Art. 961 Written motion required; exception

If you want to ask the court for something and you're not already covering it in another document you're filing, you need to make a formal request called a motion. This motion has to be in writing.

There's one exception to this. If you're already in the middle of a trial or hearing, or you're standing in front of the judge in open court, you can make your request out loud instead of putting it on paper. The idea is that the court needs a clear record of what you're asking for, but if you're already there in person talking to the judge, you don't need to stop and write it down first.