507th District Court of Harris County Texas

507th District Court of Harris County, Texas – A Guide for Family Law Cases

The 507th District Court of Harris County, Texas, is the newest family law district court, having been established in 2016. This court is dedicated to handling family law matters, including divorce, child custody, support, and property division. The Honorable Julia Maldonado serves as the presiding judge, with The Honorable Enrique Torres as her associate judge. If you are looking for information regarding this court or need to contact them, you can visit Judge Maldonado’s official website.

Court Procedures and Key Information

Uncontested Divorces: For individuals seeking an uncontested divorce, the 507th District Court allows hearings via Zoom. However, you must schedule an appointment in advance for this option.

Court Appearances: Unlike other family law courts in Harris County, the 507th District Court does not allow affidavits in place of an in-person court appearance. Therefore, parties involved in a case must attend court when scheduled.

Docket Call and Trial Schedule: The court begins its daily docket call at 9:00 a.m. via Zoom. Trial docket calls are held on Mondays. It is important to be aware of the court’s specific procedures and timelines when preparing for your case.

Mediation Requirements: The 507th District Court mandates mediation before hearings related to temporary orders when child custody or complex property cases are involved. Mediation is also required before final trial in all cases. If there are disputes or an emergency situation, the court may issue interim temporary orders pending mediation.

Parenting Class Requirement: If child custody is disputed in your case, the court will require both parties to complete a parenting class. This ensures that both parents understand the importance of co-parenting and their children’s well-being during the divorce process.

Court Coordinator: The court coordinator for the 507th District Court is Kristel Rubio, who previously worked for the 257th District Court before taking on her current role. Kristel is a valuable resource for clients seeking to navigate the court’s scheduling and procedural guidelines.

Case Resets and Dismissals: The first reset in the 507th District Court is generally not difficult. However, if a case has been on file for an extended period without progress, it may be subject to dismissal. It’s crucial to stay on top of your case deadlines to avoid any complications.