Administrative Order Regarding Applications to Probate a Copy of a Lost Will or a Lost Will Without a Copy, County Court at Law No. 2 of Hunt County, Texas, signed January 25, 2023, effective February 15, 2023. TOPICs registration 1146 (Hunt County, Standing Orders).
Administrative order of County Court at Law No. 2 for lost wills: findings on Estates Code § 256.054 (contents of the application), § 258.002 (citation to all parties interested in the estate, which includes both the devisees of the lost will and those who would inherit if it were not admitted) and § 51.151 (explicit notice of the right to object); where a full or partial intestacy would result, the court appoints an attorney ad litem under § 53.104 (not needed where a valid original codicil republishes the lost will) - the applicant e-files the court's order appointing attorney ad litem, does not select the ad litem, and sends the ad litem the order, the application and any copy of the will; the Clerk attaches the court's 'Notice of Application to Probate Copy of Lost Will or Codicil or Lost Will or Codicil without a Copy' to each § 258.002 citation; devisees and heirs (or, for a lost codicil, the beneficiaries of the original will) are personally served or execute an affidavit waiving citation that itself states every point of the notice. The notice and a sample affidavit are attached.
Administrative Order Regarding Applications to Probate a Will More Than Four Years After the Testator's Death, County Court at Law No. 2 of Hunt County, Texas, signed January 25, 2023, effective February 15, 2023. TOPICs registration 1145 (Hunt County, Standing Orders).
Administrative order of County Court at Law No. 2 for late probate of a will: findings on the notice or waiver affidavits required by Estates Code §§ 258.051 and 258.053 (and on § 258.052, the attorney ad litem for heirs whose address cannot be ascertained); the court appoints an attorney ad litem under § 53.104 for unknown heirs, heirs whose whereabouts are unknown and heirs under a legal disability unless another will has already been admitted to probate - the applicant e-files the court's order appointing attorney ad litem on filing the application, does not select the ad litem, and sends the ad litem the order, the application and the will; the Clerk attaches the court's 'Notice of Application to Probate a Will More than Four Years after the Testator's Death' to every citation; every heir (or every beneficiary of a previously probated will) is personally served or delivers an affidavit waiving citation and stating no objection; a waiver affidavit must itself state every point of the notice - reference to an attached notice is not sufficient. The notice and a sample affidavit are attached.
Administrative Order Regarding Clerk's Duty to Notify Court Upon Filing of Motion for Summary Judgment, County Courts at Law in and for Hunt County, Texas, signed September 9, 2025. TOPICs registration 2564 (Hunt County, Standing Orders).
Administrative order of the two county courts at law, entered because SB 293 and HB 16 require the court to act within prescribed periods after a motion for summary judgment is filed: on the filing of a motion for summary judgment the clerk notifies the appropriate court coordinator; each court tells the Clerk how that notification is to be made.
Administrative Order Regarding Estates Code §1101.003 Affidavit Containing Contact Information of Certain Persons, County Courts at Law in and for Hunt County, Texas, signed June 12, 2024. TOPICs registration 1984 (Hunt County, Standing Orders).
Administrative order of the two county courts at law on the contact-information affidavit of Estates Code § 1101.003: the applicant for a guardianship files the affidavit at least 10 days before prove-up, trial or other final disposition, captioned '§1101.003 Affidavit Containing Contact Information of Certain Persons'; the County Clerk's office seals the affidavit and does not release or disclose it or its contents to the public.
Administrative Order Regarding Security for Attorney Ad Litem Costs, County Courts at Law in and for Hunt County, Texas, signed February 20, 2024, effective April 1, 2024. TOPICs registration 1816 (Hunt County, Standing Orders); an annotated copy of the same order is registered as TOPICs 2052.
Administrative standing order of the two county courts at law: for six listed kinds of probate and guardianship applications the Clerk collects, at filing, a $550 Attorney Ad Litem Retainer Deposit (administrative fee waived) unless an affidavit of indigency is on file; the deposit is held for payment of the court-ordered ad litem fee; if the court orders less than $550 the excess is refunded to the applicant, if more the order says how the additional fee is paid; accumulated interest is returned to the applicant or, on the applicant's request, deposited in the county general fund.
