Court Deadlines FAQ | Texas Family Law Powerhouse

Question 1

How long does a Texas court have to make a decision after a hearing?

Accepted Answer

This question has been addressed in 5 Texas court opinion(s), including In Re Jose Raquel Lerma. E-filing a motion is not enough to compel a judge to act; you must bridge the "knowledge gap" by providing a documented paper trail—such as letters to the court coordinator or formal requests for a ruling—to prove the trial court was personally notified and failed to rule within a reasonable time.

Question 2

What happens if I don't respond to court orders or deadlines in my case?

Accepted Answer

This question has been addressed in 4 Texas court opinion(s), including Tumey v. Crawford. In Texas, you cannot immediately appeal the granting of a TCPA dismissal if the issue of attorney’s fees is still pending; for family law litigants, this means a successful movant can effectively block an opponent's appeal by keeping the fee adjudication active in the trial court.