Montague County Court Records

Montague County court records are legal documents that contain details about court cases and other legal proceedings handled by the county court system. These records provide valuable insight into court procedures and how cases are handled. They are also relied on for legal research about past local cases. Some examples of Montague court records include court transcripts, motions, pleadings, dockets, judgments, exhibits, and other related documents.

Are Court Records Public in Montague County?

Yes. According to the Texas Public Information Act (PIA), most court records are public. Consequently, these records are usually classified as Montague County public records, and anyone may contact their official custodians to inspect them or request copies.

However, certain court records are exempt from the PIA and are unavailable. Such records are typically only accessible to eligible persons or for an eligible reason. Some examples of these records include:

• Sealed records
• Medical records
• Juvenile records
• Adoption records
• Court documents containing identifiable information about a witness.
• Judicial drafts or work products are used in court officials' decision-making processes.
• Court documents that expose the identity of human trafficking and sexual offense victims

Montague County Court Records Search

Interested individuals can conduct a Montague County court record search through or at any of the following:

• The clerk's office of the local courts, such as the District Clerk or the County Clerk's office
• Online resources provided by local court clerks' offices
• Third-party websites that offer court records search services

Montague County Courts

Montague County's court system consists of four (4) types of courts: a District Court, a Constitutional County Court, Justice Courts, and Municipal Courts. The jurisdiction of each of these courts varies. For instance, the District Court has original jurisdiction over felony criminal cases. In contrast, the Constitutional County Court has exclusive original jurisdiction over misdemeanors punishable by fines greater than $500 or a jail sentence. The addresses and contact information of the Montague County court are provided below:

Montague County 97th District Court
101 E Franklin,
P.O. Box 155,
Montague, TX 76251
Phone: (940) 894-2571
Fax: (940) 894-2077

Montague County Constitutional Court
11339 State Hwy 59 N,
P.O. Box 77,
Montague, TX 76251
Phone: (940) 894-2461
Fax: (940) 894-6601

Montague County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1
101 E Franklin St,
Montague, TX 76251
P.O. Box 564,
Nocona, TX 76255
Phone: (940) 894-2541
Fax: (940) 894-2544

Montague County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2
101 E Franklin St,
P.O. Box 65,
Montague, TX 76251
Phone: (940) 894-2542
Fax: (940) 894-2545

Bowie Municipal Court
304 Lindsey St,
Bowie, TX 76230
Phone: (940) 872-4392
Fax: (940) 872-5702

Nocona Municipal Court
101 Cooke Street,
Nocona, TX 76255
Phone: (940) 825-8550 7

Saint Jo Municipal Court
P.O. Box 186,
Saint Jo, TX 76265
Phone: (940) 995-2337

Montague County Criminal and Civil Records

Record seekers can obtain an individual's Montague County criminal records through the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the statewide custodian of criminal history records. Thus, most criminal justice agencies across Texas usually report criminal records, including certain Montague County arrest records, that they generate for the DPS. Depending on whose criminal record an individual wishes to request, the DPS offers two methods for requesting Criminal History Record Information (CHRI):

• Fingerprint-based search: this method of searching and requesting is available to individuals requesting their personal CHRI. As the name implies, applicants must provide their fingerprints to facilitate the search. The DPS has an exclusive contract with a third-party vendor that provides statewide electronic fingerprinting through DPS Fingerprint Applicant Services of Texas (FAST) locations. Applicants must schedule an appointment to get fingerprints at a DPS FAST location. An appointment may be scheduled online or by calling (888) 467-2080. The cost for the fingerprinting services is $10.00, and there is an additional $15.00 fee that the DPS charges for processing CHRI results and sending them to the applicant. The result may be mailed or emailed to the applicant.
• Name-based search: This CHRI search method can be conducted online through the DPS Criminal History Conviction Name Search portal. To access the portal, users must register for an account. The search results of a name-based search would contain only public criminal history record information. These include statewide arrest records, including Montague arrest records, prosecutions, and disposition of cases for individuals arrested for a class B misdemeanor or greater that resulted in a conviction or deferred adjudication. If a class C conviction was reported to DPS, it may also be available.

On the other hand, court records of civil and criminal cases handled by the Montague County court are accessible through the clerk's office of the specific court that handled the case. Depending on the specifics of a case, the Montague County District Court, the Constitutional County Court, the Municipal Courts, or the Justice Courts may have jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases. The Texas Judiciary's Court Structure Chart provides a detailed breakdown of the jurisdiction of each type of court.

