Texas court deadlines
Texas court deadlines, counted step by step
Missing a deadline can end a case before anyone looks at the facts. Each page below explains one Texas deadline in plain English: what it means, how to count it, a worked example and the traps to watch.
The pages come from the same rules ProSeFiler’s Deadlines tool uses, so what you read here matches what the tool counts. Find the event that started your clock.
I was served with a lawsuit (citation)
The judge signed a judgment or final order (district or county court)
- Motion for new trial What is the deadline for a motion for new trial in Texas?
- Motion for new trial overruled automatically ("by operation of law") When is a motion for new trial overruled by operation of law in Texas?
- Trial court loses power to change the judgment (no post-judgment motion filed) When does a Texas trial court lose plenary power?
- Latest the trial court keeps power (when a motion for new trial was filed) How long does a Texas court keep plenary power after a motion for new trial?
- Request for findings of fact and conclusions of law When is a request for findings of fact and conclusions of law due in Texas?
- Notice of appeal — ordinary appeal How long do I have to file a notice of appeal in Texas?
- Notice of appeal — after a timely motion for new trial (or similar) Does a motion for new trial extend the appeal deadline in Texas?
- Notice of appeal — accelerated appeal What is the deadline for an accelerated appeal in Texas?
- Notice of restricted appeal How long do I have to file a restricted appeal in Texas?
My case was dismissed for want of prosecution
An associate judge ruled (family / child support court)
An associate judge signed a proposed order in a child support (IV-D) court
I was served with discovery requests
I requested findings of fact and the judge hasn’t filed them
A justice court judge signed a judgment (small claims, debt claim or repair case)
- Motion to set aside a default judgment — justice court How long do I have to set aside a default judgment in Texas justice court?
- Motion for new trial — justice court What is the deadline for a motion for new trial in Texas justice court?
- Justice court motion denied automatically (“as a matter of law”) When is a justice court motion for new trial denied automatically in Texas?
- Appeal from justice court (bond, cash deposit or Statement of Inability) How long do I have to appeal a small claims judgment in Texas?
- Notice of appeal — repair and remedy case How long do I have to appeal a repair and remedy case in Texas?
- Application for writ of certiorari (county court review) How long do I have to file for a writ of certiorari from justice court in Texas?
My justice court case was dismissed (small claims or debt claim)
A justice court denied my motion to set aside, reinstate or for new trial
The other side appealed from justice court with a Statement of Inability (instead of a bond)
The justice court sustained a contest to my Statement of Inability on appeal
I appealed from justice court by filing a bond or making a cash deposit
The county clerk told me to pay the costs of my justice court appeal
A justice court judge signed an eviction judgment
I appealed a residential eviction (tenant)
How Texas counts days
Most Texas civil deadlines follow the same basic method (Tex. R. Civ. P. 4; Tex. R. App. P. 4.1). Do not count the day the event happened. Count every day after it, including weekends and holidays. If the last day is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the deadline moves to the next day that is not. Under Rule 4, periods of five days or less skip Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays entirely (except the 3 days added for mail service). Justice courts use their own rule, which counts every day — even in short periods like 5 or 7 days (Tex. R. Civ. P. 500.4; for evictions, Tex. R. Civ. P. 510.4).
Not reviewed by an attorney. ProSeFiler’s deadline rules were written from the official rule text, but no lawyer has reviewed them. Confirm every date with the court clerk.
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