Denton County, TX
All 93 county-scoped rules
Every published instrument scoped to Denton County, newest effective date first. 3 region-wide and 1,248 statewide instruments also apply here — search all three layers together. Procedural information only; not legal advice.
Published rules, newest effective date first
Showing 51–93 of 93 · page 2 of 2
158th District Court (Denton County) — Court Rules/Decorum poster and Uniform Dress Code (electronic devices turned off, not silent, on pain of contempt up to $100 and 180 days; appropriate attire; no drinks, food, gum or tobacco; no talking; dress-code list)
The two-page 'Court Rules' posting on the 158th District Court's page: a courtroom rules and decorum poster — electronic devices must be turned off (not silent, vibrate or airplane mode) unless the court authorizes in advance, punishable by contempt with a fine up to $100 and up to 180 days in jail; appropriate attire (no shorts, no tank tops) or the visitor is asked to leave; no drinks, food, gum or chewing tobacco; no talking, even whispering, while the judge hears another case — and the Uniform Dress Code for Denton County Courts: no shorts, hats or caps, flip-flops, halter, midriff, open, unbuttoned, low-cut, tank or open-back tops, leggings unless covered, offensive clothing, sweat suits or exercise clothing, pajamas or sunglasses.
211th District Court (Denton County) — Practice Tips of Judge Brody Shanklin (hearings set by e-mail after a file-marked motion with certificate of conference; witness list, exhibit list and pre-marked exhibits plus a thumb drive ten minutes before; TROs and protective orders by submission; jury settings after jury fee and demand; final orders 30 days after settlement)
The 211th District Court's practice tips: to set a hearing, file the motion with a certificate of conference, wait for the District Clerk's acceptance, then e-mail court administrator Theresa Portales with the opposing side copied (cause number and style in the subject, the motions to be set, total time needed), agree on the offered dates with all parties (responding alone only if the other side is silent for 24–48 hours), and e-file the notice of hearing once confirmed; for every hearing or trial present one copy each of the witness list, exhibit list and pre-marked exhibits to Judge Shanklin, the court reporter and the opposing side at least ten minutes before the start, plus a thumb drive of the exhibits for the court reporter, and follow the county Standing Order Regarding Evidence; non-jury settings come in one-day, half-day and one-hour blocks, anything longer set as a backup to jury trials with docket call ten days before; TRO requests and protective-order applications are handled by submission with a Certificate of Ex Parte Relief attached and no appearance unless instructed; jury trials are set only after the jury fee is paid and a jury demand is on file, by e-mail with the other side copied; a trial or final hearing comes off the docket only by a heard or agreed continuance order signed by the judge, or a notice of settlement with the final order due within 30 days under the local rules.
362nd District Court (Denton County) — Exhibit Rules (pre-numbered exhibits, numbers only; Mother/Father marking preferred in family cases; binder with tabs; extra copy of requested-relief exhibits; audio/video on a flash drive by the end of the hearing; bring exhibits to court; confer 15 minutes before)
The 362nd District Court's exhibit rules (official court reporter Crystal Butler, Judge Bruce McFarling): exhibits pre-marked on the front of the first page, numbered only (no letter combinations), offered in any order; in family cases marking as Mother, Father, Husband, Wife is preferred; more than a few exhibits in a tabbed binder; an extra copy of requested-relief exhibits for the judge; audio and video exhibits to the court reporter on a labeled flash drive by the end of the hearing, played on the court's system from the party's own laptop, no contemporaneous verbatim record absent good cause, playable in Windows Media Player or VLC; video-deposition recordings entered as exhibits; the court reporter needs no separate set and no advance delivery, PDF copies on a flash drive preferred but required only for audio and video; witness and exhibit lists preferred before the hearing; parties are ordered to confer at least 15 minutes before the hearing on stipulations.
367th District Court (Denton County) — Exhibit Rules (confer 15 minutes before; pre-numbered exhibits, numbers only, no duplicates across motions; Mother/Father marking preferred in family cases; binder with tabs; audio/video on a flash drive by the end of the hearing; bring exhibits to court, no advance e-mail)
The 367th District Court's exhibit rules (official court reporter Robin Newton, Judge Brent Hill): parties are ordered to confer at least 15 minutes before a hearing or trial on stipulations; exhibits pre-marked on the front of the first page, preferably top right, numbered only, no duplicates across motions in the same hearing; in family cases marking as Mother, Father, Husband, Wife is preferred; more than a few exhibits in a tabbed binder; an extra copy of requested-relief exhibits for the judge; audio and video exhibits to the court reporter on a labeled flash drive by the end of the hearing, played on the court's system from the party's own laptop, with no contemporaneous verbatim record absent good cause and playable in Windows Media Player or VLC; the court reporter needs no separate paper set and does not need exhibits before the day of hearing; PDF copies on a flash drive preferred, flash drives required only for audio and video and for final hearings and trials; witness and exhibit lists preferred before the hearing.
367th District Court (Denton County) — Practice Tips of Judge Brent Hill (e-mail the administrator; full names, not initials; settings 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., trials 8:30 a.m.; hearings by e-mail after conferring with two business days; temporary hearings 30 minutes per side; docket call Fridays 8:30 a.m.; prove-ups by submission; mandatory mediation with DCAP Exhibit A's; entry docket Thursdays 8:30 a.m.)
