Texas lets qualified people claim an exemption on nine grounds, including being 75 or older, having custody of a child under 12 who would be left without adequate supervision, and being a student1. You can claim one without appearing by filing a signed statement with the clerk before your summons date2.
Four terms
- Disqualified
- You do not meet a legal requirement, such as citizenship or county residence3.
- Exempt
- You qualify but may choose not to serve on one of the grounds in the law1.
- Excused
- A court releases you for a reasonable sworn excuse, entirely or until another day4.
- Postponed
- Your service moves to a later date5.
The exemptions
| You may claim an exemption if you | Notes |
|---|---|
| Are 75 or older | Can be made permanent6 |
| Have legal custody of a child under 12 and serving would leave the child without adequate supervision | 1 |
| Are a high school student, or enrolled and in actual attendance at a college or university | 1 |
| Work for the Legislature or a legislative agency | 1 |
| Are the primary caretaker of someone who cannot care for themselves | 1 |
| Are on active military duty, deployed away from your home station and county | 1 |
| Served as a trial juror in the same county recently | Within the past 24 months, in a county of 200,000 or more (unless its jury plan period is over two years), or within the past three years, in a county of 250,000 or more (unless the jury wheel has been rebuilt since)1 |
The age exemption has changed twice
How the age exemption has changed
Each change applies to people summoned on or after its effective date7.
What to send
Documents to have ready
- A signed statement of your exemptionFiled with the clerk of the court before your summons date2.
- A permanent age exemption request (optional)A signed statement to the district clerk that you are 75 or older and want a permanent exemption6.
- An affidavit and a doctor's statementIf a physical or mental impairment makes service impossible or very difficult; a judge or authorized clerk can exempt you permanently or for a set time9.
Excuses
A court can hear any reasonable sworn excuse and release you entirely or until another day. You cannot be excused for an economic reason unless every party in the case is present and agrees4. If you would have to appear on a religious holy day you observe, you must be released entirely or until another day10.
What to do next
Related
Who can serve on a Texas juryThe legal requirements.Postponing jury duty in TexasNeed a later date instead?
Sources
10 official sources, with the exact sentence each rule comes from
- Tex. Gov't Code § 62.106 – Exemption from Jury Service. Tex. Gov't Code § 62.106(a)."(a) A person qualified to serve as a petit juror may establish an exemption from jury service if the person: (1) is 75 years of age or older; (2) has legal custody of a child younger than 12 years of age and the person's service on the jury requires leaving the child without adequate supervision; (3) is a student of a public or private secondary school; (4) is a person enrolled and in actual attendance at an institution of higher education; (5) is an officer or an employee of the senate, the house of representatives, or any department, commission, board, office, or other agency in the legislative branch of state government; (6) is summoned for service in a county with a population of at least 200,000, unless that county uses a jury plan under Section 62.011 and the period authorized under Section 62.011(b)(5) exceeds two years, and the person has served as a petit juror in the county..."
- Tex. Gov't Code § 62.107 – Procedures for Establishing Exemptions. Tex. Gov't Code § 62.107(a)-(b)."(a) A person who is notified to appear for jury service may establish an exemption from the service under Section 62.106 without appearing in person by filing a signed statement of the ground of his exemption with the clerk of the court before the date on which he is summoned to appear."
- Tex. Gov't Code § 62.102 – General Qualifications for Jury Service. Tex. Gov't Code § 62.102(a)."(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a person is disqualified to serve as a petit juror unless the person: (1) is at least 18 years of age; (2) is a citizen of the United States; (3) is a resident of this state and of the county in which the person is to serve as a juror; (4) is qualified under the constitution and laws to vote in the county in which the person is to serve as a juror; (5) is of sound mind and good moral character; (6) is able to read and write; (7) has not been convicted of misdemeanor theft; (8) has not been convicted of a felony; (9) is not under indictment or other legal accusation for misdemeanor theft or a felony; and (10) has not served as a petit juror for six days during the preceding three months in the county court or during the preceding six months in the district court."
- Tex. Gov't Code § 62.110 – Judicial Excuse of Juror. Tex. Gov't Code § 62.110."(a) Except as provided by this section, a court may hear any reasonable sworn excuse of a prospective juror, including any claim of an exemption or a lack of qualification, and if the excuse is considered sufficient shall release him from jury service entirely or until another day of the term, as appropriate."
- Tex. Gov't Code § 62.0143 – Postponement of Jury Service. Tex. Gov't Code § 62.0143."(b) On receipt of a request under Subsection (a), the clerk of the court shall grant the person a postponement if: (1) the person has not been granted a postponement in that county during the one-year period preceding the date on which the person is summoned to appear; and (2) the person and the clerk determine a substitute date on which the person will appear for jury service that is not later than six months after the date on which the person was originally summoned to appear."
- Tex. Gov't Code § 62.108 – Permanent Exemption for Elderly. Tex. Gov't Code §§ 62.107(c), 62.108."(b) A person may claim a permanent exemption: (1) by filing with the district clerk of the county, by mail or personal delivery, a signed statement affirming that the person is 75 years of age or older and desires a permanent exemption on that ground; or (2) in the manner provided by Section 62.107(c)."
- H.B. 2637 (89th Leg., R.S.) – Enrolled version, Texas Legislature Online (capitol.texas.gov). H.B. 2015, 88th Leg., R.S. (2023), § 1; H.B. 2637, 89th Leg., R.S. (2025), §§ 9, 16-17."(1) is [over] 75 years of age or older;"
- Texas Judicial Branch - Jury Service in Texas. OCA, Jury Service in Texas."Are over 75 years of age (You may also request a permanent age 75 exemption.)"
- Tex. Gov't Code § 62.109 – Exemption for Physical or Mental Impairment or Inability to Comprehend English. Tex. Gov't Code § 62.109."(a) The judge of a district court or, if authorized by the local administrative district judge or the county jury plan, the district clerk may permanently or for a specified period exempt from service as a juror in all the county and district courts in the county a person with a physical or mental impairment or with an inability to comprehend or communicate in the English language that makes it impossible or very difficult for the person to serve on a jury."
- Tex. Gov't Code § 62.112 – Excuse of Juror for Religious Holy Day. Tex. Gov't Code § 62.112."(b) If a prospective juror is required to appear at a court proceeding on a religious holy day observed by the prospective juror, the court or the court's designee shall release the prospective juror from jury service entirely or until another day of the term."
Reviewed by Roger K. Neustadt, JD, attorney admitted in Georgia. Verified November 10, 2026.
Roger K. Neustadt is admitted in Georgia; pages about other states and federal courts are general information checked against official sources. How we check every rule: editorial policy. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
This page explains the law in general terms and is not legal advice. Jury Duty Explained is not affiliated with any court. Your summons and your court's instructions control, so check them first.