Texas Notice of Appearance

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE

State of Texas — District / County Court

1. COURT HEADER AND CASE CAPTION

[________________________________],

Plaintiff(s),

v.

IN THE [________________________________] COURT

[________________________________],

[________________________________] COUNTY, TEXAS

Defendant(s).

(Select Court Type)

☐ District Court — [____] Judicial District
☐ County Court at Law No. [____]
☐ Statutory County Court
☐ Constitutional County Court
☐ Statutory Probate Court No. [____]
☐ Other: [________________________________]

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE

TO THE HONORABLE JUDGE OF SAID COURT:

2. PARTY INFORMATION

Appearing on behalf of:

Additional Parties Represented (if applicable):

3. ATTORNEY INFORMATION

Pursuant to Tex. R. Civ. P. 8 and 57, the undersigned attorney provides the following information:

Note: Under Tex. R. Civ. P. 21a(a)(1), a party's lead counsel must designate one or more email addresses for electronic service. Counsel should provide all service email addresses.

Additional Attorneys (if applicable):

4. TYPE OF APPEARANCE

The undersigned enters an appearance as follows (select all that apply):

☐ General Appearance — Full representation on all matters in this action pursuant to Tex. R. Civ. P. 8

☐ Attorney in Charge Designation — The undersigned shall be designated as attorney in charge pursuant to Tex. R. Civ. P. 8

☐ Additional Counsel — Appearing as co-counsel; [________________________________] (SBOT No. [________]) remains attorney in charge

☐ Change of Attorney in Charge — Written notice to the court and all parties that the attorney in charge is changed from [________________________________] (SBOT No. [________]) to the undersigned, pursuant to Tex. R. Civ. P. 8

☐ Substitution of Counsel — Replacing prior counsel of record pursuant to Tex. R. Civ. P. 10

☐ Limited Scope Appearance — Appearance limited to specific matters (see Section 8)

☐ Special Appearance — Appearing solely to contest personal jurisdiction pursuant to Tex. R. Civ. P. 120a (see Section 8)

☐ Pro Hac Vice Appearance — Out-of-state counsel appearing with leave of court (see Section 7)

☐ Guardian Ad Litem / Court-Appointed Attorney — Appointed by order dated [__/__/____]

5. APPEARANCE STATEMENT

TO THE HONORABLE JUDGE OF SAID COURT:

Pursuant to Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 8, [________________________________], State Bar No. [________________________________], of [________________________________], hereby appears as attorney of record for [________________________________], [________________________________] (party description), in the above-captioned cause.

All communications, pleadings, motions, orders, notices, and other papers should be directed to the undersigned at the contact information and service email address(es) set forth in Section 3 above, in accordance with Texas Rules of Civil Procedure 21 and 21a.

6. CONSENT TO ELECTRONIC SERVICE

Pursuant to Tex. R. Civ. P. 21a(a)(1) and the Statewide Electronic Filing System requirements under Tex. Gov't Code § 51.801 et seq.:

☐ The undersigned CONSENTS to electronic service through the eFileTexas system (eFileTexas.gov) for all documents in this matter.

☐ Electronic service is mandatory in this court pursuant to the Supreme Court of Texas Order Mandating Electronic Filing.

Designated Service Email Address(es):

Texas E-Filing Acknowledgments:

☐ The undersigned is a registered user of the eFileTexas system.

☐ The undersigned acknowledges that electronic filing through eFileTexas is mandatory in all Texas courts.

☐ The undersigned understands that e-filed documents must be in text-searchable PDF format, using fonts specified in the PDF specification, on 8.5 x 11 page size.

☐ The undersigned understands that documents containing sensitive data must be redacted prior to submission per Tex. R. Civ. P. 21c.

☐ The undersigned understands that electronic service through the e-filing service provider constitutes valid service under Tex. R. Civ. P. 21a.

Texas E-Filing Notes:

• Texas has 254 counties — the most of any state.
• Electronic filing through eFileTexas (eFileTexas.gov) is mandatory in all Texas courts for represented parties.
• eFileTexas is the statewide portal; filings are submitted through an approved Electronic Filing Service Provider (EFSP).
• Texas distinguishes between District Courts (with numbered judicial districts) and County Courts at Law (created by statute in individual counties).
• Constitutional county courts have limited civil jurisdiction; county courts at law have expanded jurisdiction varying by county.
• Tex. R. Civ. P. 21d (effective February 1, 2023) governs appearances at court proceedings, including remote appearances.

7. PRO HAC VICE ADMISSION (Out-of-State Counsel)

Complete this section only if the appearing attorney is not licensed to practice in Texas.

Pursuant to Tex. Gov't Code § 82.0361 and applicable Texas Supreme Court orders, the undersigned out-of-state attorney requests permission to appear pro hac vice.

Out-of-State Attorney Information:

Disciplinary History:

☐ The applicant has never been the subject of disciplinary action in any jurisdiction.

