Tex. Prop. Code Ann. §§ 24.001–24.011 § 24.011
NONLAWYER REPRESENTATION.
Operative Text
Sec. 24.011. NONLAWYER REPRESENTATION. (a) In an eviction suit in justice court, the parties may represent themselves or be represented by their authorized agents, who need not be attorneys. (b) In an appeal of an eviction suit for nonpayment of rent in a county or district court, an owner of a multifamily residential property may be represented by the owner's authorized agent, who need not be an attorney. Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 891, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 26, 1985. Renumbered from Sec. 24.009 by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 167, Sec. 5.01(a)(49), eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1205, Sec. 7, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.Amended by: Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 904 (H.B. 3879), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2017.Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 960 (S.B. 38), Sec. 14, eff. January 1, 2026.
Under Tex. Prop. Code § 24.011, eviction proceedings in Texas justice court allow both landlords and tenants to appear without a licensed attorney, instead using any authorized agent of their choosing. When a nonpayment-of-rent eviction is appealed to a county or district court, the rule extends a similar privilege specifically to owners of multifamily residential properties, permitting a non-attorney authorized agent to represent them at that appellate level as well. This provision does not require either party to hire legal counsel, though it does not prevent them from doing so.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Tex. Prop. Code § 24.011, property owners and managers handling eviction matters in justice court may send a designated authorized agent—such as a property manager—rather than retaining an attorney. Owners of multifamily residential properties also have the option to use a non-attorney authorized agent if a nonpayment-of-rent case is appealed to a county or district court. Operators who rely on this provision typically ensure their agent is formally authorized and familiar with the procedural requirements of the relevant court.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tex. Prop. Code § 24.011 means that tenants facing eviction in justice court are not required to hire an attorney and may represent themselves or designate another person as their authorized agent. This can lower the practical barrier to participating in an eviction proceeding, though the complexity of court procedures varies. Tenants who want to understand their options—including whether self-representation or an authorized agent is appropriate for their circumstances—may find guidance through local tenant-rights organizations or legal aid services.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 28, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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