Answer in justice court (justice court only)
14 days after date the defendant was served with the citation and petition, under Tex. R. Civ. P. 502.5(d).
Rule text
Unless the defendant is served by publication, the defendant’s answer is due by the end of the 14th day after the day the defendant was served with the citation and petition, but (1) if the 14th day is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the answer is due on the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday; and (2) if the 14th day falls on a day during which the court is closed before 5:00 p.m., the answer is due on the court’s next business day.
Calculate this deadline
- Trigger (Date the defendant was served with the citation and petition): Friday, November 6, 2026.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 14 calendar days: Friday, November 20, 2026.
Tex. R. Civ. P. 502.5(d)
Unless the defendant is served by publication, the defendant’s answer is due by the end of the 14th day after the day the defendant was served with the citation and petition, but (1) if the 14th day is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the answer is due on the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday; and (2) if the 14th day falls on a day during which the court is closed before 5:00 p.m., the answer is due on the court’s next business day.Official source
Tex. R. Civ. P. 4
In computing any period of time prescribed or allowed by these rules, by order of court, or by any applicable statute, the day of the act, event, or default after which the designated period of time begins to run is not to be included. The last day of the period so computed is to be included, unless it is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, in which event the period runs until the end of the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays shall not be counted for any purpose in any time period of five days or less in these rules, except that Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays shall be counted for purpose of the three-day periods in Rules 21 and 21a, extending other periods by three days when service is made by mail.Official source
- JUSTICE COURT ONLY (outside the district/county scope; included as requested). No Monday rule and no 10:00 a.m. time. Computation in justice court is governed by Rule 500.4, which also extends a deadline if the court closes before 5:00 p.m. Eviction cases are governed by Rule 510 (rewritten in 2026) and have different deadlines; not covered here.
- If the clerk's office is closed or inaccessible on the last day (weather, emergency or local closure orders), the deadline may be extended. Check local orders.
This calculator applies the cited rules to the dates you enter. It is not legal advice. Court orders, local rules, and case-specific facts can change a deadline; verify before relying on it. Rule set pending attorney review.
Worked example
Date the defendant was served with the citation and petition on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Monday, March 29, 2027.
- Trigger (Date the defendant was served with the citation and petition): Monday, March 15, 2027.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 14 calendar days: Monday, March 29, 2027.
Notes
JUSTICE COURT ONLY (outside the district/county scope; included as requested). No Monday rule and no 10:00 a.m. time. Computation in justice court is governed by Rule 500.4, which also extends a deadline if the court closes before 5:00 p.m. Eviction cases are governed by Rule 510 (rewritten in 2026) and have different deadlines; not covered here.
Related deadlines
- Answer to petition (district and county court) (Monday after 20 days, 10:00 AM)
- Answer in justice court when served by publication (justice court only) (42 days after)
- Responses to requests for production, interrogatories, and requests for admissions (30 days after)
- Initial disclosures (30 days after)
- Initial disclosures for a party served or joined after the first answer (30 days after)
- Pretrial disclosures (trial witnesses and exhibits) (30 days before)
- Rule 91a motion to dismiss: filing deadline (60 days after)
- Rule 91a motion to dismiss: must be filed before hearing (21 days before)
Rules current as of 2026-10-23. Confirm against the official source and any local rule or court order before relying on a date. Rules changelog.