Harrison County Court Records

Harrison County Court Records are written or recorded records of court cases and legal procedures created and kept up to date by the court system to be used as a guide for decisions made by county courts.

These records are essential to maintaining responsibility and candor in the legal system since they are a permanent record of court decisions, acts, and files. They are vital for litigants, lawyers, and investigators to validate verdicts, confirm case outcomes, or investigate legal precedents, among other legal problems. They also contain civil, criminal, family, and probate case information.

Court records often include information about the parties involved, case numbers, dates of filing, judgments from the court, motions, orders, and, in the case of criminal cases, information about sentencing. Transcripts of the proceedings, verdicts, and trial evidence may also be included. (Texas Rules of Civil Procedure 76a (2))

Are Court Records Public in Harrison County?

The Texas Rules of Court specify that court records are part of the public record in Harrison County, which means that anybody may request access from the county courts. The public can access basic case information such as party names, case numbers, dates, charges, and verdicts. However, certain parts of court documents are not allowed to be disclosed to the public, such as the following:

• Records that are regarded as confidential based on state or federal laws
• Records that are sealed or expunged
• Personal information of persons such as social security numbers, as well as financial and medical information
• Juvenile records
• Documents whose release might compromise a court case and undermine the administration of justice

Note that the provisions of the Texas Freedom of Information Act, which contains laws governing access to public records, do not cover the disclosure of court records.

Harrison County Court Records Search

The following locations provide public access to Harrison County court records:

• The initial courthouse where the case was filed and heard.
• The County Clerk's Office Location.
• An online portal is provided by the county clerk's office.
• An online portal provided by the state judiciary.
• Third-party websites for public records.

Harrison County Courts

District courts, criminal district courts, county courts at law established under the constitution, statutory probate courts, justice courts, and municipal courts make up the trial court system in Texas. The following is a list of Harrison County court locations:

Harrison County 71st District Court
Harrison County Courthouse
200 W Houston St,
#234, Marshall, TX 75671
Phone: (903) 935-8409

Harrison County Constitutional Court
Harrison County Courthouse
200 W Houston St,
#143, P.O. Box 1365
Marshall, TX 75671
Phone: (903) 935-8403 ext. 1030
Fax: (903) 935-4877

Harrison County Court at Law
Harrison County Courthouse
200 W Houston St,
#143, P.O. Box 1365
Marshall, TX 75671
Phone: (903) 935-8403 ext. 1030
Fax: (903) 935-4877

Harrison County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1
165 W Texas Ave,
P.O. Box 150,
Waskom, TX 75692
Phone: (903) 687-2370
Fax: (903) 687-4374

Harrison County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2
Harrison County Courthouse
200 W Houston St,
#251, Marshall, TX 75670
Phone: (903) 923-4009
Fax: (903) 935-4866

Harrison County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3
P.O. Box 394,
Hallsville, TX 75650
Phone: (903) 668-2050
Fax: (903) 668-2979

Harrison County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4
Harrison County Courthouse
200 W Houston St,
#125, Marshall, TX 75670
Phone: (903) 923-4011
Fax: (903) 927-1826

Hallsville Municipal Court
115 W Main St
Hallsville, TX 75650
Phone: (903) 668-2488
Fax: (903) 668-3934

Marshall Municipal Court
303 W Burleson St
Marshall, TX 75670
Phone: (903) 935-4535

Waskom Municipal Court
450 W Texas Ave,
P.O. Box 730
Waskom, TX 75692
Phone: (903) 687-2694
Fax: (903) 687-3295

Harrison County Criminal Records

Criminal history records, essential for several legal and employment-related reasons, are an accumulation of data on misdemeanors, crimes, arrests, indictments, and court decisions in Harrison County, Texas. Local law enforcement organizations such as the Sheriff's Office the Department of Public Safety (DPS), Crime Records Division—which acts as the state's central repository for criminal records—maintain these records.

