Texas court deadline
How long do I have to answer a small claims or debt claim case in Texas?
In a Texas justice court small claims or debt claim case, your written answer is due by the end of the 14th day after you were served. Here is how to count it.
- What the date means
- The last day to file a written answer in justice court.
- 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
- Justice court small claims and debt claim cases. NOT eviction cases, which have their own rules and a trial date on the citation.
- Rule
- Tex. R. Civ. P. 502.5(d); Tex. R. Civ. P. 500.4
How to count it
Do not count the starting day. Count 14 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 14 calendar days: Monday, June 15, 2026.
- Monday, June 15, 2026 is not a weekend or legal holiday, so it stays.
Under Tex. R. Civ. P. 502.5(d), counting from Monday, June 1, 2026, the computed date is
Monday, June 15, 2026
This is an example only. Your own date depends on your starting date and your court.
Watch out for
- Eviction cases are different: you must appear at the trial date shown on the citation.
- File by the end of the clerk’s business day.
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 small claims or debt claim case in Texas?
In a Texas justice court small claims or debt claim case, your written answer is due by the end of the 14th day after you were served. Here is how to count it. The last day to file a written answer in justice court.
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?
Justice court small claims and debt claim cases. NOT eviction cases, which have their own rules and a trial date on the citation.
Where does this rule come from?
Tex. R. Civ. P. 502.5(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.