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Small Claims Cases

Information about small claims cases in Texas justice courts.

The Defendant's Answer

The answer is the defendant's written response to the lawsuit filed against them. For most defendants, the answer is due by the end of the 14th day after the day the defendant was served with the citation and the petition.

For defendants that were served by publication, the answer is due by the end of the 42nd day after the day the citation was issued.

Court Rules

Understanding the Law

Forms

See the "Civil Procedure - Filing Through Trial" section on the Forms page of the Texas Justice Court Training Center's website for sample answers to small claims and debt claim cases.

E-Books

Texas residents can access e-books with a free library account.

Books

Available when you visit the library in person.

Note The library cannot tell you what the law means for your situation.

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