Rule 500.2.Definitions
Last verified June 28, 2026
In one sentenceRule 500.2 defines the terms used throughout the justice-court rules — from answer and citation to judgment, party, and sworn — so the simplified Part V vocabulary stays consistent across Rules 500 to 509.
Full Text of Rule 500.2
In Rules 500 to 509 :
(a) “Answer” is the written response that a party who is sued must file with the court after being served with a citation.
(b) “Citation” is the court-issued document required to be served upon a party to inform the party that it has been sued.
(c) “Claim” is the legal theory and alleged facts that, if proven, entitle a party to relief against another party in court.
(d) “Clerk” is a person designated by the judge as a justice court clerk, or the judge if there is no clerk available.
(e) “Counterclaim” is a claim brought by a party who has been sued against the party who filed the lawsuit, for example, a defendant suing a plaintiff.
(f) “County court” is the county court, statutory county court, or district court in a particular county with jurisdiction over appeals of civil cases from justice court.
(g) “Court proceeding” is an appearance before the court, such as a hearing or a trial.
(h) “Cross-claim” is a claim brought by one party against another party on the same side of a lawsuit. For example, if a plaintiff sues two defendants, the defendants can seek relief against each other by means of a cross-claim.
(i) “Default judgment” is a judgment awarded to a plaintiff when the defendant fails to answer and dispute the plaintiff’s claims in the lawsuit.
(j) “Defendant” is a party who is sued, including a plaintiff against whom a counterclaim is filed.
(k) “Defense” is an assertion by a defendant that the plaintiff is not entitled to relief from the court.
(l) “Discovery” is the process through which parties obtain information from each other in order to prepare for trial or enforce a judgment. The term does not refer to any information that a party is entitled to under applicable law.
(m) “Dismissed without prejudice” means a case has been dismissed but has not been finally decided and may be refiled.
(n) “Judge” is a justice of the peace.
(o) “Judgment” is a final order by the court that states the relief, if any, a party is entitled to or must provide.
(p) “Jurisdiction” is the authority of the court to hear and decide a case.
(q) “Motion” is a request that the court make a specified ruling or order.
(r) “Notice” is a document delivered by the court or a party stating that the recipient must take action or informing the recipient of action that has been taken.
(s) “Participant” is any party, attorney, witness, or juror who participates in a court proceeding.
(t) “Party” is a person or entity involved in the case that is either suing or being sued, including all plaintiffs, defendants, and third parties that have been joined in the case.
(u) “Petition” is a formal written application stating a party’s claims and requesting that the court order relief.
(v) “Plaintiff” is a party who sues, including a defendant who files a counterclaim.
(w) “Pleading” is a written document filed by a party, including a petition and an answer, that states a claim or defense and outlines the relief sought from the court.
(x) “Relief” is the remedy a party requests from the court, such as the recovery of money or the return of property.
(y) “Serve” and “service” are delivery of citation and the petition as required by Rule 501.2, or of a document as required by Rule 501.4.
(z) “Sworn” means signed in front of someone authorized to take oaths, such as a notary, or signed to include the statement that the other statements in the document are true and correct under penalty of perjury. Filing a false sworn document can result in criminal prosecution. (aa) “Third party claim” is a claim brought by a party being sued against someone who is not yet a party to the case.
End
Plain-English Summary
Rule 500.2 is the dictionary for Part V. It defines the words used in Rules 500 to 509 in plain language a self-represented litigant can follow — including answer, citation, claim, counterclaim, cross-claim, default judgment, defendant, discovery, judgment, jurisdiction, motion, party, petition, plaintiff, pleading, relief, serve, and sworn.
A few definitions carry weight elsewhere: "judge" means a justice of the peace, "county court" means the court that hears appeals from the justice court, and "sworn" means signed before someone authorized to take oaths or with the required truth statement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "judge" mean in the Texas justice court rules?
Under Rule 500.2, a justice of the peace.
What does "sworn" mean under the Texas justice court rules?
Rule 500.2 defines it as signed before someone authorized to take oaths, such as a notary, or signed with a statement that the document's other statements are true and correct under penalty of perjury. Filing a false sworn document can lead to criminal prosecution.
What is a "cross-claim" in Texas justice court?
Rule 500.2 defines it as a claim one party brings against another party on the same side of the lawsuit — for example, one of two sued defendants seeking relief from the other.
Source & verification. Rule text and the official Notes and Comments are reproduced verbatim from the
Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (Tex. R. Civ. P. 500.2), 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: definitionsjustice court definitionskey terms justice courtglossary justice court termsTRCP 500.2