§ 171.053.Arbitrators' Award
Title 7. Alternate Methods of Dispute Resolution · Chapter 171. General Arbitration · Subchapter C. Arbitration · Last amended 1997 · Last verified August 29, 2026
Full Text of § 171.053
Plain-English Summary
The award section covers form, delivery and timing.
The award must be in writing and signed by each arbitrator joining in it.
The signature requirement shows the majority. An arbitrator who dissents does not sign, and the document itself records who decided.
Delivery is the arbitrators’ duty. They deliver a copy to each party personally, by registered or certified mail, or as the agreement provides.
Delivery starts the clocks that matter. The 20-day period in Section 171.054 and the 90-day periods in Sections 171.088 and 171.091 all run from delivery of the award.
Timing comes from the agreement first. The award is made within the time the agreement establishes.
If the agreement is silent, a court sets the time on application of a party.
The parties may extend the time, before or after it expires, and the extension must be in writing.
An untimeliness objection is easy to lose. A party waives it unless the party notifies the arbitrators of the objection before the award is delivered to that party.
That waiver rule rewards speaking up early. Waiting to see whether the late award is favorable is exactly what the subsection forecloses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an arbitration award have to be written?
Yes, in writing and signed by each arbitrator joining in it.
When must the award be made?
Within the time the agreement establishes, or, if it is silent, within the time a court orders on a party’s application.
Can the deadline be extended?
Yes, by the parties in writing, before or after the time expires.
What if the award is late?
The objection is waived unless the party notified the arbitrators before the award was delivered.
Amendment History
- Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 5.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.