TX · rules
Tex. R. Civ. P. 204
Physical and Mental Examination
204.1 Motion and Order Required.
(a) Motion. A party may - no later than 30 days before the end of any applicable discovery
period - move for an order compelling another party to:
(1) submit to a physical or mental examination by a qualified physician or a mental
examination by a qualified psychologist; or
(2) produce for such examination a person in the other party's custody, conservatorship
or legal control.
(b) Service. The motion and notice of hearing must be served on the person to be examined
and all parties.
(c) Requirements for obtaining order. The court may issue an order for examination only
for good cause shown and only in the following circumstances:
(1) when the mental or physical condition (including the blood group) of a party, or of
a person in the custody, conservatorship or under the legal control of a party, is in
controversy; or
(2) except as provided in Rule 204.4, an examination by a psychologist may be ordered
when the party responding to the motion has designated a psychologist as a
testifying expert or has disclosed a psychologist's records for possible use at trial.
(d) Requirements of order. The order must be in writing and must specify the time, place,
manner, conditions, and scope of the examination and the person or persons by whom it is
to be made.
204.2 Report of Examining Physician or Psychologist.
(a) Right to report. Upon request of the person ordered to be examined, the party causing
the examination to be made must deliver to the person a copy of a detailed written report
of the examining physician or psychologist setting out the findings, including results of all
tests made, diagnoses and conclusions, together with like reports of all earlier examinations
of the same condition. After delivery of the report, upon request of the party causing the
examination, the party against whom the order is made must produce a like report of any
examination made before or after the ordered examination of the same condition, unless
the person examined is not a party and the party shows that the party is unable to obtain it.
The court on motion may limit delivery of a report on such terms as are just. If a physician
or psychologist fails or refuses to make a report the court may exclude the testimony if
offered at the trial.
(b) Agreements; relationship to other rules. This subdivision applies to examinations
made by agreement of the parties, unless the agreement expressly provides otherwise. This
subdivision does not preclude discovery of a report of an examining physician or
psychologist or the taking of a deposition of the physician or psychologist in accordance
with the provisions of any other rule.
204.3 Effect of No Examination.
If no examination is sought either by agreement or under this subdivision, the party whose physical
or mental condition is in controversy must not comment to the court or jury concerning the party's
willingness to submit to an examination, or on the right or failure of any other party to seek an
examination.
204.4 Cases Arising Under Titles II or V, Family Code.
In cases arising under Family Code Titles II or V, the court may - on its own initiative or on motion
of a party - appoint:
(a) one or more psychologists or psychiatrists to make any and all appropriate mental
examinations of the children who are the subject of the suit or of any other parties,
and may make such appointment irrespective of whether a psychologist or
psychiatrist has been designated by any party as a testifying expert;
(b) one or more experts who are qualified in paternity testing to take blood, body fluid,
or tissue samples to conduct paternity tests as ordered by the court.
204.5 Definitions.
For the purpose of this rule, a psychologist is a person licensed or certified by a state or the District
of Columbia as a psychologist.
Provenance
- Source
- txcourts.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-15
- Edition
- 2026-09-14
- Content hash
19a050164f2c35e31998f7b5af0e9ba4101cc42900540d907193b6b3f221aa8f
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