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Recent Updates—November 2020

The 2020 edition adds an entirely new chapter on collecting attorney’s fees, as well as updates to practice notes and forms throughout the manual to reflect recent changes in the law of collecting attorney’s fees. Additional new material includes forms for attorney-client contingency fee agreements, settlement agreements, and forbearance agreements; practice notes about the enforceability of limitations-barred debt under the new Fair Consumer Debt Collection Act; and practice notes about the enforceability of the Texas Lawyer’s Creed. The edition also includes revised practice notes about constitutional contractor liens; practice notes about service of process by publication on the new Public Information Internet Website; and updates to practice notes and forms throughout the manual to reflect recent changes in the law regarding the collection of attorney’s fees, as well as recent increases in the jurisdictional limits of justice and county courts.

Changes to Practice Notes— November 2020

Chapter 1Debt Collection Law Practice

§ 1.2:2Texas Lawyer’s Creed

Information about the enforceability of the Texas Lawyer’s Creed was added.

§ 1.7Bonding of Attorneys and Nonattorney Employees

The section was rewritten.

§ 1.12Forwarders

Information about attorney duties to forwarders was added.

§ 1.15When to Recommend Not Filing Suit

The section was revised.

§ 1.18Attorney’s Engagement Agreements with Client

The former Section 1.21 was renumbered as Section 1.18.

§§ 1.22 – 1.29 Attorney’s Fees

These sections were deleted or incorporated into Chapter 31, the new chapter on attorney’s fees.

Chapter 2Laws Affecting Debt Collection

§ 2.36:5Fair Consumer Debt Collection Act

The section was added.

§ 2.71:3Required Disclosures—Open-End Transactions

Information about required disclosures for cosigners of open-end accounts was revised.

Chapter 3Finding Debtor & Debtor’s Assets

§ 3.6:2Where Certificates Must Be Filed

The section was revised.

Chapter 7Creation & Enforcement of Liens

§ 7.13:1Scope and Utility of Lien

The section was revised.

Chapter 14Petitions & Causes of Action

§ 14.30:8Transfer with Intent to Hinder, Delay, or Defraud

Information was added about situations where a transferee is on inquiry notice that the transfer may be voidable.

§ 14.24:1Elements

The reference to section 19.1 was deleted.

§ 14.32:4 Exception for Consumer Debt Buyers

The section was added.

Chapter 15Jurisdiction & Venue

§ 15.1:2Justice Court

The section was updated to reflect recent changes in jurisdictional limits of courts.

§ 15.1:3Constitutional County Court

The section was updated to reflect recent changes in jurisdictional limits of courts.

§ 15.1:4Statutory County Court (County Court at Law)

The section was updated to reflect recent changes in jurisdictional limits of courts.

Chapter 16Service of Process

§ 16.16:1Grounds for Citation by Publication

The section was revised.

§ 16.16:4Procedure for Service by Publication

The section was revised.

§ 16.16:6Citation by Publication by Private Process Server Questionable

The section was revised.

Chapter 18Discovery

§ 18.41:1 Purpose [of Requests for Admissions]

The section was rewritten.

§ 18.42Scope of Requests for Admissions

The section was revised.

§ 18.48:2Matters Deemed Admitted Automatically

The section was revised.

Chapter 19Trial Procedure

§ 19.64Determination of Law of Another Nation

The section was revised.

Chapter 27Postjudgment Remedies

§ 27.41:1List of Exemptions [for Personal Property]

The section was revised.

§ 27.85:1Creditor’s Pleadings

The section was revised.

§ 27.88:6Master in Chancery

The section was deleted, and following sections were renumbered.

Chapter 28Landlord-Tenant Law

§ 28.21:4Method of Delivery of Notice to Vacate

The second practice note was added.

Chapter 29Probate & Guardianship

§ 29.23:1Matured Secured Claim

The section was revised.

§ 29.26Classification of Claims, Allowances, and Expenses of Decedent’s Estate

The section was revised.

§ 29.75Qualified Savings Plan Benefits

The section was rewritten.

Chapter 30Justice Courts

§ 30.1:1Types of Cases

The section was revised to reflect new jurisdictional limits for justice courts.

§ 30.2Jurisdiction

The section was expanded.

Chapter 31 Attorney’s Fees

This is a new chapter for the 2020 edition.

Appendix

Rule 500.3Application of Rules in Justice Court Cases

The jurisdictional limits of justice courts was updated to reflect statutory changes.

Rule 502.2Petition

Removed reference to civil case information sheet, which is no longer required.

Changes to Forms—November 2020

Chapter 1Debt Collection Law Practice

Form 1-2Contingent Fee Agreement

This form is new for the 2020 edition.

Form 1-6Settlement Agreement Letter

This form is new for the 2020 edition.

Form 1-7Forbearance Agreement Letter

This form is new for the 2020 edition.

Chapter 14Petitions & Causes of Action

Form 14-1Petition for Suit on Sworn Account

The pleadings requesting attorney’s fees were updated to reflect recent changes in the law.

Form 14-3Petition for Suit on Written Contract

The pleadings requesting attorney’s fees were updated to reflect recent changes in the law.

Form 14-4Petition for Suit on Oral Debt

The pleadings requesting attorney’s fees were updated to reflect recent changes in the law.

Form 14-5Petition for Suit on Revolving Credit Account

The pleadings requesting attorney’s fees were updated to reflect recent changes in the law.

Form 14-6Petition for Suit on Retail Installment Contract

The pleadings requesting attorney’s fees were updated to reflect recent changes in the law.

Form 14-7Petition for Suit on Note

The pleadings requesting attorney’s fees were updated to reflect recent changes in the law.

Form 14-8Petition for Suit on Lease of Personal Property

The pleadings requesting attorney’s fees were updated to reflect recent changes in the law.

Form 14-9Petition for Deficiency Judgment

The pleadings requesting attorney’s fees were updated to reflect recent changes in the law.

Form 14-11Petition for Suit on Guaranty

The pleadings requesting attorney’s fees were updated to reflect recent changes in the law.

Chapter 20Judgment

Form 20-4Affidavit of Attorney [for Attorney’s Fees]

The form was rewritten.

Chapter 27Postjudgment Remedies

Form 27-16 Application for Turnover Relief

The form was revised.

Form 27-17Order for Turnover Relief

The form was revised.

Chapter 28Landlord-Tenant Law

Form 28-2Affidavit and Lien Statement for Commercial Building Landlord’s Lien under Tex. Prop. Code § 54.022

A new headnote was added to the form.

Form 28-14Sworn Complaint for Forcible Detainer

The form was revised.