This Texas Answer Deadline Calculator applies only to lawsuits in county and district courts in the State of Texas. For cases pending in federal courts, please see our federal rules deadline calculators.
How long do I have to answer a civil lawsuit in Texas?
In cases in district or county court, a defendant must file a written answer by 10:00 a.m. on the first Monday after the expiration of 20 days following the service of citation on the defendant. Tex. R. Civ. P. 99(b).
View the 2023 Texas Answer Date Chart | Texas Answer Deadline Calculator
| 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 |
*This is a court holiday. Therefore, the answer is due on the following Tuesday.
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.
When the answer date falls on a state holiday and the state courts are closed, the answer is due the following business day.
Always verify the current Texas rules, as well as possible rules advisories, when using this answer date table.
View our deadline calculators for resources to help you determine other due dates.
