Hidalgo County, TX
All 16 county-scoped rules
Every published instrument scoped to Hidalgo County, newest effective date first. 2 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 1–16 of 16
Hidalgo County Probate Courts Nos. 1 and 2 — Administrative Order 2026-1, Presiding Judges' Bench Exchange Order (July 21, 2026)
Under Government Code § 25.0022(c) the presiding judges of Probate Courts No. 1 and No. 2 may sit and act for each other in any matter pending in either court; orders may be signed without a bench-exchange order or recital; cases stay in the assigned court unless both judges agree to a transfer; objections on the sole ground of the exchange will not be considered.
Hidalgo County Probate Courts Nos. 1 and 2 — Administrative Order 2026-2, Order Regarding Division of Cases (effective July 21, 2026)
Following HB 16 (89th Leg., 2nd C.S., signed September 17, 2025), which created Probate Court No. 2, the County Clerk dockets all mental-health case types into Probate Court No. 1 and divides probate, guardianship, small-estate, trust and related cases fifty-fifty between Probate Courts No. 1 and No. 2; the judges may transfer cases between the courts for judicial economy or docket equalization.
Hidalgo County District Courts — Standing Order and Administrative Order No. 2026-1 regarding the rotation system for bail proceedings under SB 9 (effective April 1, 2026) with the 2026 court assignment schedule
The thirteen Hidalgo County district judges' rotation order under Senate Bill 9: a designated judge, assigned by weekly rotation, hears initial bail determinations, bail review and modification hearings and SB 9 findings for any district court; judges may substitute by agreement; the Local Administrative District Judge maintains and publishes the schedule. The filed schedule assigns each week of 2026 (from April 1) to a numbered district court.
Child Protection Court of the Rio Grande Valley West (Hidalgo County) — First Amended Standing Order (October 28, 2025)
Judge Carlos Villalon Jr.'s standing order for the Child Protection Court of the Rio Grande Valley West: verification of children's legal names, consent requests deemed approved after three business days without response, hearing orders submitted within thirty calendar days, court-appointed counsel vouchers e-filed within sixty days of the hearing, remote appearance through the court's ZConnect route, bench warrants filed at least three weeks before trial, and supersession of all prior standing orders of the court.
Hidalgo County Local Rules to Implement the Texas Fair Defense Act — standards and procedures for appointment of counsel for indigent defendants (amended October 19, 2023; effective January 1, 2024)
The Hidalgo County judges' Fair Defense Act local rules of administration: prompt magistration and appointment of counsel, indigence standards, the appointment wheel and attorney qualifications by offense level, duties of appointed counsel, and fee and payment procedures — amended October 19, 2023 and effective January 1, 2024.
Hidalgo County Probate Court — Administrative Order 2023-2, First Order on Rules Governing Court Hearing Participation by Video Conference (TRCP 21d) — effective August 21, 2023
Judge JoAnne Garcia's video-conference rules: in-person appearance is the default unless the notice says otherwise; objections to the method of appearance under TRCP 21d(d); contested hearings in person as the court's standard practice; Zoom hearings require Z-connect registration, on-camera appearance, no driving; remote sworn testimony with room disclosure and no messaging; exhibits uploaded to Thomson Reuters Case Center in advance; no recording by attendees.
206th District Court (Hidalgo County) — all parties and counsel appear in person for court proceedings, effective December 2, 2022
Effective December 2, 2022, all parties and all counsel must appear in person for court proceedings in the 206th District Court (notice posted in English and Spanish).
389th District Court (Hidalgo County) — criminal hearings in person from June 1, 2022; civil and family cases may appear by Zoom unless the court instructs otherwise; Zoom links e-mailed 24 hours before the hearing
From June 1, 2022 all criminal hearings in the 389th District Court are in person; civil and family cases may appear by Zoom unless otherwise instructed by the court, with Zoom links e-mailed to all parties 24 hours before the hearing.
County Court at Law No. 8 (Hidalgo County) — Standing Order: e-filing required for family-law and civil documents from December 2, 2013; valid e-mail addresses on all submitted orders
A 2013 standing order requiring attorneys to e-file family-law and civil documents (no paper filings accepted) as the court began compliance with the Supreme Court's e-filing mandate; criminal filing unchanged. Orders submitted for signature must carry the e-mail addresses of all parties to be notified and counsel must keep their electronic mailboxes able to receive the clerks' transmissions.
139th District Court (Hidalgo County) — Standing Order: e-filing required for all family-law and civil documents from October 21, 2013 (signed October 18, 2013)
A 2013 standing order requiring attorneys to e-file family-law and civil documents (no paper filings accepted) as the court began compliance with the Supreme Court's e-filing mandate; criminal filing unchanged.
County Court at Law No. 7 (Hidalgo County) — Standing Order: e-filing required for all family-law documents (District Clerk) and civil documents (County Clerk) from October 21, 2013
A 2013 standing order requiring attorneys to e-file family-law and civil documents (no paper filings accepted) as the court began compliance with the Supreme Court's e-filing mandate; criminal filing unchanged.
Local Rules of Hidalgo County, Texas District Courts — effective May 1, 1999 (or on Supreme Court approval)
The Hidalgo County district courts' local rules: filing and random assignment, transfers by order of the presiding judge or with the receiving court's consent, docket control and settings, motions and hearings, pretrial and trial procedures, jury matters, and effective date (Rule 13.1: May 1, 1999 or on approval by the Supreme Court under Rule 3a).
476th District Court (Hidalgo County) — civil and family hearings by Zoom unless an in-person hearing is requested; criminal hearings in person; every motion and request must carry a proposed order setting hearing
The 476th District Court holds civil and family hearings by Zoom unless a party requests an in-person hearing (Zoom ID e-mailed the day before); criminal hearings are in person; all motions and requests — ex parte and emergency ones included — must be accompanied by a proposed order setting hearing.
92nd District Court (Hidalgo County) — civil and family hearings by Zoom unless an in-person hearing is requested; criminal hearings in person; every motion and request must carry a proposed order setting hearing
The 92nd District Court holds civil and family hearings by Zoom unless a party requests an in-person hearing (Zoom ID e-mailed the day before); criminal hearings are in person; all motions and requests — ex parte and emergency ones included — must be accompanied by a proposed order setting hearing.
County Court at Law No. 10 (Hidalgo County) — Standing Order Regarding Child(ren), Pets, Property and Conduct of Parties in Divorce and Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship
Judge Armando Marroquin's standing order attached to every divorce and SAPCR filed in County Court at Law No. 10: no removal of children from Hidalgo and contiguous counties, no disparagement or discussion of the litigation with children, no overnight romantic guests during possession in original divorces, protection of family pets, conduct of the parties (including electronic communications), preservation of property and electronically stored information, records, insurance, specific authorizations, service with the petition and 14-day TRO/temporary-injunction effect, mandatory mediation under Family Code §§ 6.602 and 153.0071, and bond waiver.
County Court at Law No. 4 (Hidalgo County) — Revised Local Rules (24 rules: mediation before trial settings, proposed orders with motions, settings through the court coordinator, continuances 72 hours ahead, plea negotiations before the hearing day, decorum)
Judge Federico (Fred) Garza Jr.'s 24 local rules for County Court at Law No. 4: dismissal orders after settlement, proposed orders attached to motions, mandatory mediation before a civil trial setting, agreed continuances signed by all counsel and clients and filed 72 hours before the hearing, settings and fiats through the court coordinator, one criminal pre-trial setting, arraignment waivers filed a day ahead, defendants' appearance, plea negotiations before the hearing day, capias and appointment practices, no interruptions during arraignments and jury trials, and strict courtroom decorum.