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TX · rules

Tex. R. Civ. P. 509.5

Docketing and Trial; Failure to Appear

activein force · 2026-07-01 – presentact-effective-date

(a) Docketing and Trial. The case must be docketed and tried as other cases. The judge may

develop the facts of the case in order to ensure justice.

(b) Failure to Appear.

(1) If the tenant appears at trial and the landlord has been duly served and fails to appear

at trial, the judge may proceed to hear evidence. If the tenant establishes that the

tenant is entitled to recover, the judge must render judgment against the landlord in

accordance with the evidence.

(2) If the tenant fails to appear for trial, the judge may dismiss the lawsuit.

Provenance

Source
txcourts.gov
Retrieved
2026-09-15
Edition
2026-09-14
Content hash
084a277e601e95c0d87acd842b9f378f2bf0205fa3ccb3620bc49fc9b21e9554
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