Rule 24.Duty of Clerk

Last verified June 28, 2026

In one sentenceRule 24 requires the clerk, on receiving a petition, to endorse the file number and the day and time of filing on it and to sign officially.

Full Text of Rule 24

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When a petition is filed with the clerk he shall indorse thereon the file number, the day on which it was filed and the time of filing, and sign his name officially thereto.

End

Plain-English Summary

Rule 24 fixes what the clerk does the moment a suit arrives. When a petition is filed, the clerk endorses on it the file number, the day it was filed, and the time of filing, and signs officially. That endorsement creates the official record of when the case began.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the clerk write on a petition under Rule 24?

The file number, the day of filing, and the time of filing, with the clerk's official signature.

Why does the time of filing matter under Rule 24?

Because it fixes the moment the case began. The day and time the clerk endorses on the petition become the official record for questions that turn on when a suit was filed.

Does the clerk have to sign the petition personally?

Yes. Rule 24 has the clerk endorse the file number and the filing date and time, then sign officially, so the endorsement carries the clerk's authority.

Source & verification. Rule text and the official Notes and Comments are reproduced verbatim from the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (Tex. R. Civ. P. 24), 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: duty of clerkendorse the petitionfile-stamptime of filingTRCP 24