Judge Brent Hill's practice tips page for the 367th District Court: e-mail is the preferred and, for hearing dates, cancellations and settlement announcements, the required mode of communicating with the court administrator, and no one contacts the judge unless directed; parties' and children's full names, not initials (Family Code); settings at 9:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. with full-day trials at 8:30 a.m.; dockets of full day, half day, over one hour and one hour or less; hearings are set by e-mailing the administrator, conferring with the other side on the offered dates without the administrator copied, then confirming and e-filing a notice of hearing; temporary hearings limited to 30 minutes per side absent special circumstances raised at the start; docket call on a Friday at 8:30 a.m. about ten days before full-day and jury trials; divorce prove-ups by submission with all signatures on the decree and a prove-up affidavit on file, or in person by appointment; conferencing on dates required in ongoing cases with two business days to respond, availability defined, failure to confer forfeits the hearing; mediation mandatory before final hearing, not mediating does not continue the trial, fees may be assessed for forcing a motion for mediation, DCAP orders must attach each party's Exhibit A or are rejected, outcome letter places settled cases on the entry docket; the entry docket (about twice monthly, Thursdays 8:30 a.m.) is a built-in motion to enter and counsel attends if the order is not entered first; the court's exhibit rules govern witness and exhibit lists; child interviews are set with the companion hearing and children are not brought to court.
393rd District Court (Denton County) — 2024 Requirements for Emergency TROs, Temporary Ex Parte Protective Orders and Writs (e-file petition, affidavit, certificate of ex parte relief and proposed order as a separate lead document; courtesy e-mail to the administrator; do not appear unless directed)
The 393rd District Court's requirements for emergency temporary restraining orders, temporary ex parte protective orders and writs: e-file the petition or application, supporting affidavit, certificate of ex parte relief and proposed order, taking care that the proposed order is its own separate lead document so it reaches the court's queue, and wait for the file-marked copies of the first three; then send a courtesy e-mail to the court administrator (Baylee Latchaw) with the cause number and style and copies of all four documents, copying the opposing party or counsel only if they have appeared or the certificate requires it; the judge reviews and decides how to proceed, including whether an appearance is necessary, and no one appears unless Judge Alexander directs.
393rd District Court (Denton County) — Common Reasons Orders Are Rejected (divorce decrees: 60-day waiting period, service or waiver, both signatures, prove-up affidavit on file; SAPCR and modification orders; adult and child name-change orders: verified petition, legible fingerprint card, in-person prove-up for offenses above Class C, §§ 45.102–.103)
The 393rd District Court's checklist of why proposed orders are rejected (identical to the 442nd's): a final decree of divorce is rejected when the record does not show the petition on file more than 60 days, service on or a proper waiver by the respondent, both parties' signatures on the order, or a prove-up affidavit or declaration on file when the order is reviewed; a modification or SAPCR order when service or waiver or both signatures are missing; an adult name-change order when the petition does not meet Family Code § 45.102, is unverified or lacks a prove-up affidavit, the fingerprint card is illegible or incomplete, the petitioner has an offense above a Class C misdemeanor (requiring an in-person prove-up), or the order does not meet § 45.103; a child name-change order when all conservators or parents have not been served or waived or both signatures are missing.
393rd District Court (Denton County) — Exhibit Rules (pre-marked numbered exhibits matching the exchanged list; transcripts of audio; oversized exhibits with 8½×11 copies; digital copies to the court reporter by 5 p.m. the business day before in the Uniform Format Manual formats)
The 393rd District Court's five-page exhibit rules (official court reporter Kimberly Buchanan): all parties pre-mark and pre-number exhibits on the front of the first page matching the exhibit list exchanged with all parties, the court and the reporter; stipulations encouraged, admissibility otherwise ruled on when offered; numbers not letters, offered in any order; audio or audio-visual recordings played in court are entered as exhibits and no contemporaneous verbatim record is made unless the court orders; audio recordings require a verbatim written transcript identifying each speaker (highlight key portions beyond five pages) and audiovisual equipment must be tested the week before or its use is not allowed; parties mark their own unmarked exhibits; oversized exhibits come with marked 8½×11 copies; demonstrative aids may be used by all parties and not marked without permission; digital copies of all exhibits go to the court reporter on a flash drive, DVD, e-mail or other device at the pretrial hearing or by 5 p.m. the business day before trial, in the Supreme Court's Uniform Format Manual formats — text-searchable unprotected PDFs, photographs at least 2,048×1,536 pixels, separator pages where the number is not on the image, MP3 audio not over 100 MB and MP4 video not over 5 GB, broken into multiple files if longer.
393rd District Court (Denton County) — Instructions for Self-Represented Litigants (agreed divorces by prove-up affidavit on or after the 61st day; in-person prove-ups Tuesdays 8:30 a.m.; contested divorces set at least 75 days out after conferring; default prove-ups Fridays 8:30 a.m.; name changes)
The 393rd District Court's instructions for self-represented litigants: neither the administrator nor the judge can give legal advice; hiring counsel is strongly encouraged (Denton County Bar, North Texas Legal Aid, Friends of the Family, or a court-appointed attorney in CPS cases or jail-seeking enforcement actions); self-represented parties are held to an attorney's standard and research their own filings (texaslawhelp.org, the Law Library); agreed divorces are proved up by affidavit on or after the 61st day after filing by e-filing the respondent's waiver or answer, the prove-up affidavit and the completed agreed decree as separate lead documents, with in-person prove-ups on Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m. only for those unable to e-file or prepare the affidavit, proper courtroom attire required; an answer or waiver must be on file for the respondent if not served; contested divorces are set for final trial by e-mailing the administrator with both sides included, dates at least 75 days out under the county's local rules, two business days to confer; a final trial cannot be set until the respondent has been served or has answered; default prove-ups in person on Fridays at 8:30 a.m. or by scheduled setting; adult and child name changes filed as separate lead documents, with in-person appearance where criminal history is indicated or both parents do not agree.
