Last amended December 31, 1941 · Last verified June 28, 2026
In one sentenceRule 114 sets the contents of a publication citation — styled “The State of Texas,” carrying the requisites of Rules 15 and 99, with no petition copy attached, and commanding a district or county court defendant to appear by 10 a.m. the first Monday after 42 days.
Full Text of Rule 114
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Where citation by publication is authorized by these rules, the citation shall contain the requisites prescribed by Rules 15 and 99, in so far as they are not inconsistent herewith, provided that no copy of the plaintiff's petition shall accompany this citation, and the citation shall be styled "The State of Texas" and shall be directed to the defendant or defendants by name, if their names are known, or to the defendant or defendants as designated in the petition, if unknown, or such other classification as may be fixed by any statute or by these rules. Where there are two or more defendants or classes of defendants to be served by publication, the citation may be directed to all of them by name and classification, so that service may be completed by publication of the one citation for the required number of times. The citation shall contain the names of the parties, a brief statement of the nature of the suit (which need not contain the details and particulars of the claim) a description of any property involved and of the interest of the named or unknown defendant or defendants, and, where the suit involves land, the requisites of Rule 115. If issued from the district or county court, the citation shall command such parties to appear and answer at or before 10 o'clock a.m. of the first Monday after the expiration of 42 days from the date of issuance thereof, specifying the day of the week, the day of the month, and the time of day the defendant is required to answer. If issued from the justice of the peace court, such citation shall command such parties to appear and answer on or before the first day of the first term of court which convenes after the expiration of 42 days from the date of issue thereof, specifying the day of the week, and the day of the month, that such term will meet.
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Plain-English Summary
Rule 114 prescribes what a published citation must contain. It carries the requisites of Rules 15 and 99 so far as they fit, but no copy of the petition is attached. It is styled “The State of Texas” and directed to the defendants by name if known, or by the petition's designation if unknown. Two or more defendants or classes may be named in a single citation so one publication serves them all.
The citation states the parties, a brief statement of the nature of the suit, and a description of any property and the defendants' interest. From a district or county court, it commands the defendant to appear by 10 o'clock a.m. on the first Monday after 42 days from issuance, naming the exact day; from a justice court, by the first day of the first term after 42 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
When must a defendant answer a published citation in Texas?
Under Rule 114, by 10 a.m. on the first Monday after 42 days from the citation's issuance (in district or county court).
What must a published citation say under Rule 114?
It is styled “The State of Texas,” names the parties or the class if names are unknown, gives a brief statement of the suit, and describes any property and the defendants' interest — all without a copy of the petition attached.
Can one citation serve several defendants by publication under Rule 114?
Yes. Where two or more defendants or classes must be reached by publication, a single citation can name and classify all of them, so one round of publication completes service on everyone.
Source & verification. Rule text and the official Notes and Comments are reproduced verbatim from the
Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (Tex. R. Civ. P. 114), published by the Texas Judicial Branch (txcourts.gov).
Promulgated by the Supreme Court of Texas. The plain-English summary is original and draws on official sources. Last verified June 28, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as:citation by publication requisitespublished citation contents42 daysTRCP 114