North Texas Evictions in 2027: Free Legal Help and Court Timelines by County
Texas rewrote big parts of its eviction process, and the new rules apply to every eviction case filed on or after January 1, 2026. If you rent in Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, or Denton County, that means the playbook your cousin used a few years ago may not match what happens to you now.
The good news: you still get notice, you still get a court date in most cases, and there are free lawyers across North Texas who handle nothing but cases like yours. The hard part is speed. Some deadlines are now four or five days long, and missing one can cost you your home.
This guide lays out the timeline step by step, then lists free legal help county by county. It's general information, not legal advice. Details reflect what courts, the Texas Legislature, and legal aid groups publish as of October 2026.
What Changed in 2026 (and Why It Matters in 2027)
Senate Bill 38, passed in 2025, took effect January 1, 2026. The main changes renters should know:
Faster track for "squatter" cases. A landlord who claims you forced your way in can ask the court to rule without a trial, called summary disposition. You get four days after being served to file a written response.
Tight trial window. Most eviction hearings now happen 10 to 21 days after the landlord files, according to Texas Law Help. That clock starts on the filing date, not the day you find out.
Five days to appeal. If you lose, you have five days from the judgment to appeal to county court, and you must swear you have a real defense and aren't appealing just to delay.
Rent during an appeal. If you appeal, you'll need to pay rent into the court registry to stay. Fall behind and the landlord can ask for an immediate writ of possession.
The Timeline, Step by Step
1. The notice. Before filing, your landlord has to give you written notice. If the only problem is unpaid rent and you weren't already behind before that month, the law calls for a Notice to Pay Rent or Vacate, which gives you a chance to pay and stay. Otherwise it's a Notice to Vacate. The standard deadline is three days unless your lease says otherwise; Texas Law Help notes many leases allow just one day.
The date on that notice isn't move-out day. It's the earliest the landlord can file a lawsuit.
Heads up: the Texas REALTORS® legal FAQ says courts don't all read the "first late payment" rule the same way. Some precincts apply it only to your first late payment in a lease term. So write down every payment date and keep receipts.
2. The citation. If your landlord files, you'll get court papers called a citation from the Justice of the Peace (JP) court for your precinct. Read every page the day it arrives. If it mentions a Motion for Summary Disposition, your four-day clock has started.
3. The hearing. Most hearings are 10 to 21 days after filing. Show up, even if you think you'll lose. Bring your lease, notices, receipts, texts, and photos. Not showing up is the fastest way to lose.
4. Judgment and appeal. You have five days from the signed judgment to appeal to county court. A free lawyer can tell you quickly whether an appeal makes sense in your situation.
5. The writ. If you don't appeal, the Texas State Law Library says the landlord can request a writ of possession six days after the final judgment. A constable then posts a 24-hour notice before removal.
So from notice to lockout, a case with no appeal can move in roughly a month, sometimes faster. Call for help at step one, not step five.
Free Eviction Help: Dallas County
Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center (DEAC): free legal advice and representation for Dallas County tenants facing eviction, regardless of income, immigration status, or language. Call (469) 436-2704 or email info@dallaseac.org. Contact DEAC.
Dallas County Wrongful Eviction Prevention Program: a county partnership with DEAC offering full representation or advice for residents at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.
Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (LANWT) eviction clinics: walk-in Home Preservation Project clinics at several JP courts. Call 469-694-2258 for details.
JP 1-1 and 1-2 clinic, 8301 S. Polk St., Dallas: Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 a.m. to noon.
JP 2-2 clinic, 823 N. Galloway Rd., Mesquite: Mondays, 8:30 a.m. to noon.
JP 3-1 and 3-2 clinic, 6820 LBJ Freeway, Dallas: Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. to noon.
JP 4-1 clinic, 106 W. Church St., Grand Prairie: Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
LANWT's main Dallas office is at 1515 Main St.; call 214-748-1234, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. See the Dallas clinic list.
Free Eviction Help: Tarrant County
LANWT Fort Worth: 600 East Weatherford St. Call 817-336-3943 to apply, Monday through Wednesday, 8:30 to 11 a.m. and 1:30 to 4 p.m.
LANWT landlord-tenant line: 855-548-8457.
Tarrant County JP courts: each JP court posts eviction information and appeal steps online. Call the JP court for the precinct where you live to confirm your hearing date and time.
Free Eviction Help: Collin County
LANWT JP3 Collin County Eviction Clinic: 920 E Park Blvd., Plano. Walk-ins Thursdays, 8 a.m. to noon. Call 469-694-2258.
LANWT McKinney office: 901 North McDonald St., Ste. 702. Intake by phone at 972-542-9405, weekdays 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m.
Free Eviction Help: Denton County
LANWT Denton office: 2220 San Jacinto Blvd., Ste. 205. Call 940-383-1406, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monthly general legal clinic in Lewisville: Christian Community Action, 200 S Mill Street, on the first Monday of the month from 4 to 7 p.m. (no clinic in December). Landlord-tenant issues are on the list.
Anywhere in the region, LANWT's general Legal Aid Line is 1-888-529-5277, and you can apply online.
What to Do This Week If You Got a Notice
Don't move out or stop paying before you talk to someone about your options.
Call a free legal clinic above. Do it the same day you get a notice or citation.
Gather your lease, every notice, rent receipts or bank records, and photos of the unit.
If you can pay what's owed, offer it in writing and keep a copy. A Notice to Pay Rent or Vacate exists for exactly this reason.
Look for rent help at the same time. Our DFW nonprofit and church guides list groups that help with back rent.
Put the hearing date in your phone with two alarms.
Related Guides
Looking for rent, food, and bill help in North Texas? Start with these:
Closing Thoughts
An eviction filing is scary, but it's a process with rules, and those rules give you chances to fix things or fight back. The 2026 changes made the timeline shorter, so the biggest mistake now is waiting.
Make one call today. A free lawyer looking at your papers for 15 minutes can change how this ends.
Comments