431st District Court (Denton County) — Court notices are served under Tex. R. Civ. P. 21(f)(10) through re:SearchTX e-service (no separate mailing or e-mailing of signed orders, including sua sponte scheduling orders)
The 431st District Court's notice on how its orders reach the parties: once a signed order — including the scheduling orders the court issues on its own motion when the parties have not filed an agreed one — is entered by the District Clerk, the clerk transmits the order or notice electronically through re:SearchTX, the statewide portal tied to eFileTexas, which sends Case Notices to the registered e-service addresses of all attorneys of record; under TRCP 21(f)(10) the clerk must use the electronic system and Denton County practice includes no separate physical mailing or individual e-mailing, so no further action by the court is taken.
431st District Court (Denton County) — Exhibit Rules (confer 15 minutes before; pre-numbered exhibits, numbers only; binder with tabs; USB copy for the court reporter; witness and exhibit lists by 5 p.m. the business day before trial)
The 431st District Court's exhibit rules (issued through official court reporter Cori Warren for Judge Jim Johnson): parties are ordered to confer at least 15 minutes before a hearing or trial on stipulations to exhibits; every exhibit is pre-marked on the front of its first page with a number only (no letters or letter-number combinations), no duplicate numbers, and exhibits need not be offered in sequence; more than a few exhibits go to the court in a tabbed binder; all exhibits are also brought on a USB drive left with the court reporter and updated if exhibits change; audio and video must play in Windows Media Player or VLC, with paper as PDF, audio as MP3, video as MP4, documents text-searchable and 100 MB or less, recordings 2 GB or less, the party supplying its own laptop; video-deposition recordings played in court are entered as exhibits; the witness and exhibit list is e-mailed to the court reporter by 5 p.m. the business day before trial begins.
431st District Court (Denton County) — General Instructions for Self-Represented Litigants (no legal advice from staff or judge; held to an attorney's standard; District Clerk and District Court Administration cannot assist with 431st matters)
The 431st District Court's general instructions for self-represented litigants: the court administrator is not an attorney and cannot give legal advice, and the judge, as trier of fact, cannot either; self-represented parties are strongly encouraged to hire counsel (Denton County Bar), are held to the same standard as an attorney and must conduct their own research on what to file and how (texaslawhelp.org, the Law Library at 121 N. Woodrow Lane, Suite 160, Denton); the District Clerk's website has filing forms, e-filing, citation issuance and copy requests but the clerk cannot give legal advice; District Court Administration posts court rules and forms but cannot assist with 431st District Court matters beyond referring the party to the 431st court administrator.
431st District Court (Denton County) — Practice Tips of Judge Jim Johnson (scheduling orders, dismissal settings, e-filing only, settings by e-mail with the administrator, mediation required before trial, Ready/Not Ready announcements, 30-minute voir dire, Texas Lawyer's Creed)
The 431st District Court's question-and-answer practice tips: the court's standard Scheduling Order and Discovery Control Plan is used in all cases, with counsel obtaining trial and pretrial dates from the court administrator and e-filing an agreed or proposed order; a Notice of Dismissal Setting issues when a plaintiff takes no action for more than 60 days, fails to appear or announce ready, or under the local rules, avoided by a final order or a trial setting with a signed scheduling order; emergencies and all contact go by e-mail to the administrator; motions to compel are heard on motion with certificate of conference, response and reply, TRCP 215 enforced; all pleadings by e-filing only, settings by e-mail, oral argument permitted or submission by agreement, no fax or e-mail filings, rulings usually announced at the hearing; pretrial matters over an hour set the week before jury trial; briefs concise with Second Court of Appeals or Supreme Court authority preferred, no paper copies, courtesy copies by e-mail as searchable PDF; the court hears discovery disputes itself but may appoint a discovery umpire; mediation is generally required before final trial and a party who has not mediated is not ready; written Ready/Not Ready announcements 5–15 days before trial with dismissal for failure to announce; no agreed passes; continuances and pretrial matters heard by the Friday before, none the day of a jury trial; proposed charges in Word by the Friday before; witness and exhibit lists on the court's forms to the court reporter by the Friday before; voir dire typically 30 minutes per side with strikes for cause after voir dire outside the panel's presence; openings and closings 10–30 minutes; microphone required; the court provides an Elmo and video connections; trial position given at docket call; ad litem appointments per the county local rules by written order; attorneys are expected to follow the Texas Lawyer's Creed.
442nd District Court (Denton County) — Common Reasons Orders Are Rejected (divorce decrees: 60-day waiting period, service or waiver, both signatures, prove-up affidavit on file; SAPCR and modification orders; adult and child name-change orders: verified petition, legible fingerprint card, in-person prove-up for offenses above Class C, §§ 45.102–.103)
The 442nd District Court's checklist of why proposed orders are rejected: a final decree of divorce is rejected when the record does not show the petition on file more than 60 days, service on or a proper waiver by the respondent, both parties' signatures on the order, or a prove-up affidavit or declaration on file when the order is reviewed; a modification or SAPCR order when service or waiver or both signatures are missing; an adult name-change order when the petition does not meet Family Code § 45.102, is unverified or lacks a prove-up affidavit, the fingerprint card is illegible or incomplete, the petitioner has an offense above a Class C misdemeanor (requiring an in-person prove-up), or the order does not meet § 45.103; a child name-change order when all conservators or parents have not been served or waived or both signatures are missing.
