Texas court deadline
When do I have to serve notice of my small claims appeal in Texas?
If you appealed a justice court judgment by filing a bond or making a cash deposit, you must serve written notice of the appeal on all other parties within 7 days.
- What the date means
- The last day to serve written notice of your appeal on all other parties after filing a bond or making a cash deposit.
- The clock starts
- The date the justice court received your appeal bond or cash deposit.
- Applies to
- Appeals from justice court small claims and debt claim cases made with a bond or cash deposit. If you appealed with a Statement of Inability, the court notifies the other parties instead.
- Rule
- Tex. R. Civ. P. 506.1(e); 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(e), 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
- Use a service method the justice court rules allow (Rule 501.4).
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
When do I have to serve notice of my small claims appeal in Texas?
If you appealed a justice court judgment by filing a bond or making a cash deposit, you must serve written notice of the appeal on all other parties within 7 days. The last day to serve written notice of your appeal on all other parties after filing a bond or making a cash deposit.
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 made with a bond or cash deposit. If you appealed with a Statement of Inability, the court notifies the other parties instead.
Where does this rule come from?
Tex. R. Civ. P. 506.1(e); 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.