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Texas · How-To Guide

How do I access court records?

District Clerk (county level - District Courts) / County Clerk (county level - County Courts) / Justice of the Peace Clerk (local level) / Texas Office of Court Administration (state level)
Step by Step

How to do it

  1. Identify what type of record you need:
  2. DISTRICT COURT: Major civil (over $200 threshold), felonies, family/domestic matters, juvenile (District Clerk)
  3. COUNTY COURT / COUNTY COURT AT LAW: Misdemeanors, civil up to $200K, probate in many counties (County Clerk)
  4. JUSTICE OF THE PEACE COURT: Small claims up to $20,000, minor civil, minor criminal matters (JP Court Clerk)
  5. MUNICIPAL COURT: City ordinances, traffic, misdemeanor Class C (Municipal Court Clerk)
  6. Search online:
  7. eFILE TEXAS (eFileTexas.gov): Texas's statewide e-filing system for civil cases - allows public case search for many civil filings
  8. TEXAS COURTS ONLINE (txcourts.gov): Texas judicial website; links to appellate courts, Supreme Court, Court of Criminal Appeals opinions
  9. COUNTY-LEVEL PORTALS: Most larger TX counties have their own online case search systems for District Court and County Court records; search "[County Name] County Texas District Clerk case search" or "[County Name] County Texas County Clerk case search"
  10. TYLER TECHNOLOGIES ODYSSEY PORTAL: Many TX counties use Tyler Technologies' Odyssey case management system with public access portals
  11. For full case documents or certified copies: contact the District Clerk or County Clerk in the county where the case was filed
  12. In-person access: visit the courthouse; bring photo ID and case details
Details

What you need to know

Required Docs
  • Valid photo ID (for in-person requests)
  • Case number or full legal name of parties
Fee
Online case searches: free for basic docket information at most county portals; certified copies: typically $1-$2 per page; contact specific clerk for current schedule
Processing Time
Online: immediate where available; same day or by mail for certified copies
Online Option
Yes - eFileTexas.gov; county-level portals; txcourts.gov; Odyssey portals for many counties
Where to Go
District Clerk (civil/criminal felony); County Clerk (county court level); JP Court Clerk (small claims); appropriate county courthouse
County-specific variations apply

Texas's 254 counties each maintain their own court systems. Harris County (Houston) District Clerk has one of the most sophisticated public access portals; Dallas County, Tarrant County, Travis County, and Bexar County also have strong online systems. Small TX counties may have minimal online access. Some urban counties have multiple District Clerks for different court divisions.

Texas Notes

Important state-specific details

  • DUAL HIGHEST COURTS: Texas Supreme Court (civil/juvenile) and Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (criminal) - both opinions searchable at txcourts.gov.
  • eFileTexas.gov: statewide civil e-filing portal with public case search.
  • Marriage records: County Clerk (same office that issues marriage licenses) - copies from County Clerk where license was issued.
  • Divorce records: District Clerk in county where divorce was filed.
  • Criminal history background checks: Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) - dps.texas.gov | (512) 424-2474; fee-based.
  • Texas Sex Offender Registry: Texas DPS - txdps.state.tx.us; searchable online.
  • Juvenile records: sealed; special access rules.
  • Texas Public Information Act (Texas Govt Code Ch. 552): public records presumed open; agencies must respond within 10 business days.
Official Source

State office contact

State Office
Texas Office of Court Administration - txcourts.gov | (512) 463-1625; eFileTexas: efiletexas.gov; Texas DPS (criminal records) - dps.texas.gov | (512) 424-2474