Christopher J. Everett

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.