As a self-represented litigant (commonly known as: pro se litigant), you are acting as your own\r\nattorney. You will be expected to know\r\nand follow the law and court rules just as any attorney, including the Texas\r\nRules of Evidence, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, Harris County Local Rules,\r\nand the Lawyer’s Creed. If you fail to\r\nfollow the rules, you may permanently lose important rights.
The judge, court staff (including the court coordinator, court\r\nclerk, court reporter, bailiff), and opposing counsel cannot give you legal\r\nadvice.
Do not attempt to\r\ncommunicate privately with the judge. \r\nThe term “communication” includes contact by means of phone calls,\r\nletters, voice mail messages, faxes, e-mail messages, and direct conversations. You may communicate with the judge if all\r\nparties and their attorneys (if they are represented) are present. Any such unilateral contact is called “ex\r\nparte” communication and the district judge will not considered it for any\r\ninformation or argument offered in such a manner for any purpose. The court will return an ex parte\r\ncommunication to you unread and notify the other side of the\r\ncommunication. Prohibited communications\r\ndo not include formal pleadings, motions, and request for relief filed with the\r\nclerk.
It is your responsibility to provide the Court with a current and\r\nreliable mailing address and telephone number. \r\nOnce you file your pleadings in the case, the clerk will notify you by\r\nmail of hearings and / or motions. If\r\nyou move, you must provide your new address and telephone number to the clerk\r\nand the court. If you move and you do\r\nnot get your mail, you may permanently lose important rights.
Your requests to the court should be made in a written motion.
You must send a copy of every pleading you file with the court to\r\nthe opposing attorney, or party (if they do not have an attorney).
If you have received\r\nnotice that a hearing has been scheduled, you must be prepared to present your\r\nevidence and witnesses.
How to Get Ready for Court –\r\nYou can go to court yourself and watch other cases before yours is\r\nscheduled. If you do this, you will see\r\nhow the court works, where everyone sits and what they do and say. Plan to do this a few days or weeks before\r\nyour have to go to court.
The Hearing - At\r\nthe hearing, a district judge will hear your case. Each party will have a chance to tell his or\r\nher side of the story. It is important\r\nto bring your paperwork and your evidence such as photos, witnesses, bills,\r\nreceipts, contracts, or anything else that will prove your case.
How to Dress - Dress\r\nas though you were going to an important job interview. Be neat and clean. Do not wear shorts, flip-flops, tank tops,\r\nhalter tops, sandals, hats, or other casual clothing. The court will order you removed from the\r\ncourtroom if you are dressed inappropriately; this may result in a default of\r\nyour case.
Timeliness - Always\r\nget to court on time. A good rule of\r\nthumb is to arrive at least thirty minutes early in order to allow for time to\r\nlocate parking, clear the security check and locate the proper courtroom.
Courtroom Demeanor -You\r\nand your witnesses should be quiet in court. \r\n
Do\r\nnot smoke or chew gum.
Turn\r\nyour off cell phone, pagers or other audible nuisances when you are in the\r\ncourtroom.
Do\r\nnot go in and out of the courtroom while waiting for your case to be\r\ncalled.
Do\r\nnot bring children to court unless they have been subpoenaed.
During\r\nyour case speak clearly and loudly enough to be heard, and stay calm.
Stand\r\nwhen speaking to the judge.
Call\r\nthe judge \"Your Honor.\"
Do\r\nnot interrupt the judge, the attorneys or any other party in the courtroom.
At\r\nall times you should retain a composed and attentive posture whether you are in\r\nthe audience, appearing as a witness, appearing as a party.
It\r\nis never proper to speak, even in a whisper, with friends or other audience\r\nmembers while court is in session.
Violations of any of the above guidelines may result in sanctions\r\nbeing granted against you.
