Effective January 1, several updates to the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (TRCP) impact filings in Justice of the Peace (JP) courts. These changes are particularly important for attorneys handling civil matters and evictions, as they alter which rules apply and how discovery is governed.

Understanding these updates can help ensure filings remain accurate and aligned with current procedural requirements.

What’s Changed in the TRCP

Rules 500–507 No Longer Apply to Evictions

Previously, Rules 500–507 governed certain procedures in JP courts, including discovery. As of January 1, these rules have been amended and no longer apply to eviction cases.

This change removes eviction proceedings from that rule set entirely, shifting how procedural guidance should be referenced when drafting eviction-related documents.

Rule 510 Has Been Completely Rewritten

Rule 510, which governs eviction cases, has been fully rewritten. This revised rule now serves as the primary authority for eviction procedures in JP courts.

Attorneys handling evictions should take note of this update, as it changes how eviction filings are structured and which rule references are appropriate in pleadings and related documents.

Civil Litigation Petitions Updated in TXdocs

To reflect these changes, all petitions in the Civil Litigation volume have been updated with the correct rule numbers for governing discovery when filing in JP courts.

This ensures that documents generated align with the updated TRCP framework and reflect the correct procedural authority.

Why These Changes Matter

Procedural rule updates may seem incremental, but incorrect or outdated rule references can lead to unnecessary revisions, questions from the court, or delays in filing. For busy attorneys and paralegals, keeping up with changes across multiple rule sets adds another layer of administrative work.

Staying current helps reduce avoidable issues and ensures documents reflect the most accurate and applicable rules at the time of filing.

How TXdocs Supports Accurate Drafting

TXdocs is designed to adapt as Texas procedural rules change. Updates like these are built directly into the system, helping attorneys avoid manual edits or the need to cross-check rule numbers after drafting.

By keeping petitions current and aligned with updated rules, TXdocs helps streamline drafting and reduce the risk of outdated references making their way into filed documents.

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