Freestone County Court Records

Freestone County court records are documents that capture the filing, progress, and outcome of legal cases in the county. These records include petitions, motions, complaints, dockets, and court orders; in the context of criminal proceedings, they may include or reference Freestone County arrest records. These documents are typically in the custody of the appropriate court clerk, such as the District, County, or Justice of the Peace Clerk, and are generally considered public records.

Are Court Records Public in Freestone County?

Yes. Court records in Freestone County are public, but they are not governed by the Texas Public Information Act, as the judiciary is exempt from the statute's provisions. Instead, court record access is governed by court rules, which presume the openness of court records unless a restriction applies. Commonly restricted court records in Texas include juvenile, adoption, mental health commitment, sealed, and other sensitive documents.

Freestone County Court Records Search

There are several ways to search for court records in Freestone County, depending on the type of record. For county and probate court records, individuals can visit the County Clerk's Office in person. For district court records, the District Clerk's Office is the appropriate point of contact. Justice of the Peace and Municipal Court records can be requested from the relevant courthouse. Online case search systems are also available to requesters, providing an alternative to in-person searches.

Freestone County Courts

Freestone County's court system, like most counties in Texas, comprises the District Court (77th and 87th), County Court, the Justice of the Peace Courts (Precincts 1, 2, 3, and 4), and municipal courts. It also comprises a Commissioner's Court, but it is not a trial court. Below are the courthouse addresses in the county.

Freestone County Courthouse
118 East Commerce
Room 401
Fairfield, Texas 75840
Phone: (903) 389-4836
Fax: (903) 389-0422

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1
440 East Main Street
Suite 1
Fairfield, TX 75840
Phone: (903) 389-8783

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2
800 Main Street
Teague, TX 75860
Phone: (254) 739-2518
Fax: (254) 739-0939

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3
440 East Main Street
Suite 3
Fairfield, TX 75840
Phone: (903) 389-3137
Fax: (903) 389-9409

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4
800 Main Street
Teague, TX 75860
Phone: (254) 739-2518
Fax: (254) 739-0939

Fairfield Municipal Court
527 East Commerce Street
Fairfield, TX 75840
Phone: (903) 389-2633
Fax: (903) 389-2958

Teague Municipal Court
315 Main Street
Teague, TX 75860
Phone: (254) 739-2553
Fax: (254) 739-3213

Wortham Municipal Court
110 East Main Avenue
Wortham, TX 76693-0186
Phone: (254) 765-3042
Fax: (254) 765-3310

Freestone County Criminal and Civil Records

Criminal records in Freestone County are primarily maintained by the courts, with the exception of Freestone County arrest records, which are held by law enforcement agencies. The jurisdiction is divided as follows:

• The District Clerk maintains felony criminal case records.
• The County Clerk and Justice of the Peace Clerks maintain misdemeanor criminal case records.
• Municipal Clerks maintain records of city ordinance violations.
• For civil records, the District Clerk maintains documentation related to higher-level cases, while the County Clerk and Justice of the Peace Clerks manage those documents for lower-level civil matters.

Record seekers may visit the respective clerk's office to access records. They will have to provide the clerk with the record's case number or the name of a case party. The fee for a standard court record copy is $1 per page, and certification is $5 per document.

Freestone County does not operate a dedicated online portal for public case searches. However, researchers can utilize the statewide Texas Case Search Portal to find case information for the county.

Freestone County Marriage Records

The Freestone County Clerk manages the county's marriage records. These records confirm the marital status of individuals in the county and are public records, as mandated by Texas law. To obtain a marriage record, individuals may visit the County Clerk's Office or order through the Freestone County Request for Vital Records Portal. A marriage certificate costs $7 for each copy.

Freestone County Divorce Records

The District Court has jurisdiction over divorce cases, so the resulting records are filed with the District Clerk. Divorce records are generally public, except for certain sensitive information that is usually restricted. Divorce records are viewable at the District Clerk's Office. Like other court records, researchers will have to provide information like a name or case number, which will be used to search for the record. Standard court record copy fees apply.

Freestone Birth Records

Freestone County birth records are filed with and maintained by the County Clerk as part of the county's vital records. These records document the birth information of everyone born in the county. Under Tex. Health & Safety Code § 191.051, access to birth records is restricted to the registrant, immediate family members, legal representatives, and individuals with a legal interest.

Such qualified applicants may obtain a birth certificate by submitting a filled-out Birth/Death Application Form to the County Clerk's Office in person or by mail. An acceptable form of identification should be taken to the office alongside the application or included in a mail-in request. Below is the County Clerk's Office address.

Freestone County Clerk’s Office
103 East Main Street
P.O. Box 1010
Fairfield, TX 75840

Individuals may also use the Request for Vital Records Portal to order a birth certificate online. Freestone County birth certificates cost $23 per copy.

Freestone Death Records

Freestone County death certificates, like other vital records, are maintained by the County Clerk. Access to these records is generally constrained to immediate family members, legal representatives, and persons with a legal interest determined by the court.

To obtain a Freestone County death certificate, inquirers may submit the Birth/Death Application to the County Clerk in person or by mail, or place an order online using the Request for Vital Records Portal. Death certificates cost $21 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy.

Freestone County Probate Court Records

Freestone County probate court records are in the custody of the County Clerk. Probate court records encompass cases related to the administration of estates and the protection of incapacitated individuals. Researchers may access these records at the County Clerk's Office. However, some probate information is confidential and cannot be publicly disclosed.

Freestone County Property Records

Freestone County property records document the status of real estate in the county, including ownership, transfer history, liens, mortgages, and other recorded details. Residents can inspect property records in person at the County Clerk's Office or online through the Freestone County Official Records Search Portal. For land records from 1851 to 1959, individuals may submit a request via email.

Freestone County Court Records Online

Third-party public records sites, like Texascourtrecords.us, offer an additional way to look up Freestone County court records remotely. Individuals may leverage these websites to access court records if the primary reason for access is research, without needing official copies of a record. Court clerks in Freestone County remain the primary source for official court records.