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Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure · February 6, 2026 edition

Rule 26 — Time to Perfect Appeal

Read the original court rule and its historical notes. Illustrations, where shown, are educational explanations of the rule.

Original appellate rule text (selectable)

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26.1.  Civil Cases
The notice of appeal must be filed within 30 days
after the judgment is signed, except as follows:
(a) the notice of appeal must be filed within 90
days after the judgment is signed if any party
timely files:
(1) a motion for new trial;
(2) a motion to modify the judgment;
(3) a motion to reinstate under Texas Rule of
Civil Procedure 165a; or
(4) a request for findings of fact and
conclusions of law if findings and
conclusions either are required by the
Rules of Civil Procedure or, if not
required, could properly be considered
by the appellate court;
(b) in an accelerated appeal, the notice of appeal
must be filed within 20 days after the
judgment or order is signed;
(c) in a restricted appeal, the notice of appeal
must be filed within six months after the
judgment or order is signed; and
(d) if any party timely files a notice of appeal,
another party may file a notice of appeal
within the applicable period stated above or
14 days after the first filed notice of appeal,
whichever is later.
26.2.  Criminal Cases
(a) By the Defendant. The notice of appeal must
be filed:
(1) within 30  days  after  the  day  sentence
is imposed or suspended in open court,
or after the day the trial court enters an
appealable order; or
(2) within 90  days  after  the  day  sentence
is imposed or suspended in open court if
the defendant timely files a motion for
new trial.
(b) By the State.  The notice of appeal must be
filed within 20 days after the day the trial
court enters the order, ruling, or sentence to
be appealed.
26.3.  Extension of Time
The appellate court may extend the time to
file the notice of appeal if, within 15 days after the
deadline for filing the notice of appeal, the party:
(a)
files in the trial court the notice of
appeal; and
(b)
files in the appellate court a motion
complying with Rule 10.5(b).

Existing source-linked teaching illustrations

Use these illustrations alongside the official court rule. The illustrations do not replace the rule text.

Identify the triggering event and applicable notice period · Read the complete rule and official court source.
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Check both filings required for an extension · Read the complete rule and official court source.
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Historical Notes and Comments — not operative rule text

Show or hide court historical comments for Rule 26
Comment to 1997 change: This is former Rule 41.
All times for perfecting appeal in civil cases —
including the time for perfecting a restricted appeal —
are stated. An extension of time is available for all
appeals. The provisions of former Rule 41(c)
regarding prematurely filed documents are moved to
Rule 27.  Nonsubstantive changes are made in the rule
for criminal cases.