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 2022 Texas Answer Date Chart | Answer Deadline Calculator
| Date Served | Answer Due By 10:00 AM |
|---|---|
| December 28 – January 3 | January 24, 2022 |
| January 4 – January 10 | January 31, 2022 |
| January 11 – January 17 | February 7, 2022 |
| January 18 – January 24 | February 14, 2022 |
| January 25 – January 31 | February 21, 2022 |
| February 1- February 7 | February 28, 2022 |
| February 8 – February 14 | March 7, 2022 |
| February 15 – February 21 | March 14, 2022 |
| February 22 – February 28 | March 21, 2022 |
| March 1 – March 7 | March 28, 2022 |
| March 8 – March 14 | April 4, 2022 |
| March 15 – March 21 | April 11, 2022 |
| March 22 – March 28 | April 18, 2022 |
| March 29 – April 4 | April 25, 2022 |
| April 5 – April 11 | May 2, 2022 |
| April 12 – April 18 | May 9, 2022 |
| April 19 – April 25 | May 16, 2022 |
| April 26 – May 2 | May 23, 2022 |
| May 3 – May 9 | *May 30, 2022 |
| May 10 – May 16 | June 6, 2022 |
| May 17 – May 23 | June 13, 2022 |
| May 24 – May 30 | *June 20, 2022 |
| May 31 – June 6 | June 27, 2022 |
| June 7 – June 13 | *July 4, 2022 |
| June 14 – June 20 | July 11, 2022 |
| June 21 – June 27 | July 18, 2022 |
| June 28 – July 4 | July 25, 2022 |
| July 5 – July 11 | August 1, 2022 |
| July 12 – July 18 | August 8, 2022 |
| July 19 – July 25 | August 15, 2022 |
| July 26 – August 1 | August 22, 2022 |
| August 2 – August 8 | August 29, 2022 |
| August 9 – August 15 | *September 5, 2022 |
| August 16 – August 22 | September 12, 2022 |
| August 23 – August 29 | September 19, 2022 |
| August 30 – September 5 | September 26, 2022 |
| September 6 – September 12 | October 3, 2022 |
| September 13 – September 19 | October 10, 2022 |
| September 20 – September 26 | October 17, 2022 |
| September 27 – October 3 | October 24, 2022 |
| October 4 – October 10 | October 31, 2022 |
| October 11 – October 17 | November 7, 2022 |
| October 18 – October 24 | November 14, 2022 |
| October 25 – October 31 | November 21, 2022 |
| November 1 – November 7 | November 28, 2022 |
| November 8 – November 14 | December 5, 2022 |
| November 15 – November 21 | December 12, 2022 |
| November 22 – November 28 | December 19, 2022 |
| November 29 – December 5 | December 26, 2022 |
| December 6 – December 12 | January 2, 2023 |
| December 13 – December 19 | January 9, 2023 |
| December 20 – December 26 | January 16, 2023 |
| December 27 – January 2 | January 23, 2023 |
*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.