EVICTION HELP

Eviction papers in Texas: free help

Free, and based on the court's and the legislature's own sources. No account, no payment.

Your deadline

Go in person to the justice court on the trial day and time printed on your citation. You may file a written answer on or before that day, and a general denial is enough, but an answer is not required. If your citation says 'The petition includes a motion for summary disposition', file a written response within 4 days after you were served.

Date printed on your papers

the day and time the citation says you must appear in person for trial

My papers include this: Written response to a motion for summary disposition

ONLY when the citation's first page says 'The petition includes a motion for summary disposition'. Under Rule 510.10(a) that motion is allowed in a suit alleging forcible entry and detainer; in a forcible detainer suit (an ordinary tenant who stays after notice) Rule 510.10(b) sends a summary disposition motion to Rule 503.2 instead.

If you do not answer or appear

If you do not appear for trial, the judge can enter a default judgment against you and the landlord's claims are taken as true.

Source: Tex. Prop. Code 24.0051(c); Tex. R. Civ. P. 510.8(b)(11), 510.16(a)

Cost to answer

The state court fee list for justice courts lists no fee for filing an answer. A counterclaim is not allowed in an eviction case; a claim against the landlord goes in a separate suit (Tex. R. Civ. P. 510.6(f)). An appeal filed with the justice court costs $54, and a jury costs $22. If you cannot pay, file a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs.

Source: OCA, Justice Court Civil Suits and Actions (effective January 1, 2024), items 3 and 10; OCA, Justice Court Civil Filing Fees (effective January 1, 2024), item 6, Jury Fee; Tex. R. Civ. P. 510.6(f), 510.7, 510.15(c)(2)

What your papers are called

Citation (styled 'The State of Texas'), with the landlord's sworn Petition attached. Its first page carries a bold notice titled 'Suit to Evict', which the statute requires in English and Spanish. Justice court (justice of the peace court) for the precinct where the property is.

Free help

The court's answer formCivil Answer (Eviction), TexasLawHelp.org (CV-House-102 (Rev. 9-2026))
The court's eviction self-help pageTexasLawHelp.org: Eviction Answer and Defense Guide
Free legal helpLegal Aid of NorthWest Texas (114 counties in North and West Texas) · 855-548-8457Lone Star Legal Aid (East Texas and the Gulf Coast) · (800) 733-8394Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (68 counties in central and southwest Texas) · (956) 996-8752
Help in SpanishAyuda Tribunal de Texas (Texas Court Help, a partnership including the Texas Office of Court Administration), en españolDeclaración de incapacidad de pagar los costos judiciales (Statement of Inability, bilingual Supreme Court form)

Are you the landlord?

Whether a company landlord needs a lawyer depends on the court and the case.

In justice court, a corporation, LLC or other company landlord does NOT need a lawyer: it may be represented by an employee, owner, officer or partner who is not a lawyer, or by a property manager or other authorized agent. On appeal to county court, the statute allows a non-lawyer agent only for an owner of a multifamily residential property in an appeal of a nonpayment eviction; otherwise a company should expect to need a lawyer there (UNVERIFIED: the county court representation rule itself was not read).

Source: Tex. R. Civ. P. 510.3(b); Tex. Prop. Code 24.011

The court's landlord form: Petition: Eviction Case (Texas Justice Court Training Center model form) (TJCTC model)

Hello Court never helps with a lockout, removing a tenant's belongings, or shutting off utilities. Only a court order and the officer it names can remove a tenant.

If you want more, Hello Court can help you organize your case and prepare your court forms for a one-time fee. Everything above stays free.

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Sources read on 2026-10-06.