Texas Debt Lawsuit Answer Form: what to file, where, and by when
Last verified against official court sources: 2026-07-02
Texas publishes no official statewide answer form — the Texas State Law Library confirms it. Defendants use the free court-vetted forms instead: TexasLawHelp's Debt Lawsuit Answer for justice court (CV-ANS-103) or the general Civil Answer (CV-ANS-102), or the Texas Justice Court Training Center's answer form. Filing an answer is free, and Texas allows a simple general denial.
No official form — but the free substitutes are court-vetted
Most Texas debt suits are filed in justice court (up to $20,000) under Rule 508. TexasLawHelp — the statewide legal-aid form site — publishes a debt-specific answer form with instructions, and the state-funded Texas Justice Court Training Center publishes its own on its self-represented debt-claim page. For district or county court, use the general Civil Answer form. A written general denial with a certificate of service also satisfies the rules.
The Texas twist
Two courts, two completely different deadlines
Justice court: your answer is due 14 days after service (Rule 502.5). District or county court: it is due by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next after 20 days from service — an oddly specific rule that trips people up every week. Read your citation to see which court you are in before counting days.
Deadlines, filing, fees, and service
- Deadline: justice court — 14 days after service. District/county court — 10:00 a.m. on the Monday after 20 days from service.
- Filing: eFileTexas.gov works for self-represented defendants, but in-person, mail, and (where accepted) email filing remain valid.
- Fee: filing an answer costs nothing in Texas.
- Serving the plaintiff: deliver a copy to the plaintiff or their attorney; the forms include a certificate of service section.
Common questions
Is there an official Texas form to answer a debt collection lawsuit?
No — Texas does not publish a statewide answer form. The free TexasLawHelp forms and the Texas Justice Court Training Center forms are the standard substitutes, and courts accept them routinely.
What is a general denial in Texas?
A short statement denying every allegation and requiring the plaintiff to prove its case. Texas is unusual in allowing it for most civil defendants — it preserves your defenses without admitting anything. Adding a verified denial or affirmative defenses can strengthen it in debt-buyer cases.
Does it cost anything to file an answer in Texas?
No. Filing an answer is free in Texas courts.
How do I know if I was sued in justice court or county court?
The citation (summons) names the court. "Justice Court" or "Justice of the Peace, Precinct N" means the 14-day deadline applies; "County Court at Law" or "District Court" means the Monday-after-20-days rule applies.
Primary sources
This page provides general legal information verified against the official sources linked above; it is not legal advice, and court rules change — confirm current requirements with your clerk of court. Answered is self-help software, not a law firm. If you can afford a lawyer, hire one.