Rule 147.Applies to Any Party
Last amended April 1, 1984 · Last verified June 28, 2026
Full Text of Rule 147
Plain-English Summary
Rule 147 extends the cost-security rules across the case. The rules on security for costs and the rule for costs apply to any party who seeks a judgment against any other party — not just the plaintiff. A counterclaimant or cross-claimant is subject to them too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the security-for-costs rules apply to counterclaims in Texas?
Yes. Under Rule 147, the security and rule-for-costs provisions apply to any party seeking a judgment against another party.
Why does Rule 147 exist alongside Rules 142 and 143?
Because those rules focus on plaintiffs and suits by their own terms. Rule 147 makes clear the same security and rule-for-costs provisions reach any party seeking judgment against another party.
Does a defendant asserting a cross-claim face the same security-for-costs rules as a plaintiff?
Yes. Rule 147 puts any party seeking a judgment against another party, including a cross-claimant, under the same rules an original plaintiff faces.