Matagorda County
Eleventh Administrative Judicial Region (Region 11) · official region site ✓ · County seat: Matagorda
Rules that apply here (county → region → statewide)
Preview of 25 instruments. All 10 county-scoped rules → search all three layers.
130th District Court — Policies and Procedures for Civil, Family and Child Protective Services Hearings (eff. Apr. 1, 2026)
Judge Denise M. Fortenberry's governing P&P (TOPICs reg. doc. 2881, Rev. 03.26.26; supersedes the Sept. 2023 edition posted own-site): party-conference certificates before all settings, two-business-day response floor, MANDATORY formal mediation before final trials, the discovery-dispute letter regime, submission hearings, trial and jury-question requirements, family-case rules (Standing TRO adopted; 8-hour co-parenting class; Summarized Requested Relief; 20-minute-per-party temporary-orders hearings), and the CPS section (pre-adversary conference, mediation required, bench-warrant lead times).
130th District Court — Remote Hearing Orders/Plan for Detention and Related Hearings (Juvenile)
The 130th's juvenile remote-hearing plan (signed March 10, 2026; TOPICs reg. doc. 2883): Zoom-based detention and related juvenile hearings with parent presence, open/closed courtroom and YouTube live-stream mechanics, deferred-adjudication motion procedure without live testimony, attendee and decorum rules, a recording prohibition under contempt, subpoena-notice language, and the exhibit-submission protocol.
Youth Diversion Plan — Justice of the Peace, Precinct 6, Place 1 (Matagorda County)
Judge James E. Powell's Youth Diversion Plan (adopted December 31, 2024; HB 3186 framework): intermediate diversion (Art. 45.309 C.C.P.) and diversion by judge (Art. 45.310), each capped at 180 days, with the plan's strategy menu (service referrals, mediation, testing, treatment compliance, capped restitution and community service) maintained on file for public inspection.
Matagorda County CPS Local Rules — Standards and Procedures for the Appointment of Counsel for Indigent Persons in CPS Cases
The CPS Judge's local rules (effective September 1, 2023, Rev. 08.31.23; Fam. Code § 107.015, C.C.P. arts. 26.04/26.05, Gov't Code ch. 37): attorney qualification criteria for the CPS/GAL/AAL lists (criteria 1.1-1.20), appointment and disqualification procedure, duties, and the fee regime under the court-adopted schedules — expanding the Matagorda County Indigent (CPS) Appointment Plan, with applicable law controlling on any conflict.
130th District Court — Standing Orders Regarding Business Records and Change in Placement or Visitation in CPS Cases
The 130th's CPS case-management standing orders (signed August 31, 2023): DFPS lab-result routing and five-business-day documentation duties, drug-test filing with a seven-day objection window, redacted-file and supplement duties, seven-day placement-change notice (three hours on emergency removal), and visitation changes only by motion and hearing.
Matagorda District Court Child Protective Services Appointment Plan
The county's Chapter-37 CPS appointment plan (preamble October 21, 2021; Rev. 08.30.23): the Indigent Defense Coordinator, prompt-appointment rules (children at the ex parte stage; qualifying parents by the end of the first business day after the indigence finding), indigence-determination standards, the fee schedule reference, and recoupment.
130th District Court — Standing Order Regarding Child(ren), Property and Conduct of Parties in Divorce and SAPCR Cases
The 130th's standing TRO (signed September 23, 2021; adopted by reference in the 2026 P&P): automatic child-protection and conduct provisions in every divorce and SAPCR — no removal from Texas, school withdrawal, hiding, or disturbance of children; no disparagement, litigation discussion with children, insurance changes, or substance use 12 hours before/during possession; no romantic overnight guests in original divorce actions; communication-conduct rules; bond waived; and the mandatory eight-hour online co-parenting class within 60 days of filing.
