(a) Citation in a suit for dissolution of a marriage may be by publication as in other civil cases, except that notice shall be published one time only.
(b) The notice shall be sufficient if given in substantially the following form:
“STATE OF TEXAS

To (name of person to be served with citation), and to all whom it may concern (if the name of any person to be served with citation is unknown), Respondent(s),

Terms Used In Texas Family Code 6.409

  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005
  • Property: means real and personal property. See Texas Government Code 311.005
  • Written: includes any representation of words, letters, symbols, or figures. See Texas Government Code 311.005

“You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the clerk who issued this citation by 10 a.m. on the Monday next following the expiration of 20 days after you were served this citation and petition, a default judgment may be taken against you. The petition of __________, Petitioner, was filed in the Court of __________ County, Texas, on the ______ day of __________, against __________, Respondent(s), numbered ______, and entitled ‘In the Matter of Marriage of __________ and __________. The suit requests __________ (statement of relief sought).’
“The Court has authority in this suit to enter any judgment or decree dissolving the marriage and providing for the division of property that will be binding on you.
“Issued and given under my hand and seal of said Court at __________, Texas, this the ______ day of __________, ______.
“…………………………
Clerk of the __________ Court of
____________ County, Texas

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