Rule 500.4.Computation of Time; Timely Filing

Last verified June 28, 2026

In one sentenceRule 500.4 explains how to count deadlines in justice court — exclude the triggering day, count every day, and roll a deadline that lands on a weekend, holiday, or court-closed day to the next business day — and lets the judge extend most periods for good cause.

Full Text of Rule 500.4

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c)

(a) Computation of Time. To compute a time period in these rules:

(1) exclude the day of the event that triggers the period;

(2) count every day, including Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays; and

(3) include the last day of the period, but

(A) if the last day is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the time period is extended to the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday; and

(B) if the last day for filing falls on a day during which the court is closed before 5:00 p.m., the time period is extended to the court’s next business day.

(b) Timely Filing by Mail. Any document required to be filed by a given date is considered timely filed if deposited in the U.S. mail on or before that date, and received within 10 days of the due date. A legible postmark affixed by the United States Postal Service is evidence of the date of mailing.

(c) Extensions. The judge may, for good cause shown, extend any time period under these rules except those relating to new trial and appeal.

End

Plain-English Summary

Rule 500.4 sets the calendar rules. To compute a deadline, exclude the day of the triggering event, count every day including weekends and holidays, and include the last day — but if the last day is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, or a day the court closes before 5:00 p.m., the deadline moves to the next business day. A document due by a date is timely filed if deposited in the U.S. mail on or before that date and received within 10 days of the due date.

The judge may, for good cause, extend any period under these rules — except the periods relating to new trial and appeal, which are fixed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are deadlines counted in Texas justice court?

Exclude the first day, count every day after, and if the last day is a weekend, holiday, or court-closed day, the deadline moves to the next business day (Rule 500.4).

Can a justice court extend a deadline?

Yes, for good cause — except the new-trial and appeal deadlines, which the judge cannot extend.

Source & verification. Rule text and the official Notes and Comments are reproduced verbatim from the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (Tex. R. Civ. P. 500.4), 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: computation of timetimely filingdeadline justice courtTRCP 500.4