Rule 501.3.Duties of Officer or Person Receiving Citation; Return of Service

Last verified June 28, 2026

In one sentenceRule 501.3 sets the server's duties — endorsing the citation, executing it without delay, and completing a detailed return of service — and makes a proper, filed return a prerequisite to any default judgment.

Full Text of Rule 501.3

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h)

(a) Endorsement; Execution; Return. The officer or authorized person to whom process is delivered must:

(1) endorse on the process the date and hour on which he or she received it;

(2) execute and return the same without delay; and

(3) complete a return of service, which may, but need not, be endorsed on or attached to the citation.

(b) Contents of Return. The return, together with any document to which it is attached, must include the following information:

(1) the case number and case name;

(2) the court in which the case is filed;

(3) a description of what was served;

(4) the date and time the process was received for service;

(5) the person or entity served;

(6) the address served;

(7) the date of service or attempted service;

(8) the manner of delivery of service or attempted service;

(9) the name of the person who served or attempted service;

(10) if the person named in (9) is a process server certified by the Judicial Branch Certification Commission, his or her identification number and the expiration date of his or her certification; and

(11) any other information required by rule or law.

(c) Citation by Mail. When the citation is served by registered or certified mail as authorized by Rule 501.2(b)(2), the return by the officer or authorized person must also contain the receipt with the addressee’s signature.

(d) Failure to Serve. When the officer or authorized person has not served the citation, the return must show the diligence used by the officer or authorized person to execute the same and the cause of failure to execute it, and where the defendant is to be found, if ascertainable.

(e) Signature. The officer or authorized person who serves or attempts to serve a citation must sign the return. If the return is signed by a person other than a sheriff, constable, or clerk of the court, the return must either be verified or be signed under penalty of perjury. A return signed under penalty of perjury must contain the statement below in substantially the following form: “My name is (First) (Middle) (Last) , I am at least 18 years old, and my address is (Street), (City), (State) (Zip Code), (Country) . I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed in County, State of , on the day of (Month) , (Year) . Declarant”

(f) Alternative Service. Where citation is executed by an alternative method as authorized by 501.2(e), proof of service must be made in the manner ordered by the court.

(g) Filing Return. The return and any document to which it is attached must be filed with the court.

(h) Prerequisite for Default Judgment. No default judgment may be granted in any case until proof of service as provided by this rule, or as ordered by the court in the event citation is executed by an alternative method under 501.2(e), has been on file with the clerk of the court 3 days, exclusive of the day of filing and the day of judgment.

End

Plain-English Summary

Rule 501.3 covers proof of service. The server must endorse the date and hour the citation was received, execute and return it without delay, and complete a return of service. The return must include the case details, what was served, the dates and manner of service, who served it, and — for a certified process server — the server's identification number and expiration.

Special provisions cover mail service, a failed-service return showing diligence, the signature, and alternative service. The return must be filed with the court, and no default judgment may be granted until proof of service under this rule has been on file for the required time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a return of service in justice court?

The server's filed proof of how and when the citation was served. Rule 501.3 makes it a prerequisite to a default judgment.

How long must proof of service sit on file before a default judgment in Texas justice court?

At least 3 days, not counting the day it was filed or the day of judgment (Rule 501.3(h)).

What information belongs in a return of service in Texas justice court?

Rule 501.3 lists the case number and name, the court, what was served, when it was received and served, who was served and at what address, the manner of delivery, and the server's name — plus a certified process server's identification number and certification expiration.

Source & verification. Rule text and the official Notes and Comments are reproduced verbatim from the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (Tex. R. Civ. P. 501.3), 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: return of serviceproof of serviceduties of officerTRCP 501.3