Tex. R. Civ. P. 47 · A. General
CLAIMS FOR RELIEF
Text — As posted by the Supreme Court of Texas (file dated October 2, 2026)
An original pleading which sets forth a claim for relief, whether an original petition, counterclaim, cross-claim, or third party claim, shall contain
(a) a short statement of the cause of action sufficient to give fair notice of the claim involved;
(b) a statement that the damages sought are within the jurisdictional limits of the court;
(c) except in suits governed by the Family Code, a statement that the party seeks:
(1) only monetary relief of $325,000 or less, excluding interest, statutory or punitive damages and penalties, and attorney fees and costs;
(2) monetary relief of $325,000 or less and non-monetary relief;
(3) monetary relief over $325,000 but not more than $1,000,000;
(4) monetary relief over $1,000,000; or
(5) only non-monetary relief; and
(d) a demand for judgment for all the other relief to which the party deems himself entitled.
Relief in the alternative or of several different types may be demanded; provided, further, that upon special exception the court shall require the pleader to amend so as to specify the maximum amount claimed. A party that fails to comply with (c) may not conduct discovery until the party’s pleading is amended to comply.
Notes and commentary — not rule text
Notes and Comments
Comment to 2013 change: Rule 47 is amended to require a more specific statement of the relief sought by a party. The amendment requires parties to plead into or out of the expedited actions process governed by Rule 169, added to implement section 22.004(h) of the Texas Government Code. Except in a suit governed by the Family Code, the Property Code, the Tax Code, or Chapter 74 of the Civil Practice & Remedies Code, a suit in which the original petition contains the statement in paragraph (c)(1) is governed by the expedited actions process. The further specificity in paragraphs (c)(2)-(5) is to provide information regarding the nature of cases filed and does not affect a party’s substantive rights.
Comment to 2021 change: Rule 47 is amended to implement section 22.004(h-1) of the Texas Government Code. A suit in which the original petition contains the statement in paragraph (c)(1) is governed by the expedited actions process in Rule 169.
Comment to 2026 change: Rule 47 is amended to implement amendments to section 22.004(h-1) of the Texas Government Code.
Source of truth
- Edition
- As posted by the Supreme Court of Texas (file dated October 2, 2026)
- Official file
- https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1463426/texas-rules-of-civil-procedure.pdf (PDF pages 53–54)
- Text hash
- sha256 79a7543f80e0353dc0cca7a7c2846edcacc0f9910ba973ef9a43112aa68e4c3d
- Composed by
- compose_tx_rules.py 2026-10-05: two PDF extractors agree character for character after the same chrome removal
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