POLICIES AND PROCEDURES OF THE COURT

                                            FAMILY CASES

 

STATUS CONFERENCES

All Status conferences are held on Thursdays at 2:00 p.m., approximately 120 days from filing the original petition.  Check your “Case Information Sheet” for such date.  Agreements in writing, signed by both attorneys, may be faxed to the Court prior to the scheduled status conference.  You will need to contact the Court if you need a reset, final hearing date, or a jury trial date. Failure to appear at the status conference or submit a Docket Control Order by such date may result in your case being dismissed for want of prosecution.

See DCO-CHILDREN  and DCO-NO CHILDREN for forms.

 

In any case involving children, parents must view the film, “Don’t Forget the Children” and attend a “For Kids’ Sake Seminar”. You can get this information from the Law Library on the 1st floor of the Galveston County Justice Center at 600 59th Street, Galveston, Texas 77551.

 

Mediation is mandatory.

 

MOTIONS

All motions should be filed with the District Clerk’s Office on the 4th floor of the Justice Center.

An extra copy for the Court at the time of filing is not necessary; however, a “courtesy” of the Motions is appreciated at the time of a “motion” hearing.

 

The party filing said Motion(s) is responsible for notifying all parties, pro-se included, of any hearing date.

 

Any cancellation of a Motion hearing can be faxed to the Court.

 

UNCONTESTED DIVORCES

Uncontested divorces are heard Monday through Friday at 9:30 a.m.  Please contact the District Clerk’s Office the day before at (409) 770-5276 with the style of the case or the case number.

 

ASSOCIATE JUDGE

Stephen Baker is the family associate judge and hears ancillary matters for CC1, CC2, CC3 and the 306th District Court.

 

These hearings are held in the large courtroom on the West wing on the 4th floor of the Galveston County Justice Center, and are set Monday through Thursday, with the morning docket beginning at 9:00 a.m. (except on Tuesday—10:00 a.m.), and the afternoon docket beginning at 1:30 p.m. No hearings are held on Friday.

 

                                    See Local Rule 4 for detailed information.