Personal property · Texas
the short answer
You have two years from the day your property was taken to sue for it, which is one of the shortest windows in the country and it does not pause while you wait for the police. Texas also has a theft statute that adds up to a thousand dollars on top of what the thing was worth. The part worth knowing is the fees: if you win under that statute, the court has to award your attorney's fees.
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
governing statute
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(a)
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
penalty
Your actual damages plus additional damages of up to $1,000. Court costs and reasonable attorney's fees are not discretionary here -- the statute says a prevailing party shall be awarded them. (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 134.005)
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
limit
2 years
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
Across the country. 2 of the 10 states written up answer this the same way as Texas. The shortest is 2 years, as in Arizona; the longest is 4 years, as in Florida. Compare every state →
which court
Justice Court
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
small claims limit
$20,000
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
exceptions: The claim has to be for less than this, not up to it, excluding statutory interest and court costs.
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
your situation
Everything above is the law as it reaches everyone in Texas. What it means for you turns on facts only you have. Tell us what happened and we'll ask the same questions a lawyer would — about 90 seconds, free, and anonymous.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Written by an AI model, which can be wrong. Not a lawyer, and not a prediction about your case. Terms · Privacy
someone taking my property — state by state →other claims in this state →
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