Last amended January 1, 1961 · Last verified June 28, 2026
In one sentenceRule 329a lets a county-court trial or hearing that is underway when the court's term expires continue into a later term and keeps pending motions and pleas alive across the term break, except motions for new trial, which Rule 329b governs.
Full Text of Rule 329a
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If a case or other matter is on trial or in the process of hearing when the term of the county court expires, such trial, hearing or other matter may be proceeded with at the next or any subsequent term of court and no motion or plea shall be considered as waived or overruled, because not acted upon at the term of court at which it was filed, but may be acted upon at any time the judge may fix or at which it may have been postponed or continued by agreement of the parties with leave of the court. This subdivision is not applicable to original or amended motions for new trial which are governed by Rule 329b.
End
Plain-English Summary
Rule 329a handles the turn of a county court's term. When a case or other matter is on trial or in the process of hearing as the term expires, it may be carried on at the next or any subsequent term. A pending motion or plea is not treated as waived or overruled merely because the court did not act on it before the term ended; the judge may take it up later, on a date the judge sets or after an agreed postponement made with leave of the court.
One carve-out: this carryover does not apply to original or amended motions for new trial, which run on the deadlines in Rule 329b.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to a county-court case still on trial when the term ends in Texas?
Under Rule 329a, the matter carries to the next or any later term, and pending motions and pleas are not waived or overruled just because the court did not reach them before the term expired.
Does Rule 329a apply to motions for new trial?
No. Original and amended motions for new trial are governed by Rule 329b, not the term-carryover in Rule 329a.
Source & verification. Rule text and the official Notes and Comments are reproduced verbatim from the
Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (Tex. R. Civ. P. 329a), 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:county court casesterm expiration county courtcase on trial when term expiresTRCP 329a