In order to set a family law matter for a contested hearing, including a request for Temporary Orders, please provide the following information to the Court Coordinator, in writing. You may fax your request, mail your request, or provide it by email.  When filing a request for Temporary Orders hearing date, you must have previously coordinated the date through the Court Coordinator.

Type of Setting Requested:

Identify the nature of the setting as succinctly as possible with enough information to advise the Court of the nature of the setting. For example: Temporary Orders; Contempt for Nonpayment of Child Support; Motion to Compel Answers to Written Discovery; Bench Trial; etc.

Requested Date of Setting:

See the Court’s calendar on this web site for available dates. If the date you need is not on the calendar, contact the Court Coordinator. In most situations, show cause hearings and hearings for temporary orders will be heard at 10:00 a.m., following the Uncontested Docket, or at 1:30 p.m. following the Civil Ancillary docket call, unless otherwise noted by the Court Coordinator.

Estimated Amount of Court Time Required:

Be generous. However, please understand that the Court's time is limited. The Summary State is a valuable tool in presenting your client’s case and in saving time.

Sign your request with the standard pleadings signature block of the requesting attorney so that we will have name, address, phone numbers and email addresses at hand. At the end of all motions and other documents on which is included a Certificate of Service, include the opposing counsel’s name, address, phone number and fax number. Do not put "... a copy has been sent to all opposing counsel." In a multi-county district, the Court does not have access to all court files all of the time. For pro se litigants, the same rules apply.

Your matter will not automatically be set on the date requested. You will be contacted directly by the Court Coordinator to confirm the date and time of your hearing. In setting your matter, counsel is expected to extend common courtesies to all counsel and pro se parties regarding the dates requested and time expected before the Court. Therefore, clear the requested date with them before contacting the Court Coordinator. In the event the opposing side fails to respond to your request, please note that detail on your Setting Request, giving the date and time of your attempts to coordinate the setting.

Once a setting has been confirmed by the Court Coordinator, the requesting attorney is responsible for notifying opposing counsel, any pro se parties, and the District Clerk, of the setting, in writing, to insure that all necessary persons have notice. Provide a copy of your written notice to the Court Coordinator.

In the event a written Order Setting Temporary Hearing has been signed by the Court, the District Clerk will provide the filing party with the service copies in keeping with the Clerk's procedures. Questions on procedures within the District Clerk's Office should be directed there.