Texas District Court Civil Petition Filing Checklist

Texas District Court Civil Petition Filing Checklist

Court: [________________________________] District Court

County: [________________________________], Texas

Cause Number: [________________________________] (assigned after filing)

Case Style: [________________________________] v. [________________________________]

Filing Attorney: [________________________________]

State Bar Number: [________________________________]

Date Prepared: [__/__/____]

I. Pre-Filing Considerations

Jurisdiction

☐ District court has subject matter jurisdiction
☐ Amount in controversy exceeds jurisdictional minimum
☐ Type of case appropriate for district court:
☐ Civil cases over $500 (concurrent with county court)
☐ Exclusive jurisdiction over certain matters
☐ Family law matters
☐ Real property disputes

Venue (CPRC Chapter 15)

☐ Venue is proper in this county
☐ Venue basis:
☐ Defendant's residence
☐ Where cause of action arose
☐ Contract performance location
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Statute of Limitations

☐ All claims within applicable limitations period
☐ Limitations period for each claim documented

II. Original Petition Requirements

Caption

☐ Court identification (District Court, [____] Judicial District)
☐ County
☐ Cause number space
☐ Names of all parties
☐ Party designations (Plaintiff/Defendant)

Petition Contents (TRCP 45, 47)

☐ Discovery Control Plan level (TRCP 190)
☐ Level 1: Damages $250,000 or less
☐ Level 2: Default (most cases)
☐ Level 3: By agreement or court order
☐ Statement of claims
☐ Relief sought
☐ Prayer for relief

Specific Content Requirements

☐ Short statement of cause of action
☐ All claims stated in numbered paragraphs
☐ Specific relief or prayer
☐ Damages statement (TRCP 47):
☐ Monetary relief of $250,000 or less, OR
☐ Monetary relief over $250,000 but not more than $1,000,000, OR
☐ Monetary relief over $1,000,000

Verification (if required)

☐ Sworn to by party
☐ Notarized

III. Civil Case Information Sheet

☐ Civil Case Information Sheet completed
☐ All sections completed:
☐ Style of case
☐ Attorneys for parties
☐ Case type
☐ Level of discovery
☐ Related cases
☐ Filed with original petition

IV. Required Documents for Filing

Primary Documents

☐ Original Petition
☐ Civil Case Information Sheet
☐ Citation (for each defendant)
☐ Copies for service

Pre-Suit Requirements (if applicable)

☐ Medical Malpractice: Expert report (CPRC § 74.351)
☐ Tort Claims Act: Notice to governmental entity
☐ DTPA: Demand letter (60 days prior)
☐ Construction Defect: Pre-suit notice requirements

V. Filing Fees

District Court Filing Fees

☐ Filing fee: Approximately $300-350 (varies by county)
☐ Fee paid
☐ OR Affidavit of Inability to Pay (Rule 145)
☐ Fee waiver granted: ☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Pending

VI. E-Filing Requirements

Mandatory E-Filing

☐ E-filing mandatory in Texas (most courts)
☐ E-filing manager selected: [________________________________]
☐ eFileTexas.gov
☐ Tyler Technologies
☐ Other approved provider

Document Format

☐ PDF format
☐ Text-searchable
☐ File size within limits
☐ Proper naming convention

E-Filing Account

☐ Account active
☐ Payment method on file
☐ Service contacts updated

VII. Citation and Service

Citation Issuance

☐ Citation prepared for each defendant
☐ Citation includes:
☐ Court name and cause number
☐ Names of parties
☐ Direction to answer by due date
☐ Warning of default judgment

Service Methods (TRCP 106, 107)

☐ Personal Service: Delivery to defendant
☐ Substituted Service: After failed personal service attempts
☐ Service by Mail: Registered/certified mail, return receipt
☐ Service by Publication: Court order required

Who May Serve

☐ Sheriff or constable
☐ Private process server (certified)
☐ Person authorized by court order

Return of Service

☐ Return of service filed within required time
☐ Return shows proper service method
☐ Return shows date and manner of service

VIII. Answer Deadline

Defendant's Answer Due

☐ Monday after 20 days from service date (TRCP 99)
☐ First Monday after 20 days: [__/__/____]

Default Judgment Eligibility

☐ If no answer filed, default may be taken after answer date
☐ SCRA compliance verified (for military defendants)

IX. Discovery Control Plan

Level 1 (TRCP 190.2)

☐ Monetary relief $250,000 or less
☐ Limited discovery
☐ Oral depositions: 6 hours total
☐ Discovery period: End 30 days before trial

Level 2 (TRCP 190.3)

☐ Default discovery level
☐ Oral depositions: 50 hours per side
☐ Interrogatories: 25 (including subparts)
☐ Discovery period: As set by court

Level 3 (TRCP 190.4)

☐ Tailored discovery plan
☐ By agreement or court order
☐ Suitable for complex cases

X. Disclosures (TRCP 194)

Initial Disclosures

☐ Required within 30 days of first answer (Level 2)
☐ Or as ordered
☐ Content includes:
☐ Persons with knowledge
☐ Documents and tangible things
☐ Potential responsible third parties
☐ Damages calculation
☐ Insurance information

XI. Post-Filing Procedures

Scheduling

☐ Case set for hearing/trial
☐ Scheduling order entered
☐ Discovery deadlines set
☐ Trial date: [__/__/____]

Case Management

☐ DWOP docket monitoring
☐ Status conference scheduled (if applicable)
☐ ADR requirements noted

XII. Local Rules Compliance

County: [________________________________]

☐ Local rules reviewed
☐ Court-specific requirements noted
☐ Cover sheet requirements
☐ Filing procedures verified
☐ Hearing procedures reviewed

XIII. Quality Control Checklist

Before Filing

☐ All parties correctly named
☐ All claims properly pleaded
☐ Discovery level designated
☐ Damages statement included
☐ All required forms completed
☐ Filing fee ready
☐ Copies made

After Filing

☐ Cause number assigned
☐ Court/Judge assigned
☐ Citation issued
☐ Service arranged
☐ Deadlines calendared

XIV. Document Tracking Log

XV. Key Deadlines

Sources and References

• Texas Rules of Civil Procedure: https://www.txcourts.gov/rules-forms/rules-standards/
• eFileTexas: https://efiletexas.gov
• Texas State Law Library: https://www.sll.texas.gov

Prepared by: [________________________________]

Date: [__/__/____]

Supervising Attorney (if applicable): [________________________________]