Administrative Order Regarding Standards for Court Approval of Attorney Fee Applications (Probate - Guardianship and Estates), County Courts at Law in and for Hunt County, Texas, signed February 20, 2024. TOPICs registration 1817 (Hunt County, Standing Orders).
Standards of the two county courts at law for approving attorney's fees paid from estates: court-approved rates for a fiduciary's attorney by years of probate and guardianship practice (0-5 years up to $200 an hour, 5+ years up to $300); attorney and guardian ad litem fees ($150 an hour in county-pay cases; a $550 flat fee in a typical solvent-estate case, with itemized billing kept for requests above it); fees when the attorney is also the fiduciary (election between commission and fees, dual compensation on full disclosure with separate legal and non-legal records, $100 an hour for fiduciary services, quarterly payment on a hardship finding); fee shifting for bad-faith guardianship filings under Estates Code § 1155.054(d); paralegal work at $50 an hour for delegated substantive legal work only; the form of fee applications (period covered, total fees to date, attorney's affidavit, client's signature, order with blanks); and twelve invoice rules (no block billing, descriptions, legend, all time shown, extraordinary time justified, travel, research, fee-petition preparation, conversations with court staff, deliveries up to $25, costs caused by misfeasance, itemized invoice except an agreed ad litem fee under $550). Appendix A is a sample invoice.
Administrative Order Regarding the Assignment and Transfer of Mental Health Cases, County Courts at Law in and for Hunt County, Texas, filed August 4, 2026, effective January 1, 2027. TOPICs registration 3069 (Hunt County, Standing Orders).
Administrative order of the two county courts at law, effective January 1, 2027: from that date all new mental health proceedings filed in Hunt County (including matters under the Health and Safety Code) are filed in and assigned to County Court at Law No. 1; all active mental health cases pending on that date are transferred to County Court at Law No. 1, which takes them as if originally filed there; hearings set before January 1, 2027 stay as scheduled and later hearings are conducted by County Court at Law No. 1 unless otherwise ordered; the Clerk updates assignments and notifies affected parties, attorneys and agencies; this order controls over any conflicting prior administrative order.
Letter re: Code of Criminal Procedure 16.22 for Class A and B Misdemeanors, Hunt County Courts at Law No. 1 and No. 2, January 4, 2023. TOPICs registration 901 (Hunt County, Local Rules).
Joint letter of the two county court at law judges to the Hunt County justices of the peace: the county courts at law will appoint an attorney for a defendant charged with a Class A or Class B misdemeanor on receiving either a magistrate's notice under Code of Criminal Procedure art. 16.22(a)(1) that there is reasonable cause to believe the defendant has a mental illness or is a person with intellectual disabilities, or a written report under art. 16.22(a)(1)(B) and (b-2); the magistrate need not submit an application for court-appointed attorney with either; the notice or report goes by e-mail to the court coordinator of the County Court at Law Administrative Judge (then the judge of County Court at Law No. 2).
County Court at Law No. 1 Courtroom Rules, Hunt County, Texas. TOPICs registration 57 (Hunt County, Local Rules, registered January 1, 2023).
Posted courtroom rules of Hunt County Court at Law No. 1: no food, drink or gum; business-casual dress with nine listed kinds of clothing not allowed (shorts, tank or halter tops, sunglasses unless prescription, flip flops, mini-skirts, hats and other non-religious head gear, pajama wear, house shoes, shirts with alcohol, drug, gang or sexual content); no photographs or video or audio recording without the court's permission; cell phones and electronic devices turned off, no texting or phone use in the courtroom; no loud talking; no pets unless a certified service animal.
County Courts at Law Standing Discovery Order for Criminal Cases, Hunt County, Hunt County, Texas; posted on the county's website (https://www.huntcounty.net/upload/page/0146/docs/Standing%20Discovery%20Order%20on%20Criminal%20Cases%20effective%2010-01-2022.pdf), fetched 2026-09-19.
Standing discovery order of the Hunt County Courts at Law No. 1 and No. 2 (Judges Timothy S. Linden and Joel D. Littlefield), applying in every criminal case unless otherwise ordered, effective October 1, 2022: what the state must produce to the defense (criminal history, police reports, statements, public records, expert and lab reports, records, and exculpatory/impeachment/mitigating material) and, 20 days before trial, extraneous-offense notice, a witness list, and inspection of listed items; production by the defense (expert list); rules on expert-witness voir dire, video/audio recorded evidence, additional discovery motions and certificates of conference, the state's continuing duty to supplement, the discovery log, the jury charge, the effect of other rules (including Art. 39.14), and notice of the order. Supersedes prior criminal discovery orders.