442nd District Court (Denton County) — Requirements for Witness Lists, Exhibit Lists and Exhibits (courtesy PDF copies to the court reporter by noon the business day before; numbered exhibits; no cloud links; separate files; USB at the hearing; PDF/MP3/MP4)
The 442nd District Court's exhibit-handling requirements: e-mail courtesy copies of the court's required witness list, exhibit list and the labeled exhibits in PDF to court reporter Deana Scobee by noon the business day before the hearing (or per the scheduling order); exhibits numbered, not lettered; e-mailing does not admit anything and all proposed exhibits are still provided to the judge and opposing side at the hearing per the Practice Tips; include cause number and style in the subject and the hearing date and time in the body; no external or cloud links, each exhibit a separate attached file; bring all exhibits on a USB drive to leave with the court reporter; formats PDF, MP3, MP4; follow the Denton County Standing Order Regarding Evidence; do not forget the summary of requested relief.
442nd District Court (Denton County) — Requirements Regarding Emergency TROs, Temporary Ex Parte Protective Orders and Writs (Judge Tiffany Haertling)
The 442nd District Court's requirements for emergency temporary restraining orders, temporary ex parte protective orders and writs: e-file the petition or application, supporting affidavit, certificate of ex parte relief and proposed order (the proposed order as its own separate lead document so it reaches the court's queue), wait for the file-marked copies of the first three, then send a courtesy e-mail to the court administrator with the cause number and style, copies of all four documents, and the opposing party or counsel copied only where they have appeared or the certificate requires it; the judge decides how to proceed, and no one appears unless directed.
467th District Court (Denton County) — Exhibit Rules (confer 15 minutes before; pre-numbered exhibits, numbers only, no duplicates across motions; binder with tabs; audio/video on a flash drive by the end of the hearing in appellate-compliant formats; PDFs of all exhibits preferred)
The 467th District Court's exhibit rules (official court reporter Jennifer Ryan, Judge Derbha Jones): parties are ordered to confer at least 15 minutes before a hearing or trial on stipulations; exhibits pre-marked on the front of the first page, numbered only with no letter combinations, no duplicate numbers across motions in the same hearing; in family cases marking as Mother, Father, Husband, Wife is preferred; more than a few exhibits in a tabbed binder; an extra copy of requested-relief exhibits for the judge; audio and video exhibits to the court reporter on a labeled flash drive by the end of the hearing, played from the party's own laptop after familiarizing with the equipment, no contemporaneous verbatim record absent good cause, video-deposition recordings entered as exhibits, playable in Windows Media Player or VLC and compliant with appellate size and format rules (text-searchable PDFs of 100 MB or less; recordings not over 2 GB in the listed formats); PDF copies of all exhibits on a flash drive and witness and exhibit lists before the hearing are preferred.
477th District Court (Denton County) — Exhibit Rules (confer before hearing; pre-numbered exhibits, numbers only, no duplicates across motions; binder with tabs; extra copy of requested-relief exhibits; audio/video on a flash drive by the end of the hearing; binder and flash drive to the court reporter at trial)
The 477th District Court's exhibit rules (official court reporter Misty Skinner, Judge Michael Dickens): parties are ordered to confer before a hearing or trial on stipulations; exhibits are pre-marked on the front of the first page, preferably top right, numbered only (no 1A, A-1, 2A and the like), with no duplicate numbers even across motions heard together; more than a few exhibits come in a tabbed binder; an extra copy of any requested-relief exhibit for the judge to write on; audio and video exhibits go to the court reporter on a labeled flash drive by the end of the hearing, must play in Windows Media Player or VLC, the party brings its own laptop, and no contemporaneous verbatim record of a played recording is made absent good cause; video-deposition recordings are entered as exhibits; witness and exhibit lists are preferred before the hearing begins; for trial a binder of all exhibits plus a flash drive of audio, video and photo exhibits is delivered to the court reporter at the beginning of trial or earlier.
477th District Court (Denton County) — Practice Tips of Judge Michael Dickens (e-mail the administrator; full names, not initials; hearings set by e-mail after conferring; temporary hearings 30 minutes per side; docket call Fridays 8:30 a.m.; prove-ups by submission; mandatory mediation with DCAP exhibits attached; entry docket Fridays 1:30 p.m.)
Judge Michael Dickens's practice tips for the 477th District Court: e-mail is the preferred and, for hearing dates, cancellations and settlement announcements, the required mode of communicating with the court administrator, and no one contacts the judge unless directed; parties' and children's full names, not initials, in the style and body of pleadings (Family Code); Monday–Wednesday mornings for jury trials and long hearings, Thursdays and Fridays for hearings of an hour or less; hearings are set by e-mailing the administrator, conferring with the other side on the offered dates without the administrator copied, then confirming and e-filing a notice of hearing; temporary hearings limited to 30 minutes per side absent special circumstances raised at the start; docket call on a Friday at 8:30 a.m. about ten days before full-day or jury trials or pro se enforcement motions; divorce prove-ups accepted by submission with all signatures on the decree and a prove-up affidavit on file, or in person by appointment; conferencing on dates is required in ongoing cases, availability defined, and failure to confer may forfeit the hearing; mediation is mandatory before final hearing, not mediating does not continue the trial, fees may be assessed for forcing a motion for mediation, DCAP orders must attach each party's completed exhibits or are rejected, and the outcome letter places settled cases on the entry docket; the entry docket (about twice monthly, Fridays 1:30 p.m.) is a built-in motion to enter, not a dismissal docket, and counsel must attend if the order is not entered first.
