Limestone County Court Records

When courts in Limestone County preside over civil or criminal matters, they assemble and preserve records that recount the case proceedings, events, and outcomes. These records, termed the "Limestone County court records", promote transparency within the justice system. They also establish legal precedents and provide crucial evidence for enforcing court judgments, filing appeals, and influencing future case decisions.

Similar to other Texas court records, Limestone court records consist of case information (case numbers, parties involved, case types, names of attorneys, judges assigned, and filing/hearing dates), as well as the documents produced/filed in a case (affidavits, orders, motions, subpoenas, summonses, etc.).

Are Court Records Public in Limestone County?

Yes. Court records are considered part of the Limestone County public records, meaning anybody can read or copy them. Public inspection is secured under the Texas Courts' Open Records Policy, which presumes broad access to all court records in the state per common law, statutory law, and court rule.

Nonetheless, the public cannot access records or data deemed confidential by law, rule, or order. In such cases, access may only be provided to the case parties, their legal agents or representatives, or entities having judicial permission. Examples of exempt Limestone court records are

• Juvenile case records
• Adoption files
• Sealed or expunged documents
• Grand jury proceedings

Limestone County Court Records Search

To look up Limestone County court records, a person may contact the county court that heard the case or write to the court's clerk (the custodian of records). Access to digitized records or online search services may also be available through the local court system or private vendors.

Limestone County Courts

Limestone County features several courts that hear and resolve legal cases brought to the county's judicial system. They include the 77th and 87th District Courts, a Constitutional County Court, three Justice of the Peace Courts, and four municipal courts. Below is the local court directory.

Limestone County 77th & 87th District Courts
Limestone County Courthouse
200 West State Street
P.O. Box 230
Groesbeck, TX 76642
Phone: (254) 729-3206

Limestone County Constitutional County Court
200 West State Street
Suite 102
P.O. Box 350
Groesbeck, TX 76642
Phone: (254) 729-5504

Limestone County Justice of the Peace – 1st Precinct
310 South Dallas Street
Groesbeck, TX 76642
Phone: (254) 729-2933
Fax: (254) 729-3151

Limestone County Justice of the Peace – 2nd Precinct
P.O. Box 194
Coolidge, TX 76635
Phone: (254) 786-4938
Fax: (254) 786-4916

Limestone County Justice of the Peace – 3rd Precinct
200 West State Street
Suite 201
Groesbeck, TX 76642
Phone: (254) 729-3630
Fax: (254) 729-3060

Limestone County Justice of the Peace – 4th Precinct
205 South McKinney Street
Mexia, TX 76667
Phone: (254) 562-7113
Fax: (254) 562-9667

Municipal Courts in Limestone County

City of Coolidge Municipal Court
101 North 1st Street
Coolidge, TX 76635
Phone: (254) 786-4814

City of Groesbeck Municipal Court
901 West Yeagua Street
Groesbeck, TX 76642
Phone: (254) 729-5794
Fax: (254) 729-8093

Kosse Municipal Court
P.O. Box 116
Kosse, TX 76653
Phone: (254) 375-2212

Mexia Municipal Court
211 North Sherman Street
Mexia, TX 76667
Phone: (254) 562-4118

Limestone County Criminal and Civil Records

Limestone County criminal records encompass the official documentation of arrests, charges, convictions, incarcerations, releases, and similar information about an identifiable individual apprehended, tried, or sentenced locally for a criminal offense. These records are maintained and disseminated by different government departments.

For instance, Limestone County arrest records can be obtained from local law enforcement agencies and the Crime Records Division of the Texas Public Safety Department.

Meanwhile, criminal court records (detailing formal charges and case dispositions) are accessible through the presiding court. These Limestone criminal records are maintained by the county's courts of criminal jurisdiction (district, county, justice, or municipal) and may be requested as follows:

• At the respective courthouse
• By mailing a written request to the clerk of the court's office
• Online via a court's official public access portal. An example is the County Court Dockets provided on the Limestone County Constitutional Court's website.

Civil court records, also known as civil records, are produced, compiled, and preserved due to non-criminal proceedings. These records are obtainable from the specific court where a civil case was heard. Civil cases encompass a range of legal disputes or claims, including real property, intellectual property, defamation, wrongful death, custody, landlord-tenant, probate, and divorce.

All Limestone County courts exercise some degree of civil jurisdiction, with the district court possessing the most extensive jurisdiction, and the justice of the peace and municipal courts handling a limited scope of civil matters.

Limestone County Marriage Records

Marriage records in Limestone County are formal documents that prove two people have been legally wed in a ceremony recognized by law. To obtain these records, a person can complete the Application for Certified Copy of Marriage License and submit it to the Limestone County Clerk's Office via mail.

