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The two probate courts' uniform standing order (No. 2015-AF00001; signed Jan. 27 and Feb. 5, 2015, file-marked Feb. 9, 2015) adopting the attached Procedure for Proof by Deposition on Written Questions and directing the Probate Clerk to give a copy to every pro se filer: a party offering testimony by deposition on written questions must follow Estates Code § 51.203 (decedents' estates) or § 1051.253 (guardianships), which controls over TRCP; the procedure applies to proving a will's execution or the testator's handwriting and other uncontested proof; the attorney coordinates with the deposition official in the witness's location, files the written questions, a notice of intent and the clerk's information filing form; the clerk posts the notice and after the 10-day posting period furnishes a Package Envelope and a certified copy of the will; the attorney transmits the certified deposition and envelope to the deposition official with a prepaid return envelope (FedEx, UPS or USPS Delivery Confirmation); the official swears the witness, supervises the answers, completes the jurat, seals and returns the package to the Probate Clerk; at the hearing the attorney asks the court to take judicial notice of the answers. Attached forms: notice of intent, written questions for a subscribing witness, package envelope.
Texas > Tarrant County > Probate Court No. 1 and Probate Court No. 2 — parties proving wills, handwriting or other uncontested facts by deposition on written questions; the Probate Clerk.
"UNIFORM STANDING ORDER ON USE OF DEPOSITIONS ON WRITTEN QUESTIONS — It is hereby ordered that Probate Courts Numbers One and Two of Tarrant County hereby adopt the Procedure for Proof by Deposition on Written Questions (attached) and ORDERS that Mary Louise Garcia, the Probate Clerk of Tarrant County, or her designated deputy clerk, shall deliver a copy of this Uniform Standing Order to any individual or individuals filing pro se. This order is effective as of the date it is entered." Procedure: "A party planning to offer testimony by Deposition on Written Questions must follow the procedures set forth in Texas Estates Code §51.203 (decedent's estates) or §1051.253 (guardianships). This specific statutory procedure controls over the general procedural method of taking depositions on written questions set forth in Texas Rules of Civil Procedure 2.1 (1999). This procedure applies for: … A. proving up proper execution of a will (§256.153), B. proof of the Testator's handwriting (§256.154) or C. other proof required for an uncontested hearing … The Written Questions should include a space for the answers on the same page. … The procedures to be followed for taking a Deposition on Written Questions are: 1. The Attorney shall coordinate with the Deposition Official in the foreign location in which the witness is located to propound written questions to the witness. … 2. The Attorney shall complete an 'Information Filing Form' for the Clerk. 3. The Attorney shall file a) the Deposition on Written Questions, b) a 'Notice of Intent to Take Deposition on Written Questions' and c) the Information Filing Form with the Probate Clerk. 4. The Probate Clerk posts a 'Notice of Intent to Take Deposition on Written Questions.' 5. After the posting period (10 days), the Probate Clerk shall furnish a Package Envelope for transmission to the Deposition Official for the return of the completed deposition directly to the Probate Clerk. The Probate Clerk shall also make a certified copy of the Last Will and Testament (or other document in question) and attach the same to a certified copy of the Deposition on Written Questions. 6. The attorney shall then transmit certified copies of the Deposition on Written Questions (with will or other document attached) and the Package Envelope to the Deposition Official with a prepaid return envelope, addressed to the Probate Clerk. 7. The prepaid return envelope shall be one of the following: a) Federal Express Airbill, b) UPS Airbill or, c) USPS with Delivery Confirmation. 8. The Deposition Official shall: a) place the witness under oath, b) supervise the answering of the written questions, c) complete the jurat on the Deposition on Written Questions, d) place all of the materials in the Package Envelope, e) seal and sign his or her name over the seal, then f) return the Package Envelope directly to the Probate Clerk in the prepaid Airbill Envelope. 9. At the hearing, the attorney shall request the Court to take judicial notice of the answers to the Written Questions. * A 'Deposition Official' includes the Clerk of a District Court, Judge or Clerk of a County Court, or any official Court Reporter, or any Notary Public of the County and State in which the witness is located."
"UNIFORM STANDING ORDER ON USE OF DEPOSITIONS ON WRITTEN QUESTIONS — It is hereby ordered that Probate Courts Numbers One and Two of Tarrant County hereby adopt the Procedure for Proof by Deposition on Written Questions (attached) and ORDERS that Mary Louise Garcia, the Probate Clerk of Tarrant County, or her designated deputy clerk, shall deliver a copy of this Uniform Standing Order to any indiv
Reviewer note: Own-site instrument (not in the TOPICs registry): image-only 6-page PDF rendered (pypdfium2) and read page by page 2026-09-06 (vision lane); order and procedure transcribed verbatim, the three attached forms summarized. Signed by the then-presiding judges of both courts. Composed benchpath-ajr8-tarrant (own-site lane).
Standing order of the 109th Judicial District Court for every pending or later-filed case in Andrews, Winkler and Crane Counties: any attorney or self-represented litigant who uses any form of artificial intelligence for legal research or drafting in a case must, before using AI-generated information in a court submission or proceeding, sign and submit the court's certification form stating that all language, quotations, sources, citations, arguments and legal analysis created or contributed to by generative AI were verified as accurate by a human through traditional (non-AI) legal sources, and acknowledging responsibility and potential sanctions for their or their co-counsel's failure to comply. Effective immediately; in effect until rescinded or replaced.
Standing order of the 109th Judicial District Court for every pending or later-filed case in Andrews, Winkler and Crane Counties: any attorney or self-represented litigant who uses any form of artificial intelligence for legal research or drafting in a case must, before using AI-generated information in a court submission or proceeding, sign and submit the court's certification form stating that all language, quotations, sources, citations, arguments and legal analysis created or contributed to by generative AI were verified as accurate by a human through traditional (non-AI) legal sources, and acknowledging responsibility and potential sanctions for their or their co-counsel's failure to comply. Effective immediately; in effect until rescinded or replaced.