481st District Court (Denton County) — Court Policies (school-closure schedule; agreed orders without prove-up; proof of notice; time limits per side; settings by e-mail and notice of hearing; scheduling orders or 1.5 hours per side; mediation before trial; ex parte requests by e-filing plus a call; continuances over 12 months by hearing; Zoom only in limited circumstances; $50 device fine in jury trials; sealing only after final judgment; property division and FIS; cash medical support; TRCP 21c redaction and initials; motions for new trial on the pleadings; default checklist; withdrawals within 30 days of trial by hearing)
The 481st District Court's policies (Judge Crystal Levonius; coordinator Laurie DiPierro): in-person proceedings follow Denton ISD or Lewisville ISD weather closures while virtual ones continue; agreed orders signed by every party and attorney with distinctive signatures and a waiver-of-record appearance section need no prove-up; going forward without the other side requires filed or offered proof of notice; a full-day trial is 2½ hours per side, a half-day about 1¼ hours, a one-hour hearing 20 minutes; hearings and trials are set by e-mailing the coordinator, agreeing dates with the other side and e-filing a notice of hearing (bench trials with the court's TBC scheduling order, jury trials with a signed jury scheduling order and a pre-trial hearing by the Wednesday before); trials without a scheduling order or without attempted mediation are limited to 1.5 hours per side, and scheduling orders without a mediator's name are rejected; check in with the bailiff; ex parte requests are e-filed and the coordinator called or e-mailed or nothing happens, TROs must not duplicate the standing orders; any continuance in a case over 12 months old requires a hearing; Zoom appearances only in very limited circumstances; child interviews scheduled in advance, not on the day of trial; silent devices allowed but any sound in a jury trial may draw a $50 fine; display through USB only; cases sealed only after an evidentiary hearing following final judgment; proposed property division (editable) and a financial information statement required when asked to divide property or order support; health-insurance pleading and cash medical support where children have government coverage; TRCP 21c redaction with children's initials in all filings except the SAPCR or divorce petition; motions for new trial decided on the pleadings unless the four listed conditions call for a hearing; defaults scheduled only after the court's checklist is filed; withdrawals within 30 days of trial set for hearing.
Denton County Court at Law No. 2 — Occupational Driver's License Instructions (concurrent JP jurisdiction after Sept. 1, 2013 except disability and DWI cases; be current on surcharges and bring proof to the hearing; petition, affidavit and DPS instruction forms)
County Court at Law No. 2's occupational driver's license packet: since Sept. 1, 2013 district, county and justice courts have concurrent jurisdiction over ODL petitions except those arising from a physical or mental disability or a Penal Code § 49.04 (DWI) conviction, justice-court filing fees are lower, and a JP petition must be filed in the proper precinct (where the petitioner resides or the offense occurred); to obtain an occupational license the petitioner must be current on surcharges and installment agreements with the state and bring proof to the hearing; the packet supplies the civil case information sheet, the petitioner's affidavit and acknowledgment of the court's ignition-interlock standing order, the petition and acknowledgment forms, and DPS's post-order instructions (certified copy, license fee, reinstatement fees and SR-22).
Denton County Court at Law No. 2 — Submission hearings and Zoom hearings (do not appear for submission settings; documents for submission at least one business day before; no oral address at submission; Zoom only for certain non-evidentiary motions with all parties on Zoom; contact the coordinator immediately on technical failure)
County Court at Law No. 2's page (Judge Robert Ramirez): when a notice sets a hearing by submission the parties do not come to court — the judge decides on the pleadings and documents in the court's file and allows no oral address by attorney or pro se litigant; anything the party wants considered must be submitted at least one business day before the submission date; only certain hearings may be conducted by Zoom under Texas procedural law and the court may allow non-evidentiary motions by Zoom, in which case all parties appear by Zoom using the link in the notice and must contact the court coordinator immediately if the link fails; jurisdiction covers civil matters over $500 and not over $250,000 exclusive of interest, statutory or punitive damages, penalties, fees and costs.
Denton County Court at Law No. 2 — Summary Judgment Instructions (oral hearing unless the movant requests submission with certified-mail notice to the non-movant; no submission judgment without filed proof of notice; sample notice and green-card instructions)
County Court at Law No. 2's summary-judgment instructions: every motion for summary judgment is set for an oral hearing and both parties attend unless the movant requests submission; a submission setting is obtained from the court administrator under the TRCP, the movant notifies the non-movant by certified mail, return receipt requested, of the date and time with a written statement that the movant will not appear but asks the court to consider the motion by submission and that the non-movant may appear; the case is still called and the non-movant may argue a properly filed response; no summary judgment is entered on submission unless proof of notice is filed with the clerk — an affidavit attaching the notice letter with its USPS numbers and the signed green card, the returned mail with postal notation, or the USPS tracking page; the attached forms (proof-of-proper-notice instructions with an annotated PS Form 3811) show acceptable proof.
Denton County Courts — Uniform Dress Code (no shorts, hats or caps, flip-flops, halter, midriff, open, low-cut, tank or open-back tops, uncovered leggings, offensive clothing, sweat suits, pajamas or sunglasses)
The Uniform Dress Code for Denton County Courts posted by District Court Administration (and reproduced on the 158th District Court's page): no shorts; no hats or caps; no flip-flops; no halter, midriff, open, unbuttoned, low-cut, tank or open-back tops; no leggings unless the derriere is covered; no clothing with offensive language or symbols; no sweat suits or exercise clothing; no pajamas; no sunglasses.
Denton County Criminal Court No. 4 — Public notice: unrepresented defendants must appear at their settings; bond conditions may be signed and e-filed before the bond-condition hearing; all resets handled in person (attorneys may reset early in person)
County Criminal Court No. 4's page notice (Judge Chance Oliver): defendants without attorneys must be present on the date of their setting; defense attorneys may sign and e-file bond conditions before the bond-condition hearing; all case resets are handled in person, and attorneys may reset cases early in person (reset questions to the court coordinator by e-mail); court dates are on the case records search.
