar number after a notice of appearance), no bond is required before the court signs a warrant, and a cash bond is required after a judgment nisi. A defendant with a capias pro fine is arrested unless they resolve the amount under Standing Order No. 32; after a verified questionnaire the capias is recalled and a show-cause hearing set, and refusal to complete it means the capias is executed.
Judicial Standing Order No. 6 — Dismissal of Financial Responsibility Violations (Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Aransas County; revised and ordered January 5, 2023)
Before the first appearance on a no-insurance citation a clerk may accept, for dismissal, a copy of the motor-vehicle liability policy or an insurance binder meeting Chapter 601 (an authorized insurer's owner's or operator's policy written for the named insured at the statutory minimums); premium notices, receipts and handwritten documents are not proof; fleet policies need indicia of authorization; proof is verified before dismissal, disputes go to hearing, unverifiable proof on a warrant case requires a personal appearance bond equal to the window fine and fees, and license status is not considered.
Judicial Standing Order No. 5 — Compliance Dismissals (Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Aransas County; revised and ordered January 5, 2023)
Clerks may process for dismissal, on proof of compliance, expired registration, expired driver's license, failure to change the address or name on a license, and license-restriction violations: a $20 fee ($10 for a medically corrected restriction) plus the tax assessor's stamped renewal receipt and penalty-fee proof, the DPS temporary license, or the corrected license, with compliance within 20 working days of the offense or first appearance; non-conforming proof goes on the No Contest docket at the defendant's request.
Judicial Standing Order No. 4 — Deferred Disposition (Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Aransas County; revised and ordered January 5, 2023)
Clerks may process deferred-disposition requests at the window when the standard conditions are met (full payment of costs and the special expense fee, no deferred dismissal within twelve months, no probation elsewhere), with added conditions for moving violations (valid license; drivers under 25 take a driving safety course) and exclusions (commercial licenses, work zones with workers present, accidents, school buses, crossing guards, speeding 25 mph over or above 80 mph, outstanding warrants) and for alcohol, tobacco, assault and theft complaints; deferral periods are 90 days (180 days for no-insurance cases, with proof maintained throughout), driving-while-license-invalid needs a valid or eligible license, and a request made after the appearance date adds $75 or the balance of the fine to the special expense fee.
Judicial Standing Order No. 32 — Capias Pro Fine Procedures (Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Aransas County; ordered January 5, 2023)
Before a capias pro fine issues for an unsatisfied judgment, the clerk mails a notice of a date within 21 days with the court's name and location and the required paragraphs on payment options and on the consequences of non-appearance; a defendant who appears before execution and resolves the amount (payment in full now or by a date, an installment plan under Standing Order No. 20, a long-form financial questionnaire with a promise to appear at the indigency hearing docket) completes the questionnaire, and once the contact information is verified the capias is recalled; refusal to complete it means the capias is executed.
Judicial Standing Order No. 31 — Failure to Appear at Initial Court Setting (Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Aransas County; revised and ordered January 5, 2023)
Before a failure-to-appear warrant issues, the clerk mails the defendant, the day after the missed initial setting, a notice of a new date within 30 days with the court's name and location and the required paragraphs on payment options and on the consequences of a further non-appearance (warrant, DPS notice affecting license and registration renewal, added costs). A defendant who then appears to resolve the warrant is set on the FTA docket, a written request earns an alternative date within 21 days, and a voluntary appearance with a good-faith effort (a plea with a bond, a financial questionnaire, a payment date or plan, or a promise to appear) recalls the warrant.
Judicial Standing Order No. 29 — Discovery Pursuant to Art. 39.14, C.C.P. (Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Aransas County; ordered January 5, 2023)
All parties are bound by Article 39.14: on a timely written request from represented defendants the State produces offense reports, statements and material tangible evidence at least 30 days before trial (or as soon as practicable), may withhold internal communications and partial items subject to a hearing, self-represented defendants may inspect but not duplicate and must request video review 30 days before trial, discoverable items stay within the defense's entrusted and expanded circles with identifiers redacted, exculpatory material is disclosed, disclosures are recorded and acknowledged before a plea or trial, the duty to disclose continues, and discovery costs may be assessed under Government Code Chapter 552.
Judicial Standing Order No. 28 — Withdrawal of Counsel (Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Aransas County; revised and ordered January 5, 2023)
No attorney of record withdraws without a motion and an order granting leave; a withdrawal at the defendant's request or by agreement carries the defendant's written consent or a substituting lawyer's certificate, otherwise the motion is mailed certified and first-class to the defendant with notice of a presentation date at least ten days out and of the right to object in writing; no motion within twenty days of trial or so as to delay it, and after leave the attorney notifies the defendant by mail of settings and the right to other counsel, with notice to the State and the clerk.
Judicial Standing Order No. 27 — Payment of Fines at Window (Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Aransas County; revised and ordered January 5, 2023)
Clerks may accept fine and fee payments at the window under Art. 27.14; in an unadjudicated case a fine or a driving-safety-course or deferred fee is accepted only from the defendant or counsel after a signed written plea and waiver of rights, which goes to the judge for acceptance; the payer's identity is verified and recorded and, where practicable, imaged.
