In Texas, there are three basic phases of a civil lawsuit: Pretrial, Trial, and Post-Trial. A “hearing” usually refers to a formal proceeding before a court to resolve a certain issue before a full “court trial,” during which a judge will both decide the facts of a case and apply the law. This post in the Civ Pro series will address questions frequently asked by pro se (self-represented) litigants about setting a hearing for their civil case. Generally, as a pro se litigant, you will be responsible for setting the hearing for your case. The court will not automatically set a hearing for you or notify you of when a hearing has been set.
Read moreCiv Pro: How to e-File in Texas
We often receive questions from pro se litigants about how to file their case documents electronically. This short guide will help you get started with e-filing in Texas without an attorney.
Read moreCiv Pro: Prove-ups
Many pro se litigants are required to attend a “prove-up hearing” or file a “prove-up affidavit” as part of their case. While most pro se litigants will only encounter prove-ups in the context of a divorce, prove-up hearings or affidavits may also be required for other types of uncontested cases.
Read moreCiv Pro: How Do I Serve Someone Who Is Incarcerated?
In Texas, whenever a civil lawsuit is filed, the other party must be served with the starting papers to know they are being sued and why. This is the same for divorce suits, Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship, Modifications, etc., unless the other party is willing to sign an Answer or Waiver of Service Only form. This may seem like a daunting task if the other party is incarcerated, but it is not all that different than serving someone at their home or business.
Read moreCiv Pro: Get Ready for a Court Hearing
Now that you know the procedure for setting a hearing for your court case as a self-represented litigant, it’s time to prepare yourself for appearing in court. This post in the Civ Pro blog series will suggest resources to help self-represented litigants prepare for a hearing for a civil case.
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