Denton County District Courts — Standing Order Regarding Evidence (formats for exhibits: searchable PDF, 300-dpi scans, 3-megapixel photos, audio ≤100 MB / video ≤2 GB)
The district judges' standing order that the sponsoring party must offer evidence in a format the court of appeals can accept: text documents as text-searchable, unencrypted PDFs converted directly where possible (scans OCR'd); document images at 300 dpi black and white; photographs at not less than 2,048 × 1,536 pixels; separator pages where the exhibit number is not on the image; audio files no larger than 100 MB and video no larger than 2 GB, in a format VLC or Windows Media Player supports, containing only the offered segments; and the sponsoring party must supply a compliant copy if the appellate court cannot open the exhibit.
Denton County Justice Courts — Online Payments (adult defendants only; juveniles and minors with alcohol or tobacco offenses must appear with a parent; payment is a nolo contendere plea and jury waiver under CCP art. 27.14(c); card in the defendant's name; 2.75% processing fee; posts next business day)
The county's Justice of the Peace payments page: online payment is available only to criminal defendants 17 and over for offenses committed after age 17; all juveniles under 17 and minors over 17 charged with alcohol or tobacco offenses must appear in person with a parent or guardian; payment constitutes a plea of nolo contendere and, under CCP art. 27.14(c), a finding of guilty and a written waiver of jury trial; the defendant must verify the correct precinct on the citation, pay with a debit or credit card in the name of the person on the citation (otherwise refunded), know the precinct number, amount and docket or cause number, pays a 2.75% processing fee, and the payment posts the next business day so an outstanding warrant may not be recalled until then; Visa, MasterCard and Discover accepted, American Express not.
Denton County Probate Court No. 1 — Hearing/Docket Information (Monday and Wednesday contested dockets and status conferences; Zoom will prove-ups Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons; DWOP docket the first Friday at 9 a.m.; show-cause every other Friday at 10 a.m.; Associate Judge Nolter hears odd-numbered days)
Probate Court No. 1's court calendar: Mondays and Wednesdays are the contested docket and status conferences; will prove-ups are heard by Zoom on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons; Fridays carry the DWOP docket (typically the first Friday of the month at 9 a.m., after notice where the court finds no activity), show-cause and status-conference settings every other Friday at 10 a.m. for compliance issues in guardianship and estate administrations (the court and auditor meet with counsel and parties), and pre-trial settings; Associate Judge Nolter hears Probate Court No. 1's settings on the odd-numbered days of each month, so counsel checks the docket to see whether Judge Jahn or Judge Nolter presides.
Denton County Probate Court No. 1 — Zoom Hearing Policies (letters testamentary and muniment applications: notice of remote hearing; order, resident-agent appointment and death certificate on file 3 days before or the setting is removed; oaths executed on Zoom and e-filed; order-drafting requirements; § 257.103 affidavit waiver limits)
Probate Court No. 1's Zoom hearing policies under TRCP 21d for applications for letters testamentary and muniments of title: the party requesting a remote hearing gives notice to all participants; the order, any sworn resident-agent appointment and the death certificate must be on file 3 days before the hearing or the setting is removed; proofs and oaths are executed during the Zoom hearing and e-filed afterward (never e-mailed to the administrator); a party not logged in when called reschedules, technical problems reschedule, participants use recognizable names and observe courtroom dress; counsel tells the judge whether the client signs on camera or before a notary; orders must drop 'the allegations contained in the Application are true', explain why a named executor is not serving (with a death certificate or obituary on file), state the executor's exact name as in the will, contain § 309 inventory and § 308 notice language, and omit power-of-sale language unless requested in the prayer; for muniments, an out-of-state applicant needs a resident agent, proof of death and oath of no debts may be combined, declinations from prior-named or co-executors are required, orders make no property or child-support findings, and the § 257.103 affidavit is waived only if all beneficiaries join and sign the application and no trust is a beneficiary.
Denton County Probate Court No. 2 — Hearing/Docket Information (Monday and Thursday contested dockets and status conferences; Tuesday Zoom rocket docket and will prove-ups; Wednesday prove-ups in person and by Zoom; DWOP docket the first Friday at 9 a.m.; show-cause every other Friday at 10 a.m.; Associate Judge Nolter hears even-numbered days)
Probate Court No. 2's court calendar: Mondays and Thursdays are the contested docket and status conferences; Tuesdays carry the Zoom rocket docket (twice a month, typically every other week depending on trial settings, per the court's Zoom Rocket Docket information sheet) and will prove-ups; Wednesdays are will prove-ups in person and by Zoom; Fridays carry the DWOP docket (typically the first Friday of the month at 9 a.m., after notice where the court finds no activity), show-cause and status-conference settings every other Friday at 10 a.m. for compliance issues in guardianship and estate administrations, and pre-trial settings; Associate Judge Nolter hears Probate Court No. 2's settings on the even-numbered days of each month, so counsel checks the docket to see whether Judge Everett or Judge Nolter presides.