The following\r\nassociations may be able to assist you in obtaining an attorney:
\r\n\r\nHouston Bar Association Lawyer Referral Program (713) 759-1133
\r\n1001 Fannin, Suite #1300
\r\nHouston, Texas 77002
The State Bar of Texas
\r\nLawyer Referral Information Service
\r\n(800) 252-9690 or 1-877-9TEXBAR
Lone Star Legal Aid
\r\n(713) 652-0077 or (800) 733-8394
\r\n\r\n
Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program
\r\n\r\nResource and Referral Guide
\r\n\r\nFamily\r\nLaw
\r\n\r\nHouston\r\nVolunteer Lawyers Program (HVLP)
\r\nRepresentation in family and general civil legal matters
\r\n713-228-0732
Lone\r\nStar Legal Aid
\r\nFamily & other civil legal matters
\r\n713-652-0077
Houston\r\nLawyer Referral Service
\r\nFor-fee ($) referrals to specialists
\r\n713-237-9429
Aid\r\nto Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA)
\r\nCounseling & legal representation
\r\n713-224-9911
Houston\r\nArea Women’s Center (HAWC)
\r\nDivorces, protective orders, modifications, enforcement; limited services for\r\nnon-domestic violence
\r\n713-528-2121
NAACP\r\nLegal Redress Program
\r\nFamily law, probate, landlord/tenant, consumer; services for persons with\r\nHIV/AIDS
\r\n713-526-3389
University\r\nof Houston Legal Aid Clinic
\r\nCivil & family law
\r\n713-743-2094
South\r\nTexas College of Law
\r\nSimple divorces
\r\n713-652-0009
Texas\r\nSouthern University School of Law Clinic
\r\nFamily, civil, housing, consumer, immigration
\r\n713-313-1139
Southeast\r\nTexas Legal Clinic
\r\nGeneral civil matters for HIV+ clients
\r\n713-523-7852
Attorney\r\nGeneral’s Office
\r\nChild support, paternity establishment
\r\n713-974-4876
Domestic\r\nRelations Office
\r\nEnforcement of child support, visitation, and paternity establishment
\r\n713-755-6757
Dispute\r\nResolution Center
\r\nMediation services for disputes between neighbors, family\r\nmembers, landlord/tenant, employer/employee, consumer matters
\r\n713-755-8274
Advocacy,\r\nInc.
\r\n713-974-7691
The\r\nArc of Texas
\r\nPrograms and services for persons with mental retardation
\r\n800-252-9729
Mental\r\nHealth/Mental Retardation Authority of Harris Co.
\r\nInformation, assessment, and referral
\r\n713-970-4444
HVLP
\r\n713-228-0732
Lone\r\nStar Legal Aid
\r\n713-652-0077
Dispute\r\nResolution Center
\r\n713-755-8274
Houston\r\nLawyer Referral Service
\r\n713-237-9429
NAACP\r\nLegal Redress Program
\r\n713-526-3389
LegalLine
\r\nFree phone advice on 1st & 3rd Wednesday each month, 5-9 pm
\r\n713-759-1133
Consejos\r\nLegales
\r\nSpanish-version of LegalLine, 1st Thursday each month, 5-9 pm
\r\n713-755-1133
Legal\r\nHotline for Older Texans
\r\nFor 60+ Texans, answer legal questions free, referrals
\r\n800-622-2520
Texas\r\nAbuse Hotline
\r\n24-hour hotline for abuse & neglect of children and elderly
\r\n800-252-5400
Family\r\nViolence Legal Hotline
\r\nCounseling & information about legal rights & options
\r\n800-374-4673
Bay\r\nArea Women’s Center
\r\nWomen’s shelter
\r\n281-422-2292
HAWC
\r\n713-528-2121
AVDA
\r\n713-224-9911
Family\r\nViolence Unit of District Attorney’s Office
\r\nParental kidnapping, family violence, protective orders, criminal non-support
\r\n713-755-5888
Houston\r\nPolice Department’s Family Violence Unit
\r\n713-308-1100
Harris\r\nCounty Sheriff’s Family Violence Unit
\r\n713-967-5743
Children’s\r\nProtective Services (CPS)
\r\nInvestigation of child abuse
\r\n713-394-4000
Adult\r\nProtective Services
\r\nInvestigation of elder abuse
\r\n713-767-2700
HVLP
\r\n713-228-0732
South\r\nTexas College of Law
\r\n713-652-0009
University\r\nof Houston Legal Aid Clinic
\r\n713-743-2094
Lone\r\nStar Legal Aid
\r\n713-652-0077
