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The probate courts' omnibus order (Jan. 3, 2023) confirming Edward J. Nolter as full-time Associate Probate Judge (appointed Jan. 6, 2022) and referring to him any aspect of any case at the probate judges' discretion, without a specific order of referral, as reflected on the weekly printed docket; his powers under Gov't Code § 54A.209(a) including signing agreed, default, temporary, waiver-based and letters-issuing final orders and mental-health orders; the referring judge signs § 54A.209(a)(16) orders within 30 days; a party may object to the associate judge trying a matter on the merits by written objection, and where a trial has been set on his docket the objection must be filed within 10 days of notice (§ 54A.207); de novo hearings are requested within 7 working days of notice of the associate judge's order or report (§ 54A.216); supersedes all former standing and omnibus orders.
Texas > Denton County > Probate Court No. 1 and Probate Court No. 2 — every case referred to Associate Judge Edward J. Nolter; counsel and parties objecting to referral or seeking de novo review.
"B. Order of Referral. Pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 54A.208 and by this January 3rd, 2023 Omnibus Order of Referral any Probate Judge may refer to the Associate Probate Judge any aspect of a case of any type or any class over which the Probate Court has jurisdiction. … The cases referred to the Associate Probate Judges are evidenced by the printed docket prepared and published weekly by the Court Administrator under the direction of the court, and are subject to changes made daily at the discretion of the Probate Judges." "H. Referral of a matter does not require a specific order of referral and may be deemed as referred by virtue of the execution of this Order. I. Matter Not Set to be Heard by the Associate Probate Judge. With respect to any matter that has not already been set for trial on the merits or a jury trial any Counsel or party may object to the referral of a trial on the merits to the Associate Probate Judge by filing a written objection with the Court and requesting the matter be heard by the Presiding Probate Judge (TX. Govt. Code §54A.207(b)). J. Objections to Matters Set to be Heard by the Associate Probate Judge. With respect to any matter that has been set for trial on the merits or jury trial by the Probate Court on the Associate Probate Judge's docket and specifically referred to the Associate Probate Judge's docket in advance with notice to Counsel and/or parties; any objections to referral or to proceeding before the Associate Probate Judge or requests for hearing of a matter to be set on the Presiding Probate Judge's docket must be in writing, and filed not later than the tenth day after the Counsel or party receives notice that the Associated Probate Judge will hear the trial. (Tx. Govt. Code §54A.207(c)). K. De Novo Hearing before Referring Judge. Pursuant to Government Code 54A.216 (a) a party may request a de novo hearing before the referring court by filing with the clerk of the referring court a written request not later than the seventh working day after the date the party receives notice of the substance of the Associate Probate Judge's Order and/or Report as provided by Texas Government Code § 54A.212. L. This January 3rd, 2023 Standing Omnibus Order of Referral - Associate Probate Judge supersedes all former Standing and/or Omnibus Orders of the Denton County Probate Court …" "E. … an order described by Texas government Code § 54A.209 (a) (16) that is rendered and signed by an Associate Probate Judge constitutes an order of the referring court. The judge of the referring court shall sign the order not later than the 30th day after the date the Associate Probate Judge signs the order."
"B. Order of Referral. Pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 54A.208 and by this January 3rd, 2023 Omnibus Order of Referral any Probate Judge may refer to the Associate Probate Judge any aspect of a case of any type or any class over which the Probate Court has jurisdiction. … The cases referred to the Associate Probate Judges are evidenced by the printed docket prepared and published weekly
Reviewer note: Text-layer registration (5 pp, 6,182 chars) read in full 2026-09-06; the party-facing provisions (objection and de novo deadlines, referral mechanics, 30-day signing) quoted verbatim, the § 54A.209 power list summarized. Composed as a rule because it fixes party deadlines (unlike the Tarrant referral chain, held as records). Composed benchpath-ajr8-denton. County-site receipt(s) in custody 2026-09-06: https://www.dentoncounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2616/Administrative-Standing-Omnibus-Order-of-Referral-Associate-Probate-Judge-PDF (identical edition).
Dallas County Standing Order Regarding Children, Pets, Property and Conduct of the Parties (Family District Courts General Orders, current edition F2026/05, revised Jan. 31, 2026 — a re-adoption of the same operative text by the current bench: Hon. Kim Brown (254th), Vonda Bailey (255th), Sandre Streete (256th), Ashley Wysocki (301st), Sandra Jackson (302nd), LaDeitra Adkins (303rd), and Andrea D. Plumlee (330th)), as registered in the statewide TOPICs local-rules registry (posted 01/11/2023). The order "applies in every divorce suit and every suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed in Dallas County" automatically, without request: child-disruption prohibitions, pet protection, party-conduct restraints, divorce-case property/records/insurance freezes with specific authorizations, mandatory petition attachment, and its TRO-to-temporary-injunction lifecycle.
General Order of the Civil District Courts sitting in Dallas County (signed April 6, 2020 by the thirteen civil presiding judges), as registered in the statewide TOPICs local-rules registry (posted 10/07/2023): the 25-page limit on motions and briefs with formatting floors — the instrument the individual courts' policies cite as the amended page-limit rule.