Canyon is where Randall County's courts are, so a debt lawsuit against someone in Canyon is often heard close to home. Texas Debt Law defends Canyon residents against credit card companies, debt buyers and collection agencies for a flat fee. We're based in Frisco, far from the Panhandle, and we handle these cases the way we handle most of our work across Texas: by phone, text, email and electronic filing.
Free Case Evaluation(214) 945-0000
A Small City With the County's Courthouses
Canyon had about 16,457 residents in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, all of them in Randall County. It is the county seat and home to West Texas A&M University, and it sits just south of Amarillo along I-27.
Randall County's larger courts are in Canyon. The county lists its district courts, the 47th, 181st and 251st, at 2309 Russell Long Boulevard, and its County Court at Law Number 1 and Number 2 are in the same building. If your lawsuit asks for more than $20,000, or the plaintiff chose county or district court, this is where your case will be.
Which Justice Court?
Most credit card lawsuits ask for less than $20,000 and are filed in a justice court. Randall County's three justice courts are split between two cities:
- Justice of the Peace No. 1 is in Canyon, at the county building at 501 16th Street.
- Justice of the Peace No. 4 and No. 4A share an address on South Western in Amarillo, in the part of Amarillo that lies in Randall County.
Justice court debt cases are generally filed in the precinct where the defendant lives, so the court that has your case depends on your address. Randall County posts a precinct map and a county street index on the JP No. 1 page. A case filed in a precinct where you don't live may be in the wrong court, which is something we check.
Deadlines for a Canyon Lawsuit
Look at the court named on your citation:
- If it's a justice court, your answer is due by the end of the 14th day after you were served (Tex. R. Civ. P. 502.5).
- If it's a County Court at Law or district court, your answer is due by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday after 20 days (Rule 99(b)).
Our answer deadline calculator will give you an estimate. In county or district court, watch for a motion for summary judgment; for motions filed on or after March 1, 2026, the response is due 21 days after the motion is filed (Rule 166a).
Pricing
One flat fee based on the amount of the lawsuit, from $400. Payment plans are available, and post-judgment work uses the same flat fees.
| Amount of the Lawsuit | Our Flat Legal Fee | Payment Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Less than $1,000 | $400 | Up to 2 months |
| $1,001 – $3,000 | $500 | Up to 2 months |
| $3,001 – $5,000 | $750 | Up to 3 months |
| $5,001 – $7,500 | $1,000 | Up to 4 months |
| $7,501 – $10,000 | $1,250 | Up to 6 months |
| $10,001 – $12,500 | $1,500 | Up to 6 months |
| $12,501 – $15,000 | $1,750 | Up to 6 months |
| $15,001 – $20,000 | $2,000 | Up to 6 months |
| Over $20,000 | Call for Pricing | |
Our Approach
We read the petition the way the judge will: what does the plaintiff claim, and what has it attached to prove it? A credit card bank suing on its own account usually has statements and an agreement. A debt buyer suing on a purchased account often has less, and has to show a chain of ownership that reaches your account.
We also look for timing problems. Texas generally allows four years to sue on a debt (Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004), and a debt buyer may not sue on time-barred consumer debt (Fin. Code § 392.307).
And we tell the other side what it's up against. Texas doesn't allow garnishment of current wages for consumer debt, protects your homestead, and exempts personal property up to $50,000 for a single adult or $100,000 for a family. Depending on the case, the result may be a dismissal or a written settlement on terms you can afford.
Free Legal Help for Randall County
Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas serves Randall County from its Amarillo office and provides free civil legal help to eligible low-income residents. Free legal information and self-help forms are also available at TexasLawHelp.org. Both are independent of our firm.
If You Already Have a Judgment, or a Collector Won't Stop
We can review whether a default judgment can be challenged and, if not, negotiate a post-judgment settlement. If a collector has harassed you, threatened you or lied about the debt, see our FDCPA attorneys page; those claims are a separate service from debt defense.
Canyon Debt Lawsuit FAQs
I'm a West Texas A&M student. Will my case be in Canyon or back home?
It depends on where you're considered to live when the case is filed. If you were served in Canyon on a case from your home county, or the reverse, send us the petition and we'll confirm the court and deadline.
I live in Canyon but my case is in the JP court on South Western in Amarillo. Is that a mistake?
Possibly. Justice of the Peace No. 4 and No. 4A are Randall County courts, so the county is right, but the precinct may not be. We'll compare your address with the county's precinct map and raise improper venue if it applies.
The courthouse is a few minutes from my house. Do I have to go?
Not for most of the case. We file electronically and negotiate by phone and email. If the court sets a hearing that requires you, we'll let you know ahead of time and represent you there.
Do you handle cases in Amarillo and Lubbock too?
Yes. See our Amarillo and Lubbock pages, and our debt lawsuit Q&A for general answers.
Free Case Review
Call or text (214) 945-0000; we answer seven days a week, and Spanish is spoken. Or tell us about your case online.
Helpful guides
- How to answer a debt lawsuit in Texas
- Served with a debt lawsuit? What to do next
- Debt claim cases in justice court (Rule 508)
- Defenses to a debt collection lawsuit
- Statute of limitations on credit card debt
- Being sued by Midland Credit Management
- Being sued by Portfolio Recovery Associates
- Can a creditor garnish your wages in Texas?
General information, not legal advice for your case.