Basic arrest information is available to the public upon request from the sheriff's office. One can access some information on criminal records by supplying search parameters like name, case number, and other facts. However, through a fingerprint-based search, people can obtain their complete Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) from DPS by Texas Government Code, Section 552.023. Full background checks on individuals residing in Texas are also available to authorized representatives and other authorities.

To acquire a complete criminal history record, the applicant would need to fill out the request form, provide a fingerprint card along with other necessary information, and pay a $10.00 fingerprint service charge and a $15.00 CHRI search cost.

Through DPS, name-based searches for criminal history information are also possible. A person can get criminal history information by mail by filling out a request form and paying the fee of $10.00, or they can do it online using the Computerized Criminal History System (CCH). Inquiries ought to be mailed to:

Texas Department of Public Safety
Crime Records Division
P.O. Box 15999
Austin, Texas 78761

How to Get Harrison County Civil Court Records

Non-criminal legal conflicts, including litigation, property disputes, family law matters (such as divorce, and custody), and contract violations, are documented in the civil court records of Harrison County, Texas. Depending on the nature of the case and the court's authority, the Harrison County District Clerk and County Clerk are responsible for maintaining these documents.

Inquirers may civil court documents in person at the District Clerk's office, via the main line at (903) 935-8409, by fax, or online via the court's public search portal (for cases that occurred after 1987). To speed up the search process, inquirers will need to provide information to facilitate the search, including the case party's name and the case number. A copy of a civil record costs $1.00. Certified copies can only be picked up in person or sent on paper; non-certified copies can be conveyed via fax, email, or mail. Interested persons may also submit straightforward record requests using the "Contact Us" form found on the official website.

The county clerk's office also provides public access to civil records. Anyone interested can contact the office via phone, in person, or online via the case search portal on its official website.

Harrison County Marriage Records

In Harrison County, marriage records are official records attesting to the lawful union of two people. These papers comprise the marriage license application and certificate and act as evidence of a marriage's validity. In Texas, marriage records are open to the public unless a court order seals them.

The Harrison County Clerk's office, where licenses are mainly obtained, also keeps marriage records. Interested persons may apply in person or by mail for a copy of their marriage license. To receive a certified copy, the requester usually needs to present identification, the names of the spouses, and the marriage date. Usually, getting certified copies comes with a price.

In addition, the Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics Section provides a public index for marriage certificate verifications, allowing one to ascertain whether a marriage record is on file in the state. This could be a valuable method to determine whether a record is available before requesting certified copies. Marriage verifications are informational copies of licenses that provide basic information such as the couple's names, date, and marriage location. These are the records of weddings entered between 1966 and the present. Orders can be placed by mail, in person, or online; each copy costs $20. Once the request form has been completed, mail orders should be forwarded to:

DSHS -VSS,
P.O. Box 12040,
Austin, TX 78711-2040

Harrison County Divorce Records

In Harrison County, divorce records are official court documents that describe the dissolving of a marriage. Divorce decrees, which specify the conditions of the split, including child custody, property distribution, and spousal maintenance, are among the documents in this collection. Unless a court orders otherwise, divorce documents are typically open to the public.

Since district courts have jurisdiction over divorce proceedings, the District Clerk's office in Harrison County is responsible for maintaining divorce records. Interested persons may use the District Clerk's mail order, or in-person request processes to receive a copy of their divorce record. In most cases, the requester only has to know the names of the parties and the divorce date; certified copies may require payment.

As was indicated in the preceding section, the Vital Statistics Section of the Texas Department of State Health Services also provides divorce verification for divorces that took place between 1968 and the present, as well as divorce records in the public index. The same procedures and addresses listed in the preceding section can be used to obtain divorce verifications.

Harrison County Birth and Death Records

The state officially certifies the occurrence of a birth or death, so Harrison County birth and death records are considered official documents. In addition to the parents' names, birth records contain information such as the person's name, birth date, and place of birth. Death records provide an individual's name, the time and cause of death, and the place of the incident.

