Depends on the rules of civil procedure for both states. You are probably in small claims jurisdiction, and as such probably will need to file in the defendant's home state, but i would check with your attorney to be sure. Their laws may differ from Connecticut's. It has been my experience in collection cases (and I have done hundreds of them) that most often the defendant will be defaulted for failure to appear or failure to plead. In which case judgment will enter after default. It may not require you to travel to Texas to testify at trial.