Conroe, TX 77301
About the 418th Judicial District Court
The 418th Judicial District Court is one of three Montgomery County family courts located at 301 N. Main Street in Conroe. It handles family law matters including divorce, child custody and conservatorship, child support, property division, modification of existing orders, and enforcement actions.
All proceedings are conducted in-person. Remote appearances require advance approval from the Court and will not be granted on an ex-parte basis. If approved, videoconference proceedings are conducted via Zoom.
Cases are randomly assigned to one of the three Montgomery County family courts when filed with the District Clerk. If a prior case involving the same parties or children was heard in the 418th, any new filing must also be assigned to this court.
Fritz & Phillips Law is located at 141 N. San Jacinto Street in downtown Conroe — steps from the Montgomery County Courthouse at 301 N. Main Street.
Bench — Presiding & Associate Judge
Courtroom Rules of Conduct
All court proceedings are conducted in-person. A person who participates in a court proceeding does so by physical presence in the courtroom. Tex. R. Civ. P. 21d(b)(1).
Any attorney or party seeking to appear remotely must obtain advance approval from the Court. No such requests will be considered ex-parte. If approved, videoconference proceedings are conducted via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88137862834?pwd=Ylk0elBqejhvOE1yQW5wNmlYenJsZz09
Standing Orders of the 418th District Court
Any person seeking to become a managing or possessory conservator (sole, joint, temporary, or permanent) or seeking access to a child in any original suit or modification action under the Texas Family Code must successfully complete a parent education and family stabilization course complying with §105.009 of the Texas Family Code, and timely file an original certificate of completion with the court.
A copy of this order must be attached to any original petition and every copy of it filed with the court.
All parties are ordered to attend mediation prior to any hearing regarding temporary orders. Any attorney or party requesting temporary orders must contact opposing counsel/parties to schedule mediation before the hearing date. All attorneys and parties must attend all scheduled mediation sessions for constructive settlement negotiations.
Each attorney has the right to participate in mediation and be present with their client at all times. All mediation participants are governed by Rule 408 of the Texas Rules of Evidence and §§154.053 and 154.073 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code.
If mediation does not result in an agreement, the following time limits apply at the temporary orders hearing:
If all parties have filed a binding MSA with the District Clerk before the Docket Call-Pretrial Conference and have notified the Court requesting no appearance, no appearance at the Docket Call-Pretrial is required. The case remains set on the Final Trial date for entry of a final decree/order. If the final decree/order is not approved on the Final Trial date, the case may be DISMISSED.
Second Amended Standing Order — Montgomery County
What Is the Standing Order and Who Does It Apply To?
The Second Amended Standing Order automatically takes effect the moment a divorce or SAPCR is filed in any Montgomery County family court — including the 418th District Court. It applies to both parties immediately upon filing, without any additional court action, and remains in effect until the case is resolved or the court modifies it.
It is enforceable by contempt of court, which can include fines and imprisonment. Both parties are bound by it regardless of whether they have been formally served with the petition.
No Disruption of the Child
Both parties are prohibited from:
- Removing the child from Texas without written agreement of both parties or a court order
- Hiding or secreting the child from the other party
- Making any false statements to a government agency about the other party or the child
- Making disparaging remarks about the other party in the presence or within earshot of the child
- Causing the child to make disparaging remarks about the other party
- Interfering with the child's current school placement or withdrawing the child from school without agreement or court order
- Disturbing the peace of the child
Protection of Pets
Neither party may harm, remove from the county, hide, or dispose of any household pet owned by either party or the children during the pendency of the case.
Conduct of the Parties
Both parties are prohibited from:
- Threatening the other party in person, by phone, in writing, or through a third party
- Contacting the other party in a harassing or offensive manner
- Using vulgar, profane, obscene, or indecent language to or about the other party in the presence of the child
- Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing bodily injury to the other party or to any child
- Threatening to cause bodily injury to the other party or any child
- Destroying, removing, concealing, encumbering, transferring, or otherwise harming or reducing the value of any property of either party
Preservation of Property & Finances (Divorce Cases)
Both parties are prohibited from:
- Selling, transferring, assigning, mortgaging, encumbering, or otherwise alienating any property — real or personal — except in the ordinary course of business
- Withdrawing retirement funds except as authorized by plan documents
- Incurring debt other than in the ordinary course of business or for reasonable and necessary living expenses
- Making withdrawals from any bank or financial institution account in excess of ordinary living expenses
- Spending, wasting, or dissipating any property — including cash — except for reasonable and necessary living expenses
- Liquidating, pledging, loaning, or otherwise alienating any stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or other securities
- Destroying, throwing away, or disposing of any financial records, documents, or communications
- Cutting off or allowing to lapse any utilities serving the marital residence
- Changing any payroll or income-tax withholding forms
- Opening any new financial institution account without notifying the other party within 72 hours
- Entering into any contract affecting the marital estate without the written agreement of the other party
Both parties are required to:
- Maintain all existing insurance coverage in full force during the pendency of the case
- Continue paying all existing obligations as they come due
Each party is authorized to:
- Make purchases reasonably necessary for the support of themselves and any child in their care
- Pay reasonable and necessary attorney's fees and expenses related to this lawsuit
- Make purchases, sales, or other actions in the ordinary course of business
- Use credit cards for ordinary and reasonable living expenses
Personal & Business Records (Divorce Cases)
Both parties are required to:
- Maintain all personal and business financial records in their current form
- Make available to the other party on request all financial records — including bank statements, credit card statements, retirement account statements, and tax returns — going back two years
- Make available all documents related to the ownership or transfer of any real property
Neither party may destroy, conceal, or dispose of any personal or business records during the pendency of the case.
Insurance (Divorce Cases)
- Neither party may cancel, cause to be canceled, allow to lapse, or in any manner change any existing insurance coverage — including health, life, automobile, homeowner's, or renter's insurance — that names the other party or any child as a beneficiary or insured
- Neither party may change beneficiary designations on any insurance policy or retirement account
- Both parties are required to maintain all existing insurance coverage in full force throughout the pendency of the case
Frequently Asked Questions — 418th District Court
What types of cases does the 418th District Court handle?
Where is the 418th District Court located?
Does the 418th allow remote appearances?
Does the 418th require mediation before temporary orders?
What is the parent education requirement in the 418th?
What happens at the Docket Call if an MSA has been filed?
What is the Second Amended Standing Order and does it apply in the 418th?
Fritz & Phillips Law is located in downtown Conroe, steps from the Montgomery County Courthouse at 301 N. Main Street. We represent clients in the 418th District Court and all Montgomery County family courts. Free consultations — call (713) 930-2500.
Free Consultation →Meet the Attorneys at Fritz & Phillips
As a mother of many teenagers, Jessica understands firsthand the importance of family stability and what is truly at stake in the cases she handles. She approaches every matter with a focus on clear communication, practical strategy, and results that reflect the realities of her clients' lives. She is the co-founder of 2500Divorce.com, a flat-fee uncontested divorce service serving Texas families.
Keith became a licensed mediator in 2020, and that perspective shapes how he approaches every case — focused on practical, efficient resolution while fully prepared to litigate when necessary. He is the co-founder of 2500Divorce.com and a father of five.
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Attorney advertising. Fritz and Phillips, PC is a Texas law firm. The information on this website is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or establish an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Jessica Fritz (TX Bar 2008) and Keith Phillips (TX Bar 2016) are the attorneys responsible for this content.