Standing Discovery Order — 23rd and 130th District Courts of Matagorda County
The district courts' standing criminal discovery order (signed August 29, 2012 by then-Judges Ben Hardin (23rd) and Craig Estlinbaum (130th); DA open-file based): witness lists, physical-evidence and Brady inspection, confessions and Art. 38.22 statements, prior criminal records, 20-day defense expert notice, expert reports, exculpatory/mitigating evidence, and extraneous-offense notice — applying in all criminal cases in either court until ordered otherwise.
130th District Court — Pretrial Hearing Checklist (form)
The court-published 130th District Court — Pretrial Hearing Checklist (form), quoted whole from the document as posted (1 page(s)).
Standing Order for Bonds, Surrenders and Forfeitures — Matagorda County District Courts
The district bench's bail-bond regime (130th letterhead, 2022 edition): surety bonds require Art. 17.08 compliance and a Matagorda County Bail Bond Board license; personal bonds follow Art. 17.04 and MCBBB/court forms; attorney bonds under Occupations Code § 1704.163 require the three stated documents filed with the Sheriff BEFORE execution, with first-business-day forwarding to the District Attorney and Local Administrative Judge, and revocation of bond privileges for non-compliance.
Eleventh Administrative Judicial Region of Texas — Regional Rules of Administration
The region-wide rules adopted by the AJR-11 Council of Judges (Houston, September 5, 2018; Gov't Code § 74.048(c), RJA 4(c)): they apply to all district and statutory county courts of the region and set case time standards, recusal procedure, courtroom recording/broadcasting policy, the conflicting-engagement priority ladder, attorney vacation designations, and courtroom decorum. Adopted by reference in Wharton County's district Local Rules of Practice; posted on Matagorda County's court page (the unit's capture copy).
Texas Business Court, Eleventh Division — Proposed Scheduling and Case Management Order (form with the division's instructions)
The court-published Proposed Scheduling & Case Management Order, quoted whole from the document as posted (- page(s)).
Texas Business Court, Eleventh Division — Joint Proposed Pretrial Order (form)
The court-published Joint Proposed Pretrial Order, quoted whole from the document as posted (- page(s)).
N.D. Tex. LR 83.9 — Attorneys Not Admitted to Practice Before this Court
N.D. Tex. LR 83.9 — Attorneys Not Admitted to Practice Before this Court: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.
N.D. Tex. LR 83.8 — Loss of Membership and Discipline of Attorneys
N.D. Tex. LR 83.8 — Loss of Membership and Discipline of Attorneys: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.
N.D. Tex. LR 83.7 — Admission of Attorneys
N.D. Tex. LR 83.7 — Admission of Attorneys: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.
N.D. Tex. LR 83.6 — Applications to Proceed In Forma Pauperis
N.D. Tex. LR 83.6 — Applications to Proceed In Forma Pauperis: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.
N.D. Tex. LR 83.4.1 — Compliance with Standards of Litigation Conduct
N.D. Tex. LR 83.4.1 — Compliance with Standards of Litigation Conduct: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.
N.D. Tex. LR 83.4 — Conduct of Attorneys at Trial or Hearing
N.D. Tex. LR 83.4 — Conduct of Attorneys at Trial or Hearing: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.
N.D. Tex. LR 83.3 — Assignment of Cases
N.D. Tex. LR 83.3 — Assignment of Cases: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.
N.D. Tex. LR 83.2 — Miscellaneous and Special Orders
N.D. Tex. LR 83.2 — Miscellaneous and Special Orders: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.
N.D. Tex. LR 83.18 — Photographs, Broadcasting, Recording, and Television Forbidden
N.D. Tex. LR 83.18 — Photographs, Broadcasting, Recording, and Television Forbidden: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.
N.D. Tex. LR 83.17 — Weapons Forbidden
N.D. Tex. LR 83.17 — Weapons Forbidden: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.
N.D. Tex. LR 83.16 — Dress and Conduct
N.D. Tex. LR 83.16 — Dress and Conduct: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.
N.D. Tex. LR 83.14 — Parties Proceeding Pro Se
N.D. Tex. LR 83.14 — Parties Proceeding Pro Se: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.