Harris County Court Records

Harris County court records refer to documents filed, maintained, or generated by civil and criminal courts in Harris County, Texas. These records promote transparency in the legal system by accurately detailing what transpired in a legal proceeding. They also serve as valuable resources for legal practitioners, law students, researchers, policymakers, and the general public looking to research the law and its applications. Further, records from a lower court are typically used as evidence for an appeal.

Harris County court records comprise dockets, pleadings, motions, dispositions, exhibits, judgments and orders, and transcripts.

The Harris County Clerk and the clerks of the various courts in Harris County are the county's primary custodians of court records.

Are Court Records Public in Harris County?

Yes, court records in Harris County are considered public documents. Under the Texas Public Information Act (PIA), members of the public have the right to view, inspect, and obtain copies of records that are maintained by government bodies. However, per Section 552.003 (1)(B)(i) of the Texas Government Code, the judiciary is excluded from PIA's provisions. Instead, access to records is regulated by the Supreme Court of Texas rules and other applicable laws.

Notwithstanding, there are exceptions to the presumption of access to court records in Harris County. For example, juvenile court records are generally not released publicly. The same goes for sealed or expunged records and other records made confidential by statute, court rule, or court order.

Harris County Court Records Search

Options for looking up Harris County court records include:

• The court clerk's office at the court of filing
• Web search portals provided by the clerk's office
• Third-party/private aggregator websites
• The county clerk's Historical Records Center (1836 to the 1950s) at 11525 Todd Street, Suite 300, Houston, TX 77055

Harris County Court Records Search by Name

A name search is one of the more popular methods of performing a Harris County court records search. Individuals who opt for a name search typically must provide the first and last name of a case party (a plaintiff, defendant, or attorney of record) to a presiding court's clerk. They may also access remote platforms, if provided by a custodian, to search for court records by name.

Clerks often provide guidelines for remote name searches on their websites, such as the Harris County District Court Clerk's Document Search Hints page.

Harris County Courts

Harris County has 64 district courts, comprising 26 criminal district courts, 24 civil district courts,11 family district courts, and 3 district courts handling juvenile matters. The county also has county courts at law, probate, justice of the peace, and municipal courts.

Below is the county's court directory:

Harris County Civil District Courts

Harris County 11th Civil District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
9th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-2600

Harris County 55th Civil District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
9th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-2650

Harris County 61st Civil District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
9th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-2625

Harris County 80th Civil District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
9th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-2680

Harris County 113th Civil District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Stree
10th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-2575

Harris County 125th Civil District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
10th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-2550

Harris County 127th Civil District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
10th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-2525

Harris County 129th Civil District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
10th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-2500
Fax: (832) 927-2506

Harris County 133rd Civil District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
11th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-2480

Harris County 151st Civil District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
11th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-2455

Harris County 152nd Civil District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
11th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-2425
Fax: (832) 927-2417

Harris County 157th Civil District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
11th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-2400

Harris County 164th Civil District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
12th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-2380

Harris County 165th Civil District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
12th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-2365

Harris County 189th Civil District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
12th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-2325

Harris County 190th Civil District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
12th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-2300

Harris County 215th Civil District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
13th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-2215
Fax: (832) 927-2211

Harris County 234th Civil District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
13th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-2234

Harris County 269th Civil District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
13th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-2269

Harris County 270th Civil District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
13th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-2270

Harris County 281st Civil District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
14th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-2130

Harris County 295th Civil District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
14th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-1375

Harris County 333rd Civil District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
14th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-1800
Fax: (832) 927-1812

Harris County 334th Civil District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
14th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-1825

Harris County Criminal District Courts

Harris County 174th Criminal District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
13th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-4200
Fax: (832) 927-4218

Harris County 176th Criminal District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
9th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-4225
Fax: (832) 927-4218

Harris County 177th Criminal District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
13th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-4250
Fax: (832) 927-4251

Harris County 178th Criminal District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
9th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-4275
Fax: (832) 927-4280

Harris County 179th Criminal District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
11th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-4100
Fax: (832) 927-2466

