Grimes County Court at Law

Welcome

This website is designed to give attorneys and parties practicing in the County Court at Law guidance on the Court's preferred methods of practice. These guidelines are designed to supplement existing Rules and statutes governing the practice of law in Texas. To the extent any of these guidelines are perceived to conflict with state rules or statutes, the state rules and statutes will control. It is the hope of the Court that this website will simplify attorneys dealings with the court and add a degree of predictability while practicing in the County Court at Law.

Please use the Navigation bar at the top of the page to familiarize yourself with the guidelines as they relates to specific areas of practice. Also, explore the "INFO" tab for more specific information as well as documents utilized by the Court.

Much of the information on this website, including many of the forms used, were taken from various Courts around the State. Thanks is given to those Courts for making their information available for use. The Court is always open to constructive criticisms as it relates to the website.

About judge mclain

ABOUT THE COUNTY COURT AT LAW

The Grimes County Court at Law was created October 1, 2017. Judge Tuck Moody McLain was appointed as the inaugural Judge of the Court and was elected to begin his first full term beginning January 1, 2019. The Grimes County Court at Law has primary jurisdiction over all maters filed pursuant to the Texas Family Code including divorces, suits affecting parent child relationships, adoptions and terminations. The County Court at Law is also the supervising Court for the IV-D Attorney General Court. The County Court at Law also hears all misdemeanor criminal cases involving incarceration in the Grimes County Jail, juvenile matters, probate, guardianships and mental health cases. The County Court at Law has jurisdiction over any general civil matters with an amount in controversy from $200 - $200,000 however, matters filed with an amount in controversy of $10,000 or less will be heard by the Constitutional County Court. The County Court at Law also hears all suits brought for condemnation of land unless the suit raises an issue related to the title of land.

The Constitutional County Court of Grimes County shares jurisdiction on some matters with the County Court at Law. The proper Court for filing is clarified pursuant to a Filing Order.

communicating with the Court

jurisdiction and filing information

General

The Grimes County Court at Law has jurisdiction over:

Misdemeanor Criminal Cases,
Civil Cases with an amount in controversy from $500.00 - $200,000.00,
Juvenile Prosecutions,
Probate,
Mental health proceedings,
Eminent Domain proceedings as long as they do not involve title to real property and
Family Law cases,
Appellate jurisdiction of matters heard in the Justice Courts or Municipal Courts of Grimes County including, but limited to, appeals from criminal convictions and appeals from Forcible Entry and Detainer proceedings.

Family Law Cases brought by the Attorney General Pursuant Article VI-D are handled by the VI-D Associate Judge. Cases involving Child Protective Services are handled by the CPS Cluster Court.

All other Family Law matters will be heard by the County Court at Law.

For more information for filing cases in Grimes County between the 12th District Court, the 506th District Court and the County Court at Law, see the Letter of Instruction for Filing of Cases with Concurrent Jurisdiction.

For filings in the County Clerk where there is concurrent jurisdiction with the Constitutional County Court. See the Standing Order for Filing in the County Clerk

All filings for the County Court at Law shall be with the County Clerk except family law matters.

FAMILY LAW MATTERS MUST BE FILED WITH THE DISTRICT CLERK.

Filing information: County Court at Law, the 12th & 506th District Courts and the County Court

These "Standing Orders" govern the filing of specific types of cases in Grimes County. Please read these orders before filing your case to ensure it is filed in the appropriate court.

Standing Order for Case Filing with the County Clerk

Letter of Instruction for Filing of Cases with Concurrent Jurisdiction.

Forms and Documents

GRIMES COUNTY COURT AT LAW

Welcome

ABOUT THE COUNTY COURT AT LAW

jurisdiction and filing information

General

Filing information: County Court at Law, the 12th & 506th District Courts and the County Court