Denton County Probate Court No. 2 — Zoom Rocket Docket Policies (two Tuesdays a month, four cases per hour; self-proved wills for letters testamentary or muniments only; order, resident-agent appointment and death certificate on file 3 days before; oaths on Zoom and e-filed; order-drafting requirements; § 257.103 waiver limits)
Judge Christopher J. Everett's Zoom Rocket Docket policies for Probate Court No. 2: the docket runs two Tuesdays a month, four cases per hour at 9, 10 and 11 a.m. and 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m., with counsel logging in for the assigned hour; only self-proved wills offered for letters testamentary or as muniments of title (not § 401.002 applications) qualify, and a foreign will needs the statute proving it self-proved; the order, any sworn resident-agent appointment and the death certificate must be on file 3 days before or the setting is removed; parties not logged in when called or with technical trouble reschedule; recognizable participant names and courtroom dress; counsel tells the judge whether the client signs on camera or before a notary; signed oaths and proofs are e-filed, never e-mailed; orders drop 'the allegations contained in the Application are true', explain why a named executor is not serving, use the executor's exact name as in the will, contain § 309 and § 308 language and omit power-of-sale language unless requested in the prayer; muniment applications by non-residents need a resident agent, declinations from prior-named or co-executors are required, orders make no property or child-support findings, and the § 257.103 affidavit is waived only where all beneficiaries join and sign the application and no trust is a beneficiary.
Denton County Probate Courts — Court Instructions for Dependent Administrator of Decedent's Estate (v102): initial and sign before leaving court; oath and bond within 20 days; creditor notices within 1 and 2 months and the Comptroller within 5 days; inventory within 90 days; annual account within 60 days of the anniversary; no expenditures or sales without a written order; separate estate accounts; final account and discharge
The Denton County Probate Courts' court-ordered instructions that every dependent administrator reads, initials in eight places and signs before the judge or a notary before leaving the courtroom (filed with the clerk; the attorney certifies having discussed the duties): the oath and the bond within 20 days of the order; letters must be requested from the clerk; published notice to unsecured creditors within one month, certified-mail notice to secured creditors within two months and notice to the Comptroller within five days where applicable, each with proof filed; a sworn inventory, appraisement and list of claims signed by the attorney within 90 days of qualification (failure risks show cause, revocation and a fine up to $1,000); an annual account within 60 days of each anniversary with reconciliation, bond-premium and tax affirmations, receipts to the court auditors and bank verifications under §§ 359.003–.004; estate funds in separately titled, FDIC-insured accounts, never commingled; no expenditure or reimbursement without a written court order except the few statutory exceptions, allowances spent only for approved purposes, cash withdrawals prohibited, receipts kept; no sale, transfer, long lease or abandonment of any asset without prior written order and personal property kept in Texas; a final account, delivery receipts and application for discharge close the administration; failure to comply may lead to removal and personal liability.
Denton County Probate Courts — Instructions for the Estate Inventory, Appraisement and List of Claims (annotated Form #102 example: totals must balance; bond must cover personal property; notice to creditors and § 308 affidavit filed first; legal descriptions; last four account digits; community property halved; VINs; household goods itemized only above $10,000; non-probate assets excluded)
The Denton County Probate Court's annotated example inventory (Form #102) showing what the court expects in an inventory, appraisement and list of claims: the schedules must add up and balance; a required bond must be sufficient to cover all personal property or the inventory cannot be approved; the inventory cannot be approved until the notice to creditors and the Estates Code § 308 affidavit of compliance are filed; assets with beneficiary designations, survivorship or payable-on-death accounts and insurance payable to others are not probate assets and are excluded; real property needs a legal description (street address helpful; out-of-state realty in footnotes); community assets are listed at full value then reduced by the surviving spouse's half; financial accounts show the institution's name and address and the last four digits of the account or policy number; vehicles show VINs; household furnishings and personal effects need itemization only if the decedent's portion exceeds $10,000; claims owed to the estate show the debtor, nature, date, amount and character; the format is an example and not required.
Denton County Probate Courts — Policies and Positions: Decedent Died With a Will (Testate Estates)
The court-published Denton County Probate Courts — Policies and Positions: Decedent Died With a Will (Testate Estates), quoted whole from the document as posted (8 page(s)).
Denton County Probate Courts — Policies and Positions: Decedent Died With a Will (Testate Estates)
The court-published Denton County Probate Courts — Policies and Positions: Decedent Died With a Will (Testate Estates), quoted whole from the document as posted (8 page(s)).
Denton County Probate Courts — Positions and Policies for the Uncontested Docket, Decedent Died With a Will (prove-up checklist; application titles and required facts; return of posted citation before hearing; resident agent on file; declinations and proof for non-serving executors; consents and bond waivers; self-proved-will tests; order language; muniment, copy-of-will and after-four-years requirements)
The two probate courts' positions and policies for testate estates on the uncontested docket (Judges David W. Jahn and Christopher J. Everett): complete the prove-up checklist; title the application by what is sought; the court will not hear the application unless the posted citation has been returned; applications must include the last three digits of SSN and driver's license or the reason they are omitted, why a named executor is not applying, the applicant's name as stated in the will, later marriages or children and charitable beneficiaries; at the prove-up the court takes judicial notice, makes venue and notice findings and swears the witness, counsel proves execution and qualification (a sworn resident-agent appointment on file before the hearing for non-residents; notarized declinations, guardianship number or doctor's letter, divorce decree or death evidence for named executors not serving); independent administration and bond waiver require sworn consents of all distributees where the will does not provide them, electronic or DocuSign consents and waivers not accepted; power-of-sale authority must be requested or consented to; self-proving affidavits are checked against § 251.104 and the alternative § 256.152 tests, with specific pleading and proof for out-of-state wills; non-self-proved wills require a subscribing witness or two handwriting witnesses; orders drop the 'allegations are true' recital, use the will's name, make findings on non-serving executors, say 'alternate' not 'successor', and include § 308 and § 309 language; muniment applications must show other named executors declined or were served, include no language beyond the Estates Code, may waive § 257.103 only where the applicant is sole distributee or all distributees apply and sign or appear, need a resident agent for out-of-state applicants, must include the Medicaid proof language and a MERP certification or exception proof where Medicaid was received, and need declaratory relief where the will does not identify the takers or property; copies of wills and probates after four years carry additional pleading, witness, ad litem and order requirements.