Harris County 180th Criminal District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
10th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-4125
Fax: (832) 927-4121

Harris County 182nd Criminal District Court

Harris County Juvenile Justice Center
1200 Congress Street
1st Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-4150

Harris County 183rd Criminal District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
11th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-4175
Fax: (832) 927-4155

Harris County 184th Criminal District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
10th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-3900
Fax: (832) 927-3920

Harris County 185th Criminal District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
9th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-3925
Fax: (832) 927-3946

Harris County 208th Criminal District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
10th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-3950
Fax: (832) 927-3920

Harris County 209th Criminal District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
12th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-3975
Fax: (832) 927-3995

Harris County 228th Criminal District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
11th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-3800

Harris County 262nd Criminal District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
12th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-3700
Fax: (832) 927-3790

Harris County 263rd Criminal District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
10th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-3725
Fax: (832) 927-3768

Harris County 230th Criminal District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
13th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-3825
Fax: (832) 927-2271

Harris County 232nd Criminal District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
9th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-3850
Fax: (832) 927-3869

Harris County 248th Criminal District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
13th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-3875
Fax: (832) 927-2351

Harris County 337th Criminal District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
11th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-3750
Fax: (832) 927-2417

Harris County 338th Criminal District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
12th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-3775
Fax: (832) 927-3790

Harris County 339th Criminal District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
12th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-3650
Fax: (832) 927-6503

Harris County 351st Criminal District Court

Harris County Juvenile Justice Center
1200 Congress Street
1st Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-3680

Harris County Family District Courts

Harris County 245th Family District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
15th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 274-1245

Harris County 246th Family District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
16th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 274-4500

Harris County 247th Family District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
15th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 274-1247
Fax: (713) 274-1254

Harris County 257th Family District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
16th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 274-4560

Harris County 280th Family Protective Order Court

Harris County Juvenile Justice Center
1200 Congress Street
7th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 274-4680

Harris County 308th Family District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
8th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 274-4600

Harris County 309th Family District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
16th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 274-4520

Harris County 310th Family District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
15th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 274-1310

Harris County 311th Family District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
8th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 274-4580
Fax: (713) 274-4598

Harris County 312th Family District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
16th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 274-4540

Harris County 507th Family District Court

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
15th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 274-4620

Harris County CPC Family District Court

Harris County Juvenile Justice Center
1200 Congress Street
7th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-2899

Harris County Juvenile District Courts

Harris County 313th Juvenile District Court

Harris County Juvenile Justice Center
1200 Congress Street
5th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-8450

Harris County 314th Juvenile District Court

Harris County Juvenile Justice Center
1200 Congress Street
5th Floor, Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-8465

Harris County 315th Juvenile District Court

Harris County Juvenile Justice Center
1200 Congress Street
7th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-8480

Harris County Civil Courts at Law

Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 1

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
Suite 740
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 274-1345

Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 2

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
Suite 740
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 274-1349

Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 3

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
5th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 274-1353

Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 4

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
Suite 740
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 274-1358

Harris County Criminal Courts at Law

Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 1

Harris County Family Law Center
1115 Congress Avenue
2nd Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-3100
Fax: (832) 927-3120

Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 2

Harris County Family Law Center
1115 Congress Avenue
2nd Floor
Houston, TX 77002

Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 2

Harris County Family Law Center
1115 Congress Avenue
3rd Floor
Houston, TX 77002

Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 4

Harris County Family Law Center
1115 Congress Avenue
3rd Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-3175
Fax: (832) 927-3170

Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 5

Harris County Family Law Center
1115 Congress Avenue
3rd Floor
Houston, TX 77002

Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 6

Harris County Family Law Center
1115 Congress Avenue
6th Floor
Houston, TX 77002

Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 7

Harris County Family Law Center
1115 Congress Avenue
4th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-3250
Fax: (832) 927-3270

Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 9

Physical: Harris County Family Law Center
1115 Congress Avenue
4th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-3300
Fax: (832) 927-3320

Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 10

Harris County Family Law Center
1115 Congress Avenue
4th Floor, Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-3325
Fax: (832) 927-3320

Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 11

Harris County Family Law Center
1115 Congress Avenue
4th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-3350

Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 12

Harris County Family Law Center
1115 Congress Avenue
4th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-3375
Fax: (832) 927-3395

Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 13

Harris County Family Law Center
1115 Congress Avenue
5th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-3400
Fax: (832) 927-3420

Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 14

Harris County Family Law Center
1115 Congress Avenue
5th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-3425
Fax: (832) 927-3490

Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 15

Harris County Family Law Center
1115 Congress Avenue
3rd Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-3450
Fax: (832) 927-3420

Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 16

Physical: Harris County Family Law Center
1115 Congress Avenue
6th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-3475
Fax: (832) 927-3490

Harris County Probate Courts

Harris County Probate Court No. 1

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
6th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-1401
Fax: (832) 927-1400

Harris County Probate Court No. 2

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
Suite 680
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-1402
Fax: (832) 927-1432

Harris County Probate Court No. 3

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
7th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-1403
Fax: (832) 927-0010

Harris County Probate Court No. 4

Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
7th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 927-1404
Fax: (832) 927-1499

Harris County Justice of the Peace Courts

Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 - Place 1

7300 North Shepherd
Suite 138
Houston, TX 77091

Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 - Place 2

1302 Preston Street
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 274-0590

Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 - Place 1

10851 Scarsdale
Suite 500
Houston, TX 77089
Phone: (281) 481-9630
Fax: (281) 484-2869

Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 - Place 2

101 Richey
Suite B
Pasadena, TX 77506
Phone: (713) 274-6100
Fax: (713) 437-4346

Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 - Place 1

14350 Wallisville Road
Suite 102
Houston, TX 77049
Phone: (713) 274-0760
Fax: (713) 451-8074

Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 - Place 2

701 West Baker Road
Baytown, TX 77521
Phone: (281) 427-7449
Fax: (713) 437-8609 (Civil)
Fax: (281) 428-7485 (Criminal, Traffic)

Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 - Place 1

6831 Cypresswood Drive
Suite 4
Spring, TX 77379
Phone: (713) 274-6550
Fax: (713) 437-4608

Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 - Place 2

7900 Will Clayton Parkway
Humble, TX 77338
Phone: (713) 274-2450
Fax: (713) 437-4780

Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 5 - Place 1

6000 Chimney Rock
Suite 102
Houston, TX 77081
Phone: (713) 661-2276

Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 5 - Place 2

16715 Clay Road
Suite 4
Houston, TX 77084
Phone: (713) 274-0800
Fax: (713) 463-1059

Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 6 - Place 1

333 Lockwood Drive
Houston, TX 77011
Phone: (713) 274-3985
Fax: (713) 926-6795 (Civil)
Fax: (713) 921-1425 (Criminal)

Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 6 - Place 2

1001 SSGT Macario Garcia Drive
Houston, TX 77011
Phone: (713) 921-6141
Fax: (713) 921-1408

Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 7 - Place 1

5737 Cullen Boulevard
Houston, TX 77021
Phone: (713) 747-3553

Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 7 - Place 2

5300 Griggs Road
Houston, TX 77021
Phone: (713) 274-0700

Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 8 - Place 1

7330 Spencer Highway
Pasadena, TX 77505
Phone: (281) 479-6900
Fax: (281) 479-1407

Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 8 - Place 2

16603 Buccaneer
Houston, TX 77062
Phone: (281) 488-8780
Fax: (281) 480-0553

Municipal Courts in Harris County

Baytown Municipal Court

3120 North Main Street
Baytown, TX 77521
Phone: (281) 427-9511

Bellaire Municipal Court

5110 Jessamine Street
Bellaire, TX 77401
Phone: (713) 662-8105

Bunker Hill Village Municipal Court

11977 Memorial Drive
Houston, TX 77024
Phone: (713) 827-1772

Deer Park Municipal Court

1302 Center Street
Deer Park, TX 77536
Phone: (281) 478-7238
Fax: (281) 478-7290

El Lago Municipal Court

98 Lakeshore Drive
El Lago, TX 77586
Phone: (281) 326-4413
Fax: (281) 326-0165

Galena Park Municipal Court

City Hall
2000 Clinton Drive
Galena Park, TX 77547
Phone: (713) 672-2556
Fax: (713) 672-1840