Limestone County Clerk
P.O. Box 350
Groesbeck, TX. 76642

Each certified copy of the marriage license (otherwise called a Limestone County marriage certificate) costs $6, and payment must be included in each order. However, the requester will need to specify their relationship to the person(s) on the record and the purpose for obtaining the certified copy.

Alternatively, individuals can visit or contact the Limestone County Clerk's Office using the details below to inquire about marriage records, including informational (non-certified) copies.

Limestone County Clerk
200 West State Street
Suite 102
Groesbeck, TX 76642
Phone: (254) 729-5504
Fax: (254) 729.2951
Email: coclerk@co.limestone.tx.us

Other Limestone County marriage records (public indexes and marriage verifications since 1966) are available through the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). It costs $20 per verification, but the public marriage index is free to view/download.

Limestone County Divorce Records

Dissolution of marriage (divorce) cases are heard by the Limestone County District Courts. As such, anyone requiring a divorce decree or other divorce case document/information can query the local District Clerk's Office in person, via mail, or by phone at (254) 729-3206. The clerk will require the case party's name or case number to locate the record, and per-page or per-document fees may apply if the requester needs copies. Access restrictions may also apply if a record contains sensitive information or was sealed by the court.

The DSHS provides divorce verifications and indices for cases finalized since 1968. Guidelines on requesting verifications (which cost $20 each) and accessing the public divorce indexes are available on the department's Marriage and Divorce Records page.

Limestone County Birth Records

Texas law restricts public access to Limestone County birth records for 75 years. Records of births filed less than 75 years ago can only be ordered by qualified applicants, which include the registrant (18 or older), their spouse, a parent listed on the record, a step-parent (with proof of marriage license), or an attorney (with paperwork showing a tangible interest in the record). Such parties can order a certified copy of a Limestone County birth certificate in person or via mail from the county clerk's office.

The Limestone County Clerk issues long- and short-form birth certificates. The former is the actual certificate of birth, which is always issued so long as the clerk's office is the record custodian. Meanwhile, the latter (also called an "abstract") contains basic information about the birth—the child's name, sex, birth date, parents, and the record's filing date—and can be used for school enrollment, sports participation, and government applications. Each certified copy costs $23.

Limestone County Death Records

The Limestone County Clerk's Office, which acts as the Limestone County vital records office, issues the county's death records. These records are essential for estate settlement, claiming life insurance benefits, and understanding mortality rates.

To obtain a death record, one can hand-deliver or mail a completed Death Certificate Application and an acceptable ID (valid driver's license, U.S. passport, etc.) to the clerk's office. The first certified copy costs $21, and extra copies of the same record retrieved simultaneously cost $4 each.

However, per § 552.115 (a)(2) of the Texas Government Code, only qualified applicants can request death records filed less than 25 years ago. At the 25-year mark, death records become public information.

Limestone County Probate Court Records

Probate proceedings are initiated to administer or settle the estate of a deceased individual. Still, a probate court can hear matters involving the conservatorship of incapacitated adults or guardianship of minors. The Limestone County Clerk's Office maintains records of probate cases.

Probate record access can be sought at the county clerk's office during business hours. Parties can also view probate cases online using the clerk's case management system. In either scenario, the requester will need to possess at least the case party's name or case number to facilitate a search. Fees apply to obtain a plain or certified copy of a record.

Limestone County Property Records

Members of the public can request Limestone County property records from the county clerk's office, which serves as the local recorder and primary custodian of these records. Property records since 1861—liens, deeds, mortgages, easements—can be viewed on public search computers during business hours at the Limestone County Courthouse (where the county clerk's office is situated). One can also use the clerk's Online Property Records Search portal (select the appropriate link on the page) to access these records.

In addition, the Limestone Appraisal District offers property records (property values, tax information, ownership information, and historical data) to interested parties at the following address:

303 South Waco Street
Groesbeck, Texas 76642
Phone: (254) 729-3009
Fax: (254) 729-5534
Email: limestonecad@co.limestone.tx.us

The agency also has a Property Search portal that anyone can access online for real estate data. The system can be searched with an address, account number, or owner's name.

Limestone County Court Records Online

Limestone court records are accessible online through official court channels and on third-party databases. The latter are offered by independent vendors that consolidate public data from government repositories for commercial purposes. Limestone arrest records, court case information, and real estate data are only some documents that can be retrieved from these sources.

A court records search on a third-party website, such as Texascourtrecords.us, typically requires a name or case number. Users may view limited information for free, but payment is often needed to view detailed or complete records. Nonetheless, third-party sites are not sources of confidential information or certified copies, which should be requested from official custodians.