Houston\r\nLawyer Referral
\r\n713-237-9429
NAACP\r\nLegal Redress Program
\r\n713-526-3389
\r\n
\r\n
Catholic\r\nCharities
\r\n713-874-6570
YMCA\r\nInternational Services
\r\n713-339-9015
HVLP\r\nLow-Income Taxpayer Clinic
\r\nTax controversies, innocent spouse
\r\n713-228-0735
Volunteer\r\nIncome Tax Assistance
\r\nFree tax return preparation
\r\n800-829-1040
HVLP
\r\n713-228-0732
Lone\r\nStar Legal Aid
\r\n713-652-0077
NAACP\r\nLegal Redress Program
\r\n713-526-3389
Houston\r\nLawyer Referral Service
\r\n713-237-9429
Dispute\r\nResolution Center
\r\n713-755-8274
Better\r\nBusiness Bureau
\r\n713-868-9500
Attorney\r\nGeneral’s Consumer Protection Hotline
\r\nConsumer complaints against individual or business
\r\n800-621-0508
Consumer\r\nFraud Harris County DA
\r\n713-755-5836
Equal\r\nEmployment Opportunity Commission
\r\nWage disputes involving discrimination issues
\r\n713-209-3320
Texas\r\nWorkforce Commission
\r\nEmployment-related problems
\r\n800-832-2829
State\r\nBoard of Labor
\r\nSalary complaints & disputes
\r\n800-832-9243
South\r\nTexas College of Law
\r\n713-652-0009
Southeast\r\nTexas Legal Clinic
\r\nOnly for persons with HIV/AIDS
\r\n713-523-7852
NAACP
\r\n713-526-3389
Harris\r\nCo. Criminal Lawyers
\r\n713-227-2404
Harris\r\nCo. Criminal Lawyers
\r\nSpanish
\r\n713-224-4864
District\r\nAttorney’s Office
\r\nFiles criminal charges
\r\n713-755-7114
Texas\r\nSouthern University
\r\nTraffic violations and misdemeanors
\r\n713-313-1139
American\r\nCivil Liberties Union
\r\n713-942-8146
Lambda\r\nLegal
\r\n214-219-8585
Houston\r\nPolice Dispatch
\r\n713-222-3131
HPD\r\nFamily Violence Unit
\r\n713-308-1100
Harris\r\nCo. Sheriff’s Office
\r\n713-221-6000
Harris\r\nCo. Constable’s Office
\r\n281-376-3472
Rape\r\nCrisis Hotline
\r\n713-528-RAPE
Crisis\r\nIntervention of Houston
\r\nCrisis intervention & suicide prevention, 24/7
\r\n713-HOTLINE
United\r\nWay Helpline
\r\nProvides referrals to agencies and social services; emergency aid, continuing\r\neducation, medical resources, shelters
\r\n2-1-1 | 713-957-HELP | 800-833-5948
Harris\r\nCo. Social Services
\r\nAssistance with payment of rent, utility, phone bills
\r\n713-696-7900
Texas\r\nDept. of Human Services
\r\nHelp with food, shelter
\r\n713-767-2000
Interfaith\r\nMinistries
\r\nRent & utility assistance
\r\n713-522-3955
Star\r\nof Hope Mission
\r\nEmergency shelter
\r\n713-748-0700
AARP\r\n(American Association of Retired Persons)
\r\n800-424-2277
Volunteer\r\nIncome Tax Assistance
\r\nFree tax return preparation
\r\n800-829-1040
Other Useful Information
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Texas Rules of Court: \r\nhttp://www.supreme.courts.state.tx.us/
\r\n\r\nHarris County Local Rules: \r\nhttps://www.justex.net/LocalRules/LocalRules.aspx
\r\n\r\nLibrary Resources:
\r\n\r\nHarris\r\nCounty Law Library http://www.co.harris.tx.us/law/
\r\n\r\n1019\r\nCongress, 17th Floor
\r\n\r\nHouston,\r\nTexas 77002
\r\n\r\nHours\r\nof Operation:
\r\n\r\nMonday\r\n– Friday 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
\r\n\r\nSaturday\r\n9:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Houston Public Library: http://www.houstonlibrary.org/
\r\n\r\n500 McKinney Street
\r\n\r\nHouston, Texas 77002
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Free Legal Research Sites on the Internet:
\r\n\r\nhttp://www.co.harris.tx.us/law/research.html
\r\n\r\nhttp://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Index.aspx
Pro Se Litigant Handbook
http://www.harriscountylawlibrary.org/self-help/
\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n
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