Texas Justice Court
Fees and Deadlines
The statewide filing-fee structure is only the starting point. Service fees, filing methods, and deadline details vary or depend on your papers.
Legal information only: This site provides legal information for Texas Justice Court users. It is not legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and does not replace advice from a licensed Texas attorney or instructions from your court. County and precinct practices vary. Filing methods, local forms, service fees, court closures, and clerk procedures can change. Always verify details with the correct Justice of the Peace court before filing or relying on a deadline.
Important
- Fees change and service costs are local. Verify the fee page for your county and precinct.
- Deadlines can be affected by court closures, service facts, and post-judgment filings.
Filing fee versus service fee
The common statewide starting point is $54: $21 state consolidated civil fee plus $33 local consolidated civil fee.
Service is usually separate and often charged for each defendant. County service fees vary by county and sometimes by precinct.
Deadline Reference Table
Use this table as a starting point only. Your court papers and court closure rules can change the practical deadline.
| Event | Baseline Rule | Verification Warning |
|---|---|---|
| Answer in non-eviction Justice Court case | Generally 14 days after service. | If the court is closed on the due date, verify the next-open-day rule with the court. |
| Answer in eviction case | Check the eviction citation and trial setting. Many eviction answers may be filed up to and including the hearing date. | Evictions move quickly. Do not rely on a generic day count. |
| Jury request in non-eviction Justice Court case | Generally at least 14 days before trial, with a $22 fee unless costs are waived. | Local forms and fee-waiver handling vary. Confirm with the court. |
| Jury request in eviction case | Generally at least 3 days before trial, with a $22 fee unless costs are waived. | Verify the exact deadline and filing method with the court handling the eviction. |
| Appeal from non-eviction Justice Court judgment | Generally 21 days from the signed judgment, or from denial of a timely post-judgment motion. | Post-judgment motions can affect timing. Verify before relying on a deadline. |
| Appeal from eviction judgment | Generally 5 days after the Justice Court signs the eviction judgment. | Missing this deadline can be case-ending. Registry-rent deadlines may also apply. |
| First registry rent payment after eviction appeal | Generally 5 days after filing the appeal if the tenant wants to stay in the home during appeal. | The judgment and appeal paperwork may specify the amount. Verify immediately. |
| Motion to set aside default / motion for new trial tracking | Often tracked as 14 days after the signed judgment in Justice Court materials. | Post-judgment timing is high-risk. Verify the rule and your judgment date with the court. |
Deadline Calculator
Estimate answer, jury-request, and appeal dates from the dates you enter.
Answer
Estimated non-eviction answer date: Enter a date.
Jury request
Estimated jury request deadline: Enter a date.
Non-eviction cases generally use 14 days before trial; evictions generally use 3 days before trial.
Appeal
Estimated appeal deadline: Enter a date.
Non-eviction appeals are generally 21 days after judgment.
Fee Estimator
Estimate filing plus in-county service cost for configured counties. This does not include every possible cost.
Travis County estimate
Base filing fee estimate: $54.
Configured first-defendant service estimate: $90.
Estimated total for 1 defendant: $144.
Filing method note: Travis JP pages say civil filings are accepted electronically. Verify exact precinct instructions.
JP civil fee schedule lists $54 filing and $90 service for one party for original civil filings, eviction cases, and repair/remedy.
Source: Travis County JP Civil Fee Schedule as of January 1, 2026. Last reviewed: 2026-05-01. Verification required: yes.