This section gives the Fort Bend County court at law concurrent family-law jurisdiction, sets priority for certain cases, and assigns clerk, jury, and salary rules.
Sec. 25.0812. FORT BEND COUNTY COURT AT LAW PROVISIONS. (a) In addition to the jurisdiction provided by Section 25.0003 and other law, a county court at law in Fort Bend County has concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in family law cases and proceedings. (b) A county court at law is primarily responsible for and shall give preference to: (1) cases in which the court's jurisdiction is concurrent with the county court; (2) eminent domain proceedings and cases; (3) proceedings under Title 3, Family Code; and (4) civil cases in which the amount in controversy does not exceed $20,000, excluding interest. (c) A county court at law may enforce an order of the Family District Court for the 328th Judicial District relating to a family law matter. (d) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(36), eff. January 1, 2012. (e) Repealed by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 746, Sec. 70, eff. Oct. 1, 1991. (f) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(36), eff. January 1, 2012. (g) The salary of a judge of a county court at law shall be paid from the county treasury on order of the commissioners court in the same manner that county employees are paid. (h) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(36), eff. January 1, 2012. (i) The district clerk serves as clerk of the county courts at law in cases in which the district courts and county courts at law have concurrent jurisdiction, and which have been instituted in the district courts, and the county clerk serves as clerk of the county courts at law in all other cases. (j) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(36), eff. January 1, 2012. (k) If a jury trial is requested in a case of concurrent jurisdiction between the district courts and the county courts at law, and the case was instituted in the district court, the jury shall be composed of 12 members. In all other cases in which a jury trial is requested in the county courts at law, the jury shall be composed of six members except as provided by the constitution, Section 25.0007(c), or other law. (l) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(36), eff. January 1, 2012. (m) Sections 25.0005(b) and 25.0011 do not apply to a county court at law in Fort Bend County. Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 148, Sec. 4.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 746, Sec. 23, 70, eff. Oct. 1, 1991. Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3 (H.B. 79), Sec. 4.50(a)(36), eff. January 1, 2012. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 696 (S.B. 2342), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2020.