New Braunfels is the Comal County seat, but not all of the city is in Comal County. Of its roughly 116,477 residents (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 estimate), about 77% live in Comal County and about 23% in Guadalupe County. That split decides where a debt lawsuit against you is filed: in New Braunfels and nearby Comal County courts, or in Seguin, the Guadalupe County seat.

Texas Debt Law defends people sued over credit cards, personal loans and accounts bought by debt buyers. We work for flat fees, and most of the work happens by phone, text, email and electronic filing.

Free Case Evaluation(214) 945-0000

Step One: Which County Is Your Home In?

Look at your property tax statement or voter registration card. If it says Comal County, read the next section. If it says Guadalupe County, skip to the one after. If you can't tell, send us the citation; the court's name will settle it.

Comal County Side

Justice courts. Comal County has four justices of the peace. The county's own pages list Justice of the Peace #1 on David Jonas Drive in New Braunfels, #2 in Bulverde, #3 on West San Antonio Street in New Braunfels, and #4 on Oak Drive in New Braunfels with a Canyon Lake mailing address. The same page links to a "Find your precinct" map where you can enter an address. The county says its justice courts hear civil and small claims suits up to $20,000, and it encourages people with court business to use phone, computer or mail when possible.

County Courts at Law. Comal County has three County Courts at Law, located at 199 Main Plaza in New Braunfels. One local rule stands out: the county says that, except for condemnations and evictions, all civil matters must be mediated before a trial request is made. In a debt case, that means a structured settlement conference is part of the path to trial.

District courts. The county's District Court page lists the 22nd, 207th, 274th, 433rd and 466th Judicial Districts, with administration at 150 N. Seguin Avenue.

Guadalupe County Side

If your part of New Braunfels is in Guadalupe County, the county courts are in Seguin. Guadalupe County has four justice of the peace precincts: Precincts 1, 2 and 4 have Seguin addresses, and Precinct 3 is in Schertz. Its two County Courts at Law and three district courts (the 25th, 2nd 25th and 456th) are at 211 W. Court Street in Seguin.

How Long You Have to Answer

The county doesn't change the deadline; the type of court does.

Justice court in either county: by the end of the 14th day after you were served (Tex. R. Civ. P. 502.5).
County Court at Law or district court: by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday after 20 days from service (Rule 99(b)).

Use our answer deadline calculator, then confirm with us. A missed deadline usually leads to a default judgment.

Where These Cases Tend to Be Weak

The plaintiff carries the burden of proof. In debt buyer cases especially, we press on:

Standing. Can the company suing you produce assignment documents that name your account?
Timeliness. Texas allows four years to sue on most debts (Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004), and a debt buyer may not sue on time-barred consumer debt (Fin. Code § 392.307).
Amount. Charges and interest must be supported by the agreement and the account records.
Evidence. Business records affidavits have rules. A form affidavit with no real personal knowledge may be objectionable.

In county or district court, a summary judgment motion filed on or after March 1, 2026 must be answered within 21 days of filing (Rule 166a). In Comal County's County Courts at Law, the mediation requirement can also be a natural point to negotiate if settling is what you want.

Flat-Fee Representation

Fees start at $400 and depend on the amount you're being sued for. Payment plans are available. Defending the lawsuit and handling post-judgment matters use the same flat-fee schedule.

Amount of the Lawsuit	Our Flat Legal Fee	Payment Plan
Less than $1,000	$400	Up to 2 months
$1,001 – $3,000	$500	Up to 2 months
$3,001 – $5,000	$750	Up to 3 months
$5,001 – $7,500	$1,000	Up to 4 months
$7,501 – $10,000	$1,250	Up to 6 months
$10,001 – $12,500	$1,500	Up to 6 months
$12,501 – $15,000	$1,750	Up to 6 months
$15,001 – $20,000	$2,000	Up to 6 months
Over $20,000	Call for Pricing

Free Public Resources

Comal County Self-Help Legal Information. Links to self-help packets, the Texas courts' self-represented litigant page and the Texas State Law Library.
Guadalupe County Clerk's Legal Self-Help Information. Links to TexasLawHelp.org, TexasCourtHelp and the statewide affidavit of inability to pay court costs.
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. TRLA lists both Comal and Guadalupe among its counties and has a San Antonio office. Help depends on eligibility.

These are independent public services, not part of our firm.

New Braunfels Questions

I live in New Braunfels. Why was my case filed in Seguin?

Because your home may be in the Guadalupe County part of the city. Seguin is that county's seat. If your home is actually in Comal County, the case may be in the wrong place, and we'll look at a venue challenge.

My case is in Comal County Court at Law. Do I have to go to mediation?

The county's posted rule requires civil matters to be mediated before a trial request. We prepare you for it and tell you plainly whether an offer makes sense.

Can the creditor take my house or my wages?

Texas protects your homestead and up to $50,000 in personal property for a single adult ($100,000 for a family) (Prop. Code chs. 41 and 42), and current wages can't be garnished for consumer debt (Tex. Const. art. XVI, § 28). Non-exempt bank funds are at risk after a judgment. See post-judgment settlement.

A collector keeps calling my family. Is that legal?

Collectors face limits on contacting third parties. You may have a claim under the FDCPA or Texas Debt Collection Act. That's a separate service from defending the lawsuit.

Start With a Free Review

Call or text (214) 945-0000 seven days a week, or send us your case details online. We also represent clients in San Antonio and Schertz. Our debt lawsuit Q&A covers the basics.

Helpful guides

General information, not legal advice for your case.