Travis County Courts at Law
Travis County
Overview
Guide Overview
County Courts at Law hear civil cases where the amount in controversy is $500-$25,000, eminent domain cases, protective orders under Texas Family Code chapter 71, class A or B misdemeanor criminal offenses, and appeals of:
- Final rulings and decisions of the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission,
- Travis County Justice of the Peace and Municipal Courts, and
- State Office of Administrative Hearings concerning Administrative License Revocations.
County Courts at Law also have jurisdiction in probate and mental health matters, but those cases are primarily heard by Travis County Probate Court No. 1.
This guide contains information on Travis County Civil Courts at Law Nos 1 and 2.
TexasLawHelp is working with courts around the state to provide you with accurate information. To help improve upon the information that is available, please leave any comments or recommendations in this Virtual Court Content Survey.
Research Tips
Read our articles on Zoom and how to use it to prepare for your hearing. You should also read the following documents uploaded by the Travis County Court Administrator:
- Travis County Local Rules of Civil Procedure and Rules of Decorum,
- Fifth Amended Emergency Order Regarding COVID-19,
- Travis County Courts at Law (Civil) Quick Reference Guide (updated 11/21/2019), and
- County Courts at Law Local Rules (updated 01/01/2011).
Common questions about Travis County
The Travis County Courts at Law are in the new Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility at 1700 Guadalupe Street, Austin, Texas 78701.
The mailing address is P.O. Box 1748, Austin, Texas 78767.
Phone: (512) 854-9457
Hours of Operation: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
You can use the Travis County Online Case Information search available on the District Clerk's webpage.
You can read How to E-File to learn about E-Filing.
You can also read more about E-Filing on the District Clerk's webpage.
The Travis County Court Administrator posts weekly County Civil Court Docket Settings and the 2023 Docket Schedule on their website.
Instructions & Forms
Instructions & Forms
Honorable Todd T. Wong
1700 Guadalupe Street
7th Floor
Austin, Texas 78701
Phone: (512) 854-9241
Fax: (512) 854-4380
Watch County Court at Law No. 1's courtroom live stream on YouTube.
This information is current as of February 23, 2023.
Checklist Steps
| Is this court doing virtual hearings? | What platform are they using? | Are there any exceptions? |
| Yes. | Zoom. | Yes. All jury trials and agreed long-docket settings are in person. |
You can visit County Court at Law One's webpage for the most up-to-date information. You can also read the Travis County Local Rules of Civil Procedure and Rules of Decorum for updated procedures.
All civil cases are filed in rotation in County Courts at Law 1 and 2, except for Applications for Protective Orders under the Texas Family Code, which are filed in Court 4.
All pleadings (court documents) must be filed with the County Clerk's office before requesting a hearing or relief from the court. You may do this in person at the County Clerk's office or online using E-FileTexas. Emailing these documents to the court is not the same as e-filing them.
To set a hearing, you need to contact the court's Judicial Aide or Judicial Executive Assistant.
- Judicial Executive Assistant—Catherine Jones, (512) 854-9241,
- Judicial Aide—Brandy Culton, (512) 854-9645.
You can read full setting rules in the County Courts at Law Local Rules of Procedure starting on page 5.
Docket call announcements for non-jury matters must be received during the announcement period the week before each setting. The County Court provides the docket call form to be submitted.
Yes. You can request a virtual hearing or trial or request a party or witness be allowed to participate virtually if your hearing or trial is set to be in person. You must file a written motion before the announcement period for the trial or hearing.
Court staff will provide the court's procedures regarding virtual hearings to all parties whose email addresses are on file with the court. The court's procedures will include arrangements for the hearing and how evidence will be submitted to the court if the hearing is an evidentiary one.
No. All County Court jury trials are being held in person.
Yes. You can request to be allowed to participate virtually if your hearing or trial is set to be in person. You must file a written motion before the announcement period for the trial or hearing. Read Asking to Appear in Court by Video App or Phone to learn how to request this.
If you have any questions concerning a virtual hearing, contact the Court Judicial Executive Assistant or Judicial Aide.