Hedwig Village Municipal Court

955 Piney Point Road
Houston, TX 77024
Phone: (713) 465-6009
Fax: (713) 465-6807

Hilshire Village Municipal Court

1025 Campbell Road
Houston, TX 77055
Phone: (713) 465-0333

Houston Municipal Court - Clear Lake

2855 Bay Area Bouly
Houston, TX 77058
Phone: (281) 283-4946

Houston Municipal Court - Downtown

Herbert West Gee Municipal Courthouse
1400 Lubbock Street
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 247-5479

Houston Municipal Court - Kingwood

Municipal Court Annex
3915 Rustic Woods Drive
Kingwood, TX 77339
Phone: (281) 361-6574

Houston Municipal Court - North Command Station

9455 W Montgomery Road
Houston, TX 77088
Phone: (281) 405-5319

Houston Municipal Court - Southeast (Courts 13 & 14)

8300 Mykawa Road
Houston, TX 77048
Phone: (832) 394-2202 (Court 13)
Phone: (832) 394-2206 (Court 14)

Houston Municipal Court - Westside (Courts 18 & 19)

3203 South Dairy Ashford Street
Houston, TX 77082
Phone: (281) 584-4889 (Courts 18 & 19)

Humble Municipal Court

Humble Criminal Justice Building
315 Bender Avenue
Humble, TX 77338
Phone: (281) 446-6574
Fax: (281) 446-3748

Hunters Creek Village Municipal Court

Village Hall
1 Hunters Creek Place
Houston, TX 77024
Phone: (713) 465-5646
Fax: (713) 465-1551

Jacinto City Municipal Court

1301 Mercury Drive
Jacinto City, TX 77029
Phone: (713) 674-8424
Fax: (713) 675-8525

Jersey Village Municipal Court

16327 Lakeview Drive
Jersey Village, TX 77040
Phone: (713) 466-2124
Fax: (713) 466-2134

Katy Municipal Court

5432 Franz Road
Katy, TX 77493
Phone: (281) 391-4810
Fax: (281) 391-4845

La Porte Municipal Court

La Porte Municipal Courthouse
3005 North 23rd Street
La Porte, TX 77571
Phone: (281) 471-4683
Fax: (281) 842-0410

