Panola County Court Records

Court records are official documentation produced and maintained by the courts. All Texas court records, including records in Panola County, are typically related to legal proceedings and are essential for verifying criminal/civil case outcomes or reviewing case events.

Panola court records include party names, court filings, charges, claims, and judgments. In criminal cases, these records often include references to the Panola County arrest records, which detail the circumstances of an individual's arrest prior to court proceedings.

Are Court Records Public in Panola County?

Yes, court records are public in Panola County. While the Texas Public Information Act generally governs Panola County public records, this statute does not apply to judicial records. Instead, access is regulated by common law and specific judicial rules. An example is Rule 12 of the Texas Rules of Judicial Administration, which highlights procedures for accessing records not related to a court's adjudicative functions.

However, exemptions exist where access is restricted by Texas law, court order, or judicial rule. Exempt court records in Panola typically include:

• Juvenile court records
• Mental health records
• Sensitive personal data
• Investigatory records
• Internal deliberations and communications
• Adoption records

To access an exempt record, the requesting individual must be a party to the record, have a court order, or be authorized court personnel.

Panola County Court Records Search

The public can generally access Panola County court records by:

• Visiting the court clerk's office with the desired record
• Searching a court's online case management database
• Searching online aggregator websites

Panola County Courts

Panola County has several trial courts that handle legal matters. These courts include the 123rd District Court, the County Court, Justice of the Peace Courts, and a municipal court. Except for the municipal court, these courts are located in the county courthouse. Below are the court addresses.

Panola County Courthouse
110 South Sycamore Street
Carthage, TX 75633
County Court Phone: (903) 693-0302
Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 & 4 Phone: (903) 693-0375
Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 & 3 Phone: (903) 693-0377
District Court Phone: (903) 693-0306

City of Carthage Municipal Court
321 West Panola
Carthage, TX 75633
Phone: (903) 693-5032

Panola County Criminal and Civil Records

Panola County criminal records provide detailed information about individuals with a criminal history in the county, compiled from law enforcement agencies and the courts. Regarding cases that form the county's criminal court records, the District Court in Panola handles felony cases, while misdemeanor cases fall under the jurisdiction of the Justice of the Peace Courts and, where applicable, the municipal court.

Civil records, however, document private disagreements or claims between individuals or entities. Major civil cases are heard in the District Court, while the County Court addresses minor civil matters.

Requesting criminal or civil court records can be done in person at the appropriate court clerk's office or by mail (for District Court records) using the Records Request form. When the case number is unknown, requesters must pay a $5 search fee upfront to find a case. Paper copies of court records typically cost $1 per page, and certified copies require an extra $5 per document.

Panola County criminal and civil court records can also be accessed online through the Case Records Search portal. Users can search by party name or case number.

Panola County Marriage Records

The County Clerk's Office files and maintains Panola County marriage records. These records are important for verifying the legal status of a marriage and may be required for legal, financial, or personal purposes. Individuals may request a copy of a Panola County marriage certificate in person at the Clerk's Office or online through the Clerk's Marriage Records system (accessible through the Self-Service Land Record Search portal). The fee for a certified marriage certificate is $21.

Panola County Divorce Records

Divorce records in Panola County are public documents available to all requesters unless sealed by court order. The Panola County District Clerk's Office is the official custodian of these records. Individuals may obtain copies by visiting the clerk's office or mailing a completed Records Request form to the office. Standard copy fees apply to all requests.

For those preferring online access, divorce cases can be searched on the county's Case Search portal using either spouse's legal name at the time of divorce or the assigned case number.

Panola County Birth Records

Panola County birth records are documents that record the births of individuals in the county. The County Clerk's Office maintains these records, but access is also available through the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).

Under Tex. Gov't Code § 552.115, birth records under 75 years are confidential. To have access to a birth record within this period, the requester must be one of the following:

• The registrant
• An immediate family member, including grandparents, or a legal guardian
• Legal agent or representative

A Panola County birth certificate can be obtained in person at the County Clerk's Office. The requester must have a government-issued photo ID card (either valid or not expired for more than 90 days).

Alternatively, requesters may apply via mail by forwarding the Application for Birth/Death Certificate form to the clerk. The mail-in application should include a copy of the requester's ID, a completed affidavit, and payment. The cost for a birth certificate is $23 per copy. The Clerk's mail address is as follows:

Panola County Clerk
110 South Sycamore
Room 201
Carthage, TX 75633

Panola County Death Records

Death records document the deaths of persons who passed away in Panola County. These records, along with marriage and birth records, constitute the Panola County vital records. Death records are confidential documents; however, they become public 25 years after the date of death.

To request a death certificate from the County Clerk, individuals can stop by during working hours or mail in the Application for Birth/Death Certificate form. The cost for a Panola County death certificate is $21 per copy and $4 for each extra copy requested at the same time.

Panola County Probate Court Records

Probate matters in Panola County typically entail the administration of a deceased person's estate and guardianship proceedings. These cases are public, and the Panola County Clerk's Office maintains the resulting records.

To obtain a probate record, interested persons may visit the County Clerk's Office and provide basic information about the case, such as a party's name or case number. Copy fees may apply where necessary. Probate case records can also be searched online on the Panola County Case Records Search portal.

Panola County Property Records

Property records contain vital information about real estate in Panola County and are essential for verifying ownership, resolving boundary disputes, and facilitating real estate transactions. The Panola County Clerk's Office maintains official land records, such as deeds, liens, and plats. The Panola County Appraisal District, on the other hand, maintains property appraisal and tax assessment records.

Individuals can obtain property records from the respective custodians. Additionally, one may use the County Clerk's Self-Service Land Record Search portal or perform a property search on the Appraisal District's website to view and retrieve property records online.

Panola County Court Records Online

Researchers seeking online access to Panola County court records may consider third-party platforms such as Texascourtrecords.us. These platforms offer a convenient way to search for court records by name, case number, or other filters to help refine results. Access may be free or require payment, depending on the platform and the type of record requested.

However, users should note that third-party websites are not official government sources. As such, the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of the records they provide cannot be fully guaranteed.