FAQ: What are the legal holidays that move the deadline for delivering the earnest money and option fee?Unique among contract deadlines, the final day for delivery of the earnest money and option fee can move depending on the day. If the final day falls on a weekend or legal holiday, the deadline moves to the next day that is not a weekend or a legal holiday.
The term legal holiday is now defined in the contract as the following holidays described in the Texas Government Code:
New Year’s Day (January 1)
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January)
President’s Day (third Monday in February)
Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
Emancipation Day in Texas (June 19)
Independence Day (July 4)
Veterans Day (November 11)
Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November)
Friday after Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day (December 25)
The final day can move in transactions that use the following eight contracts:
Unimproved Property Contract (TXR 1607, TREC 9-18)
One to Four Family Residential Contract (Resale) (TXR 1601, TREC 20-19)
New Home Contract (Incomplete Construction) (TXR 1603, TREC 23-20)
New Home Contract (Completed Construction) (TXR 1604, TREC 24-20)
Farm & Ranch Contract (TXR 1701, TREC 25-17)
Residential Condominium Contract (Resale) (TXR 1605, TREC 30-18)
New Residential Condominium Contract (Complete Construction) (TXR 1608)
New Residential Condominium Contract (Incomplete Construction) (TXR 1609)
Other contract deadlines do not change if the final day falls on a weekend or legal holiday.