County Holiday | Offices Closed
All Fort Bend County offices are closed. Holiday schedule.
(Law enforcement and emergency services agencies remain on duty)
County Holiday | Offices Closed
All Fort Bend County offices are closed. Holiday schedule.
(Law enforcement and emergency services agencies remain on duty)
County Holiday | Offices Closed
All Fort Bend County offices are closed. Holiday schedule.
(Law enforcement and emergency services agencies remain on duty)
County Holiday | Offices Closed
All Fort Bend County offices are closed. Holiday schedule.
(Law enforcement and emergency services agencies remain on duty)
County Holiday | Offices Closed
All Fort Bend County offices are closed. Holiday schedule.
(Law enforcement and emergency services agencies remain on duty)
Civil Matters

The Court does not accept filings.  E-mail correspondence is not considered a filing to the Court.

All civil motions are heard via ZOOM. The motion and order must be e-filed before requesting a hearing date. To request a hearing date, please email the Court Coordinator, TrayNeisha Sanford at TrayNeisha.Sanford@fortbendcountytx.gov.
All civil trials will be in person.
 

Probate

Please note that Court staff can tell you about the services of the Court and can answer questions about how the Court works; however, Court staff cannot give legal advice or answer legal questions. If you need someone to research the law and give you legal advice, you should consult an attorney. 

To check the status of filings online, click the "County Records Research" link found at the top of the page. 

Questions regarding fees, filings, and status of filings can be directed to the Fort Bend County Clerk's office at (281) 341-8665. 

Probate Dockets

To set hearings, Benny Charles, Probate Auditor, may be reached by phone at (281) 344-3912 or email benny.charles@fortbendcountytx.gov.

County Court at Law No. 3 hears Probate matters on Wednesdays for non-records (ie simple Letters Testamentary, Muniments) and Thursdays for records (ie Administrations and Heirships).  These hearings are held via ZOOM at 11:00 am.

Contested matters may be scheduled by availability and level of urgency to other days. Should you file a Temporary Restraining Order, you must contact Benny Charles immediately to set the matter for a hearing.

If the attorney of record will NOT be appearing on the day of the scheduled hearing, contact Benny Charles to inform the Court the name of the attorney who will be appearing on their behalf.

The Court does not accept testimony via deposition on written questions; however, should the Court make an exception, applicants on the uncontested docket MUST file the deposition response(s) at least one week prior to the docket. All applicants are required to appear. Please contact Probate Auditor for Court approval regarding any special circumstances preventing the applicant from attending. 

 

Guardianship Proceedings

Registration of Guardianships, Effective June 1, 2018
Senate Bill 1096, passed during the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, and will affect the appointment of guardians.  The tasks associated with implementing the bill are largely the responsibility of the Judicial Branch Certification Commission (JBCC) but they will also affect the courts and the clerks.  The JBCC wants to take this opportunity to make the courts, clerks and public aware of the upcoming changes.  Go to:  http://www.txcourts.gov/jbcc/guardianship-registration/

Guardianship Resources:

Heirship Proceedings

Proposed Applications for Determination of Heirship and Letters of Administration MUST be filed separately. 

Ad Litem Information

All appointed attorney ad litems and guardian ad litems must email their Report directly to the Probate Auditor at least one week prior to the scheduled hearing. 

Please provide a separate order (including itemized invoice) for ad litem fees on the day of the hearing. 

Small Estate Affidavits

County Court at Law Number 3 REQUIRES a Death Certificate filed along with a Small Estate Affidavit. The Court cannot help you fill out the Small Estate Affidavit. Please be sure to follow all directions included on the Small Estate Affidavit Checklist and the Texas Descent and Distribution Chart. 

For additional information regarding Probate, please visit the County Court at Law's Probate Information Page. 

Forms/Orders

Forms/Orders

Interpreting, Translation and Language Assistance Services

Information on how to request language assistance services and required documents can be found here Language Access.

Download / Print

County Court at Law 3

Honorable Juli Mathew, Judge

Presiding Judge, County Court at Law No. 3, Fort Bend County

Judge Mathew

Judge Juli A. Mathew is a proud American, devoted wife and mother, and a respected judge who believes deeply in faith, fairness, and personal responsibility. As the Presiding Judge of County Court at Law No. 3, she upholds the rule of law with integrity and compassion, overseeing a broad range of cases including criminal, juvenile, civil, mental health, probate, guardianship, and Justice of the Peace appeals.

Dedicated to protecting families and strengthening her community, Judge Mathew founded Fort Bend County’s first Juvenile Intervention and Mental Health (JIMHS) Court, the first in the State of Texas, a specialty court focused on accountability, rehabilitation, and restoring young lives. Through firm but compassionate guidance, she ensures that young people are held responsible while given the opportunity to turn their lives around.

Judge Mathew’s journey began at Penn State University and continued at Delaware Law School, where she earned her Juris Doctor. A proud immigrant from Kerala, India, and a longtime Fort Bend resident, she made history as the first Indian American woman elected to the bench in the United States and the first Asian American woman elected in Fort Bend County. Her story is one of perseverance, faith, and the American dream, proof that hard work and strong values can overcome any obstacle.

In addition to her judicial service, Judge Mathew has been a strong voice for accountability in government. She chairs the U.S. Department of Justice Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG), has served on the Fort Bend County Bail Bond Committee, and is an active member of the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ). She helps lead the Color of Justice Conference, encouraging young women and minorities to pursue careers of service rooted in integrity and dedication.

Judge Mathew’s community programs reflect her belief in open and responsive government. Through her Chai & Chat series, she brings local officials and residents together to promote transparency and shared problem solving. Her Kitchen to the Courthouse initiative inspires young women to dream big while reminding them that hard work and character matter most.

In 2023, Judge Mathew joined the University of Houston Law Center as an Adjunct Professor, teaching Professional Strategic Writing to law students preparing to enter the legal profession. A frequent keynote speaker, she has addressed the Juvenile Justice Conference, American Judges Association, and Texas Democratic Women, earning honors such as the NAACP Community Service Award, FOMAA Woman of the Year, and Outstanding Woman in Law from the South Indian U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Before taking the bench, Judge Mathew served as Associate Municipal Judge in Arcola, Texas, and practiced law for more than 15 years across Fort Bend and neighboring counties.

Above all, Judge Mathew is guided by her faith, family, and a steadfast belief in service. She strives to ensure that every person is treated with dignity, that justice is delivered with compassion, and that Fort Bend County remains a place where families can thrive and opportunity is earned.

 

Office Address
Fort Bend County Justice Center
1422 Eugene Heimann Circle, Courtroom 2D
Richmond, TX. 77469

Mailing Address
County Court at Law No.3
301 Jackson Street, Room 101
Richmond, TX. 77469

Telephone
281-341-4429

Hours
Monday - Friday
8:00 AM - Noon; 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

County Courts at Law

Mission

The mission of the County Courts at Law is to administer justice for misdemeanor criminal cases, civil actions, juvenile matters, probate cases, guardianships and civil mental health cases.

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