In one sentenceRule 503.2 lets a party seek summary disposition of a claim or defense without a trial, by sworn motion on file at least 14 days, when no disputed facts or no evidence of an essential element prevents judgment.
(a)Motion. A party may file a sworn motion for summary disposition of all or part of a claim or defense without a trial. The motion must set out all supporting facts. All documents on which the motion relies must be attached. The motion must be granted if it shows that:
(1)there are no genuinely disputed facts that would prevent a judgment in favor of the party;
(2)there is no evidence of one or more essential elements of a defense which the defendant must prove to defeat the plaintiff’s claim; or
(3)there is no evidence of one or more essential elements of the plaintiff’s claim.
(b)Response. The party opposing the motion may file a sworn written response to the motion.
(c)Hearing. The court must not consider a motion for summary disposition until it has been on file for at least 14 days. The judge may consider evidence offered by the parties at the hearing. By agreement of the parties, the judge may decide the motion and response without a hearing.
(d)Order. The judge may enter judgment as to the entire case or may specify the facts that are established and direct such further proceedings in the case as are just. A judgment must comply with Rule 505.1.
End
Plain-English Summary
Rule 503.2 is the justice-court counterpart to summary judgment. A party may file a sworn motion for summary disposition of all or part of a claim or defense without a trial, on the ground that there is no real fact dispute, or no evidence of an essential element of a claim or of a defense. The opposing party may file a sworn written response.
The court must not consider the motion until it has been on file at least 14 days. The judge may enter judgment on the whole case or specify the established facts and direct further proceedings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there summary judgment in Texas justice court?
Yes, called summary disposition. Rule 503.2 lets a party seek judgment without a trial by sworn motion on file at least 14 days.
What must a summary disposition motion include in Texas justice court?
Rule 503.2 requires a sworn statement of the supporting facts, with copies of every document the motion relies on attached.
Does summary disposition in Texas justice court always require a hearing?
No. Rule 503.2 lets the judge decide the motion and response without a hearing if the parties agree.
Source & verification. Rule text and the official Notes and Comments are reproduced verbatim from the
Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (Tex. R. Civ. P. 503.2), 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:summary dispositionjustice court summary judgmentfourteen daysTRCP 503.2