Rule 620.Petition
Last verified June 28, 2026
In one sentenceRule 620 requires the plaintiff, when a distress warrant is made returnable to the district or county court, to file a petition within ten days from the date the warrant issued.
Full Text of Rule 620
When the warrant is made returnable to the district or county court, the plaintiff shall file his petition within ten days from the date of the issuance of the writ.
End
Plain-English Summary
Rule 620 sets the pleading deadline for higher-court distress cases. When the warrant is made returnable to the district or county court, the plaintiff must file a petition within ten days from the date the warrant issued — moving the matter into a formal suit.
Frequently Asked Questions
When must a landlord file a petition after a distress warrant in Texas?
Within ten days of the warrant's issuance, when it is returnable to the district or county court (Rule 620).
Does Rule 620's ten-day petition deadline apply in justice court?
No. It applies only when the distress warrant is made returnable to the district or county court.
What does filing the petition under Rule 620 accomplish?
It turns the distress-warrant proceeding into a formal lawsuit in the district or county court.
Source & verification. Rule text and the official Notes and Comments are reproduced verbatim from the
Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (Tex. R. Civ. P. 620), 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: petition distress warrantten days petitiondistrict court distress petitionten day petition deadlineTRCP 620