Texas court deadline
When do I have to pay the costs of a justice court appeal in Texas?
If the county clerk notifies you to pay the costs of your justice court appeal, you must pay them within 20 days. If you do not, the appeal is not perfected and the case goes back to the justice court.
- What the date means
- The last day to pay the costs on appeal after the county clerk notifies you to pay them.
- The clock starts
- After a justice court appeal reaches county court, the county clerk may notify you to pay the costs on appeal. Use the date of that notice.
- Applies to
- Appeals from justice court small claims, debt claim and repair and remedy cases. Not eviction appeals. Not needed if you appealed with a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs.
- Rule
- Tex. R. Civ. P. 143a, 506.1(i); Tex. R. Civ. P. 4
How to count it
Do not count the starting day. Count 20 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 20 calendar days: Sunday, June 21, 2026.
- Sunday, June 21, 2026 is a Sunday, so it moves to the next day.
Under Tex. R. Civ. P. 143a, 506.1(i), 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
- If the costs are not paid on time, the appeal is not perfected. The case goes back to the justice court as though no appeal had been attempted.
- Counts from the date the county clerk notified you, not from the judgment.
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
When do I have to pay the costs of a justice court appeal in Texas?
If the county clerk notifies you to pay the costs of your justice court appeal, you must pay them within 20 days. If you do not, the appeal is not perfected and the case goes back to the justice court. The last day to pay the costs on appeal after the county clerk notifies you to pay them.
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, debt claim and repair and remedy cases. Not eviction appeals. Not needed if you appealed with a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs.
Where does this rule come from?
Tex. R. Civ. P. 143a, 506.1(i); 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.