245th Family District Court

By the time a case has reached a Harris County family court, such as the 245th Family District Court, tensions are high, and emotions are raw. This emotional roller coaster can make the court experience overwhelming. However, by learning in advance about the basic contact information, history, and key policies and procedures of the 245th Family Court, people can feel more confident about what to expect.

The 245th Family Court at a Glance

• Name of Court: The 245th Family District Court
• Court Address as of December 2019: Harris County Civil Courthouse at 201 Caroline, Houston, TX 77002 on the 15th Floor
• Court Phone Number: 713.274.1245
• Presiding Judge: The Honorable Tristan Longino
• Associate Judge: The Honorable James Cooper

Brief History of Judge Longino’s Role in the 245th Family Court

The Honorable Tristan Longino is board certified in family law and was elected to become the District Judge of the 245th Family Court in 2018. He presides over one of the only family law courts in the Harris County court system to utilize online scheduling for docketing.

Docket Structure of the 245th Family District Court

The docket structure may vary from court to court depending on how the presiding judge wishes to proceed. The 245th Family District Court has a specific weekly docket structure as of 2019 that is as follows:

Monday

• Preferential

Tuesday

• Preferential

Wednesday Morning

• Submission docket
• CPS trials for Judge Cooper on 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month and Judge Longino on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month
• Preferential

Wednesday Afternoon

• CPS trials for Judge Cooper on 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month and Judge Longino on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month
• Preferential

Thursday Morning

• Judge Cooper: Temporary Restraining Orders
• DRO Enforcements
• Longino: Preferential

Thursday Afternoon

• Preferential

Friday Morning

• Preferential
• Submission DWOP and dismissal docket on 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month

Friday Afternoon

• Pretrials on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month
• Preferential

This court uses online scheduling for docketing. In addition to scheduling, individuals should be able to access important online forms and documents pertaining to Standing Orders, Pretrial and Trial, Waiver of De Novo Hearings, Appointment Wheel, and more.

Key Policies and Procedures of the 245th Family District Court of Harris Co., TX

Each Harris County family court has their own specific policies and procedures. To learn about these procedures more fully, it is recommended to visit the court’s website directly. However, a partial summary of some of the court’s policies and procedures are listed below as a reference.

• This court uses online scheduling for docketing. Search for the 245th Family Court’s website to review scheduling protocol.
• All oral hearings are set preferentially except for those relating to pretrials, temporary restraining orders, and DRO Enforcements and motions to revoke.
• Individuals are not required to show up for Dismissal (for Want of Prosecution) Dockets as they are generally set for hearings by written submission.
• To get your hearing on the submission docket, utilize online scheduling and select “submission” as the appointment type.
• If you have questions regarding the state of your motion on the submission document, consult the docket sheet. Further concerns regarding updates of your motion should be directed by email to the court clerk.
• To reset or pass your hearing, consult the confirmation scheduling email for directions.

What To Know Before You Go

Dress appropriately to make your first impression count. In most instances, this means men should wear slacks (no denim), a tucked in shirt with a collar, and closed toed shoes. Women should wear the equivalent or attire that is equally appropriate.

Allow plenty of time to navigate courthouse traffic. The courthouse can be an extremely busy place on any given day of the week and traffic can bottleneck at the metal detectors, bag check, and elevators. Make sure to allow yourself a minimum of twenty minutes to report to the 245th court from the time you enter the building.

Once you have arrived on the fifteenth floor of the building, know where to report. This court has two judges, a presiding and associate judge, and therefore has two courtrooms. Individuals should report to the clerk’s office unless instructed otherwise by their lawyer.

In the 245th Family Court, no children are permitted to be present unless they are scheduled for an in-chambers conference or as required by special circumstances, such as some CPS cases. Unless your child is specifically required to appear in court, plan to make proper arrangements for their care.

It is the goal of the court to keep distractions to a minimum. For this reason, cell phones must be silenced and no food or chewing gum is permitted. While food is not allowed, the presence of most beverages in a container with a lid are acceptable, but be careful. This rule may change anytime, and your container must be well-sealed.