Morgan's Point Municipal Court

1415 East Main Street
Morgan's Point, TX 77571
Phone: (281) 842-0415
Fax: (281) 842-0410

Nassau Bay Municipal Court

1800 Space Park Drive
Suite 200
Nassau Bay, TX 77058
Phone: (281) 331-4211 ext. 6297
Fax: (281) 333-2301

Pasadena Municipal Court

1001 Shaw Avenue
P.O. Box 1575
Pasadena, TX 77501
Phone: (713) 475-5562
Fax: (713) 477-8124

Piney Point Village Municipal Court

7676 Woodway Drive
Suite 300
Houston, TX 77063
Phone: (713) 782-0275
Fax: (713) 715-5916

Seabrook Municipal Court

1700 1st Street
Seabrook, TX 77586
Phone: (281) 291-5674
Fax: (281) 291-5645

Shoreacres Municipal Court

601 Shore Acres Boulevard
Shoreacres, TX 77571
Phone: (281) 471-3340
Fax: (281) 471-8955

South Houston Municipal Court

1019 Dallas Street
South Houston, TX 77587
Phone: (713) 947-7700 ext. 342

Southside Place Municipal Court

6309 Edloe Avenue
Houston, TX 77005
Phone: (713) 668-2341
Fax: (713) 668-3305

Spring Valley Village Municipal Court

1025 Campbell Road
Houston, TX 77055
Phone: (713) 465-0333

Taylor Lake Village Municipal Court

500 Kirby Boulevard
Taylor Lake Village, TX 77586
Phone: (281) 326-2843
Fax: (281) 326-5456

Tomball Municipal Court

401 Market Street
Tomball, TX 77375
Phone: (281) 351-7894
Fax: (281) 351-6256

Webster Municipal Court

101 Pennsylvania Street
Webster, TX 77598
Phone: (281) 338-6702
Fax: (281) 316-4123

West University Place Municipal Court

3800 University Boulevard
West University Place, TX 77005
Phone: (713) 662-5825
Fax: (713) 662-5804

Harris County Superior Court Case Search

Generally, superior courts are trial courts with general authority to hear a wide range of criminal and civil matters. Thus, they are not restricted to specific cases. Although Harris County does not have "superior courts," it operates district courts as the equivalent.

Harris County District Court Records

Article 5, Section 8 of the Texas Constitution provides for district courts in Harris County and the rest of Texas. Per this law, these courts have original, exclusive, and appellate jurisdiction over all actions, including land title disputes, election disputes, divorce, felony and misdemeanor criminal, and civil cases, subject to a few exceptions. For example, the Harris County District Court does not hear civil cases involving damages or monetary claims of less than $200.

The law also establishes the office of the Harris County District Clerk as the official record custodian of all documents related to any cause of action in the district courts. Consequently, individuals can find these records by contacting the District Clerk's office, which provides in-person and remote access.

For in-person district court records lookup, parties should visit:

Records Center

5900 Canal Street
Houston, TX 77011

For civil records:

201 Caroline Street
Room 110
Houston, TX 77002

There are public computer terminals available at this location.

Harris County Criminal Records

Harris County criminal records are public records. Interested parties can contact the local police departments for criminal records (Harris County arrest records and jail booking blotter) within their jurisdiction.

Individuals may also find criminal records generated and maintained by the various law enforcement agencies in the county by contacting the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

One way to do this is by visiting the sheriff's office records "Request A Record" page for information on submitting a PIA request. Another option is to search the online public district and county criminal records inquiry page maintained on the sheriff's website by inputting the defendant's information, including:

• SPN
• SSN
• First and last names
• Date of birth

Inquirers can also call (713) 755-5300 for information on incarcerated persons or (346) 386-1600 for general information.

Local criminal justice agencies throughout Texas typically send arrest information to the Texas Department of Public Safety, which provides criminal history conviction name search services to the public. This can be useful if individuals need to find records of persons arrested in different jurisdictions within the state.

However, criminal history information is not a public record and is available only to the subject of the record.

Note: Mugshots are only released to the public when the subject is convicted.

Harris County Criminal Court Case Lookup

The process for looking up criminal court case information in Harris County involves:

• Querying the clerk's office of the criminal court that heard the matter
• Leveraging the district county court clerk's online "Search our Records and Documents" page (as discussed above)
• Visiting the Harris County Justice of the Peace Courts criminal court case search portal
• Visiting the District Attorney's website or JIMS Offense Inquiry Screen (for crime victims)

Note: Justice courts have records of Class C misdemeanor cases where punishment is limited to fines.

Members of the public can also call (713) 755-7812 (for those with a name, date of birth, or specific case number) to conduct a criminal court record search. This service costs $5. An additional fee of $1 is charged for a certificate of the search or written confirmation.

Individuals can call (832) 927-5800 for case number information.

Get Harris County Civil Court Records

Per section 25.1032 of the Texas Government Code, Harris County civil courts have original and appellate jurisdiction over all civil matters and causes, except probate matters. The Harris County clerk's office maintains records originating or related to these cases as their official recorder and custodian.

Anyone can access Harris County civil court records not made confidential by a statute or court order. For in-person searches and to purchase paper copies of documents, they can visit the location below:

Harris County Clerk

County Civil Courts at Law Department
Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
Suite 300
Houston, TX 77002

Alternatively, they can conduct physical court case lookups at the nearest one of the 10 annexes. Other options for purchasing paper copies of documents include:

• By fax: (713) 755-4710
• By email after filling out a contact form
• By mail to:

Harris County Clerk

Attn: Civil Department
P.O. Box 1525
Houston, TX 77251

Researchers can purchase certified and non-certified copies (without the watermark) by creating an account through the county clerk's document search portal. When the account is created, they can log in with their credentials, locate a specific document, add it to their shopping cart, and finalize the process. They will receive copies of the request documents through the registered email on their account.

