David H. Jordan: Texas legal self-help

Answer an eviction

A guided packet for reviewing common defenses and preparing an answer in a Texas eviction case.

1. Read the citation and petition.
2. Gather your lease, notices, receipts, and messages.
3. Complete and file the answer with the named justice court.

Request important repairs

Learn how written notice, proof of delivery, rent status, and documentation affect repair remedies.

1. Photograph the condition.
2. Send a dated written request and keep proof.
3. Read the remedy rules before withholding rent or repairing it yourself.

Recover a security deposit

Review Texas deposit rules and find a sample demand letter for a former landlord.

1. Save move-in and move-out photos.
2. Give the landlord a forwarding address in writing.
3. Keep the itemized deduction statement and proof of delivery.

Read the Texas tenants’ handbook

A broad reference covering leases, rent, repairs, locks, utilities, eviction, moving, and more.

Divorce without minor children

Start with the complete guide, which identifies the petition, response, decree, service, fee-waiver, and final-step forms that may apply.

1. Confirm Texas and county residency.
2. Choose agreed, default, or contested path.
3. Review property, debt, retirement, and safety issues.

Divorce with children

If a final custody and support order already covers every child and will not change, use the specialized guide. Otherwise, use the guided forms directory to identify the right path.

Respond to a divorce

Use the answer instructions to match the response form to whether there are children or an existing custody and support order.

1. Copy the cause and court numbers exactly.
2. Use the matching respondent’s answer.
3. File it with the clerk handling the case.

Find other family forms

Browse step-by-step interviews for available Texas forms. Read each form’s use restrictions before beginning.

Sue in justice court

A plain-language overview of choosing the right court, preparing the claim, asking about local forms, service, and fee waivers.

1. Identify the correct legal name and service address.
2. Organize contracts, photos, receipts, and a timeline.
3. Call the correct justice court about its form and fee.

File a civil answer

If you were sued in a non-family civil case, this guide includes a general civil answer and a guided version.

1. Read the citation for the answer date.
2. Use the court and cause numbers shown.
3. File the answer and keep a file-stamped copy.

Answer a debt collection case

A justice-court-specific guide explaining the answer, general denial, and defenses in a debt collection lawsuit.

Draft another court document

Learn where to find Texas templates, local law-library help, and examples when no ready-made self-help form fits.

Check the reason and the signs

A private-property tow generally needs compliant signs, direct notice, or a statutory exception. A missing sign does not always make a tow illegal—for example, special rules can apply to blocked driveways, fire lanes, disabled spaces, and other listed obstructions. Apartment parking rules should also match the lease notice requirements.

1. Photograph every entrance, sign, parking space, curb, permit, and your vehicle’s former location.
2. Save the lease or parking rules and any warning placed on the vehicle.
3. Compare the facts with Texas Occupations Code §§2308.251–.255 and §§2308.301–.305.

Know what paperwork you should get

For a Texas-registered vehicle, the storage facility generally must mail the first owner-and-lienholder notice after 24 hours but no later than the fifth day. A nonconsent tow ticket must identify and itemize tow charges, and the facility must provide hearing-rights information.

1. Ask for the tow ticket, itemized invoice, fee schedule, and hearing notice.
2. Check your registration address and save the envelope showing when notice was sent.
3. Review Texas Occupations Code §2303.151 and §§2308.454–.456.

Compare every charge

TDLR currently lists statewide private-property tow maximums of $272 up to 10,000 lb, $380 from 10,001–24,999 lb, and $489 per unit (up to $978) at 25,000 lb or more. Maximum drop fees are $135, $190, and $244 for those same weight classes. A city or county may set lower limits.

1. Storage: up to $22.85 per day at 25 feet or less; $39.99 if longer than 25 feet.
2. Other listed caps: one $50 notification fee and a $22.85 impound fee when the required work was performed.
3. Facilities must accept cash, debit, and credit; environmental, notary, and personal-property access fees are not allowed.

Get the car back and stop storage fees

Bring government photo ID plus proof that you own or may use the vehicle, such as matching registration records, an insurance card, title, lease or rental agreement, power of attorney, or the TDLR owner-removal form.

1. Call the number on the tow sign; if needed, ask local law enforcement where the vehicle was taken.
2. Request the total, accepted payment methods, release hours, and required documents before traveling.
3. You may access ownership papers and remove personal property without paying an access fee.

Request a tow hearing

A tow hearing asks whether probable cause supported the tow and whether towing or storage charges exceeded legal limits. The court must hold the hearing before the 21st calendar day after receiving the request.