County Courts at Law Standing Order for Mental Health Assessment Reports, Hunt County, Hunt County, Texas; posted on the county's website (https://www.huntcounty.net/upload/page/0146/docs/Standing%20Order%20for%20Mental%20Health%20Assessment%20Reports%20effective%2001-01-2021.pdf), fetched 2026-09-19.
Standing order of the Hunt County Courts at Law No. 1 and No. 2 (Judges Timothy S. Linden and Joel D. Littlefield): all Mental Health Assessment Reports forwarded to the courts under Art. 16.22 of the Code of Criminal Procedure shall be sealed by the Hunt County Clerk to all persons except the attorneys for the State, the attorney for the defendant, and the defendant. Effective January 1, 2021; signed January 6, 2021; supersedes any prior orders on mental health assessment reports.
County Courts at Law Standing Order Sealing Public Safety Reports, Hunt County, Hunt County, Texas; posted on the county's website (https://www.huntcounty.net/upload/page/0146/docs/Standing%20Order%20Sealing%20PSR%20effective%2012-13-2023.pdf), fetched 2026-09-19.
Standing order of the Hunt County Courts at Law No. 1 and No. 2 (Judges Timothy S. Linden and Joel D. Littlefield): all Public Safety Reports ('PSR') filed in any and all criminal cases in the Hunt County Courts are sealed and confidential, accessible only to the Hunt County Attorney's Office and the defendant's attorney (who may not disclose the PSR to a third party) unless a court orders disclosure for good cause after notice and hearing. Signed December 13, 2023.
Letter re: Filing of New Criminal Cases - Cases No Longer Follow Writs, Hunt County Courts at Law No. 1 and No. 2, January 4, 2023. TOPICs registration 900 (Hunt County, Local Rules).
Joint letter of the two county court at law judges to the Hunt County Clerk (attention: criminal clerks): effective immediately, criminal cases filed in the Hunt County Courts at Law will no longer follow writs.
Hunt County Court at Law No. 2 - Policies & Procedures (Judge Joel D. Littlefield; adopted 03-01-2022, amended 06-15-2023), Hunt County, Texas; posted on the county's website (https://www.huntcounty.net/upload/page/0146/docs/Policy%20and%20Procedures%20EFFECTIVE%2006-15-2023.pdf), fetched 2026-09-15.
The 47-page policies and procedures manual of Hunt County Court at Law No. 2 as amended June 15, 2023. A. General: decorum; self-represented parties; attorney appearances; conflict settings; failure to appear; ex parte and emergency orders; settings and resets; submission dockets; motion practice; scheduling orders; mediation; depositions and discovery; dismissal dockets; pretrial exchange; written orders; interpreters. B. Criminal: appointed and retained counsel, settings and resets, plea paperwork, discovery, pretrial motions, continuances, and requests for interpreters. C. Probate: wills, muniments of title and small estate affidavits, heirships and guardianships - applications, proofs, resident agents, safekeeping agreements, the court's information sheets and instructions, uncontested prove-ups, inventories and accounts, estates of minor wards, and guardianships transferred into Hunt County. D. Mental commitment cases. E. Applications for an occupational driver's license, by attorneys and by self-represented applicants.
Order Adopting a Youth Diversion Plan, Justice Court, Precinct 4, Place 1, Hunt County, Texas, signed October 8, 2024, with the Juvenile Criminal Diversion Plan HB 3186 (effective January 1, 2025). TOPICs registration 2092 (Hunt County, Local Rules).
Order of October 8, 2024 adopting the court's youth diversion plan under Code of Criminal Procedure art. 45.306(b), with the plan: eligibility (under 17 at the offense, no diversion in the previous 365 days, no unsuccessful diversion, no objection from the county attorney - the plan prints another county's name there - and written consent of child and parent); judicial education; local agreements with service providers; the judge and the administrative assistant share the youth diversion coordinator's duties; three diversion routes (graduated sanctions for school offenses, intermediate diversion before filing, diversion by the court without a plea); a program or service-provider referral with twelve numbered items, including restitution up to $100 and up to 20 hours of community service; the written diversion agreement (up to 180 days, measurable terms, rights notice, no admission of guilt); the non-adversarial referral hearing under art. 45.311 and its options; limits on orders to parents, enforceable by contempt; an optional $50 administrative fee, waived for indigent families; confidential records expunged on the child's 18th birthday; cases that must be diverted and how non-diverted juvenile cases proceed.