They are advised to visit the department in person or utilize the Request/Credit Card Authorization Form if they need a certified copy with a raised seal, cannot locate a document or view the image.

Harris county clerk's office maintains a database of civil court case records in their custody. Researchers can access the repository through the county civil courts search page on the clerk's official website. They should note that only documents that were filed from 1/3/1977 and images from 1/1/2008 are available using an online search.

Individuals can lookup civil court case information in the custody of the district court clerk's office physically and remotely through the platforms provided by the custodian (discussed in "Harris county district court records" above).

Justice of the peace courts in Harris county handle civil cases involving small claims (matters for recovery of sums not exceeding $20,000) and landlord/tenant disputes, especially those involving repairs and evictions. Members of the public can search records of these cases on their search portal (same as that of the Justice of the Peace Courts criminal search page above). The cost for obtaining court documents for a justice of the peace courts is outlined in the Court Cost and Service Fee page.

They may also call (713) 274-1330 for any questions they may have regarding a civil court document search.

Harris County Family Court Records

Family court records in Harris county refer to the documents that are filed or created in a family court of competent jurisdiction in the county. These include records related to children and families, such as divorce, child support and custody, protective orders, the emancipation of minors, and visitation rights.

The office of the Harris County district clerk maintains official records of court proceedings in family courts within the county. Members of the public can search these records by visiting the district court clerk's office for an in-person search at:

201 Caroline Street
Room 210
Houston, TX 77002

They can utilize the public computer terminals at this location to conduct their searches.

Alternatively, they can search online through the "search our records and documents" page as described in "district court records" above.

However, while family court case records are generally public information, they will not be open to the public if they are sealed or made confidential by a court order. They will also be removed from public access if they contain a child's name, social security number, driver's license number, etc.

For this reason, many family court case records are accessible only by the parties to the case, their attorneys, and a few other authorized persons since they often involve children and contain other sensitive information.

Harris Dissolution of Marriage Records

Dissolution of marriage records in Harris County refers to documents that are generated in relation to divorce and annulment of marriage proceedings in the county. They are part of family records. As such, they are maintained by the Harris County district court clerk's office and may only be accessible to select individuals as described in the preceding section, depending on the case's specifics.

Harris County Marriage and Divorce Records

In Harris county, a marriage license is a vital marriage record issued by the county clerk as proof of a legal marriage. Individuals may visit the public records department of the Harris county civil courthouse or any of the annex locations in person to request this record.

To purchase copies of the records, they are to fill out the Order & Payment form and submit it:

• In-person
• By fax at (713) 437-4868
• By email to ccoinfoFM@cco.hctx.net, and
• Mail to:

Harris County Clerk

Attn: Public Records
P.O. Box 1525
Houston, TX. 77251-1525

For questions, they can call (713) 274-6390.

Marriage records can also be obtained online via the county clerk website's marriage license search page. Upon accessing the page, one is expected to conduct a search using some or all of the following parameters:

• File number
• Film code
• Applicant's name
• Issue or marriage date

The results will display various information about the marriage, including the:

• File number
• Applicants' names
• License status
• Title (whether the marriage license was returned or not)
• Name of the marriage official
• The date the marriage license was issued, processed, and returned
• The date the marriage ceremony occurred
• Application and license numbers

To purchase copies of a marriage record (certified and non-certified), individuals are advised to use the county clerk's website document search portal.

The process of obtaining divorce records in Harris County is the same as that of family records above.

Harris Birth and Death Records

The Harris County Clerk's Office generally maintains records or certificates of births and deceased persons in Harris County, excluding those originating in:

• Houston city
• City of Baytown
• City of La Porte
• City of South Houston
• Jacinto City
• Justice of the Peace Precincts 3 and 4

Persons searching for the birth and death records in the above cities should visit their official websites for information.

