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What are the legal Answer deadlines in Texas?
- For a lawsuit served in Texas by personal service, the defendant has until the Monday following 20 days after service to file an answer. For example, if a defendant is served with a lawsuit on a Tuesday, they would have until the following Monday, 20 days later, to file an answer.
- For a lawsuit served in Texas by certified mail, the defendant has until the Monday following 20 days after the date the citation was mailed to file an answer. However, if the defendant lives outside of Texas, they have until the Monday following 30 days after the date the citation was mailed to file an answer.
- For a lawsuit served outside of Texas, the defendant has until the Monday following 30 days after service to file an answer.
- For certain types of cases, such as eviction cases, the answer deadline may be shorter, such as 5 or 10 days.
It’s important to note that these are general guidelines, and the answer deadline in a particular case may vary depending on the circumstances. If you are served with a lawsuit in Texas, it is important to consult with an experienced Texas attorney to determine the applicable answer deadline and to ensure that you comply with all other requirements of the law.
2023 Texas Answer Date Calculator | Texas Answer Deadline Calculator
The deadline to file an answer to a lawsuit depends on the court that issues service for the lawsuit. In a county or district court, the defendant must answer “on or before 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next after the expiration of 20 days after the date of service thereof.” Tex. R. Civ. P. 99(b); Tex. Jur. 3d, Pleading §§ 160 to 163; McDonald and Carlson, Texas Civil Practice (2d ed.) § 9:3.
When the twentieth day falls on a Monday, the answer is due on the Monday of the following week. Proctor v. Green, 673 S.W.2d 390, 392 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1984, orig. proceeding). If the Monday appearance day falls on a legal holiday, the deadline is extended to “the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday. A day on which the clerk’s office is closed in the pending case’s court is also defined as a legal holiday. Tex. R. Civ. P. 4.
| Date of Service | Answer Due By 10:00 AM |
| December 27 – January 2 | January 23, 2023 |
| January 3 – January 9 | January 30, 2023 |
| January 10 – January 16 | February 6, 2023 |
| January 17 – January 23 | February 13, 2023 |
| January 24 – January 30 | February 20, 2023 |
| January 31- February 6 | February 27, 2023 |
| February 7 – February 13 | March 6, 2023 |
| February 14 – February 20 | March 13, 2023 |
| February 20 – February 27 | March 20, 2023 |
| February 28 – March 6 | March 27, 2023 |
| March 7 – March 13 | April 3, 2023 |
| March 14 – March 20 | April 10, 2023 |
| March 21 – March 27 | April 17, 2023 |
| March 28 – April 3 | April 24, 2023 |
| April 4 – April 10 | May 1, 2023 |
| April 11 – April 17 | May 8, 2023 |
| April 18 – April 24 | May 15, 2023 |
| April 25 – May 1 | May 22, 2023 |
| May 2 – May 8 | *May 29, 2023 |
| May 9 – May 15 | June 5, 2023 |
| May 16 – May 22 | June 12, 2023 |
| May 23 – May 29 | *June 19, 2023 |
| May 30 – June 5 | June 26, 2023 |
| June 6 – June 12 | July 3, 2023 |
| June 13 – June 19 | July 10, 2023 |
| June 20 – June 26 | July 17, 2023 |
| June 27 – July 3 | July 24, 2023 |
| July 4 – July 10 | July 31, 2023 |
| July 11 – July 17 | August 7, 2023 |
| July 18 – July 24 | August 14, 2023 |
| July 25 – July 31 | August 21, 2023 |
| August 1 – August 7 | August 28, 2023 |
| August 8 – August 14 | *September 4, 2023 |
| August 15 – August 21 | September 11, 2023 |
| August 22 – August 28 | September 18, 2023 |
| August 29 – September 4 | September 25, 2023 |
| September 5 – September 11 | October 2, 2023 |
| September 12 – September 18 | October 9, 2023 |
| September 19 – September 25 | October 16, 2023 |
| September 26 – October 2 | October 21, 2023 |
| October 3 – October 9 | October 30, 2023 |
| October 10 – October 16 | November 6, 2023 |
| October 17 – October 23 | November 13, 2023 |
| October 24 – October 30 | November 20, 2023 |
| October 31 – November 6 | November 27, 2023 |
| November 7 – November 13 | December 4, 2023 |
| November 14 – November 20 | December 11, 2023 |
| November 21 – November 27 | December 18, 2023 |
| November 28 – December 4 | *December 25, 2023 |
| December 5 – December 11 | *January 1, 2024 |
| December 12 – December 18 | January 8, 2024 |
| December 19 – December 25 | *January 15, 2024 |
| December 26 – January 1 | January 22, 2024 |
| January 2 – January 8 | January 29, 2024 |
Disclaimer: This deadline calculator is for informational purposes only. Exercise your own due diligence and double-check your deadlines using your own calendar or software tools. By using this site you agree to do your own independent date calculation for your case and hold CourtDeadlines.com harmless for any issues arising from a missed deadline.
As noted above, Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 99(b) says the citation accompanying a plaintiff’s Petition shall direct the defendant to answer on or before 10:00 a.m. on the first Monday after the expiration of 20 days after the date of service.
If a defendant is served by publication and citation was issued from a district or county court, a defendant’s answer is due by 10:00 a.m. on the first Monday after the expiration of 42 days after the issuance of citation. Tex. R. Civ. P. 114.
Answer Deadline in Texas small claims court
Links to Texas courts
- Texas Supreme Court: https://www.txcourts.gov/supreme/
- Texas Court of Criminal Appeals: https://www.txcourts.gov/court-of-criminal-appeals/
- Texas Court of Appeals: https://www.txcourts.gov/court-of-appeals/
- Texas District Courts: https://www.txcourts.gov/district-courts/
- Texas County Courts: https://www.txcourts.gov/county-courts/
- Texas Justice Courts: https://www.txcourts.gov/justice-courts/
Note that these links are for informational purposes only, and should not be considered legal advice.
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