Rule 92.General Denial

Last amended April 1, 1985 · Last verified June 28, 2026

In one sentenceRule 92 makes a general denial enough to put in issue any matter not required to be denied under oath, and treats a counterclaim or cross-claim as generally denied when the served party files no response.

Full Text of Rule 92

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A general denial of matters pleaded by the adverse party which are not required to be denied under oath, shall be sufficient to put the same in issue. When the defendant has pleaded a general denial, and the plaintiff shall afterward amend his pleading, such original denial shall be presumed to extend to all matters subsequently set up by the plaintiff. When a counterclaim or cross-claim is served upon a party who has made an appearance in the action, the party so served, in the absence of a responsive pleading, shall be deemed to have pleaded a general denial of the counterclaim or cross-claim, but the party shall not be deemed to have waived any special appearance or motion to transfer venue. In all other respects the rules prescribed for pleadings of defensive matter are applicable to answers to counterclaims and cross-claims.

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Plain-English Summary

Rule 92 powers the workhorse of Texas answers. A general denial puts in issue all of the adverse party's allegations that do not have to be denied under oath, and once a defendant pleads it, the denial extends to anything the plaintiff later adds by amendment.

The rule also fills a gap for counterclaims and cross-claims. When one is served on a party who has already appeared, and that party files no responsive pleading, the law treats the claim as generally denied — without waiving any special appearance or motion to transfer venue.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a general denial do in Texas?

Under Rule 92, it puts in issue every allegation that need not be denied under oath, forcing the other side to prove its case. It even extends to matters the plaintiff adds by later amendment.

Does a general denial have to be verified in Texas?

No. Rule 92 lets a general denial put in issue any matter the adverse party pleaded that does not require a sworn denial. Matters listed in Rule 93 need their own verified pleading.

What happens if a party doesn't respond to a counterclaim in Texas?

Under Rule 92, a party who has appeared in the case but files no response to a counterclaim or cross-claim is treated as having generally denied it, without losing any special appearance or motion to transfer venue already on file.

Source & verification. Rule text and the official Notes and Comments are reproduced verbatim from the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (Tex. R. Civ. P. 92), 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: general denialdeemed deniedanswerdenial of counterclaimTRCP 92