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In justice-court eviction cases: the citation sets a personal-appearance trial day not less than 10 nor more than 21 days after the petition is filed; a written answer is permitted but NOT required (appearing on the trial day is what matters); no trial may be held until 4 days after service; an appeal must be perfected within 5 days after the judgment is signed; and a defendant who appeals must affirm, under penalty of perjury, a good faith belief in a meritorious defense and that the appeal is not for the purpose of delay.
Texas > Justice courts (eviction cases)
510.8(b)(10) — (10) state the day the defendant must appear in person for trial at the court issuing citation, which must not be less than 10 days nor more than 21 days after the petition is filed; 510.11 — RULE 510.11. ANSWER (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. 510.15 — RULE 510.15. TRIAL (a) Trial Date. The defendant must appear for trial on the trial day listed in the citation or later trial notice. (b) Trial. An eviction case will be docketed and tried as other cases. No eviction trial may be held until 4 days has passed after service under Rule 510.8. 510.19(a) — (a) How Taken; Time. A party may appeal a judgment in an eviction case by filing a bond, making a cash deposit, or filing a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs under (c) with the justice court within 5 days after the judgment is signed. A defendant who files an appeal must affirm, under penalty of perjury, the defendant's good faith belief that the defendant has a meritorious defense and that the appeal is not for the purpose of delay. Such affirmation is not reviewable by the justice court. An appeal is perfected when a bond, cash deposit, or Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs is timely filed with the justice court.
Reviewer note: The justice-court 500-series is RESTRUCTURED in the current compilation (510.1-510.24): the trial window anchors to the petition FILING date and a written answer is optional - older descriptions of a service-anchored window or a required answer are superseded. Applicability 2026-09-09 (fix program 2026-09-09, Phase 5, audit M7): specific -> universal — the row binds every court in its state/circuit/county scope and names no court, judge or division. | 2026-10-03 (fix program 2026-10-03, N3): rule 510.19(a) in the compilation posted 2026-10-03 continues past the sentence this card quoted with a defendant's sworn affirmation and the definition of when an appeal is perfected; the card now quotes all of (a) verbatim (pypdfium2 and PyMuPDF agree; printed pages 279-280), and the summary names the affirmation. | 2026-10-03 (fix program 2026-10-03, M10): receipt moved to the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure compilation posted 2026-10-03 (media 1463426); every quoted fragment of this card is present in it.
The Precinct 4 justice court's instruction letter: a plea of no contest or guilty makes the fine and costs due, a not-guilty plea brings a mailed court date, remittances by money order or cashier's check only (personal checks returned), juveniles 16 and under must contact the court with a parent or guardian before the appearance date, and payment online or by phone.
3 verbatim requirements from Checklist.