Denton County, Texas (Probate Courts): Standing Order Regarding Use of Artificial Intelli…
Judges David W. Jahn (Probate Court No. 1) and Christopher J. Everett (Probate Court No. 2) and Associate Judge Edward J. Nolter · Probate Courts of Denton County, Texas
Verified October 1, 2026
- Citation
- Standing Order Regarding Use of Artificial Intelligence, Denton County Probate Courts (SO-2025-00002)
- Order date
- December 12, 2025
Summary
Applies 'to every pending or hereafter filed case in the Probate Courts of Denton County.'
What does the order require?
- Applies 'to every pending or hereafter filed case in the Probate Courts of Denton County.'
- 'All self-represented litigants and attorneys whether or not they say they utilize any form of artificial intelligence for legal research, drafting, or analysis in connection with a case before this Court shall sign and submit the attached certification form'.
- The certification states that '1. All language, quotations, sources, citations, arguments, and legal analysis created or contributed to by generative artificial intelligence were, before submission, verified as accurate through traditional (non-AI) legal sources by a human being; and, 2. The attorney or self-represented litigant submitting such information understands and acknowledges that they are and will be held responsible and potentially sanctioned for their own, their staffs, or their co-counsel's failure to comply with this Order.'
- The Exhibit A form acknowledges possible sanctions 'under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 10, the inherent power of the Court, or for contempt of court'.
- 'This Order is effective immediately for all cases filed or pending in the Denton County Probate Courts.'
Practice areas: state probate
What the order requires
The Denton County Probate Courts’ Standing Order Regarding Use of Artificial Intelligence, SO-2025-00002 (Denton Cnty. Prob. Cts. Dec. 12, 2025) “applies to every pending or hereafter filed case in the Probate Courts of Denton County.”
Unlike the district courts’ order, its certification duty does not depend on AI use: “All self-represented litigants and attorneys whether or not they say they utilize any form of artificial intelligence for legal research, drafting, or analysis in connection with a case before this Court shall sign and submit the attached certification form.” The form states that all content “created or contributed to by generative artificial intelligence” was, before submission, “verified as accurate through traditional (non-AI) legal sources by a human being,” and that the filer will be held responsible, and potentially sanctioned, for their own, their staff’s, or their co-counsel’s failure to comply. It also acknowledges possible sanctions under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, Chapter 10 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code, the court’s inherent power, or contempt.
The order is signed by Judge David W. Jahn (Probate Court No. 1), Judge Christopher J. Everett (Probate Court No. 2), and Associate Judge Edward J. Nolter.
Posting
Under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 3a(c), “To be effective, local rules, forms, and standing orders must be published on the Office of Court Administration’s website.” The OCA local-rules portal lists the order twice, posted December 15 and December 16, 2025.
Related orders
The Denton County District Courts’ order of October 20, 2025 uses the same form, but only for filers who use AI.