Eviction Hearing

Serve the statutory pre-suit notice for your ground

Chapter 83 notices are strictly construed — the 3-day nonpayment notice excludes weekends and court holidays by its own terms.

File the complaint; possession counts proceed in summary procedure

Section 51.011 governs the possession count's accelerated track.

Calendar the tenant's short answer window

Under summary procedure the answer runs in days, not weeks — the docket moves accordingly.

Watch the rent-registry requirement

Section 83.60(2): a tenant raising defenses to nonpayment must deposit accrued rent into the court registry — absent deposit or a proper motion, the landlord is entitled to default on possession.

Check county-specific first-hearing and mediation practices

Several counties route residential evictions to mediation or special dockets; the county page controls.

After judgment, the clerk issues the writ of possession

The sheriff executes after the posted notice period; coordinate lockout logistics with the sheriff's civil unit.