Rule 84.Answer May Include Several Matters

Last amended September 1, 1983 · Last verified June 28, 2026

In one sentenceRule 84 lets a defendant plead as many matters of law or fact as the defense needs, heard in the order the court directs — with the special appearance and the motion to transfer venue excepted from that order.

Full Text of Rule 84

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The defendant in his answer may plead as many several matters, whether of law or fact, as he may think necessary for his defense, and which may be pertinent to the cause, and such matters shall be heard in such order as may be directed by the court, special appearance and motion to transfer venue, and the practice thereunder being excepted herefrom.

End

Plain-English Summary

Rule 84 gives the defendant room to raise everything relevant. The answer may plead as many separate matters, of law or fact, as the defendant thinks necessary and that are pertinent to the case. The court directs the order in which these matters are heard.

Two things stand outside that order: the special appearance and the motion to transfer venue, along with the practice under them, which the rules sequence separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many defenses can a Texas defendant plead?

Under Rule 84, as many matters of law or fact as are necessary and pertinent. The court sets the order they are heard, except for the special appearance and the motion to transfer venue.

Who decides the order Texas defenses are heard in under Rule 84?

The court. Rule 84 lets the court direct the order in which the defendant's several matters of law or fact are heard.

Why do the special appearance and motion to transfer venue skip the ordering in Rule 84?

Rule 84 excepts the special appearance and the motion to transfer venue, along with the practice under them, from the court's ordering of defensive matters — they follow their own sequence instead.

Source & verification. Rule text and the official Notes and Comments are reproduced verbatim from the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (Tex. R. Civ. P. 84), 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: answer may include several mattersmultiple defensesspecial appearancemotion to transfer venueTRCP 84