NOTIFICATION

231^st District Court COVID-19 Procedures for May 31, 2020 to December 31, 2020

The health and safety of the litigants, lawyers, court staff and the general public is paramount during this challenging time.  In March 2020, the Supreme Court of Texas and the Court of Criminal Appeals have entered several Emergency Orders modifying and suspending certain provisions related to court proceedings. Tarrant County has also issued a “Stay at Home” order effective until April 7, 2020. In light of those orders and balancing the seriousness of the COVID-19 virus, the 231st Family District Court will observe the following procedures from May 31, 2020 to December 31, 2020.

HEARINGS

Pursuant to the procedure adopted by five of the six Family Law District Courts in Tarrant County, all dockets will be canceled beginning Wednesday, April 8, 2020 through May 29, 2020.  The only matters that will be heard are extraordinary relief TROs, protective orders, removal and the resulting show cause hearings, status review and permanency review hearings, writs of habeas corpus and/or attachment.

As such the 231st Family District Court will continue to conduct essential hearings if the parties have the technology and desire to do so. Any requests for a courtroom hearing will be considered but likely postponed.  It is an anticipated most parties will agree to a “virtual” hearing by Zoom or by telephone. Please refer to Tarrant County Family District Courts’ Rules for Remote Hearings.

The Courts have established a rotating schedule so that Judges are available to sign emergency orders and hold emergency hearings during the pendency of this crisis.  Please review the Rotating Schedule.

STANDING ORDERS

The six Tarrant County Family District Courts have issued a Temporary Emergency Standing Order which is effective immediately and continues through December 31, 2020.  A copy of the standing order must be attached to all initial pleadings filed during the relevant time period. Please review Standing Orders.

Five of the six Tarrant County Family District Courts have issued a Standing Order Regarding Parent-Child Visitation & Other Face to Face Visits in All Child Protection Cases in the Family District Courts of Tarrant County, Texas. For more information, please review the Visitation Orders.

JURY TRIALS

Tarrant County has suspended all jury trials until further notice.

NON-JURY TRIALS

All non-jury trials will be reset.  The coordinator will notify you of a new trial date once the court resumes its normal schedule.

DISCOVERY

The six Tarrant County Family District Courts have established a policy that encourages the parties to resolve discovery disputes.  Please review a copy of the Discovery Orders policy.

CONTINUANCES

All agreed continuances of hearings will be honored by the court during this time.  If you would like to continue a hearing, please email the coordinator LeaAnn Moore at lmoore@tarrantcounty.com and follow up by e-filing a confirmation letter of that request.  The coordinator will contact you with a new hearing date once the court resumes its normal schedule.

Questions

Due to extremely high call volume, it is more efficient to email the coordinator. Please email LeaAnn Moore at lmoore@tarrantcounty.com.  She will do her best to respond to you as quickly as possible.

FUTURE

The court will re-evaluate this procedure at least weekly based on this rapidly evolving situation and will update the web page accordingly.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.