Rule 200.Depositions upon Written Questions

Last verified June 28, 2026

In one sentenceRule 200 lets a party depose a witness through written questions answered under oath before a deposition officer, with cross, redirect, and re-cross questions exchanged in writing on set deadlines.

Full Text of Rule 200

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200.1 Procedure for Noticing Deposition Upon Written Questions.

(a) Who may be noticed; when. A party may take the testimony of any person or entity by deposition on written questions before any person authorized by law to take depositions on written questions. A notice of intent to take the deposition must be served on the witness and all parties at least 20 days before the deposition is taken. A deposition on written questions may be taken outside the discovery period only by agreement of the parties or with leave of court. The party noticing the deposition must also deliver to the deposition officer a copy of the notice and of all written questions to be asked during the deposition.

(b) Content of notice. The notice must comply with Rules 199.1(b), 199.2(b), and 199.5(a)(3). If the witness is an organization, the organization must comply with the requirements of that provision. The notice also may include a request for production of documents as permitted by Rule 199.2(b)(5), the provisions of which will govern the request, service, and response.

200.2 Compelling Witness to Attend. A party may compel the witness to attend the deposition on written questions by serving the witness with a subpoena under Rule 176. If the witness is a party or is retained by, employed by, or otherwise subject to the control of a party, however, service of the deposition notice upon the party's attorney has the same effect as a subpoena served on the witness.

200.3 Questions and Objections.

(a) Direct questions. The direct questions to be propounded to the witness must be attached to the notice.

(b) Objections and additional questions. Within ten days after the notice and direct questions are served, any party may object to the direct questions and serve cross-questions on all other parties. Within five days after cross-questions are served, any party may object to the cross-questions and serve redirect questions on all other parties. Within three days after redirect questions are served, any party may object to the redirect questions and serve re-cross questions on all other parties. Objections to re-cross questions must be served within five days after the earlier of when re-cross questions are served or the time of the deposition on written questions.

(c) Objections to form of questions. Objections to the form of a question are waived unless asserted in accordance with this subdivision.

200.4 Conducting the Deposition Upon Written Questions. The deposition officer must: take the deposition on written questions at the time and place designated; record the testimony of the witness under oath in response to the questions; and prepare, certify, and deliver the deposition transcript in accordance with Rule 203. The deposition officer has authority when necessary to summon and swear an interpreter to facilitate the taking of the deposition.

End

Notes and Comments

Comments to 1999 change: 1. The procedures for asserting objections during oral depositions under Rule 199.5(e) do not apply to depositions on written questions. 2. Section 20.001 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code provides that a deposition on written questions of a witness who is alleged to reside or to be in this state may be taken by a clerk of a district court, a judge or clerk of a county court, or a notary public of this state.

Plain-English Summary

Rule 200 is the written-question alternative to a live deposition. A party serves notice at least 20 days before the deposition and delivers the direct questions to the deposition officer, who puts them to the witness under oath. The other parties build the record in writing: cross-questions within 10 days of the direct questions, redirect within 5 days of the cross, and re-cross within 3 days of the redirect.

It is the low-cost route for routine or distant witnesses, such as records custodians. The trade-off is that no one can follow up on an answer in real time, so it suits routine testimony rather than a probing examination.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much notice is required for a deposition on written questions in Texas?

At least 20 days before the deposition. The party noticing it must also deliver the notice and all written questions to the deposition officer.

When are cross-questions due under Rule 200?

Cross-questions are due within 10 days after the direct questions are served, redirect within 5 days of the cross-questions, and re-cross within 3 days of the redirect.

Source & verification. Rule text and the official Notes and Comments are reproduced verbatim from the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (Tex. R. Civ. P. 200), 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: deposition on written questionswritten questionsdepo on written questionsTRCP 200