I want to set aside a default judgment.

A “default judgment” is a court order made without the respondent because:

1. the respondent was served and did not file an answer by the deadline, or
2. the respondent filed an answer and was given notice of a hearing but did not show up for the hearing.

Can I ask the judge to set aside (cancel) a default judgment?

If you are the respondent, you can ask the judge to set aside (cancel) a default judgment made without you if:

1. you file a Motion to Set Aside Default Judgment by the deadline, and
2. you can show that you did not file an answer or did not show up to the hearing due to either:

• lack of notice which means that either:
  • you did not file an answer because you were not properly served with citation, 
  • you filed an answer but did not come to a hearing because you did not get proper notice of the hearing, or

• accident or mistake which means that either:
  • you did not file an answer because of accident or mistake rather than intentional or conscious indifference, or
  • you filed an answer but did not come to a hearing because of accident or mistake rather than intentional or conscious indifference.

Note: If you are asking the judge to set aside the default judgment due to accident or mistake you must also show that you have a good defense to the case (good reason the judge should rule in your favor) and that canceling the default judgment will not cause delay or harm to the other side.

You must file a Motion to Set Aside Default Judgment and Notice of Hearing within 30 days of the date the default judgment was signed by the judge. See Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, Rules 329(b).

If you are in Justice Court, the deadline is 14 days. See Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 505.3. 
Note: The Motion to Set aside Default Judgment included in this guide refers to the standard 30-day deadline and not the Justice Court's shortened 14-day deadline. For help with your Justice Court Motion to Set Aside Default Judgment, use Ask a Question to chat online with a lawyer or law student. Also, see the information on How to Draft Your Own Court Documents.

Exception 1: If you first learned about the default judgment more than 20 days after it was signed by the judge, your 30-day deadline to file the Motion to Set Aside Default Judgment begins on the date you received notice of the default judgment from the clerk or the date you actually found out about the default judgment (whichever happened first). But, even if this exception applies, your 30-day deadline to file the Motion to Set Aside Default Judgment cannot begin more than 90 days after the date that the default judgment was signed by the judge. So the latest you could file a Motion to Set Aside Default Judgment is 120 days after the date the default judgment was signed by the judge. See Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, Rules 306(a)(4).

Exception 2: If you were served by publication, you have two years from the date of the default judgment to ask for a new trial. See Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 329.

Exception 3: If you were on active military duty when the default judgment was signed by the judge you have additional time. Talk to a lawyer about how to proceed. You can use Ask a Question to chat with a lawyer online. 

WARNING! If you do not file your Motion to Set Aside Default Judgment within 30 days of the date of the default judgment (or 14 days if the matter is in Justice Court), it is very important that you talk with a lawyer. 

Yes. A lawyer can review your forms and tell you whether or not you have a good legal reason to ask the judge to set aside the default judgment. A lawyer can also help you get ready for your hearing.

If you need help finding a lawyer, use the TexasLawHelp Legal Help Directory to search for a lawyer referral service, legal aid office, or self-help center in your area. Check our Legal Clinic Calendar to learn if there is an upcoming legal clinic near you. Use Ask a Question to chat online with a lawyer or law student.