How to Answer a Debt Lawsuit in Texas

Your deadline to answer in Texas

Justice Court (debt claim case): 14 days.
County or District Court: by 10 a.m. on the Monday after 20 days.

Justice Court: by the end of the 14th day after you were served. If that day is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, or the court closes before 5:00 p.m., it is due the next business day. County or District Court: by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday after 20 days have passed since you were served.

Law: Tex. R. Civ. P. 502.5(a), (b), (d); 99(b); 145

In nearby states

Oklahoma: 20 days
Louisiana: 10 days
New Mexico: 20 days
Arkansas: 30 days

Count your exact deadline

How you must be served in Texas

Service means officially getting the court papers. Your deadline usually starts that day.

Justice Court: a sheriff, constable, certified process server, or the court clerk (by mail) must deliver the citation and petition to you in person, or mail them to you by registered or certified mail, restricted delivery, with return receipt. County or District Court: the same, by personal delivery or registered or certified mail with return receipt. If those methods fail, the court can allow another method, such as leaving the papers with anyone older than 16 at a place where you can probably be found, or service by email or social media.

Law: Tex. R. Civ. P. 501.2(a)-(b), (e); 106(a)-(b)

Defenses you can raise in Texas

The limit is 4 years, and a debt buyer cannot sue on a debt once that period has run; a payment does not restart it. In justice court, the plaintiff in a debt claim case must prove ownership of the account and how it acquired it.

Law: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004(a)(3); Tex. Fin. Code § 392.307(c)-(d); Tex. R. Civ. P. 508.3(b)(3)(D)

A written-contract debt in Texas must be sued on within 4 years. Raise an older debt as a defense in your answer.

Debt buyer lawsuits in Texas: the full rules

How to file your answer in Texas

File a written answer with the court clerk named on the citation and send a copy to the plaintiff. The answer must give your name, address and phone number, and may say whether you agree to email service. A simple 'general denial' (denying everything without giving reasons) is enough and does not stop you from raising any defense at trial.

No official answer form in Texas: what your answer contains

We found no statewide answer form for Texas, so you write your own answer. Ask the court clerk whether your court has a local form. Most written answers have these parts:

The case heading, copied from the summons: the court's name, the case number, the plaintiff's name and your name.
A title, such as “Answer”.
Your reply to what the complaint says: admit it, deny it, or say you don't know enough to admit or deny it.
Any defenses you have, for example that the debt is not yours, was already paid, or is too old to sue on.
Your signature, printed name, mailing address, phone number and the date, and a line saying when and how you sent a copy to the plaintiff's lawyer.

Official court help for Texas: Texas Judicial Branch Self-Help

Court fees in Texas

If you can't pay the fees

Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs or an Appeal Bond (Supreme Court of Texas form, bilingual): https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1456942/statement-of-inability-to-afford-payment-of-court-costs-or-an-appeal-bond-bilingual.pdf

Can't afford court costs or an appeal bond? The Supreme Court of Texas Statement of Inability: type your answers, get the filled PDF. Fill out the Statement of Inability online (free)

Mediation and settlement in Texas

A justice court judge may order any case to mediation or another alternative dispute resolution process.

Law: Tex. R. Civ. P. 503.5

Your answer, step by step

Look at the summons
Find the court, the case number and the plaintiff's lawyer on the summons.
Count the days
Your deadline in Texas: Justice Court (debt claim case): 14 days; County or District Court: by 10 a.m. on the Monday after 20 days. Fill in the calculator above to see your court and your last day here.
Answer in writing
The clerk takes your answer; the plaintiff's lawyer gets a copy; you keep a copy.
Make them show the paperwork
A documents request letter asks for the contract and proof of ownership.
Get help
Free help: TexasLawHelp.org (free legal information and legal aid finder) and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid.

Federal rules in every state

Where a collector must sue. A debt collector that sues you over a consumer debt must file where you signed the contract or where you live when the suit starts. Law: 15 U.S.C. 1692i(a)(2)
Old debts. A debt collector must not sue you, or threaten to sue you, on a debt that is too old to sue on. Law: 12 CFR 1006.26(b)

Where to get free help in Texas

Questions about answering in Texas

How many days do I get to answer in Texas?

Justice Court: by the end of the 14th day after you were served. If that day is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, or the court closes before 5:00 p.m., it is due the next business day. County or District Court: by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday after 20 days have passed since you were served.

What do I file to answer in Texas?

File a written answer with the court clerk named on the citation and send a copy to the plaintiff. The answer must give your name, address and phone number, and may say whether you agree to email service. A simple 'general denial' (denying everything without giving reasons) is enough and does not stop you from raising any defense at trial.

Can Texas courts waive my fees?

Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs or an Appeal Bond (Supreme Court of Texas form, bilingual): https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1456942/statement-of-inability-to-afford-payment-of-court-costs-or-an-appeal-bond-bilingual.pdf

More for Texas

Sources

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Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.

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How to answer a debt lawsuit in Texas

Short answer