Hunt County Standing Order Regarding Children, Property and Conduct of the Parties, District Courts of Hunt County, Texas, effective October 1, 2022. TOPICs registration 1497 (Hunt County, Standing Orders).
Hunt County's standing order for divorce and parent-child cases: no disruption of children (no removal from Texas, no school or day-care change, no hiding the child or changing its abode, no disparaging remarks or discussion of the litigation, no overnight romantic guests from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. in an original divorce, no dangerous drugs during or within 12 hours before possession); conduct of the parties; preservation of property and use of funds in a divorce (eighteen items, including account passwords, electronic communications, safe deposit boxes, and a definition of personal and tangible property with 25 listed classes); personal and business records including electronically stored information and metadata; insurance; specific authorizations (ordinary business, attorney's fees, living expenses); service with the petition, the fourteen-day temporary restraining order and its continuation as a temporary injunction; the priority of protective orders; encouragement to mediate; bond waived.
Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 Local Rules for Requesting Motions, Bond Reductions, and Other Information from the Court, Hunt County, Hunt County, Texas; posted on the county's website (https://www.huntcounty.net/upload/page/0083/docs/Local%20Rules%20for%20Proper%20Contact%20the%20court%20jp4%2008262026.pdf), fetched 2026-09-19.
Local rules of the Hunt County Justice Court, Precinct 4 (Judge Clay Rankin), for requesting motions, bond reductions and other information from the court: all requests should be emailed to JP4court@huntcounty.net (seen by all court personnel), and parties must not email or call the judge directly to request motions, as it could be considered ex parte.
Juvenile Court of Hunt County Standing Order in Juvenile Cases, Hunt County, Texas; posted on the county's website (https://www.huntcounty.net/upload/page/0077/docs/SKM_360i24072510030.pdf), fetched 2026-09-19.
Standing order of the Juvenile Court of Hunt County (Judge Timothy S. Linden, County Court at Law No. 1): all juvenile settings requested by the State or the juvenile attorney, other than detention hearings, must have a motion and accompanying order to be set; if set orally in court, the motion and order must be filed within 24 hours of the oral setting. Signed July 25, 2024.
Local Rule - Electronic Communications (via eFile Texas (Preferred), Email and Fax), Justice Court, Precinct 4 of Hunt County, Texas, effective April 1, 2025. TOPICs registration 2370 (Hunt County, Local Rules; registry title 'Rules for Contacting the Court').
Local rule of Justice Court Precinct 4: from April 1, 2025 electronic communication is mandatory in all cases - every communication between the court and litigants goes by E-File Texas (preferred), e-mail or fax and must include a valid e-mail address; self-represented litigants and attorneys are both required to communicate electronically; notices, copies, judgments and other documents come from the court's JP4court e-mail address, which litigants are encouraged to add to their contacts; litigants must tell the court at once of any change of e-mail address.
Local Rule: Non-Recording of Court Proceedings and Staff Communication, Justice Court, Precinct Four of Hunt County, Texas, effective April 1, 2025. TOPICs registration 2371 (Hunt County, Local Rules).
Local rule of Justice Court Precinct 4, in English and Spanish: from April 1, 2025 recording, taping or photographing by any means is strictly prohibited for any party taking part in a court proceeding, remotely or in person, and for any party communicating with court staff at any time and by any means; a person found doing so could be held in contempt.
Local Rules for Costs on Judgments, Hunt County Justice Court, Precinct 4. TOPICs registration 2416 (Hunt County, Local Rules, registered June 12, 2025).
Two rules of Justice Court Precinct 4 for judgment orders: all costs must be itemized in dollar amounts before the judge will sign, and post-judgment interest must be stated on the order at the current rate.
Local Rules for the District Courts and County Courts at Law of Hunt County, Texas, approved by the Supreme Court of Texas, Misc. Docket No. 15-9076 (April 28, 2015), effective May 1, 2015. TOPICs registration 1493 (Hunt County, Local Rules); the same instrument is registered for the county courts at law as TOPICs 49.