Denton County Probate Courts — Standing Order Regarding Use of Artificial Intelligence (SO-2025-00002, December 12, 2025)
The court-published Denton County Probate Courts — Standing Order Regarding Use of Artificial Intelligence (SO-2025-00002, December 12, 2025), quoted whole from the document as posted (3 page(s)).
Denton County Probate Courts — Standing Order Regarding Use of Artificial Intelligence (SO-2025-00002, December 12, 2025)
The court-published Denton County Probate Courts — Standing Order Regarding Use of Artificial Intelligence (SO-2025-00002, December 12, 2025), quoted whole from the document as posted (3 page(s)).
Denton County Probate Courts (Mental Health Court) — Involuntary Mental Health Commitment applications (packet through the District Attorney; notarized pages; certificate of medical examination within five days; originals by the hearing; $502 fee or affidavit of inability; bed letter for private placement; attorney hearing paperwork)
The probate courts' mental-health division page (identical on both courts' sites): the Mental Health Court handles all involuntary commitments for Denton County residents, placing patients at North Texas State Hospital, Wichita Falls, unless the family obtains a private facility's bed letter before any hearing; every application goes through the District Attorney's office using the packet of Application for Involuntary Temporary Commitment, Certificate of Medical Examination and, if needed, Affidavit of Inability; the application is completed in detail with pages three and five notarized, may be faxed to the DA but the originals must reach the court no later than the hearing date; the certificate must be completed by a doctor no later than five days before submission or the application is denied; the $502 filing fee may be waived on a notarized affidavit of inability filed before the ruling; the page supplies the attorney paperwork for long-term commitment, modification, medication, extended and probable-cause hearings.
Justice Court, Precinct 1 (Denton County) — Request for Tow Hearing Instructions (Occupations Code ch. 2308: written request delivered within 14 days of the tow, excluding weekends and holidays; $41 filing fee by cash or money order; filings 8 a.m.–5 p.m.)
Justice Court Precinct 1's instructions for tow hearings under Occupations Code chapter 2308, subchapter J: the owner or operator of a vehicle towed without consent to a storage facility may request a probable-cause hearing by delivering a written request to the court at 401 W. Hickory St., Suite 227, Denton, before the 14th day after the vehicle was removed (not counting Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays); the request must be completed with the specified information and designate the county where the storage facility is located; the clerk accepts filings Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; a $41 filing fee is paid by cash or money order payable to Denton County JP 1 at filing; the packet includes the request form and notice of hearing.
Justice Court, Precinct 1 (Denton County) — Standing Order for Civil Trials (dress code and phones off; check in with the bailiff; arrive 15 minutes early to discuss settlement; exchange exhibits 7 business days before trial or risk exclusion; exact copies for all; courtroom technology without court assistance; witnesses present when trial begins)
Justice Court Precinct 1's standing order for civil bench and jury trials: parties and witnesses dress appropriately (no shorts, flip-flops, hats or shirts with obscene or suggestive wording) with cell phones off; arrive on time and check in with the bailiff outside the courtroom; parties who have not tried to settle arrive 15 minutes early to do so and the judge asks before trial begins; all documents and exhibits to be used at trial are exchanged no less than 7 business days before trial, or they may be excluded or a continuance granted to the other side; bring enough exact copies for each party, the judge and any jury; the courtroom supports audio, video and image presentation from electronic devices but the court will not assist, and parties may schedule a compatibility test through the court; witnesses are scheduled to be present when trial begins, an absent witness may be excluded as the party is required to move forward, and witnesses do not check in with the bailiff or clerk.
Justice Court, Precinct 3 (Denton County) — Courtroom Policy of Judge James Kerbow (devices off or silenced; bags subject to search; removal for disruption; proper attire required; no food or drinks)
Judge James Kerbow's courtroom policy for Justice Court Precinct 3 (Denton County Precinct 3 Government Center, 400 N. Valley Parkway, Suite 2012, Lewisville): electronic devices and cell phones turned off or silenced; packages, purses and briefcases subject to search by the bailiff at any time; persons causing distractions or disruptions may be removed; proper attire required — shorts only as part of an employer's dress code, no cutoffs, swimsuits, exposed midriffs, muscle shirts, sagging pants, revealing clothing or sleepwear, hats and caps removed, shoes required; no food or drinks in the courtroom.
Justice Court, Precinct 4 (Denton County) — Compliance Dismissal Requirements ($10-fee dismissals with proof by the appearance date; no-fee dismissals within 10 days of the offense or by the appearance date; required documentation by offense)
Justice Court Precinct 4's compliance-dismissal chart: for the $10-fee offenses (expired license, license restriction, failure to display license or update address, registration insignia and plate offenses, expired registration, defective equipment, window tint, vessel certificate) the defendant submits the listed documentation — renewal proof, affidavits that the defect is corrected and registration was valid, tax-office receipts including the delinquent penalty (within the later of 20 working days or the appearance date), or DPS removal of a restriction — and remits the $10 dismissal fee no later than the appearance date on the ticket; for the no-fee offenses (no insurance, boater and hunting, fishing and trapping license offenses, hunter-education certificate) the documentation or request is submitted within 10 days of the offense or by the appearance date, with insurance agents contacted to verify coverage; the court notes the list is not exhaustive, may change, and is not legal advice.