Rule 816.Jurisdiction and Venue Unaffected
Last verified June 28, 2026
Full Text of Rule 816
Plain-English Summary
Rule 816 is the companion to the substantive-rights savings clause. The rules say nothing about which court has power to hear a case or where a case may be brought. Jurisdiction and venue come from the constitution and statutes, and these rules leave both exactly as they found them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure affect jurisdiction or venue?
No. They may not be construed to extend or limit a court's jurisdiction or the venue of actions (Rule 816).
Where does jurisdiction come from if not from the Rules of Civil Procedure?
From the Texas Constitution and the statutes that create and empower each court. Rule 816 leaves that framework untouched, so the rules of procedure never expand or narrow a court's power to hear a case.
Can a procedural rule be used to argue a case was filed in the wrong court or county?
No, not on the strength of Rule 816. The rule does not decide jurisdiction or venue either way — those questions are answered by separate constitutional and statutory provisions, and Rule 816 confirms that the rules of procedure leave them untouched.