Texas Civil Litigation Deadlines | Texas Court Deadlines Reference
A consolidated reference to key procedural deadlines in Texas civil cases, including answer dates, discovery periods, motion practice, expert designations, and appellate timing.
Texas civil litigation involves a series of procedural deadlines that govern when parties must respond to pleadings, complete discovery, designate experts, and file appeals. Many of these deadlines arise from the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure.
This Texas litigation deadlines hub organizes the most common Texas civil procedure deadlines and provides calculators and explanations for each rule.
Download a copy of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, last amended January 1, 2026, or review our introductory guide to the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.
- How the Texas answer deadline works under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 99.
- How to interpret the “Monday next following the expiration of twenty days” language.
- When the answer deadline begins running in Texas civil cases (service-driven timing).
- Common reasons answer deadlines get miscalculated (weekends, holidays, and service issues).
- Texas discovery periods under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 190 (Levels 1, 2, and 3).
- How to identify the governing discovery level and calculate when discovery closes.
- Practical timing issues that affect discovery (scheduling orders, trial settings, and resets).
- What lawyers usually mean when they ask: “When does discovery close in Texas?”
- Deadlines for traditional and no-evidence summary judgment under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 166a.
- How far in advance a motion must be filed and served (and when responses are due).
- How hearing settings and local practice affect real-world response timelines.
- Texas expert designation timing, including affirmative experts and rebuttal experts.
- How expert deadlines interact with discovery levels, trial settings, and scheduling orders.
- Practical timing questions that arise immediately after final judgment is signed.
- Texas service rules and return deadlines in civil cases.
For County Court Information, see our Texas County Clerk Directory.
Use our Texas answer deadline calculator to determine the appearance day under Rule 99.