1. File in a justice court in the county where the vehicle was towed; use the court named in the notice if provided.
2. Include the tow location and date, contact details for the authorizer, tow company and storage facility, plus receipts and sign photos—or state that no sign was posted.
3. Keep proof of filing. A TDLR complaint does not extend or replace the hearing deadline.

Document damage before leaving

A tow hearing focuses on probable cause and regulated fees; a vehicle-damage claim may require a separate insurance claim or civil case. Texas towing companies must carry required liability coverage, including cargo or on-hook coverage for private-property and incident-management towing.

1. Inspect the vehicle at the storage facility and take timestamped photos or video before driving away.
2. Ask for the tow ticket, condition or inventory record, operator details, and insurer claim information; get written repair estimates.
3. Send a written claim, keep copies, and consider a TDLR complaint and legal advice. Texas Occupations Code §2308.404 addresses damages caused by violations of the towing chapter.

Prepare for traffic court

Review the basic plea choices and common alternatives before contacting the court named on your citation.

1. Read both sides of the ticket.
2. Confirm the court and appearance date.
3. Ask the court what requests must be made in writing.

If you cannot pay the fine

Learn how to ask the judge about a payment plan, community service, a reduction, or waiver based on inability to pay.

1. Appear or ask to reschedule before the deadline.
2. Bring proof of income, expenses, and hardship.
3. Ask what alternatives the judge can consider.

Resolve outstanding fines and license holds

Use the Ticket Help Texas overview to identify the court, understand possible consequences, and prepare questions about resolving the case.

Document wages you are owed

Review state and federal options for unpaid regular wages, minimum wage, overtime, commissions, or other compensation.

1. Save pay stubs, time records, schedules, texts, and policies.
2. Write down each work date and amount you believe is unpaid.
3. Compare the TWC and U.S. Department of Labor complaint routes.

Choose the right complaint route

This overview compares complaints about unpaid wages with workplace-discrimination complaints and points to the agencies that handle them.

1. Identify the exact problem and when it happened.
2. Write down the employer’s legal name and work location.
3. Keep a copy of everything submitted and any confirmation.

Review whether a firing may be unlawful

Texas employment is often at will, but anti-discrimination, retaliation, leave, contract, and other protections can still apply.

1. Save reviews, warnings, policies, messages, and the termination notice.
2. Write a factual timeline, including complaints you made.
3. Speak with an employment lawyer quickly if a deadline may apply.

Understand Texas consumer protections

Learn when the Deceptive Trade Practices Act may apply and why a written pre-suit notice can matter.

1. Save the contract, ad, receipt, warranty, and communications.
2. Write a short timeline and calculate the loss you can document.
3. Review the notice rules before filing a lawsuit.

File a Texas consumer complaint

The Attorney General accepts complaints involving deceptive practices, billing or refund issues, scams, unlawful debt collection, privacy, and related concerns.

1. Identify the business and transaction.
2. Attach copies—not originals—of supporting records.
3. Save your complaint confirmation and follow-up messages.

Secure accounts and challenge fraud

Use the identity-theft hub to organize reports, dispute fraudulent activity, and document that an account or debt is not yours.

Dispute an inaccurate credit entry

Learn how to pull the report, explain the error in writing, attach records, and track the credit bureau’s response.

1. Get the report showing the disputed item.
2. Send a clear written dispute with copies of proof.
3. Keep delivery records and the investigation result.

Prepare for the first court date

Use the statewide court guide to understand why criminal cases are different from civil self-help cases and why legal representation matters—even for a misdemeanor.

1. Read the bond papers, citation, complaint, or court notice.
2. Write down the court, cause number, date, time, and release conditions.
3. Bring the papers to a criminal-defense lawyer before entering a plea when possible.

Ask for a court-appointed lawyer

Texas law provides a process for eligible defendants to request appointed counsel. The application and financial review are handled locally, so ask the court or jail for the county’s form and instructions.

1. Clearly say that you want a lawyer and cannot afford one.
2. Complete the financial questionnaire fully and truthfully.
3. Keep a copy and ask when the court will rule on the request.

Track court dates and bond conditions

Release conditions and settings can change. Keep written proof of every date, payment, class, test, check-in, and permission you receive.

1. Check the court name and case number on every notice.
2. Ask your lawyer before contacting witnesses or discussing the facts online.
3. Contact the court and your lawyer immediately if an emergency could make you miss a setting.

Check whether a record can be cleared or sealed

Expunction and nondisclosure are different remedies with strict eligibility rules. The outcome of the case, the offense, waiting periods, and prior record can all matter.

1. Get the final disposition and a copy of your criminal history.
2. Use the comparison guide before choosing a form set.
3. Ask a lawyer to review eligibility when the case is complicated.