Answering a lawsuit in Texas

Tex. R. Civ. P. 510.11 — 11. Answer

Held word for word in the DocketRouter rules corpus; this is the rule's own text, not a summary.

(a) Not Required. The defendant may, but is not required to, file a written answer with the court on or before the day set for trial in the citation. (b) Service; Contents. If the defendant files a written answer with the court, the defendant must serve a copy of the answer on the plaintiff. The answer must contain: (1) the name of the defendant; and (2) the name, address, telephone number, and fax number, if any, of the defendant’s attorney, if applicable, or the address, telephone number, and fax number, if any, of the defendant. (c) General Denial. An answer that denies all of the plaintiff’s allegations without specifying the reasons is sufficient to constitute an answer or appearance and does not bar the defendant from raising any defense at trial. (d) Answer Docketed. The defendant’s answer must be noted on the court’s docket.

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Tex. R. Civ. P. 502.5 — 5. Answer

Held word for word in the DocketRouter rules corpus; this is the rule's own text, not a summary.

(a) Requirements. A defendant must file with the court a written answer to a lawsuit as directed by the citation and must also serve a copy of the answer on the plaintiff. The answer must contain: (1) the name of the defendant; (2) the name, address, telephone number, and fax number, if any, of the defendant’s attorney, if applicable, or the address, telephone number, and fax number, if any, of the defendant; and (3) if the defendant consents to email service, a statement consenting to email service and email contact information. (b) General Denial. An answer that denies all of the plaintiff’s allegations without specifying the reasons is sufficient to constitute an answer or appearance and does not bar the defendant from raising any defense at trial. (c) Answer Docketed. The defendant’s appearance must be noted on the court’s docket. (d) Due Date. Unless the defendant is served by publication, the defendant’s answer is due by the end of the 14th day after the day the defendant was served with the citation and petition, but (1) if the 14th day is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the answer is due on the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday; and (2) if the 14th day falls on a day during which the court is closed before 5:00 p.m., the answer is due on the court’s next business day. (e) Due Date When Defendant Served by Publicatio…

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Tex. R. Civ. P. 117a — Citation In Suits For Delinquent Ad Valorem Taxes

Held word for word in the DocketRouter rules corpus; this is the rule's own text, not a summary.

must have been in general circulation for at least one year immediately prior to the first publication and shall in every respect answer the requirements of the law applicable to newspapers which are employed for such a purpose, the first publication to be not less than twenty-eight days prior to the return day fixed in the citation; and the affidavit of the editor or publisher of the newspaper giving the date of publication, together with a printed copy of the citation as published, shall constitute sufficient proof of due publication when returned and filed in court. If there is no newspaper published in the county, then the publication may be made in a newspaper in an adjoining county, which newspaper shall in every respect answer the requirements of the law applicable to newspapers which are employed for such a purpose. The maximum fee for publishing the citation shall be the lowest published word or line rate of that newspaper for classified advertising. If the publication of the citation cannot be had for this fee, chargeable as costs and payable upon sale of the property, as provided by law, and this fact is supported by the affidavit of the attorney for the plaintiff or the attorney requesting the issuance of the process, then service of the citation may be made by posting a copy at the courthouse door of the county in which the suit is pending, the citation to be poste…

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Tex. R. Civ. P. 108a — Service Of Process In Foreign Countries

Held word for word in the DocketRouter rules corpus; this is the rule's own text, not a summary.

(a) Method. Service of process may be effected on a party in a foreign country if the citation and petition is served: (1) as prescribed by the foreign country’s law for service in that country in an action in its courts of general jurisdiction; (2) as the foreign authority directs in response to a letter rogatory or letter of request; (3) as provided by Rule 106(a); (4) pursuant to the terms and provisions of any applicable international agreement; (5) by diplomatic or consular officials when authorized by the United States Department of State; or (6) by other means not prohibited by international agreement or the foreign country’s law, as the court orders. The method for service of process in a foreign country must be reasonably calculated, under all of the circumstances, to give actual notice of the proceedings to the defendant in time to answer and defend. A defendant served with process under this rule must appear and answer in the same manner and time and under the same penalties as if the defendant had been personally served with citation within this state to the full extent that the defendant may be required to appear and answer under the Constitution of the United States or under any applicable international agreement in an action either in rem or in personam. (b) Return. Proof of service may be made as prescribed by the foreign country’s …

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