Copies of birth and death certificates are vital records and are not accessible to members of the public. Access to these records is restricted to the subjects and their immediate family members, such as their:

• Spouse
• Parents
• Children
• Grandparents
• Siblings

These individuals can obtain a copy of a birth or death certificate online, in person or via mail. To request these records in person, individuals should visit the downtown office or any one of the 10 Harris county clerk annexes during regular business hours.

For birth or death certificates by mail, requestors are expected to complete the Application for Certified Copy of Texas Birth or Death Certificate along with a signed and notarized Proof of Identification form, a copy of their state-issued I.D, passport, driver's license or other form of valid identification, and their payment.

The mailing address is:

Harris County Clerk
Attn: Personal Records Department
P.O. Box 1525
Houston, TX 77251-1525

They may also fill out and submit a Credit Card Authorization Form, if applicable.

The fee for obtaining a birth certificate is $23. For a death certificate, they are expected to pay $21 for the first copy and $4 per additional copy, so long as they are purchased together.

Individuals should note that payment should be made in the form of a cashier's check or money order payable to: Harris county clerk. Personal checks through mail and cash are not accepted.

Online certified and non-certified copies of birth and death records can be purchased via the county clerk's document search portal as with other civil documents.

It is worthy of note that although copies of birth and death records are private, members of the public can conduct a name-based online search by visiting the county's birth and death vital statistics search page. The results will include:

• The subject's name, gender, date and place of birth or death,
• File number and file date
• Film code

Original copies of the records that are found through the online search page are available at the Harris County clerk's office. However, if a birth record is not found, the office will have the short abstract. On the other hand, unsuccessful death searches indicate that the office does not have that specific record.

Birth and death records are important government records that serve as vital resources for various statistics, research, identifying a person, and proving their family history.

Harris County Probate Court Record

Harris county is home to 5 out of the 24 probate courts in Texas. These courts hear a wide range of cases pertaining to guardianship, wrongful death, trusts, civil mental health commitments, and estate administration in general.

Generally, probate court records in Harris county are public documents that interested parties can search in person by physically visiting the probate department of the Harris county civil courthouse or any of its annexes during the official hours of operation. They are to go with a completed Order and Payment Form if they require copies of a record.

Interested parties are also allowed to order probate court records by fax at (713) 755-5486, email at ccoProbFM@cco.hctx.net, and by mail to:

Harris County Clerk
Attn: Probate Court Department
P.O. Box 1525
Houston, TX. 77251

Alternatively, they can find probate records online at the probate court records search page with case number and file date as search criteria. Individuals may also search a case by party, attorney, and company on a separate section for online probate court records searches with first and last names and bar card numbers as added criteria.

One can obtain certified and non-certified copies of probate court records for a fee using the document search portal for civil court records.

Harris County Property Records

Property records provide vital information regarding the ownership of a piece of real estate as well as its transfer and history. They comprise various types of property-related information including deeds, tax statements, maps, surveys and plats.

Parties can access property records (particularly deeds, surveys, and plats) within Harris County by querying the real property department of the Harris County court clerk's office physically during regular business hours. They may also visit the real property document search portal on the county clerk's website to conduct an online search.

Certified and non-certified copies are also available to order online through the website's general document search portal. One can also request copies by using the Request/Credit Card Authorization Form.

Parties searching for property appraisal records and maps can request them from the Harris County Appraisal District. However, they must note that only appraisal records from 2009 are available online through the district's property search page, where they can look up real property records by account number, address, or owner name.

Finally, interested persons can search property tax statements and receipts through the Harris County tax assessor's tax statement search page, using account, name, or address as search parameters.

Harris County Court Records Online

Apart from government sources, inquirers can access court records in Harris County online through third-party databases like courtrecords.us. These websites are easy to access and offer extensive coverage, allowing users to search court records originating in Harris County and across the country at a go.

However, unlike government sources, third-party court record lookup services are typically not free and often trigger accuracy concerns. As such, individuals are advised to exercise caution when using private record search platforms and verify any information received from government sources before relying on them.