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) or the County Clerk's office keeps these documents up to date in Harrison County. Texas law, specifically the Texas Health and Safety Code, governs birth and death records access. Only direct family members or authorized individuals may seek certified copies of birth certificates during the 75-year and 25-year confidentiality periods, respectively.

The county clerk's office requires applicants to fill out an application, pay $23.00 for birth certificates and $21.00 for death certificates, and produce identification before granting access to these documents. The following address is where applicants must mail their application, sworn statement, money, and a copy of a valid ID:

Elizabeth James, Harrison
County Clerk P.O. Box 1365
Marshall, Texas 75671

Additionally, certified copies or verifications of birth or death records are available from the Texas Department of Health. Regarding types of birth records, the agency provides copies for electoral identification as well as heirloom, long-form, and short-form. Applicants must complete the request form and pay the applicable fees, which are indicated on the forms depending on the kind of record being requested, to order a certified copy of a birth or death record from the Department of Health. Online, via mail, or in-person applications are all accepted. All correspondence should be directed to:

DSHS -VSS,
P.O. Box 12040,
Austin, TX 78711-2040.

These records are necessary for several legal activities, including settling estates, obtaining a passport, proving identity, and conducting genealogy research. Following the confidential period, public access is granted; however, for security purposes, certified copies are still only available to authorized individuals.

Harrison County Probate Records

The legal procedures involved in managing a deceased person's estate, such as approving guardianships or executorships, distributing assets, and validating wills, are recorded in the probate court records of Harrison County, Texas. Wills, estate inventories, court orders, and other files about the administration of a person's estate after death may be included in these records. Probate courts also handle cases concerning conservatorships and disagreements about wills or trusts.

The Harrison County Clerk's office is in charge of keeping track of probate records. To find the relevant documents, requesters must supply precise information, such as the decedent's name and the date of death. Copies are typically not free, mainly if they are certified copies. People can request these records in person, by mail, or online using the Odyssey Web Portal of the County Clerk to access judicial records. The case number, case status, and date are among the search parameters required on the case search portal.

The circuit court clerk's official website also offers a quick link to check land records, where interested persons may obtain information on probate minutes.

Harrison County Property Records

In Harrison County, official records about real estate ownership, transactions, and legal rights are called property records. These documents include land surveys, mortgages, liens, deeds, and property tax records. They give vital details about who owns the land, where it is located, who has sold it in the past, and whether it is subject to any liens or easements.

The Harrison County Clerk's Office is in charge of keeping property records. People can obtain these records by going to the County Clerk's office in person or by using the quick link to the online land records found on the official clerk's office website. Requesters will be required to present information like the property owner's name or the property's legal description to acquire specific property records.

Those interested in determining the specifics of a property's taxes can also obtain property tax information from the county's Tax Assessor/Collector Office.

Also available to the public are property records for the County and District from the Harrison Central Appraisal District. A GIS tool, a property search portal, and tax information are all accessible online through the agency. Those wishing to access property records may also visit the office at 201 W. Grand, Marshall, TX 75670, or mail P.O. Box 818, Marshall, TX 75671-0818. For phone inquiries, Call (903) 935-1991.

These documents are necessary to evaluate real estate transactions, confirm property ownership, complete title searches, and resolve land-related legal problems. Most property records are kept up to date and filed by the Texas Property Code, making them available to anybody interested in real estate.

Harrison County Court Records Online

Inquirers may find court records in Harrison County more accessible using third-party web services, eliminating the need to visit the courthouse in person. Searchable criminal, civil, and probate court record databases are available on websites such as Texascourtrecords.us.

Utilizing these platforms offers quicker access, more straightforward navigation, and occasionally more thorough search functions. Meanwhile, some restrictions apply to complete reports, incomplete databases, or information that isn't as current compared to official government sources. Third-party providers might not have access to confidential or sealed records.