Texas Court Rules Guide
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Overview
Texas state courts operate under the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (TRCP), along with local rules established by individual courts. The Texas court system includes district courts, county courts, and justice courts, each with specific jurisdiction and procedural requirements.
Important: Texas has unique discovery procedures and deadlines that differ significantly from federal practice.
Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (TRCP)
Key TRCP Sections
- • Rules 1-14: General provisions
- • Rules 15-46: Institution of suit
- • Rules 47-123: Service, appearance, answer
- • Rules 166-215: Discovery
- • Rules 245-329: Trial procedure
Response Deadlines
- • 20 days: Answer to petition (Monday after 20 days)
- • 30 days: Non-resident defendants
- • 7 days: Motion to transfer venue
- • 10 days: Special exceptions
Texas Court Structure
District Courts
- • General jurisdiction
- • Felony criminal cases
- • Civil cases over $200
- • Family law matters
County Courts
- • Limited jurisdiction
- • Civil: $200-$250,000
- • Misdemeanor criminal
- • Probate matters
Justice Courts
- • Small claims
- • Civil: up to $20,000
- • Eviction suits
- • Traffic violations
Service of Process
TRCP 106: Methods of Service
Service Methods
- • Personal service by sheriff/constable
- • Certified mail, return receipt requested
- • Service by private process server
- • Publication (court-ordered)
- • Alternative methods by court order
Corporate Service
- • Registered agent
- • President or vice president
- • Secretary of State (foreign corps)
- • Agent authorized by appointment
Return and Proof of Service
| Service Method | Return Deadline | Proof Required |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Service | 30 days | Officer's return |
| Certified Mail | 30 days | Return receipt + postal receipt |
| Private Process Server | 10 days | Affidavit of service |
Time Calculation Rules
TRCP 4: Computation of Time
- 1Monday Rule: When deadline falls on Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, it's extended to Monday (or next business day).
- 2Answer deadline: By 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next following the expiration of twenty days.
- 3Exclude service day: Do not count the day of service when calculating deadlines.
Texas State Holidays
- • New Year's Day
- • Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- • Presidents' Day
- • Texas Independence Day (March 2)
- • San Jacinto Day (April 21)
- • Memorial Day
- • Independence Day
- • Lyndon B. Johnson Day (August 27)
- • Labor Day
- • Columbus Day
- • Veterans Day
- • Thanksgiving
- • Friday after Thanksgiving
- • Christmas Eve
- • Christmas Day
- • December 26
Court-Specific Considerations
- • Check local court holiday schedules
- • Some courts close early on certain days
- • Emergency filing procedures
- • Electronic filing deadlines (11:59 PM)
- • Individual judge preferences
Discovery Procedures
Discovery Levels
Level 1
- • Divorces with children
- • Other family law
- • Limited discovery
- • Special procedures
Level 2
- • Most civil cases
- • Standard discovery limits
- • Pretrial conference required
- • Discovery deadlines
Level 3
- • Court-ordered plan
- • Complex litigation
- • Custom discovery rules
- • Case management
Standard Discovery Deadlines (Level 2)
| Discovery Type | Deadline | Response Time |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Disclosures | 30 days after defendant's answer | N/A |
| Interrogatories | 30 days before trial | 30 days |
| Request for Production | 30 days before trial | 30 days |
| Depositions | 30 days before trial | Reasonable notice |
Local Court Rules
Harris County District Courts
- • Electronic filing required
- • Mandatory ADR programs
- • Specific scheduling orders
- • Motion practice requirements
- • Case management conferences
Dallas County District Courts
- • Pretrial scheduling orders
- • Discovery deadlines
- • Motion filing requirements
- • Trial setting preferences
- • Settlement conference rules
Travis County District Courts
- • Case management procedures
- • Discovery conferences
- • Motion submission deadlines
- • Electronic service requirements
- • Mediation programs
Tarrant County District Courts
- • Jury trial procedures
- • Bench trial scheduling
- • Discovery management
- • Motion practice rules
- • Alternative dispute resolution
Common Texas Deadlines
| Procedure | Deadline | TRCP Rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Answer to Petition | 20 days (Monday rule) | TRCP 99 | 10:00 AM Monday deadline |
| Motion to Transfer Venue | 7 days | TRCP 86 | Before any other plea |
| Special Exceptions | 10 days | TRCP 90 | Point out defects |
| Motion for New Trial | 30 days | TRCP 329b | From judgment signing |
| Appeal Notice | 30 days | TRAP 26.1 | From final judgment |