Can I appear remotely at my small claims hearing? 

This will likely depend on the individual court's policies on remote appearances. Rule 500.10 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure states that a judge in a justice court "may allow or even require participants to appear at a court proceeding by videoconference, teleconference, or other electronic means."

You may have to ask the court's permission to appear remotely. Texas Law Help has forms and instructions for requesting a remote appearance in a non-family law case.

Not all courts allow remote proceedings, so be sure to ask the court clerk about the court's policy.

You may also be able to file your case online. See our Legal FAQ Can I file my small claims case online?

The law can be complex, so you may wish to talk to an attorney before taking any action. For more information on finding an attorney, please see the library's Legal Help page.

You may also want to review the library’s Small Claims Cases guide for general information about the filing process, links to sample forms, and additional resources to learn about small claims.

Related FAQs & Guides

FAQs

• What’s the maximum amount I can sue for in a small claims court? 
• How do I sue a business in small claims court?
• Do I need a lawyer for my small claims case?
• Which small claims court should I file my lawsuit in?
• Can I file my small claims case online?
• Do I have to live in Texas to file a small claims suit there? 

Guides

• Small Claims Cases