Short answer
Leaving the papers with another person counts only if the court authorized substituted service, usually on someone 16 or older at your home. If it wasn't authorized or was done wrong, service may be defective, which can matter later, especially for a default judgment. Your deadline still may be running, so act quickly.
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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.