Rule 140.No Fee for Copy
Last verified June 28, 2026
In one sentenceRule 140 bars taxing a fee in the bill of costs for copying any paper that the law or rules do not require to be copied.
Full Text of Rule 140
No fee for a copy of a paper not required by law or these rules to be copied shall be taxed in the bill of costs.
End
Plain-English Summary
Rule 140 keeps unnecessary copy charges out of the bill of costs. No fee may be taxed for a copy of a paper that the law or these rules do not require to be copied.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can copy fees be added to Texas court costs?
Only for copies the law or rules require. Under Rule 140, a fee for any other copy may not be taxed in the bill of costs.
Who decides whether a paper needs to be copied under Rule 140?
The law or these rules. If neither requires the paper to be copied, no fee for copying it belongs in the bill of costs.
Does Rule 140 limit fees for copies the law does require?
No. It only bars charging for copies of papers that aren't required to be copied; required copies aren't affected.
Source & verification. Rule text and the official Notes and Comments are reproduced verbatim from the
Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (Tex. R. Civ. P. 140), 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: no fee for copycopy feesbill of costsTRCP 140