For instance, if the Montague County District Court hears a criminal or civil case, interested persons can request the case's public court records by completing the Records Request Form and emailing it to mcdc@co.montague.tx.us. Requesters are charged a $15 research fee per name and other minimal fees for each request. Alternatively, interested persons can utilize the Montague County District Clerk's Record Search Portal to search for case records online. They can also visit the District Clerk's Office during regular business hours, 8:00 AM to 4:45 PM, to request public case records in person at:

101 E Franklin Street
Montague, TX 76251
Phone: (940) 894-2571
Fax: (940) 894-2077

Montague County Marriage Records

Montague County marriage records, such as marriage licenses, are maintained by the County Clerk's Office. Generally, marriage records only come in the form of marriage license applications. Therefore, Montague County marriage certificates are non-existent.

Interested persons may visit the Montague County Clerk's office during regular business hours to order marriage records in person at:

11339 State Hwy 59 N
Montague, Texas 76251
Phone: (940) 894-2461
Fax: (940) 894-6601

Requests may be subject to a fee, and only eligible individuals, such as those named in the record (i.e., the bride and groom) and their immediate family members, may be allowed access to the marriage records. Furthermore, requesters may be required to present a valid ID before the clerk's staff processes their request. The Montague County Clerk offers an online record search portal where individuals can access marriage records and other vital records maintained by the clerk.

It is worth noting that the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) can verify marriages recorded in Montague County from 1966 to date. Interested persons can order a marriage verification letter from DSHS online through the agency's Vital Records Ordering website. Alternatively, they can order by mail using the DSHS's Marriage or Divorce Record Application form or in person at the agency's headquarters in Austin. Note that marriage verification costs $20.

Montague County Divorce Records

The Montague County District Clerk is the primary custodian of divorce records. Therefore, all requests for Montague County divorce records should be directed to the County District Clerk. Interested persons can request divorce records in person at the District Clerk's office during regular business hours at:

101 E Franklin Street
Montague, TX 76251
Phone: (940) 894-2571
Fax: (940) 894-2077

Interested persons can also obtain verification letters of Montague County divorces recorded since 1968 from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). They can order a divorce verification letter online through the DSHS's Vital Records Ordering website or by mail using the DSHS's Marriage or Divorce Record Application form. Alternatively, requests may be made in person at the DSHS headquarters in Austin.

Montague County Birth and Death Records

Similar to most Montague County vital records, birth and death records are maintained by the County Clerk's Office. These records are considered confidential for a designated period after creation. Montague County birth records remain confidential for 75 years, while death records remain confidential for 25 years. During these respective timeframes, certified copies of birth and death records are only accessible to eligible individuals, such as:

• The person named on the record (for birth records)
• Immediate family members (i.e., child, parent/guardian, sibling, grandparent, and spouse)
• Legal agent/representative
• Other individuals who have legal documentation that shows they have a direct, tangible interest in the record.

Eligible individuals can order a certified Montague County birth certificate and death certificate from the County Clerk's Office in person during regular business hours. Requesters may be required to present a valid form of identification and pay a fee for each request. Alternatively, they can use the County Clerk's Online Records Search portal to request and access birth and death records.

It is worth noting that Montague County birth and death certificates, dating back to 1903, are also available through the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Eligible individuals can order these records online through the DSHS Vital Records Ordering website or by mail using the appropriate application form (birth record application or death record application). Alternatively, they can visit the DSHS headquarters in Austin to request birth or death records in person.

Montague County Probate Court Records

In Montague County, probate cases are handled by the County Constitutional Court, and the County clerk's office is the record custodian of all court cases, including probate records.

Thus, record seekers can direct all requests for Montague County probate court records to the County Clerk's office. They can visit the County Clerk's office during regular business hours to request records in person. Alternatively, they can use the County Clerk's Online Records Search portal to access probate case records online.

Montague County Property Records

The Montague County Clerk's office is the official custodian of property records, such as deeds, plats, liens, and other similar documents. Most of these documents are subject to the Texas Public Information Act (PIA) and are available to the public. Interested persons can visit the County Clerk's office to request property records in person or use the Clerk's Online Records Search portal to access documents remotely.

Montague County Court Records Online

A convenient way to access Montague County court records online is through third-party websites like Texascourtrecords.us. These websites are easy to use and require minimal search criteria, such as a case number or party name. Additionally, they provide prompt search results and allow comprehensive court records searches across various courts within the Montague County and Texas court systems. Nonetheless, there are some downsides to using third-party websites to conduct court records. Most notably, the accuracy and completeness of information in their search results are not guaranteed.