Appellee's appearance or answer on appeal to district court
In counties covered by Texas Rule 330, an appellee in a case appealed to district court must appear or answer by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next after 20 days from the date the appeal was filed. Enter that filing date to find it.
- TRCP 330(a)
- TRCP 4
Find the appearance date
Appeal from an inferior court to district court, Rule 330 counties.
The day of filing is not counted.
Holidays and court closures
The national holidays in Texas Government Code 662.003(a) are always skipped.
Off by default. Only turn this on if your court was closed that day.
For weather or emergency closures. Check the court's notice to confirm it extends deadlines.
How the deadline is counted
- Skip the filing day. Count from the day after the appeal was filed in the district court.
- Count 20 days. Every day counts, and day 20 is not moved even if it falls on a weekend.
- Go to the first Monday after day 20. If day 20 is itself a Monday, the deadline is the following Monday.
- Check that Monday for a holiday. If the court is closed, the deadline moves to the next day it is open.
- Appear or answer by 10:00 a.m.
Worked examples
| Example | Appeal filed | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Appeal filed on a Monday | Mon, Nov 2, 2026 | Mon, Nov 23, 2026 |
| Appeal filed on a Tuesday | Tue, Nov 3, 2026 | Mon, Nov 30, 2026 |
| Monday deadline lands on Memorial Day | Tue, May 4, 2027 | Tue, Jun 1, 2027 |
Which counties this covers
Rule 330 applies to civil cases in district courts in counties where the only district court with civil jurisdiction, or all of them, hold successive terms throughout the year with no more than two days between terms. In those counties the appeal and transcript must also be filed in district court within 30 days after the judgment or order appealed from was rendered.
Check the rule applies. Appeals from justice court to county court follow Part V of the rules, not Rule 330. Confirm the court and county before relying on this date.
Common questions
How is this different from the normal Texas answer date?
The counting method is the same Monday-next rule, but the 20 days run from the date the appeal is filed in district court, not from service of citation.
Does the 10:00 a.m. cutoff apply?
Yes. Rule 330(a) requires the appearance or answer on or before 10:00 a.m. on the Monday.
What if day 20 is a Sunday?
Day 20 is not moved. The deadline is the very next day, Monday, unless that Monday is a holiday.
Sources
- Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 330(a)
- Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 4
Rules last checked October 2026. This calculator does not give legal advice. Confirm the date against the rule and any order in your case.