TexasLawHelp.org (Eviction & Legal Help)
Last updated August 2026
A Texas eviction notice is not a move-out order. The landlord must win a court case first, and only a constable can remove you, with a court order. TexasLawHelp.org, run by the nonprofit Texas Legal Services Center, walks you through every step free, with forms.
Know the real timeline. The notice to vacate is 3 days by default, but read your lease: many cut it to 1 day. That deadline is when the landlord may file suit, not when you must leave. The hearing in Justice Court usually lands 10 to 21 days after filing. Show up; missing it usually means losing automatically.
New for 2026: a limited right to cure. For evictions filed after January 1, 2026, a tenant late for the first time, owing one month, gets a chance to pay up and stop the case. Outside that narrow door, paying late does not automatically save you, so use the free Answer form on TexasLawHelp.org and raise your defenses in court.
If you lose, the clock gets brutal: 5 days to appeal, counting weekends and holidays. You can appeal with a bond, a cash deposit, or free with a Statement of Inability to Pay. Staying in the home during the appeal means paying rent into the court registry, first payment within 5 days. After a writ of possession, you have 24 hours.
Free humans exist too. LiveChat on TexasLawHelp.org gives legal information, and legal advice for those who qualify, Monday through Thursday 10 to 2. Legal aid generally serves incomes under 125 percent of the poverty line, sometimes 200. And if unpaid rent drove this, dial 2-1-1, option 1, about rent funds while the case proceeds.
Help available in English and Spanish.
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- The information and forms are free for everyone
- Legal aid referrals are generally income-based; each program screens you
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Read the notice and your lease today. The default notice is 3 days, but a lease can shorten it to 1.
- 2
Go to texaslawhelp.org and open the eviction guides for your exact situation.
- 3
First time late, one month behind, case filed after Jan 1, 2026? Ask about the right to cure: paying up may stop the case.
- 4
File the free Answer form so your side is on record, and show up to the Justice Court hearing, 10 to 21 days after filing.
- 5
Need a lawyer? Use the site's legal aid finder, or LiveChat Monday-Thursday 10 to 2 for direction.
- 6
If you lose, count 5 days, weekends included, to appeal: bond, cash deposit, or the free Statement of Inability to Pay.
- 7
Staying during the appeal? Pay rent into the court registry within 5 days, then monthly, without fail.
What the application looks like
Common questions
How long do I have after an eviction notice in Texas?
The notice to vacate is 3 days by default, but your lease can shorten it to 1. It is not a move-out deadline; it is when the landlord may file the court case. Only a court order and a constable can actually remove you.
Can paying the rent stop my eviction?
Sometimes, under the 2026 right to cure: first time late, one month owed, case filed after January 1, 2026. Outside that, paying late does not automatically stop the case, though many landlords will negotiate. Get it in writing.
What happens at the eviction hearing?
It is in Justice Court, usually 10 to 21 days after filing. Bring your lease, receipts, photos, and the free Answer form from TexasLawHelp.org. Missing the hearing usually means an automatic loss.
How do I appeal an eviction judgment?
Within 5 days of the judgment, counting weekends and holidays. Use a bond, a cash deposit, or the free Statement of Inability to Pay. To stay in the home during the appeal, pay rent into the court registry, starting within 5 days.
Can my landlord lock me out or cut utilities?
No. Texas landlords cannot remove you without winning in court, and only a constable executes the writ, which gives you 24 hours. Illegal lockouts and utility shut-offs give you claims against the landlord.
Where can I get a free lawyer for an eviction?
Through the legal aid finder on TexasLawHelp.org; programs generally serve incomes under 125 percent of the poverty line, sometimes up to 200. LiveChat runs Monday-Thursday 10 to 2, with legal advice for those who qualify.
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