Appealing a Fort Bend County Eviction Judgment

If you lose your eviction case in a Fort Bend County Justice of the Peace court, Texas law gives you a short window to appeal. Under the current rule, you file with the same JP court within 5 days after the judgment is signed. That deadline is counted from the judgment, so check your paperwork for the signing date as soon as you get it.

There are two separate things to do, and both matter. First, you file the appeal itself by posting a bond, a cash deposit, or a sworn Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs. The judge sets the amount of a bond or deposit. Second, if you live in the home and want to stay while you appeal, the judge sets a rent amount in the judgment and you pay that into the court's registry on a schedule. Missing these payments can lead to a writ of possession. Treat them as two tasks with the same deadline and track both.

When you appeal, the JP court sends the case to the county court, which hears it fresh. In Fort Bend County, eviction appeals have been assigned to County Court at Law No. 1, but the court has described its hearings in different ways on different pages, so call the county's main line (281-342-3411) to confirm your hearing location and whether it is in person or on Zoom.

What to do.

Mark the deadline in NeighborSTAND as soon as you have your judgment date. Contact legal aid right away, because 5 days goes quickly. Ask the JP clerk exactly how to file and how to pay the registry rent.

Every eviction case is different, so it's always a good idea to confirm the details with a qualified legal advocate before making any decisions. NeighborSTAND's Resources page lists legal aid for Fort Bend County.