☐ The applicant discloses the following disciplinary history:

[________________________________]

Required Texas Associate Counsel:

Out-of-state attorneys must associate with a licensed member of the State Bar of Texas. The designated local associate counsel is:

Pro Hac Vice Requirements Checklist:

☐ Verified motion for permission to appear pro hac vice filed

☐ Texas associate counsel has entered or is simultaneously entering an appearance

☐ Certificate of good standing from home state bar attached

☐ Pro hac vice fee paid to the State Bar of Texas (verify current fee amount)

☐ Applicant is a member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of another state

☐ Applicant has disclosed all prior pro hac vice appearances in Texas

☐ Court order granting pro hac vice admission obtained (Order dated [__/__/____])

8. SPECIAL APPEARANCE AND LIMITED SCOPE PROVISIONS

Special Appearance (Tex. R. Civ. P. 120a)

Complete this subsection only if entering a special appearance to contest personal jurisdiction.

☐ The undersigned enters a special appearance on behalf of [________________________________] pursuant to Tex. R. Civ. P. 120a for the sole purpose of objecting to the jurisdiction of this Court over the person or property of [________________________________].

Special Appearance Requirements:

☐ This special appearance is made by sworn motion.

☐ This special appearance is filed prior to or simultaneously with any other plea, pleading, or motion (as required by Rule 120a to avoid waiver).

☐ The sworn motion for special appearance is attached hereto or filed concurrently.

☐ The party making the special appearance has not submitted to the jurisdiction of this Court and does not waive the right to contest jurisdiction by entering this appearance.

Important: Under Tex. R. Civ. P. 120a, a special appearance must generally be made before any other plea, pleading, or motion is filed. Filing another pleading or motion first may be construed as a general appearance and a waiver of the right to contest jurisdiction. The special appearance must be in the form of a sworn motion.

Limited Scope Representation

Complete this subsection if entering a limited scope appearance.

Pursuant to Tex. Disciplinary R. Prof. Conduct 1.02(b) and applicable court rules:

Scope of Representation:

☐ Specific motion or hearing: [________________________________]

☐ Discovery phase only

☐ Trial only

☐ Mediation or settlement conference only

☐ Appeal only

☐ Specific proceeding: [________________________________]

☐ Other limited purpose: [________________________________]

Scheduled Event Date (if applicable): [__/__/____]

Duration of Limited Appearance:

☐ Terminates automatically upon conclusion of the specified matter or event

☐ Terminates on [__/__/____]

☐ Terminates upon further order of the Court

Client Acknowledgment:

☐ The client has provided informed written consent to limited scope representation.

☐ A copy of the written agreement defining the scope of limited representation is maintained in counsel's file.

Withdrawal Upon Completion:

Upon completion of the limited scope representation, the undersigned will comply with Tex. R. Civ. P. 10 withdrawal requirements, including:

☐ Filing a motion to withdraw with the court

☐ Providing the client with written notice as required by Rule 10

☐ Ensuring no pending settings that would be prejudiced by withdrawal

9. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, [________________________________], certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing Notice of Appearance was served on [__/__/____] on all counsel or parties of record by the method(s) indicated, in accordance with Tex. R. Civ. P. 21a:

10. SIGNATURE BLOCK

Respectfully submitted,

[________________________________]
(Law Firm Name)

By: ______________________________________

[________________________________]
State Bar No. [________________________________]
[________________________________] (Street Address)
[________________________________], Texas [__________]
Telephone: [________________________________]
Facsimile: [________________________________]
Email: [________________________________]
Service Email: [________________________________]
Attorney for [________________________________]

Dated: [__/__/____]

11. E-FILING INSTRUCTIONS FOR TEXAS COURTS

Filing Through eFileTexas (Statewide E-Filing System)

Step 1: Select an Electronic Filing Service Provider (EFSP)

• eFileTexas (eFileTexas.gov) is the statewide filing portal
• Choose an approved EFSP to submit your filings (multiple EFSPs are available)
• Register with the EFSP and provide your State Bar of Texas number

Step 2: Select the Court and Case

• Select the appropriate county from the 254 Texas counties
• Select the court type:
• District Court — Jurisdiction over civil matters where the amount in controversy exceeds $200 (exclusive jurisdiction over $500 for some matters; practical minimum is typically higher)
• County Court at Law — Concurrent jurisdiction with district courts for civil matters within statutory jurisdictional limits (varies by county)
• Constitutional County Court — Limited civil jurisdiction
• Statutory Probate Court — Probate, guardianship, and mental health matters
• Enter the cause number to locate the existing case

Step 3: Prepare the Document

• Save this Notice of Appearance as a text-searchable PDF
• Document formatting requirements:
• 8.5 x 11 page size
• Content appropriately rotated
• Text-searchable PDF format
• Fonts specified in the PDF specification
• Redact sensitive data per Tex. R. Civ. P. 21c (Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, dates of birth of minors, etc.)

Step 4: Upload and Categorize

• Select "Notice of Appearance" or the appropriate filing code
• Upload the PDF document
• Attach any supporting documents (special appearance motion, pro hac vice motion, etc.)