Hunt County's local rules under Gov't Code § 74.093: election and powers of the Local Administrative District Judge (LADJ) and the Local Administrative County Court Judge (LACCJ); and the filing, random assignment and transfer of cases - civil cases (county-court-at-law cases and appeals from municipal and justice courts with the County Clerk, district-court cases with the District Clerk, overlapping jurisdiction with either clerk), family law cases (District Clerk, random assignment to a district court, transfer to another district court or a county court at law; a designated parenting class is required in every family case involving children), criminal cases (Class A and B misdemeanors and Class C appeals to the county courts at law; indictments to the court of the judge who impaneled the grand jury; felony informations to the 196th in the first six months of the year and the 354th in the last six), juvenile cases, cases to protect a mentally ill or elderly person, family-violence protective orders, and estates and guardianships; severability.
Local Rules on Submitting Motion for Bond Modifications, Hunt County Justice Court, Precinct 4, effective November 12, 2025. TOPICs registration 2670 (Hunt County, Local Rules; the registry title adds 'Forms in form section').
One-sentence local rule of Justice Court Precinct 4: bond modifications will not be considered without the District Attorney's and/or County Attorney's input, 'or State Rule 17.151 time runs' (the instrument's words); effective November 12, 2025.
Media, Observer and Spectator Policy, District Courts and County Courts at Law of Hunt County, Texas, approved June 23, 2021. TOPICs registration 1496 (Hunt County, Local Rules); the same instrument is registered for the county courts as TOPICs 56.
Courthouse policy of the four Hunt County trial courts: the 2nd-4th floors are protected areas; binoculars, cameras and recording equipment are prohibited in courtrooms unless the policy allows them; phones and other wireless devices not tied to the proceeding must be off; laptops may be used muted for personal notes, web-cams only with prior authorization; proceedings are open and media may attend, but no filming, photography or recording in a protected area while court is in session; no recording of chambers proceedings, closed proceedings, jury selection or deliberations, of court staff without written permission, or of attorney-client and bench conferences; no broadcasting of recordings made in violation; jurors may not be contacted, photographed or recorded and their personal information may not be released except under Code of Criminal Procedure art. 35.29; waiver requests go in writing to the presiding judge of the court at least three days before the hearing.
Directive on the minimum documents necessary at trial to receive a judgment, Hunt County Justice Court, Precinct 4, October 28, 2025. TOPICs registration 2774 (Hunt County, Local Rules; registry title 'Default Judgment - Documents Needed').
Directive of Justice Court Precinct 4 listing the minimum documents to be submitted at trial to receive a judgment: business records affidavit, return of service with all accompanying documents, certificate of last known address, military affidavit, proof that the defendant owes the debt and the amount, and proof of the current owner of the debt; the court prefers documents without redactions; copies must be submitted at trial by the plaintiff or plaintiff's counsel; the court no longer makes copies or takes judicial notice of electronic records submitted before trial.
Occupational Driver's License Hearing by Submission, Hunt County Court at Law No. 2, March 18, 2022. TOPICs registration 59 (Hunt County, Local Rules).
Policy letter of the judge of County Court at Law No. 2: an attorney who has met the statutory filing requirements for an occupational driver's license application and has filed the court's Applicant's Affidavit for Occupational Driver's License with its attachments may set the application for hearing by submission; if the suspension rests on a ground listed in Transportation Code § 521.243 the applicant must give the State's attorney notice of the request and of the hearing date; no proposed order is to be submitted - the court issues its own; the affidavit form is on the court's website.
Policy for Alternative Service for Process of Citation, Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 Place 1, Hunt County, Texas. TOPICs registration 3066 (Hunt County, Local Rules, registered July 31, 2026); identical bytes are posted on the court's page of the county site.
One-page policy of Justice Court Precinct 4 on alternative service: two methods (first-class mail plus leaving the citation and petition with a person at least 16 at the property, or first-class mail plus affixing them to the front entry or gate), neither deemed perfected unless the citation, petition and order are also mailed by both registered mail, return receipt requested, and regular mail; the return is not made until 30 days after mailing or until the post office's tracking or delivery record comes back, whichever is earlier; the return states the mailing dates and results and attaches any returned envelope or tracking; photos of the place of service and vehicles and a skip trace of the defendant are required; the return is otherwise made under TRCP Rule 501.
