Rule 47.Claims for Relief

Last amended January 1, 2021 · Last verified June 28, 2026

In one sentenceRule 47 sets what a claim for relief must plead: fair notice of the cause of action, that damages fall within the court's jurisdiction, one of five stated ranges of relief unless the suit is governed by the Family Code, and a demand for judgment — and a party who omits the range cannot take discovery until it amends.

Full Text of Rule 47

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d)

An original pleading which sets forth a claim for relief, whether an original petition, counterclaim, cross-claim, or third party claim, shall contain

(a) a short statement of the cause of action sufficient to give fair notice of the claim involved;

(b) a statement that the damages sought are within the jurisdictional limits of the court;

(1) only monetary relief of $250,000 or less, excluding interest, statutory or punitive damages and penalties, and attorney fees and costs;

(2) monetary relief of $250,000 or less and non-monetary relief;

(3) monetary relief over $250,000 but not more than $1,000,000;

(4) monetary relief over $1,000,000; or

(5) only non-monetary relief; and

(d) a demand for judgment for all the other relief to which the party deems himself entitled.

Relief in the alternative or of several different types may be demanded; provided, further, that upon special exception the court shall require the pleader to amend so as to specify the maximum amount claimed. A party that fails to comply with (c) may not conduct discovery until the party’s pleading is amended to comply.

End

Notes and Comments

Comment to 2013 change: Rule 47 is amended to require a more specific statement of the relief sought by a party. The amendment requires parties to plead into or out of the expedited actions process governed by Rule 169, added to implement section 22.004(h) of the Texas Government Code. Except in a suit governed by the Family Code, the Property Code, the Tax Code, or Chapter 74 of the Civil Practice & Remedies Code, a suit in which the original petition contains the statement in paragraph (c)(1) is governed by the expedited actions process. The further specificity in paragraphs (c)(2)-(5) is to provide information regarding the nature of cases filed and does not affect a party’s substantive rights.

Comment to 2021 change: Rule 47 is amended to implement section 22.004(h-1) of the Texas Government Code. A suit in which the original petition contains the statement in paragraph (c)(1) is governed by the expedited actions process in Rule 169.

Plain-English Summary

Rule 47 lists what every claim for relief must contain, whether it is an original petition, counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party claim. It needs a short statement of the cause of action that gives fair notice, a statement that the damages sought are within the court's jurisdictional limits, a statement choosing one of five ranges of relief — except in suits governed by the Family Code, which are exempt from that range election — and a demand for judgment for all other relief.

The five ranges run from “only monetary relief of $250,000 or less” up through “monetary relief over $1,000,000” and “only non-monetary relief.” This election matters: it routes a case into or out of the expedited-actions track, and a party that fails to state a range may not conduct discovery until it amends to comply. On special exception, the court must require the pleader to specify the maximum amount claimed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What must a Texas petition plead about damages?

Under Rule 47, that the damages are within the court's jurisdictional limits, plus one of five ranges of relief sought — from $250,000 or less up through over $1,000,000, or only non-monetary relief. Suits governed by the Family Code are exempt from the range-election requirement.

What happens if you don't plead the relief range?

A party that fails to comply with Rule 47(c) may not conduct discovery until its pleading is amended to comply.

Why does the relief range matter?

The range election routes a case into or out of the Rule 169 expedited-actions process. The lowest range — $250,000 or less — generally places a case on the expedited track.

Source & verification. Rule text and the official Notes and Comments are reproduced verbatim from the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (Tex. R. Civ. P. 47), 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: claims for reliefdamages rangeexpedited actionsfair noticepleading damagesTRCP 47