- Judicial Executive Assistant—Catherine Jones, (512) 854-9241, CCL1.Submissions@traviscountytx.gov
- Judicial Aide—Brandy Culton, (512) 854-9645, CCL1.Submissions@traviscountytx.gov.
Honorable Eric Shepperd
1700 Guadalupe Street
7th Floor
Austin, Texas 78701
Phone: (512) 854-9242
Fax: (512) 854-4724
Watch County Court at Law No. 2's courtroom live stream on YouTube.
This information is current as of February 23, 2023.
Checklist Steps
| Is this court doing virtual hearings? | What platform are they using? | Are there any exceptions? |
| Yes. | Zoom. | Yes. All jury trials and agreed long-docket settings are in person. |
You can visit County Court at Law Two's webpage for the most up-to-date information. You can also read the Travis County Local Rules of Civil Procedure and Rules of Decorum for updated procedures.
All civil cases are filed in rotation in County Courts at Law 1 and 2, except for Applications for Protective Orders under the Texas Family Code, which are filed in Court 4.
All pleadings (court documents) must be filed with the County Clerk's office before requesting a hearing or relief from the court. You may do this in person at the County Clerk's office or online using E-FileTexas. Emailing these documents to the court is not the same as e-filing them.
To set a hearing, you need to contact the court's Judicial Aide or Judicial Executive Assistant.
- Judicial Executive Assistant—Priscela Valladares, (512) 854-9249, CCL2.Submissions@traviscountytx.gov
- Judicial Aide—Selene Cruz Lara, (512) 854-9242, CCL2.Submissions@traviscountytx.gov
You can read full setting rules in the County Courts at Law Local Rules of Procedure starting on page 5.
Docket call announcements for non-jury matters must be received during the announcement period the week before each setting. The County Court provides the docket call form to be submitted.
Yes. You can request a virtual hearing or trial or request a party or witness be allowed to participate virtually if your hearing or trial is set to be in person. You must file a written motion before the announcement period for the trial or hearing.
You will need to email all exhibits you want to use as evidence to all parties, the court reporter, and the staff attorney no later than 48 hours before the hearing. All documents must be in PDF format.
If your hearing is scheduled for Monday, all exhibits must be filed and received by the previous Friday.
The subject line of the email should include:
- The full Cause Number,
- Scheduled hearing date and time, and
- Plaintiff's Exhibits/Defendant's Exhibits.
The Court cannot consider any exhibits not emailed to the court reporter in a timely manner. Read County Court at Law Two's Rules for Zoom Hearings to learn more.
Court Reporter—Amanda.anderson@traviscountytx.gov
Judicial Executive Assistant—Priscela.valladares@traviscountytx.gov
Staff Attorney—lea.downeygallatin@traviscountytx.gov
No. All County Court jury trials are being held in person.
Yes. You can request to be allowed to participate virtually if your hearing or trial is set to be in person. You must file a written motion before the announcement period for the trial or hearing. Read Asking to Appear in Court by Video App or Phone to learn how to request this.
If you have any questions concerning a virtual hearing, contact the Court Judicial Executive Assistant or Judicial Aide.
- Judicial Executive Assistant—Priscela Valladares, (512) 854-924, CCL2.Submissions@traviscountytx.gov
- Judicial Aide—Selene Cruz Lara, (512) 854-924, CCL2.Submissions@traviscountytx.gov.
Articles
Articles in this guide
-
Civil Litigation in Texas: The Basics
This article explains the basics of civil lawsuits in Texas. -
Justice 101: The Client's Guide to Texas Civil Litigation
This article contains a link to a video that provides some background on the civil litigation system in Texas. -
Telephonic Court
How to ask the court to let you attend a hearing over the phone -
Virtual Court
Some Texas courts will hold hearings by videoconference, usually using Zoom. -
Asking to Appear in Court by Video App or Phone During COVID-19 (SAPCR and Modification)
You can ask the court to appear by videoconference (like Zoom) or telephone; to allow "unsworn declarations" as evidence; to interview the children... -
Civil Trial Preparation
If your case is contested, then you will need to spend a lot of time preparing for trial.