Texas court deadline
How do I appeal a ruling that I can afford my justice court appeal costs?
If the justice court decides you can afford the appeal bond after a contest, you may appeal that decision by filing notice with the justice court within 7 days of the court’s written order.
- What the date means
- The last day to file notice with the justice court appealing the order that sustained the contest to your Statement of Inability.
- The clock starts
- The date on the judge’s written order deciding that you can afford the appeal costs.
- Applies to
- Appeals from justice court small claims and debt claim cases. Eviction appeals are shorter — see the next result.
- Rule
- Tex. R. Civ. P. 506.1(d)(3); Tex. R. Civ. P. 500.4
How to count it
Do not count the starting day. Count 7 calendar days, 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.
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 7 calendar days: Monday, June 8, 2026.
- Monday, June 8, 2026 is not a weekend or legal holiday, so it stays.
Under Tex. R. Civ. P. 506.1(d)(3), counting from Monday, June 1, 2026, the computed date is
Monday, June 8, 2026
This is an example only. Your own date depends on your starting date and your court.
Watch out for
- Counts from the date of the justice court’s WRITTEN order.
- If you do not appeal that ruling, or the county court denies your appeal, you may post an appeal bond or make a cash deposit within five days (Rule 506.1(d)(4)). The rule does not say exactly when those five days start. Ask the clerk right away.
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 do I appeal a ruling that I can afford my justice court appeal costs?
If the justice court decides you can afford the appeal bond after a contest, you may appeal that decision by filing notice with the justice court within 7 days of the court’s written order. The last day to file notice with the justice court appealing the order that sustained the contest to your Statement of Inability.
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?
Appeals from justice court small claims and debt claim cases. Eviction appeals are shorter — see the next result.
Where does this rule come from?
Tex. R. Civ. P. 506.1(d)(3); Tex. R. Civ. P. 500.4. 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.