Judicial Standing Order No. 26 — Juror's Excuses (Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Aransas County; revised and ordered January 5, 2023)
The chief clerk reviews requests for exemption from jury service and claims of ineligibility or disqualification, and the court's designee discharges or postpones a prospective juror when the court considers the excuse sufficient and the juror submits a statement of the ground.
Judicial Standing Order No. 25 — Issuance of "Time Served" Orders (Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Aransas County; revised and ordered January 5, 2023)
Jail-time credit is considered only on a written Motion for Time Served from the defendant or counsel with proof of incarceration attached, and is granted only for custody under a valid warrant or capias issued by the Precinct 1 justice court before the incarceration; every time-served motion and order a judge considers or signs is retained and transmitted to the justice of the peace for the case file.
Judicial Standing Order No. 23 — Rules of Attire and Conduct (Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Aransas County; revised January 6, 2023; ordered January 5, 2023)
Courtroom attire and conduct rules for every proceeding of the Precinct 1 justice court: no shorts, tank tops, offensive clothing, dirty or immodest dress or hats (medical and religious exceptions), business attire for attorneys; self-represented litigants must be prepared because the court cannot assist them; be on time (the courtroom opens 15 minutes before docket call), address the court as Judge or Your Honor, no first names, reading, talking over others, offensive language, wandering, approaching the bench or clerk without permission, food, drink or phone use; rise for the judge. Violations may be punished as contempt by a $100 fine or up to three days in jail.
Judicial Standing Order No. 19 — Fail to Display Driver's License (Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Aransas County; revised January 9, 2023; ordered January 5, 2023)
Under the State's standing motion to dismiss, a fail-to-display-driver's-license charge (Transportation Code § 521.025) is dismissed when the defendant shows a clerk a valid Texas license issued before the offense and appropriate for the vehicle; the clerk keeps a copy in the file and no dismissal fee is charged.
Judicial Standing Order No. 10 — Driving Safety Course (Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Aransas County; revised and ordered January 5, 2023)
Clerks may process a driving-safety-course request at the window when it is made by the citation's appearance date (mailbox rule for mail), with a signed Art. 45.0511(c)(3) eligibility affidavit, proof of insurance conforming to Standing Order No. 6, a valid Texas license or permit and the fee paid instanter; a late request adds $75 under Art. 45.0511(d). Dismissal follows on a signed "court copy" certificate of timely completion with a certified DPS driving record showing no course dismissal in the preceding twelve months; non-completion brings a show-cause summons and, on non-appearance, a final judgment (no time-payment fee before the 31st day), and a certificate earned after the citation but before the grant is accepted.
Court's Standing Criminal Pre-Trial Order (Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Aransas County; effective January 5, 2023)
To promote informal discovery, the prosecutor discloses without written request, at least seven days before trial, mitigating and impeachment evidence, the defendant's statements, witness and expert lists, test and examination results, prior convictions, extraneous acts, plea agreements with co-defendants or informants, physical evidence and a plea recommendation (an open-file policy satisfies the order; boilerplate motions are disregarded); defense counsel must interview the client, review the Penal Code, seek informal discovery, file fact-specific suppression motions, reimburse copying costs, convey the plea offer, interview witnesses, obtain pre-trial hearings, subpoena witnesses, dress the defendant in street clothes for a jury and stay in the case until permitted to withdraw; the court reporter records all hearings and pre-marks the State's exhibits.
JP2 Standing Orders — compilation of the standing orders of the Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2, Aransas County (compliance dismissals, amendment and refiling, bonds, community service, records corrections, court settings, deferred disposition, discovery, driving safety course, extensions, fines, indigent hearings, jail credit, juveniles, payment plans, recording, jury summons, records, theft, warrants, fine reductions; signed January 1, 2023)
The Precinct 2 justice court's 46-page book of standing orders, each signed January 1, 2023 by Judge Diana McGinnis: the State's standing motion for compliance dismissals (child seats, defective equipment, disabled placards, license restrictions, driving safety, expired registration and licenses, address changes, failure to display, insurance, tobacco, no license, rabies tags, parking, window tint, plates and insignia, duplicates, clerical amendments, ten-year-old cases); amendment versus refiling of complaints; surety, personal, attorney and cash bonds, surrenders, forfeitures and release before magistration; community service at $150 per eight hours; corrections of names and dates of birth; court settings, pleas, bonds, continuances (one per party as of right, written three days out), attorney vacation letters, motions to withdraw and substitute, out-of-town defendants, ex parte contact and show-cause notices; deferred disposition eligibility, fees ($334 moving, $310 non-moving), mandatory-show offenses and compliance; Article 39.14 discovery; the driving safety course ($144, three months); extensions; window fines and payment methods; indigency documentation; jail credit at $150 a day; juvenile procedures; 30-day and limited-time payment plans with a $15 time-payment fee; no photography or recording; jury-summons exemptions; records requests; theft restitution; warrant handling; and $100 fine reductions on proof of insurance or a license.