Tex. R. Civ. P. 506.1

(a) How Taken; Time. A party may appeal a judgment by filing a bond, making a cash

deposit, or filing a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs with the justice

court within 21 days after the judgment is signed or the motion to reinstate, motion to set

aside, or motion for new trial, if any, is denied.

(b) Amount of Bond; Sureties; Terms. A plaintiff must file a $500 bond. A defendant must

file a bond in an amount equal to twice the amount of the judgment. The bond must be

supported by a surety or sureties approved by the judge. The bond must be payable to the

appellee and must be conditioned on the appellant’s prosecution of its appeal to effect and

payment of any judgment and all costs rendered against it on appeal.

(c) Cash Deposit in Lieu of Bond. In lieu of filing a bond, an appellant may deposit with the

clerk of the court cash in the amount required of the bond. The deposit must be payable

to the appellee and must be conditioned on the appellant’s prosecution of its appeal to effect

and payment of any judgment and all costs rendered against it on appeal.

(d) Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs.

(1) Filing. An appellant who cannot furnish a bond or pay a cash deposit in the

amount required may instead file a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of

Court Costs. The S tatement must be on the form approved by the Supreme Court

or include the information required by the Court-approved form and may be the

same one that was filed with the petition.

(2) Contest. The S tatement may be contested as provided in Rule 502.3(d) within 7

days after the opposing party receives notice that the Statement was filed.

(3) Appeal If Contest Sustained. If the contest is sustained, the appellant may appeal

that decision by filing notice with the justice court within 7 days of that court’s

written order. The justice court must then forward all related documents to the

county court for resolution. The county court must set the matter for hearing

within 14 days and hear the contest de novo, as if there had been no previous

hearing, and if the appeal is granted, must direct the justice court to transmit to the

clerk of the county court the transcript, records, and papers of the case, as provided

in these rules.

(4) If No Appeal or If Appeal Overruled. If the appellant does not appeal the ruling

sustaining the contest, or if the county court denies the appeal, the appellant may,

within five days, post an appeal bond or make a cash deposit in compliance with

this rule.

(e) Notice to Other Parties Required. If a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court

Costs is filed, the court must provide notice to all other parties that the Statement was filed

no later than the next business day. Within 7 days of filing a bond or making a cash

deposit, an appellant must serve written notice of the appeal on all other parties using a

method approved under Rule 501.4.

(f) No Default on Appeal Without Compliance With Rule. The county court to which an

appeal is taken must not render default judgment against any party without first

determining that the appellant has fully complied with this rule.

(g) No Dismissal of Appeal Without Opportunity for Correction. An appeal must not be

dismissed for defects or irregularities in procedure, either of form or substance, without

allowing the appellant, after 7 days’ notice from the court, the opportunity to correct such

defect.

(h) Appeal Perfected. An appeal is perfected when a bond, cash deposit, or Statement of

Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs is filed in accordance with this rule.

(i) Costs. The appellant must pay the costs on appeal to a county court in accordance with

Rule 143a.