RULE 507.1. PLENARY POWER
A justice court loses plenary power over to modify or vacate a judgment when an appeal is perfected or if no appeal is perfected, 21 days after the later of the date judgment is signed or the date a motion to set aside, motion to reinstate, or motion for new trial, if any, is denied.
RULE 507.2. FORMS
The court may provide forms to enable a party to file documents that comply with these rules but must not require the use of such forms. Such forms must not conflict with state law or these rules.
RULE 507.3. DOCKET AND OTHER RECORDS
(a) Docket. Each judge must keep a civil docket in a permanent record containing the following information:
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(1) the title of all suits commenced before the court;
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(2) the date when the first process was issued against the defendant, when returnable, and the nature of that process;
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(3) the date when the parties, or either of them, appeared before the court, either with or without a citation;
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(4) a description of the petition and any documents filed with the petition;
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(5) every adjournment, stating at whose request and to what time;
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(6) the date of the trial, stating whether the same was by a jury or by the judge;
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(7) the verdict of the jury, if any;
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(8) the judgment signed by the judge and the date the judgment was signed;
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(9) all applications for setting aside judgments or granting new trials and the orders of the judge thereon, with the date;
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(10) the date of issuing execution, to whom directed and delivered, and the amount of debt, damages and costs and, when any execution is returned, the date of the return and the manner in which it was executed; and
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(11) all stays and appeals that may be taken, and the date when taken, the amount of the bond and the names of the sureties.
(b) Other Records. The judge must also keep copies of all documents filed; other dockets, books, and records as may be required by law or these rules; and a fee book in which all costs accruing in every suit commenced before the court are taxed.
(c) Form of Records. All records required to be kept under this rule may be maintained electronically.
RULE 507.4. ISSUANCE OF WRITS
Every writ from the justice courts must be in writing and be issued and signed by the judge officially. The style thereof must be “The State of Texas.” It must, except where otherwise specially provided by law or these rules, be directed to the person or party upon whom it is to be served, be made returnable to the court, and note the date of its issuance.