Jurisdiction of the Court

The Texas Business Court is a statewide, specialized trial court created to resolve certain complex business disputes. It has jurisdiction over qualifying commercial disputes — including governance disputes, qualified transactions over $10 million, and publicly traded company actions — under Chapter 25A of the Texas Government Code.

The court is composed of eleven geographical divisions, five of which are currently operational — the First (Dallas), Third (Austin), Fourth (San Antonio), Eighth (Fort Worth), and Eleventh (Houston) — with two judges assigned to each. A single Clerk of Court in Austin serves all divisions.

• Chapter 25A of the Texas Government Code
• Business Court Divisions & Contact Information
• Clerk of Court

Source: txcourts.gov — Business Court

Statewide Rules and Forms

The court’s local rules govern practice before it statewide, and its standard forms — including the Business Court Case Information Sheet — are published directly by the court:

• Local Rules of the Business Court of Texas (rev. 7.1.26)
• Local Rules of Administration for the Texas Business Court (rev. 7.1.26)
• Business Court Case Information Sheet (CIS) (rev. 10.25)
• Corporate Disclosure Statement
• Request for Issuance Form
• Request for Issuance of Abstract and/or Execution

Source: txcourts.gov — Practice Before the Court

Division-Specific Guidance & Forms

Each operational division publishes its own guidance and forms on the court’s website:

• First Division (Dallas)
• Third Division (Austin)
• Fourth Division (San Antonio)
• Eighth Division (Fort Worth)
• Eleventh Division (Houston)

Source: txcourts.gov — Practice Before the Court

Pro Hac Vice Applications by Nonresident Attorneys

A nonresident licensed attorney who wishes to appear in a case before the court but is not licensed in Texas must comply with Rule 19 of the Rules Governing Admission to the Bar of Texas and Texas Government Code § 82.0361. The court provides forms it considers acceptable in substance for seeking admission in connection with a specific case:

• Motion for Pro Hac Vice Admission
• Motion ISO Pro Hac Vice Admission
• Proposed Order Granting Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice
• Rule 19, Rules Governing Admission to the Bar of Texas

Source: txcourts.gov — Practice Before the Court

Electronic Filing

The Business Court accepts filings through eFileTexas. The court’s guide, Filing in the Texas Business Court, provides general information for attorneys and parties interested in filing, and the court refers questions to its Clerk of Court.

• eFileTexas
• Filing in the Texas Business Court

Source: txcourts.gov — Electronic Filing