Legal Question in Family Law in Texas

If this is state court, you count 20 days (incuding weekends and holidays) from the day you were served. If this day does not fall on a monday then you have until the next monday.

The consequence of not filing an answer in time is that whoever served you can file a motion for entry of a default judgment. However, the court cannot enter a default judgment after you have filed an answer.

So the key is to file an answer to prevent the entry of a default judgment against you.

If you are not a resident of Texas, and do not want to concede jurisdiction over you, you may want to file a special appearance with your answer.

My advice is to answer sooner than later. It's better to be early than wait too long and miss the answer date.

I recommend that you hire an attorney.

Look on this website, www.avvo.com and on the State Bar of Texas for an attorney. Check with your friends and family for a referral. Many attorneys offer a free phone or in-person consultation. Many offer payment plans. Good luck!