Texas court deadline
How long do I have to contest a Statement of Inability on a justice court appeal?
When someone appeals a small claims or debt claim judgment with a Statement of Inability instead of a bond, the other side may contest it within 7 days after receiving notice that it was filed.
- What the date means
- The last day to contest the other side’s Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs filed to appeal.
- The clock starts
- When someone appeals without paying a bond, they file a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs. The court must notify the other parties. Use the day you got that notice.
- 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)(2), 502.3(d); 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)(2), 502.3(d), 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 day YOU received notice that the Statement was filed.
- A Statement filed with a legal-aid provider’s certificate cannot be contested (Rule 502.3(c)).
- At the hearing, the person who filed the Statement has to prove they cannot afford the fees (Rule 502.3(d)).
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.
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Common questions
How long do I have to contest a Statement of Inability on a justice court appeal?
When someone appeals a small claims or debt claim judgment with a Statement of Inability instead of a bond, the other side may contest it within 7 days after receiving notice that it was filed. The last day to contest the other side’s Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs filed to appeal.
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)(2), 502.3(d); 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.