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Texas summary judgment response deadline
Under the revised Texas rule (effective March 1, 2026), the party opposing summary judgment must file its response within 21 days after the motion is filed — measured from filing, not from the hearing date (Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a).
Estimates based on standard Texas rules and court-holiday closures; not legal advice. Confirm against your specific case, local administrative orders, and the current rules.
How the deadline works
Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a was comprehensively revised effective March 1, 2026. The response to a summary-judgment motion is now due 21 days after the motion is filed, and the movant’s reply is due 7 days after the response is filed. This replaced the prior regime, under which the motion had to be served 21 days before the hearing and the response was due 7 days before the hearing. This calculator returns the 21-day response date measured from filing.
When the motion is served by mail, Tex. R. Civ. P. 21a adds 3 days. A deadline landing on a weekend or court holiday moves to the next business day.
- Measured from filing, not the hearing For motions under the 2026 rule, the 21 days run from the date the motion is filed.
- Served by mail? Add 3 days under Tex. R. Civ. P. 21a by selecting "Service by mail" above.
Questions
- When is a summary judgment response due in Texas?
- Under the rule effective March 1, 2026, 21 days after the motion is filed (Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a); the movant’s reply is due 7 days after the response. Mail service adds 3 days under Rule 21a.
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