Rule 505.1.Judgment

Last verified June 28, 2026

In one sentenceRule 505.1 governs the justice-court judgment — announced in open court after a verdict or bench decision — and sets what it must contain, including the parties' rights, costs, the judge's dated signature, an appeal notice, and an exempt-property notice on money judgments.

Full Text of Rule 505.1

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

(a) Judgment Upon Jury Verdict. Where a jury has returned a verdict, the judge must announce the verdict in open court, note it in the court’s docket, and render judgment accordingly. The judge may render judgment on the verdict or, if the verdict is contrary to the law or the evidence, judgment notwithstanding the verdict.

(b) Case Tried by Judge. When a case has been tried before the judge without a jury, the judge must announce the decision in open court, note the decision in the court’s docket, and render judgment accordingly.

(1) clearly state the determination of the rights of the parties in the case;

(2) state who must pay the costs;

(3) be signed by the judge;

(4) be dated the date of the judge’s signature;

(5) state:

(A) in a repair and remedy case: “You may appeal this judgment by filing a notice of appeal within 21 days after this judgment was signed. See Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 509.8.”; or

(B) in a case other than a repair and remedy case: “You may appeal this judgment by filing a bond, making a cash deposit, or filing a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs within 21 days after this judgment was signed. See Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 506.”; and

(6) if it awards monetary damages, state: “If you are an individual (not a company), your money or property may be protected from being taken to pay this judgment. Find out more by visiting www.texaslawhelp.org/exempt-property. / Si usted es una persona física (y no una compañía), su dinero o propiedad pudieran estar protegidos de ser embargados como pago de esta deuda decretada en juicio en contra suya. Obtenga mayor información visitando el sitio www.texaslawhelp.org/exempt-property.”

(d) Costs. The judge must award costs allowed by law to the successful party.

(e) Judgment for Specific Articles. Where the judgment is for the recovery of specific articles, the judgment must order that the plaintiff recover such specific articles, if they can be found, and if not, then their value as assessed by the judge or jury with interest at the prevailing post-judgment interest rate.

End

Plain-English Summary

Rule 505.1 covers the judgment. After a jury verdict, the judge announces it in open court and notes it in the docket; in a bench trial the judge announces the decision the same way. The judgment must clearly state the parties' rights, say who pays costs, be signed and dated by the judge, and include an appeal notice — a 21-day notice of appeal in a repair and remedy case, and a bond-or-deposit notice in other cases.

A judgment awarding money must also carry a notice that an individual's money or property may be protected from collection. The judge awards costs to the successful party, and a judgment for specific articles must order their return or payment of their value.

Frequently Asked Questions

What must a Texas justice court judgment contain?

A clear statement of the parties' rights, who pays costs, the judge's dated signature, an appeal notice, and — for money judgments — an exempt-property notice (Rule 505.1).

What must a Texas justice court judgment say about appeal rights?

In a repair and remedy case, that the losing party may appeal by filing a notice of appeal within 21 days; in any other case, that the party may appeal by filing a bond, a cash deposit, or a Statement of Inability within 21 days (Rule 505.1(c)(5)).

What happens to a justice court judgment for specific articles?

The judgment orders the plaintiff to recover the specific articles if they can be found, or, if not, their assessed value with post-judgment interest (Rule 505.1(e)).

Source & verification. Rule text and the official Notes and Comments are reproduced verbatim from the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (Tex. R. Civ. P. 505.1), 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: judgment justice courtform of judgmentappeal noticeexempt property noticeTRCP 505.1