Beginning January 1, 2021, the Texas Supreme Court began requiring litigants in certain Civil and Family cases to automatically provide certain information and documents to the other side. In an effort to promote the prompt, efficient, and cost-effective resolution of civil actions filed in county courts at law in which the amount in controversy does not exceed $250,000, the Texas State Legislature enacted Senate Bill SB 2342 which required the Supreme Court to amended Rules 47, 169, 190, 192, 193, 194, and 195 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and changes to section 22.004(h) of the Texas Government Code. The newly adopted rules went into effect midnight January 1, 2021 and require parties on both sides to automatically disclose certain information and provide certain documents to the other side.
What does this mean for you?
The new rules set mandatory time limits to get certain information over to the other side, so if you hire a lawyer to file a lawsuit on your behalf after January 1, 2021, then you will need to provide various information and documents in order to comply with these new laws. The information ranges from your proper name and address and the reasons or basis for your lawsuit.
If you are getting a divorce you must provide all real estate documents, all pension and retirement documents, all life/casualty/liability/health insurance documents, and your most recent bank statements.
If you have a spousal support or child support case then you will be required to provide all medical and health insurance coverage documents, your income tax returns for the previous two years or Form W-2s, and your two most recent payroll check stubs.
Your lawyer may decline to accept your case until you provide these items. It is also good to keep everything you provide to your lawyer in a folder because you may be asked for it again. You may also be asked to corroborate it with information obtained from third parties such as the IRS or your employer. Be prepared. Don’t get caught being out of compliance. Contact our firm today to protect your rights!
