Texas court deadline
How long do I have to request a de novo hearing after an associate judge rules in Texas?
After an associate judge rules in a Texas family case, a written request for a de novo hearing before the referring judge is due by the third working day after you receive notice of the ruling. Weekends and holidays do not count.
- What the date means
- The last day to file a written request asking the referring (district) judge to rehear the associate judge’s ruling.
- The clock starts
- In many family and child-support courts an associate judge hears the case first. Either side may ask the referring judge to hear it again (de novo). The clock is very short and runs in working days.
- Applies to
- Family and child-support (Title IV-D) cases heard by an associate judge. Either party may request it — including the side that lost before the associate judge.
- Rule
- Tex. Fam. Code § 201.015(a)
How to count it
Do not count the starting day. Count 3 working days — skip Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays.
Worked example
Say the starting date was Thursday, June 4, 2026. Here is each step:
- Start: Thursday, June 4, 2026. That day itself is not counted.
- Skipped (not working days): Saturday, June 6, 2026 is a Saturday; Sunday, June 7, 2026 is a Sunday.
- Count 3 working days: Tuesday, June 9, 2026.
Under Tex. Fam. Code § 201.015(a), counting from Thursday, June 4, 2026, the computed date is
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
This is an example only. Your own date depends on your starting date and your court.
Watch out for
- Counts WORKING days (not weekends or holidays), from the date you received notice of the ruling. Notice given in open court counts from that day.
- Child support (IV-D) courts count from the day the associate judge SIGNS the proposed order instead — use that option if it applies.
- If another party requests de novo review first, you have 3 working days from their request to file your own (§ 201.015(e)).
- If you WON before the associate judge, the other side can still request de novo review in this window. Watch for it.
- The request must say which issues are to be reheard.
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 request a de novo hearing after an associate judge rules in Texas?
After an associate judge rules in a Texas family case, a written request for a de novo hearing before the referring judge is due by the third working day after you receive notice of the ruling. Weekends and holidays do not count. The last day to file a written request asking the referring (district) judge to rehear the associate judge’s ruling.
Does a weekend or holiday change the date?
Yes. This deadline counts working days only, so Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays are skipped. Some Texas state holidays are not court holidays everywhere. If one falls inside the count, ask the clerk, and file by the earlier date to be safe.
Who does this rule apply to?
Family and child-support (Title IV-D) cases heard by an associate judge. Either party may request it — including the side that lost before the associate judge.
Where does this rule come from?
Tex. Fam. Code § 201.015(a). 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.