Rule 818.Reference to Former Statutes

Last verified June 28, 2026

In one sentenceRule 818 redirects outdated citations: wherever a statute or rule refers to a procedure, or to a part of the statutes, that these rules have supplanted, the reference is read as pointing to the matching part of these rules.

Full Text of Rule 818

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Wherever any statute or rule refers to any practice or procedure in any law, laws, statute or statutes, or to a title, chapter, section, or article of the statutes, or contains any reference of any such nature, and the matter referred to has been supplanted in whole or in part by these rules, every such reference shall be deemed to be to the pertinent part or parts of these rules.

End

Plain-English Summary

Rule 818 keeps old cross-references from breaking. When the rules replaced large stretches of statutory procedure in 1941, countless statutes still pointed to the superseded titles, chapters, and articles. This rule provides that any such reference is treated as a reference to the corresponding part of these rules, so the law reads correctly without each statute being rewritten.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens to a statute that cites a procedure the rules replaced?

The citation is read as pointing to the matching part of these rules (Rule 818).

Why did the rules need a provision like Rule 818?

Because the 1941 rules replaced large portions of the old procedural statutes, and many other statutes still pointed to those superseded titles, chapters, and articles. Rule 818 kept those cross-references working instead of leaving them to point at nothing.

Does Rule 818 apply only to statutes, or to other rules too?

Both. Rule 818 redirects any statute or rule that refers to a practice or procedure, or to a title, chapter, section, or article of the statutes, once these rules have supplanted the matter referred to.

Source & verification. Rule text and the official Notes and Comments are reproduced verbatim from the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (Tex. R. Civ. P. 818), 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Also known as: outdated statutory references read as rulesTRCP 818Rule 818 statutory cross-reference fixold article number now a TRCP rulestatute points to repealed procedure