Texas court deadline
How long do I have to reinstate a dismissed justice court case in Texas?
If your justice court case was dismissed, you as the plaintiff may file a motion to reinstate it no later than 14 days after the dismissal order is signed.
- What the date means
- The last day for a plaintiff to file a motion to reinstate a dismissed justice court case.
- The clock starts
- The date on the signed order dismissing the case.
- Applies to
- Justice court small claims, debt claim and repair and remedy cases dismissed while you were the plaintiff.
- Rule
- Tex. R. Civ. P. 505.3(a); 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. 505.3(a), 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
- You must serve the defendant with a copy no later than the next business day.
- The court reinstates the case only for good cause shown.
- If the judge does not rule, the motion is denied automatically at 5:00 p.m. on the 21st day (Rule 505.3(e)). The appeal clock then runs from that denial (Rule 506.1(a)).
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 reinstate a dismissed justice court case in Texas?
If your justice court case was dismissed, you as the plaintiff may file a motion to reinstate it no later than 14 days after the dismissal order is signed. The last day for a plaintiff to file a motion to reinstate a dismissed justice court case.
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, debt claim and repair and remedy cases dismissed while you were the plaintiff.
Where does this rule come from?
Tex. R. Civ. P. 505.3(a); 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.