The court is only allowed to give you 5 days after an eviction. After 5 days, the landlord will have the right to obtain a Writ of Possession. That grants the constables the authority to come to your residence, force you and all other occupants out, seize all of you personal property, and then auction that property for the benefit of your landlord.
Don’t let this happen. You can either move out, or you can appeal. To appeal, you’ll have three options.
1. Cash Bond. You pay an amount set by the court, pay filing fees, and wait for the county to send notice of the new trial setting;
2. Surety Bond. You and another resident (who does not live with you) of Harris County swear to be bound to the judgment on appeal. You
pay filing fees and wait for the county to send notice of the new trial setting;
3. Affidavit of Inability to Pay. You file a sworn affidavit with the Court which explains why you are unable to pay the Cash Bond. However, within five days, you must pay one month’s rent into the Court’s registry (and every future month until your appeal is heard). If the Court accepts your affidavit, you pay no filing fees and wait for the county to send notice of the new trial setting.
While filing the appeal may give you additional time, it does nothing to remove the judgment from your record. Talk to an attorney about how a negotiated settlement can help you move into your new home within a comfortable time frame and without the harm that comes from a judgment for eviction on your record.
Legal Disclaimer
This blog site provides only general information about the law and does not, under any circumstances, constitute legal advice. You should not act or refrain from acting based on these materials without first obtaining the advice of professional legal counsel.