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Texas Debt Law

Answering the lawsuit and deadlines

What happens if I miss the answer deadline?

Short answer

The plaintiff can ask for a default judgment. But if no judgment has been signed yet, you can usually still file an Answer, and the court must consider it. File immediately; don't assume it's too late.

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Updated November 2026. General information about Texas law, not legal advice for your case. Laws and court rules change; we review these answers regularly.

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