Policy for Attending Judge Rankin's Magistration, Hunt County Justice Court, Precinct 4. TOPICs registration 2126 (Hunt County, Local Rules, registered November 21, 2024).
Policy of the judge of Justice Court Precinct 4: the public may attend any magistration the judge conducts, but for safety reasons anyone wishing to attend must call the court's office (ext. 1) and schedule to be at the Hunt County Courthouse Annex in Quinlan at 7 a.m. on a day the judge has magistration duty; the on-call schedule changes monthly, so the date and time are given when the caller schedules.
Policy for Out of County / Out of State Service of Citations, Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 Place 1, Hunt County, Texas. TOPICs registration 1951 (Hunt County, Local Rules, registered May 31, 2024).
One-page policy of Justice Court Precinct 4 for service by a constable of another county: the plaintiff gives the court the county of service, the constable who will serve, that constable's full address and service fee, and the fee itself as a money order or cashier's check made out to that constable; the court mails the payment with the citation to the constable.
Policy for Service for Process of Citation in Person, Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 Place 1, Hunt County, Texas. TOPICs registration 1949 (Hunt County, Local Rules, registered May 31, 2024).
One-page policy of Justice Court Precinct 4: service may be made at the address in the citation with anyone over sixteen years of age, but is not deemed perfected unless photos are taken at the place of service and of vehicles there and a skip trace of the defendant is made; the return of service is otherwise made in accordance with TRCP Rule 501.
Remote Detention Hearing Procedures, Juvenile Courts of Hunt County, Texas (Family Code § 54.012), file-stamped October 23, 2023. TOPICs registration 1656 (Hunt County, Standing Orders).
Plan of the four Hunt County courts sitting as juvenile courts for remote detention hearings: definitions (detention hearing per Family Code § 54.01; remote proceeding); the court may allow or require any party, attorney, witness or court reporter to take part remotely; the same opportunity to cross-examine as in person; a testifying party's or witness's camera must give an unobstructed view or the testimony is not allowed; physical evidence is displayed so all can view it simultaneously, digital copies are e-mailed to the court's listed addresses and to counsel before the hearing if practicable, and evidence that cannot be made digital is tendered within 7 days; a recording is made and preserved under § 54.012(c); the plan was submitted to the Office of Court Administration by posting.
Rules of Evidence Submission, Hunt County Justice Court, Precinct 4, July 16, 2024. TOPICs registration 1998 (Hunt County, Local Rules).
Three rules of Justice Court Precinct 4: evidence to be submitted during trial must reach the court 48 hours before the trial date, and the court does not print evidence sent electronically; the submitting party must give the evidence to all parties or it will not be allowed at trial; evidence sent electronically before trial must also be submitted at trial in hard copy.
Standing Discovery Control Order in Felony Criminal Cases, District Courts of Hunt County, Texas, signed February 16, 2016, effective March 1, 2016. TOPICs registration 1495 (Hunt County, Standing Orders).
Standing discovery control order for felony cases, built on the State's open-file policy and Code of Criminal Procedure art. 39.14: the defense attorney arranges to obtain discovery and the State gives e-mail notice when material is available; video redactions (videos to the defense 15 business days before trial, defense objections 10 business days before jury selection, unresolved issues to the court 5 business days before); motion practice (conference and certificate of conference required; repetitive discovery motions and pre-trial 'Brady violation' or 'discovery sanction' motions are not considered; a discovery motion only after obtaining open-file discovery); twelve numbered orders to the State (art. 39.14 compliance, witness list 5 business days before jury selection, Gaskin statements, defendant's statements, inspection items 5.1-5.12, child-victim recordings 10 business days before jury selection, Rule 404(b) notice 5 business days, promises of leniency 5 business days, Rule 609(f) notice 10 days, search warrants, criminal history, Brady material); expert witnesses (mutual disclosure 21 days before jury selection; Rule 705(b) hearings); pro se defendants (inspection without electronic duplication).
Standing Order, District Courts of Hunt County, Texas, signed June 16, 2015. TOPICs registration 1494 (Hunt County, Standing Orders).
One-paragraph standing order of the two Hunt County district courts: an attorney ad litem for a child in a case where the Department of Family and Protective Services seeks termination is discharged from further duties upon entry of a final order of termination as to the last parent for whom termination is sought.
