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Texas Debt Law

Being sued and served

Can I go to jail for not paying a debt in Texas?

Short answer

No. The Texas Constitution says no one may be imprisoned for debt. But you must follow court orders: ignoring an order to appear or answer questions after a judgment can lead to contempt, which is a separate problem.

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Updated November 2026. General information about Texas law, not legal advice for your case. Laws and court rules change; we review these answers regularly.

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