Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 15.002 –
General Rule for Venue
Table of Contents
Statutory Text:
A suit shall be brought:
(1) in the county in which all or a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred;
(2) in the county of defendant’s residence at the time the cause of action accrued if the defendant is a natural person;
(3) in the county of the defendant’s principal office in this state, if the defendant is not a natural person; or
(4) if none of the above apply, in the county in which the plaintiff resided at the time of the accrual of the cause of action.
Understanding Venue in Texas Civil Cases
Section 15.002 outlines where a lawsuit must be filed. It prevents forum shopping and ensures cases are brought in a county with a logical connection to the dispute.
What Determines Proper Venue Under § 15.002?
Venue may be proper in any of the following:
Where the incident happened (e.g., accident, contract breach, injury)
Where the defendant resides (if an individual)
Where the defendant company’s principal office is located (if a business)
Where the plaintiff resided at the time of the incident, if none of the above apply
Example Scenarios
A car accident in Dallas County: venue is proper in Dallas.
A breach of contract involving a Houston business with a principal office in Harris County: venue is proper in Harris County.
If no known business or residency applies, and the plaintiff lived in Travis County at the time: the lawsuit can be filed in Travis County.
Legal Use & Venue Challenges in Texas Courts
- Venue can be a strategic issue in litigation. A defendant can file a motion to transfer venue if they believe the plaintiff filed in the wrong county. The burden is on the plaintiff to prove venue is proper.
Relevance to Texas Personal Injury and Civil Litigation
Applies to personal injury, contract disputes, property damage, and commercial litigation
Important for ensuring juror pool relevance, convenience of parties, and judicial efficiency
Can influence case outcomes, especially in injury cases involving rural vs. urban jury dynamics
Related Statutes
§ 15.003 – Multiple Plaintiffs and Venue
§ 15.011 – Land Disputes and Mandatory Venue
Texas Rules of Civil Procedure – Rule 86 (Motion to Transfer Venue)
Texas Case Law Interpreting § 15.002
The Texas Supreme Court reaffirmed that plaintiffs bear the burden of establishing proper venue when challenged.
Clarified that “substantial part” of the events under subsection (1) does not mean majority or most significant, just that relevant acts occurred there.
Frequently Asked Questions About § 15.002
Houston Personal Injury Lawyer - Joel A. Gordon
Venue refers to the county where a lawsuit may be properly filed, as outlined in Chapter 15 of the Civil Practice & Remedies Code.
No. You must choose a county that satisfies at least one of the venue provisions in § 15.002.
The court will review evidence to determine whether venue is proper. If not, the case will be transferred to the appropriate county.
Yes, but subsection (2) applies to individuals, and subsection (3) applies to entities with a principal office in Texas.