Step 5: Service

• eFileTexas provides electronic service to registered parties in the case
• Service email addresses must be designated by lead counsel per Tex. R. Civ. P. 21a(a)(1)
• For self-represented parties or those not registered for e-service, arrange conventional service

Step 6: Payment and Submission

• Pay applicable filing fees through the EFSP
• Review all documents before final submission
• Save the filing confirmation receipt and e-service confirmation

Texas Court Hierarchy Quick Reference

12. PRACTITIONER NOTES — TEXAS

Statutory and Rule Framework

• Tex. R. Civ. P. 8 (Attorney in Charge): On a party's first appearance through counsel, the attorney whose signature first appears on the initial pleading is the attorney in charge, unless another attorney is specifically designated. The attorney in charge designation may be changed by written notice to the court and all parties under Rule 21a.
• Tex. R. Civ. P. 10 (Withdrawal): An attorney may withdraw only upon written motion for good cause shown, with notice to all parties and the client. The court must first approve the withdrawal. The withdrawing attorney must provide the client's last known address and telephone number. Withdrawal is not effective until the order is signed.
• Tex. R. Civ. P. 21 (Filing): Every pleading, plea, motion, or application must be filed with the clerk of the court in which the suit is pending.
• Tex. R. Civ. P. 21a (Service): Service of all documents (other than citation) must be served on all parties. Electronic service through the e-filing manager is the default method.
• Tex. R. Civ. P. 21c (Privacy Protection): Filed documents must not contain unredacted sensitive data including Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, dates of birth of minors, and certain other identifying information.
• Tex. R. Civ. P. 21d (Appearances at Court Proceedings): Effective February 1, 2023, this rule governs remote and in-person appearances at court proceedings.
• Tex. R. Civ. P. 120a (Special Appearance): Allows a nonresident defendant to appear solely to contest personal jurisdiction without submitting to the court's jurisdiction. Must be filed by sworn motion before any other plea or pleading.

County and Court Considerations

• Texas has 254 counties, ranging from Harris County (Houston, population 4.7M+) to Loving County (population under 100).
• District Courts are organized by numbered judicial districts, some of which cover multiple counties.
• County Courts at Law are created by statute and their jurisdictional limits vary by county. Check the specific enabling statute for the county.
• Major counties with high case volumes and extensive local rules include: Harris (Houston), Dallas, Tarrant (Fort Worth), Bexar (San Antonio), and Travis (Austin).

Key Practice Points

1. Attorney in Charge (Rule 8): Texas uses the "attorney in charge" concept. The first attorney to sign the initial pleading is designated as attorney in charge unless otherwise specified. The court directs communications to the attorney in charge. To change the designation, file written notice with the court and serve all parties.

2. Mandatory E-Filing: E-filing through eFileTexas is mandatory in all Texas courts for represented parties. Pro se litigants are encouraged but not required to e-file.

3. Service Email Designation: Lead counsel must designate one or more service email addresses per Tex. R. Civ. P. 21a(a)(1). All electronic service will be directed to these addresses.

4. Special Appearance (Rule 120a): A special appearance to contest personal jurisdiction MUST be filed before any other plea, pleading, or motion, or it may be waived. The motion must be sworn. This is a critical procedural requirement — filing in the wrong order waives the jurisdictional challenge.

5. Withdrawal (Rule 10): Withdrawal requires a written motion, good cause, notice to the client and all parties, and a court order. Withdrawal is not effective until the court signs the order. The attorney must not withdraw from a setting within 30 days unless a continuance is obtained.

6. Privacy Protection (Rule 21c): Redact all sensitive data before e-filing. Failure to redact may result in sanctions and exposure of private information.

7. Certificate of Conference: Many Texas courts require or expect a certificate of conference on contested motions. Maintain accurate service lists from the outset.

8. Local Rules and Standing Orders: Major Texas counties have extensive local rules and standing orders. Examples include:
   - Dallas County Local Rule 2.05 (courtesy copies and hearing requests)
   - Harris County local rules (setting procedures, hearing requirements)
   - Bexar County local rules
   - Travis County local rules
   Always check local rules and any presiding judge's standing orders.

9. District vs. County Court at Law: Verify the correct court type and jurisdictional limits before filing. County courts at law have limited jurisdiction that varies by county statute.

Common Errors to Avoid

• Filing a general appearance pleading before the special appearance motion (waiving the jurisdictional challenge under Rule 120a)
• Failing to designate service email addresses as required by Rule 21a
• Not redacting sensitive data per Rule 21c before e-filing
• Attempting to withdraw without filing a motion and obtaining a court order under Rule 10
• Filing in the wrong court type (District Court vs. County Court at Law)
• Not checking local rules and standing orders for the specific county and judge
• Omitting the State Bar number from the signature block

This template is provided by ezel.ai for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. All filings must be reviewed and approved by a licensed Texas attorney before submission to any court. Verify all statutory citations and local court rules before use, as rules and fees may change.