Texas District or County Court
Texas Justice of the Peace (JP) Court
U.S. Federal District Court (Texas Districts)
*Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Deadlines can be affected by specific local rules, holidays, or court closures. Always consult with a licensed Texas attorney to verify your specific filing requirements.
Understanding Texas Answer Deadlines
In the Texas legal system, the "clock" for responding to a lawsuit begins the moment you are legally served with a citation and petition. Unlike many other states that use a simple 20 or 30-day count, Texas utilizes a unique "Monday Next" rule for most of its higher courts.
1. Texas District and County Courts (The "Monday Next" Rule)
According to Rule 99 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, an answer in a District or County Court is due by 10:00 AM on the Monday next following the expiration of 20 days after the date of service.
Example: If you are served on a Tuesday, the 20th day would fall on a Monday. The deadline is the next Monday (the 27th day after service).
2. Justice of the Peace Courts
Justice Courts (often used for small claims or evictions) operate under Rule 502.5. The answer is generally due by the end of the 14th day after the date of service. If the 14th day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the answer is due on the next day that the court is open.
3. Federal Courts in Texas
If you have been sued in a Federal District Court (such as the Northern, Southern, Eastern, or Western District of Texas), the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (Rule 12) generally grant 21 days from the date of service to file a responsive pleading.
Important Considerations for Filing
Court Type
Standard Rule
Time of Day
District/County
Monday after 20 days
10:00 AM
Justice Court
14 Days
End of business day
Federal Court
21 Days
Midnight (Electronic)
What Happens if You Miss the Deadline?
Missing a filing deadline in Texas can lead to a Default Judgment. This means the plaintiff (the person suing you) can ask the judge to grant them everything they asked for in the lawsuit because you failed to appear and defend yourself. If you have missed your deadline, you should contact an attorney immediately to discuss a "Motion to Set Aside Default Judgment" or a "Motion for New Trial."
function calculateTexasDeadline() {
var serviceDateStr = document.getElementById("serviceDate").value;
var courtType = document.getElementById("courtType").value;
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("tx-result");
var output = document.getElementById("deadlineOutput");
if (!serviceDateStr) {
alert("Please select a valid date of service.");
return;
}
var serviceDate = new Date(serviceDateStr + "T00:00:00");
var deadline = new Date(serviceDate);
var explanation = "";
var timeRef = "";
if (courtType === "district") {
// Rule: Monday next following the expiration of 20 days
deadline.setDate(serviceDate.getDate() + 20);
// Find the next Monday
var dayOfWeek = deadline.getDay(); // 0 is Sunday, 1 is Monday…
var daysUntilMonday = (8 – dayOfWeek) % 7;
// If the 20th day IS a Monday, the rule says "Monday next following",
// which usually means the NEXT Monday (add 7 days).
if (dayOfWeek === 1) {
deadline.setDate(deadline.getDate() + 7);
} else {
deadline.setDate(deadline.getDate() + daysUntilMonday);
}
timeRef = "10:00 AM";
explanation = "Based on Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 99, your answer is due by 10:00 AM on the Monday next following the expiration of 20 days from the date of service.";
}
else if (courtType === "justice") {
// Rule: 14 days
deadline.setDate(serviceDate.getDate() + 14);
// If ends on weekend, move to Monday
if (deadline.getDay() === 0) { // Sunday
deadline.setDate(deadline.getDate() + 1);
} else if (deadline.getDay() === 6) { // Saturday
deadline.setDate(deadline.getDate() + 2);
}
timeRef = "End of Business Day";
explanation = "Based on Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 502.5, your answer in Justice Court is due by the end of the 14th day after service. If that day is a weekend or holiday, it moves to the next business day.";
}
else if (courtType === "federal") {
// Rule: 21 days
deadline.setDate(serviceDate.getDate() + 21);
// If ends on weekend, move to Monday
if (deadline.getDay() === 0) {
deadline.setDate(deadline.getDate() + 1);
} else if (deadline.getDay() === 6) {
deadline.setDate(deadline.getDate() + 2);
}
timeRef = "11:59 PM (Electronic Filing)";
explanation = "Under FRCP Rule 12, you generally have 21 days to respond to a summons. If the 21st day falls on a weekend, the deadline is extended to the following Monday.";
}
var options = { weekday: 'long', year: 'numeric', month: 'long', day: 'numeric' };
var finalDateStr = deadline.toLocaleDateString('en-US', options);
resultDiv.style.display = "block";
output.innerHTML = "Estimated Filing Deadline:" +
"