246th Family District Court

In Harris County, there are fifteen courts that hear family law matters, but knowing specifically what to expect in the 246th Family District Court can eliminate feelings of fear and hesitation that so often come with working with the Houston court system. By familiarizing yourself with the location, history, and policies of the 246th Family Court, you will be better equipped to work with your lawyer going forward.

The 246TH Family Court at a Glance

The 246th Family District Court is designated to handle family law matters. Like most of its counterparts, the court’s physical location is inside the Harris County Civil Courthouse at 201 Caroline, Houston, Texas, 77002. The 246th Family Court can be found on the sixteenth floor of the building. Those with questions about the court should call 713.274.4500. As of 2019, the presiding judge for this court is The Honorable Angela L. Graves-Harrington. The associate judge for the court is The Honorable Yahaira Quezada.

Brief History of Judge Graves-Harrington’s Role in the 246TH Family Court

The Honorable Angela L. Graves-Harrington previously practiced civil, criminal, and family law for the Law Offices of Angela L. Graves-Harrington. She was elected in 2018 to preside over the 246th Family Court.

In a brief welcome statement, the court’s mission is cited as to “interpret and apply the law consistently and impartially; where appropriate, use discretion wisely and compassion; and earn the respect and confidence of the public by treating individuals with fairness, equality and respect.”

Docket Structure of the 246TH Family District Court

The docket schedule will depend on the specific family law court you will be working with. The 246th Family Court’s docket schedule is broken out below by weekday. Uncontested matters are generally addressed Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. Docket call is Monday through Friday at 9 a.m. Trials are typically set for Mondays at 9 a.m.

Monday

• Uncontested Docket 8 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. and as the court becomes available
• Trial Docket 9 a.m.

Tuesday

• Uncontested Docket 8 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. and as the court becomes available
• Temporary Orders Hearings and Ancillary Matters 9 a.m.
• Contempt 9 a.m.

Wednesday

• Uncontested Docket 8 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. and as the court becomes available
• Temporary Orders Hearings and Ancillary Matters 9 a.m.

Thursday

• Uncontested Docket 8 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. and as the court becomes available
• CPS Docket 9 a.m.

Friday

• Uncontested Docket 8 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. and as the court becomes available
• Entry, Submission, and Pre-Trial Docket 9 a.m.
• Discovery Disputes 1:30 p.m.

Key Policies and Procedures of the 246TH Family District Court of Harris Co., TX

Each Harris County family law court has a unique set of legal policies and procedures that litigants should be familiar with. While this is in no way a complete list, below are partial summaries of some of the primary policies and procedures of the 246th Family District Court.

• Some motions such as Agreed Motion to Withdraw, Motion to Substitute Service, Motion to Substitute Counsel, Motion for Amicus Attorney, Motion for Service by Publication, and Motions to Transfer may be considered via written submission.
• Regarding Enforcement Actions, consult your lawyer about bringing a payment history of child support from the Texas Office of the Attorney General or a proposed commitment order for incarcerations.
• Sworn inventory is required and must be filed prior to trial or prove up.
• On average, mediation is required before a final trial, although there may be some exceptions to this rule.
• Mediation before temporary orders is recommended.
• Pre-trial conferences are required for all jury trials. This generally takes place on a Friday up to seventeen days before a trial. To ensure a smooth pre-trial conference, individuals should consult a pre-trial conference checklist posted to the court’s website.
• Pre-trials are also necessary for adoption cases. Individuals should consult the pretrial adoption checklist posted to the court’s website for further guidance.
• In both contested or default cases that involve children, litigants must complete a four-hour parenting class prior to prove up.
• Amicus attorneys may be appointed by the court in cases where possession of or access to a child is in question.

What To Know Before You Go

When required, appearing at the 246th Family District Court on time is an act of respect. The court expects individuals to behave and dress accordingly while minimizing distractions to ensure that dockets are handled in an efficient manner.

Be diligent with your time. Depending on where you live, the time needed to commute to the Harris County Civil Courthouse and reach the 246th Family District Court on the 16th floor can be extensive. Take care to map out a time-saving route before the day of your court appearance and allow for additional time to clear bag check, metal detectors, and crowded elevators.

Dress to impress. Men should be in dress slacks and a collared shirt that is buttoned and tucked in. Close toed shoes are also recommended. Women may wear something similar or equally appropriate. Smacking chewing gum can be a distraction, detract from a professional appearance, and is not allowed, so leave the gum at home.

Eat before you go. The 246th Family District Court does not allow any eating or drinking inside the courtroom, with the exception being those parties and attorneys currently in a trial who wish to have water at the counsel table.

Make arrangements for childcare. The 246th Family Court does not allow children to be inside the courtroom without express approval of the court.