Last amended January 1, 2021 · Last verified June 28, 2026
In one sentenceRule 99 has the clerk issue citation on request and sets its required form — styled “The State of Texas,” signed under seal, directed to the defendant, warning of default, and giving the answer deadline of the Monday after twenty days.
a.Issuance. Upon the filing of the petition, the clerk, when requested, shall forthwith issue a citation and deliver the citation as directed by the requesting party. The party requesting citation shall be responsible for obtaining service of the citation and a copy of the petition. Upon request, separate or additional citations shall be issued by the clerk. The clerk must retain a copy of the citation in the court’s file.
b.Form. The citation shall (1) be styled "The State of Texas," (2) be signed by the clerk under seal of court, (3) contain name and location of the court, (4) show date of filing of the petition, (5) show date of issuance of citation, (6) show file number, (7) show names of parties, (8) be directed to the defendant, (9) show the name and address of attorney for plaintiff, otherwise the address of plaintiff, (10) contain the time within which these rules require the defendant to file a written answer with the clerk who issued citation, (11) contain address of the clerk, (12) notify the defendant that in case of failure of defendant to file and answer, judgment by default may be rendered for the relief demanded in the petition, and (13) notify the defendant that the defendant may be required to make initial disclosures. The citation shall direct the defendant to file a written answer to the plaintiff's petition on or before 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next after the expiration of twenty days after the date of service thereof. The requirement of subsections 10, 12, and 13 of this section shall be in the form set forth in section c of this rule.
c.Notice. The citation shall include the following notice to the defendant: "You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next following the expiration of twenty days after you were served this citation and petition, a default judgment may be taken against you. In addition to filing a written answer with the clerk, you may be required to make initial disclosures to the other parties of this suit. These disclosures generally must be made no later than 30 days after you file your answer with the clerk. Find out more at TexasLawHelp.org."
d.Copies. The party filing any pleading upon which citation is to be issued and served shall furnish the clerk with a sufficient number of copies thereof for use in serving the parties to be served, and when copies are so furnished the clerk shall make no charge for the copies.
End
Plain-English Summary
Rule 99 covers the document that starts the clock for a defendant. On the filing of the petition and on request, the clerk issues a citation; the requesting party is then responsible for getting it served. The clerk keeps a copy in the file.
The form is detailed. The citation is styled “The State of Texas,” signed by the clerk under seal, and shows the court, the filing and issuance dates, the file number, the parties, and the plaintiff's attorney or address. It is directed to the defendant, states the time to answer, gives the clerk's address, warns that a default judgment may be taken if the defendant does not answer, and notifies the defendant that initial disclosures may be required. The defendant must answer by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday after twenty days from service.
Rule 99 also prescribes the exact notice to the defendant — the “You have been sued” language — which now points readers to TexasLawHelp.org and mentions the initial-disclosure obligation added by the 2021 discovery amendments.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is an answer due after being served in Texas?
By 10:00 a.m. on the Monday after the expiration of twenty days from the date of service, as stated in the citation under Rule 99.
What must a Texas citation contain?
Under Rule 99, it is styled “The State of Texas,” signed by the clerk under seal, identifies the court, parties, and file number, is directed to the defendant, states the answer deadline, warns of default judgment, and notes that initial disclosures may be required.
Source & verification. Rule text and the official Notes and Comments are reproduced verbatim from the
Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (Tex. R. Civ. P. 99), 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:issuance and form of citationcitationsummonsanswer datedefault judgment warningTRCP 99