2026 Texas Answer Deadline Chart

2026 Texas Answer Deadline Chart (Rule 99(b))

This chart shows when an answer is due in Texas state court based on the date a defendant was served with a lawsuit. In Texas district and county courts, a defendant generally has 20 days to answer, plus extra time to the following Monday. Under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 99(b), the written answer must be filed by 10:00 a.m. on the first Monday after 20 days have passed from the date of service.

How to Calculate a Texas Answer Date (10:00 a.m. Monday Rule)

Step 1: Start counting 20 calendar days from the date the defendant was served.
Step 2: After those 20 days end, find the next Monday.
Step 3: The answer is due by 10:00 a.m. on that Monday.

1
Service Date
→
2
+ 20 days
→
3
The Following Monday
@ 10:00 a.m.
Date Of ServiceAnswer Is Due Monday 10:00 A.M.Date Of ServiceAnswer Is Due Monday 10:00 A.M.
Dec. 29 – Jan. 5January 26, 2026July 7 – July 13August 3, 2026
Jan. 6 – Jan. 12February 2, 2026July 14 – July 20August 10, 2026
Jan. 13 – Jan. 19February 10, 2026July 21 – July 27August 17, 2026
Jan. 20 – Jan. 26February 16, 2026July 28 – Aug. 3August 24, 2026
Jan. 27 – Feb. 2February 23, 2026Aug. 4 – Aug. 10August 31, 2026
Feb. 3 – Feb. 9March 2, 2026Aug. 11 – Aug. 17September 7, 2026
Feb. 10 – Feb. 16March 9, 2026Aug. 18 – Aug. 24September 14, 2026
Feb. 17 – Feb. 23March 16, 2026Aug. 25 – Aug. 31September 21, 2026
Feb. 24 – Mar. 2March 23, 2026Sept. 1 – Sept. 7September 28, 2026
Mar. 3 – Mar. 9March 30, 2026Sept. 8 – Sept. 14October 5, 2026
Mar. 10 – Mar. 16April 6, 2026Sept. 15 – Sept. 21October 12, 2026
Mar. 17 – Mar. 23April 13, 2026Sept. 22 – Sept. 28October 19, 2026
Mar. 24 – Mar. 30April 20, 2026Sept. 29 – Oct. 5October 26, 2026
Mar. 31 – Apr. 6April 27, 2026Oct. 6 – Oct. 12November 2, 2026
Apr. 7 – Apr. 13May 4, 2026Oct. 13 – Oct. 19November 9, 2026
Apr. 14 – Apr. 20May 11, 2026Oct. 20 – Oct. 26November 16, 2026
Apr. 21 – Apr. 27May 18, 2026Oct. 27 – Nov. 2November 23, 2026
Apr. 28 – May 4May 25, 2026Nov. 3 – Nov. 9November 30, 2026
May 5 – May 11June 1, 2026Nov. 10 – Nov. 16December 7, 2026
May 12 – May 18June 8, 2026Nov. 17 – Nov. 23December 14, 2026
May 19 – May 25June 15, 2026Nov. 24 – Nov. 30December 21, 2026
May 26 – June 1June 22, 2026Dec. 1 – Dec. 7December 28, 2026
June 2 – June 8June 29, 2026Dec. 8 – Dec. 14January 4, 2027
June 9 – June 15July 6, 2026Dec. 15 – Dec. 21January 11, 2027
June 16 – June 22July 13, 2026Dec. 22 – Dec. 28January 18, 2027
June 23 – June 29July 20, 2026Dec. 29 – Jan. 4January 25, 2027
June 30 – July 6July 27, 2026Jan. 5 – Jan. 11February 1, 2027
 
 
Court holiday on Monday; answer due the following Tuesday.

* If the listed Monday is a Texas court holiday and courts are closed, the answer is due the next business day (typically Tuesday). This chart is informational only—verify deadlines against the current Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and any applicable local rules/holiday schedules.

Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 99(b) requires that the citation accompanying the petition direct the defendant to file an answer on or before 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next after the expiration of 20 days from the date of service.

If the answer date falls on a state holiday when Texas courts are closed, the answer is due on the next business day.

This Answer Date Calculator applies only to lawsuits filed in Texas state courts and does not apply to Justice Courts. Eviction answers may be due in as few as 7 days.

This calculator is provided for informational purposes only. Always verify current rules.

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