Texas court deadline
How long do I have to answer a lawsuit in Texas?
In a Texas district or county court, your written answer is due by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday after 20 days have passed since you were served. Here is how to count it.
- What the date means
- The last day to file a written answer so a default judgment is not taken against you.
- The clock starts
- The date someone handed you the citation and petition, or the date service was otherwise completed. It is usually on the officer’s return of service.
- Applies to
- District and county courts, including divorce and custody cases started by citation. Not justice (small claims / debt claim / eviction) court.
- Time of day
- Due by 10:00 a.m.
- Rule
- Tex. R. Civ. P. 99(b); Tex. R. Civ. P. 4
How to count it
Do not count the day you were served. Count 20 calendar days. The answer is due on the Monday after that 20-day period ends. If the last day is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the deadline moves to the next day that is not.
Worked example
Say the starting date was Monday, June 1, 2026. Here is each step:
- Start: Monday, June 1, 2026. That day itself is not counted.
- Count 20 days: the 20-day period ends Sunday, June 21, 2026.
- The answer is due the Monday NEXT after that: Monday, June 22, 2026.
- Monday, June 22, 2026 is not a weekend or legal holiday, so it stays.
- Time of day: by 10:00 a.m.
Under Tex. R. Civ. P. 99(b), counting from Monday, June 1, 2026, the computed date is
Monday, June 22, 2026
This is an example only. Your own date depends on your starting date and your court.
Watch out for
- The answer is due by 10:00 a.m. on that Monday, not at the end of the day.
- If the date is a holiday, it moves to the next business day.
- Some citations state a different date. Read your citation and follow the earlier date if they differ.
- You can file an answer before this date. A default can be entered any time after the deadline passes.
Not reviewed by an attorney. ProSeFiler’s deadline rules were written from the official rule text, but no lawyer has reviewed them. Read the rule yourself and confirm every date with the court clerk.
Count your own date.
ProSeFiler’s Deadlines tool counts this rule from your date, shows every step, and warns you about weekends and holidays.
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Common questions
How long do I have to answer a lawsuit in Texas?
In a Texas district or county court, your written answer is due by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday after 20 days have passed since you were served. Here is how to count it. The last day to file a written answer so a default judgment is not taken against you.
Does a weekend or holiday change the date?
Yes. If the last day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the deadline moves to the next day that is not one (Tex. R. Civ. P. 4; Tex. R. App. P. 4.1; Tex. R. Civ. P. 500.4 in justice court). Courts also close for local reasons, so call the clerk ahead of time.
Who does this rule apply to?
District and county courts, including divorce and custody cases started by citation. Not justice (small claims / debt claim / eviction) court.
Where does this rule come from?
Tex. R. Civ. P. 99(b); Tex. R. Civ. P. 4. Read the official text yourself and confirm the date with the court clerk. ProSeFiler last checked this rule against the official text on Sunday, November 8, 2026.