Rule 1.Objective of Rules

Last verified June 28, 2026

In one sentenceRule 1 states the purpose of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure — a just, fair, and prompt decision of each case at the least expense to the parties and the state — and directs courts to read the rules liberally to reach that end.

Full Text of Rule 1

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The proper objective of rules of civil procedure is to obtain a just, fair, equitable and impartial adjudication of the rights of litigants under established principles of substantive law. To the end that this objective may be attained with as great expedition and dispatch and at the least expense both to the litigants and to the state as may be practicable, these rules shall be given a liberal construction.

End

Plain-English Summary

Rule 1 is the mission statement for every other rule. It says the point of civil procedure is to decide cases justly and on their merits, as quickly and as cheaply as practical, under the substantive law that governs the dispute.

Because the rule asks courts to give the rules a “liberal construction,” Texas judges lean on it when a procedural rule is unclear or when a rigid reading would defeat a fair decision. It does not, by itself, create a right or excuse a party from following a specific rule; it shapes how the other rules are read and applied.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Rule 1 let me get around another rule?

No. Rule 1 sets the goal of the rules and tells courts to read them liberally, but it does not override a specific rule or excuse you from meeting its requirements. Courts use it to interpret close questions, not to waive clear ones.

What does “liberal construction” mean here?

It means a court should read the rules in the way that best serves a fair, prompt, and inexpensive decision on the merits, rather than seizing on a technicality to dispose of a case.

When was Rule 1 adopted?

It took effect with the original Texas Rules of Civil Procedure on September 1, 1941, and remains in substantially its original form.

Source & verification. Rule text and the official Notes and Comments are reproduced verbatim from the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (Tex. R. Civ. P. 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: objective of rulespurpose of the rulesliberal constructionjust fair and impartial adjudicationTRCP 1