Rule 194a.Requests for Disclosure in Suits Governed by the Family Code
Last verified June 28, 2026
In one sentenceRule 194a keeps the older request-based disclosure system for family-law cases, letting a party serve a request that asks another party to disclose specified categories of information.
Full Text of Rule 194a
194a.1 Request. No later than 30 days before the end of any applicable discovery period, a party may obtain disclosure from another party of the information or material described in Rule 194a.2 by serving the other party the following request: “Under Rule 194a, you are requested to disclose, within 30 days of service of this request, the information or material described in Rule [state rule, e.g., 194a.2, or 194a.2(a), (c), (f), or 194a.2(d)–(g)].”
194a.2 Content. A party may request disclosure under Rule 194a.1 of any of the following:
(a) the correct names of the parties to the lawsuit;
(b) the name, address, and telephone number of any potential parties;
(c) the legal theories and, in general, the factual bases of the responding party’s claims or defenses (but the responding party need not marshal all evidence that may be offered at trial);
(d) the amount and any method of calculating economic damages;
(e) the name, address, and telephone number of any person having knowledge of relevant facts and a brief statement of each identified person’s connection with the case;
(f) for any testifying expert:
(1) the expert’s name, address, and telephone number;
(2) the subject matter on which the expert will testify;
(3) the general substance of the expert’s mental impressions and opinions and a brief summary of the basis for them, or if the expert is not retained by, employed by, or otherwise subject to the control of the responding party, documents reflecting that information; and
(4) if the expert is retained by, employed by, or otherwise subject to the control of the responding party:
(A) all documents, tangible things, reports, models, or data compilations that have been provided to, reviewed by, or prepared by or for the expert in anticipation of the expert’s testimony; and
(B) the expert’s current resume and biography;
(g) any discoverable settlement agreement described by Rule 192.3(g);
(h) any discoverable witness statement described by Rule 192.3(h);
(i) in a suit alleging physical or mental injury and damages from the occurrence that is the subject of the case:
(1) all medical records and bills that are reasonably related to the injuries or damages asserted; or
(2) an authorization permitting the disclosure of the information described by paragraph (i)(1);
(j) in a suit alleging physical or mental injury and damages from the occurrence that is the subject of the case, all medical records and bills obtained by the responding party through an authorization provided by the requesting party; and
(k) the name, address, and telephone number of any person who may be designated as a responsible third party.
194a.3 Response. The responding party must serve a written response on the requesting party within 30 days after service of the request, except that:
(a) a defendant served with a request before the defendant’s answer is due is not required to respond until 50 days after service of the request; and
(b) a response to a request under Rule 194a.2(f) is governed by Rule 195a.
194a.4 Production of Documents and Tangible Items. The responding party must provide copies of documents and other tangible items with the response unless:
(a) the responsive documents are voluminous;
(b) the responding party states a reasonable time and place for the production of the documents;
(c) the responding party produces the documents at the time and place stated under paragraph (b) unless otherwise agreed by the parties or ordered by the court; and
(d) the responding party provides the requesting party a reasonable opportunity to inspect the documents.
194a.5 Work Product Objection Prohibited. A party may not assert a work product privilege for or object on the basis of a work product privilege to a request served under Rule 194a.1.
194a.6 Certain Responses Not Admissible. A response to a request under Rule 194a.2(c) or (d) that has been changed by an amended or supplemental response is not admissible and may not be used for impeachment.
End
Notes and Comments
Comment to 2023 change: New Rule 194a is added to implement chapter 301 of the Family Code.
Plain-English Summary
When Texas switched to automatic disclosures in 2021, that model did not fit family-law cases. Rule 194a, added effective September 1, 2023, preserves the familiar request-based approach for suits governed by the Family Code. A party may serve a request — no later than 30 days before the end of the discovery period — asking another party to disclose listed categories: the parties, legal theories and factual bases, the calculation of economic damages, people with knowledge of relevant facts, testifying-expert information, settlement and witness statements, medical records in injury suits, and any responsible third party.
The responding party generally has 30 days to answer, though a defendant served before its answer is due gets 50 days. As with required disclosures, no work-product objection is allowed to a request under this rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do family law cases use requests for disclosure instead of automatic disclosures?
The automatic initial-disclosure system adopted in 2021 did not suit family cases. Rule 194a, effective September 1, 2023, keeps the request-based model for suits governed by the Family Code.
How long do you have to respond to a request for disclosure in a family case?
Generally 30 days after service. A defendant served before its answer is due has 50 days.
Source & verification. Rule text and the official Notes and Comments are reproduced verbatim from the
Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (Tex. R. Civ. P. 194a), 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: requests for disclosurefamily law disclosurerequest for disclosure family codeTRCP 194a