Standing Order for Compensation (Attorney Fee Schedule), 196th and 354th Judicial District Courts and County Courts at Law No. 1 and No. 2 of Hunt County, Texas, signed October 28, 2021. Registered copy: TOPICs registration 1668 (Hunt County, Standing Orders), pages 12-13.
Current fee schedule of the four Hunt County trial courts for court-appointed counsel: $100 per hour in felony, misdemeanor, motion-to-revoke, juvenile, mental commitment and CPS appointments; in capital murder cases where the State seeks death, $110 per hour for lead counsel (first-chair qualified) and $100 for second counsel; standard payments without hourly documentation (misdemeanor $200, felony $250, motion to revoke $200, juvenile $200, mental $200); reasonable expenses reimbursed, investigative and expert services only with prior court approval; interpreters up to $500 per defendant without prior approval; payment requests governed by a separate order and forms; a request submitted six months or more after the last reasonable and necessary action may be denied.
Standing Order in Cases Involving Child Protective Services, 196th and 354th Judicial District Courts of Hunt County, Texas, approved and adopted April 2, 2024. TOPICs registration 1884 (Hunt County, Standing Orders).
Standing order of the two Hunt County district courts for CPS cases: conduct of parents and intervenors (nine prohibited acts concerning the children, DFPS staff and other parties); discovery (informal investigation encouraged; release and exchange of health information within ten business days under HIPAA and the Texas Medical Privacy Act; redaction of placement information; no interrogatories, depositions or requests for production without leave; DFPS produces the deidentified case record at least 30 days before trial; a parent signs releases within five days of temporary orders; no Requests for Disclosure without leave and pretrial disclosures 14 days before trial; pleadings amended 30 days before trial; service on self-represented parties; trial conference at the second permanency hearing); release of placement information to attorneys only, with an ex parte procedure to withhold it and a hearing within 14 days; placement and transportation of children (licensed placements, foster homes within 60 miles of the courthouse, school enrollment within two school days, placement contact information within 24 hours); transportation of parents; caseworker identification and attendance at hearings; psychotropic medication only by court order after notice and hearing, with an emergency exception and a hearing within five business days; Indian Child Welfare Act notices filed within five business days.
Standing Order (special commissioners in condemnation suits), County Courts at Law No. 1 and No. 2 of Hunt County, Texas, signed July 14, 2023. TOPICs registration 1481 (Hunt County, Standing Orders).
Standing order of the two county courts at law: special commissioners in condemnation suits are awarded a standard fee of $250 per hour when submitted to the court; effective from the date signed, July 14, 2023; supersedes all prior orders on awards to special commissioners.
Standing Order - Sealing Contact Information Affidavits, County Courts at Law No. 1 and No. 2 of Hunt County, Texas, signed December 19, 2023. TOPICs registration 1754 (Hunt County, Standing Orders).
Standing order of the two county courts at law: contact information affidavits submitted in guardianships under Estates Code § 1101.003 are sealed; effective from the date signed, December 19, 2023.
Turnover and Receiver Local Rule, Justice Court Four of Hunt County, Texas, effective April 1, 2025. TOPICs registration 2372 (Hunt County, Local Rules); identical bytes are posted on the court's page of the county site.
Local rule of Justice Court Four on turnover and receiver requests: the court that granted the judgment is the court of appropriate jurisdiction; relief under CPRC § 31.002 is discretionary; the court strongly prefers notice and an opportunity for the debtor to appear, and an ex parte request without evidence showing why it is necessary will be denied and set on notice; what an application must contain (the underlying judgment with an exhibit, a description of non-exempt property, evidence that the debtor has non-exempt property, the proposed receiver's identity, experience and resume, the compensation proposed, oath and bond); what a proposed order must recite (no turnover directly to the creditor, exempt property excluded, limited and clearly stated powers, termination 120 days after the order unless extended, no order beyond one year without a showing of essential necessity and none beyond five years, fees set conditionally and approved later, a nominal bond if any, the receiver's oath returned within 10 days, no disbursement without the debtor's written consent or court order, an inventory within 30 days of termination); receiver fees measured by services and results; nine powers that will not be granted absent special circumstances (for example opening mail, lockouts, collecting cash on hand, interrupting utilities, directing law enforcement, appointment as master in chancery, reaching exempt wages); enforcement by contempt as a last choice.
