Potter County Court Records

Potter County court records are documents, files, and transcripts associated with court cases and dockets in Potter County, Texas. The county maintains these documents for future reference during appeals and retrials. They can also be used for educational research, genealogy tracing, tax, and estate matters. Some examples of Potter County court records are birth records, deeds, tax records, marriage records, case transcripts, etc.

Are Court Records Public in Potter County Texas?

Yes, court records in Potter County are public records. The Texas Government Code Chapter 552 (The Texas Open Records Act, Public Information Act) defines public records as the portion of all documents, writings, letters, memoranda, or written, printed, typed, copied, or developed material that contains information collected, assembled, or maintained by governmental bodies for the transaction of official business.

By this definition, Potter County court records are public records, and their contents, therefore, are open to members of the public, except for:

• Information deemed confidential by law (federal, state, or court order)
• Private information in personnel files, or
• Information for which an exception to disclose has not been sought.

Potter County Court Records Search

In Potter County, court records are maintained by the Potter County District Clerk's office and the Potter County Clerk's office. Searches can be conducted in the following ways:

• Public Search Computers at the District Clerk's office.
• Online through a database provided by the Potter County District Clerk's office
• Online through a database provided by the Potter County Clerk's website
• Submitting a written request to the District Clerk's office by mail to obtain copies.
• Making a request in person at the District Clerk's office.
• Online via a third-party database

Potter County Court Records Search by Name

To perform a Potter County court records search by name, the searcher must first have the first and last name of the party in the case. Afterward, the search can be carried out using the free public search computers at the District Clerk's office during their normal office hours, which are Monday - Friday, 8:00 am-5:00 pm. Searches can also be carried out for free online through the database provided by the Potter County Office. Documents can be viewed for free, but obtaining certified copies from the site will require a fee ranging from $2-$8 per document.

Individuals can submit a written request to the District Clerk's office or request to search and obtain copies of the county court records. The fee for copies is $0.50 per page for non-certified copies and $1 per page for certified copies. In the case of a written request by mail, a money order or cashier's check for $30 must accompany the request as a deposit for the cost of the copies and postage. Additionally, a payment of $5 search fee is required by law.

Potter County Courts

Below is the list of courts operating as part of the Potter County judicial system:

County Courts at Law
County Court at Law #1
500 S. Fillmore, Suite 405
Amarillo, TX 79101
Phone: (806) 379-2375

County Court at Law #2
500 S. Fillmore, Suite 402
Amarillo, TX 79101
Phone: (806) 379-2380

Specialty Courts
Panhandle Regional Veterans Treatment Court (PRVTC)
500 S. Fillmore, Suite 405
Amarillo, TX 79101
Phone: (806) 379-2375

Panhandle Regional Problem Solving Court (PRPSC)
500 S. Fillmore, Suite 402
Amarillo, TX 79101
Phone: (806) 379-2380

Potter Randle and Armstrong Co Drug Court
900 S. Polk Street, Ste. 900
Amarillo, Texas 79101
Phone: (806) 378-3716

Potter County Texas District Courts
47th District Court
District Courts Building
350 SE 6th Avenue, Suite 3A
Amarillo, Texas 79101
Phone: (806) 379-2350

108th District Court
District Courts Building
350 SE 6th Avenue, Suite 4B
Amarillo, Texas 79101
Phone: (806) 379-2355

181st District Court
District Courts Building
350 SE 6th Avenue, Suite 5B
Amarillo, Texas 79101
Phone: (806) 379-2360

251st District Court
District Courts Building
350 SE 6th Avenue, Suite 5A
Amarillo, Texas 79101
Phone: (806) 379-236

320th District Court
Potter County District Courts Building
350 SE 6th Avenue, Suite 4A
Amarillo, Texas 79101
Phone: (806) 379-2370

Texas 7th District Court of Appeals
Potter County Court Building
501 S. Filmore Street
Potter County Courts Building #2a
Amarillo, Texas 79101
Phone: (806) 342-2650

IV-D Child Support Court
500 S. Fillmore, Suite 601
Amarillo, TX 79101
Phone: (806) 379-2820

High Plains Child Protection Court
District Courts Building
350 SE 6th Ave. Suite 2A
Amarillo, Texas 79101
Phone: (806) 379-2228

Justice of the Peace Courts
Justice of the Peace - Precinct One
900 S. Polk Suite 418
Amarillo, TX 79101
Phone: (806) 349-4880

Justice of the Peace - Precinct Two
500 S. Fillmore, Suite 502
Amarillo, TX 79101
Phone: (806) 379-2390

Justice of the Peace - Precinct Three
13651 I-40 West
Amarillo, TX 79124
Phone: (806) 355-3070

Justice of the Peace - Precinct Four
500 South Fillmore, Suite 302A
Amarillo, TX 79101
Phone: (806) 379-2817

Potter County also has a court called the Commissioners Court. It is not for adjudication and trials but for electoral matters pertaining to the commissioners and other administrative duties related to them. A judge is attached to the Commissioners Court to certify elections. Although in some counties, the Commissioners Court county judge presides over judicial matters, such judges are not typically involved in judicial matters.

Potter Counter Superior Court Case Search

The county superior court in Potter County is the Court of Appeals. This Court is the Texas Court of Appeals, Seventh District, located in Potter County. Searches for their cases can be carried out through the Court's online database. To execute the search, searchers must have the first and last name of a party to the case.

The Texas Seventh District Court of Appeals (COA) handles all appeal cases arising from District and County courts in 46 counties, including Potter County. The 7th District Court of Appeals will not hear appeals not arising from these courts.

Potter County District Court Records

Potter County has 5 district courts, which handle family, civil, and criminal cases. The Potter County District Clerk maintains all records pertaining to District Court matters. These records can be accessed online through the database provided by the District Clerk's office or through the public search portals available at their office.

Alternatively, searches can make requests in person at their office or submit written requests to the District clerk's office. Record copies have a fee of $0.50 per page for non-certified copies and $1 per page for certified copies. When making a written request by mail, a money order or cashier's check for $30 must accompany the request as a deposit for the cost of the copies and postage. Additionally, a payment of $5 search fee is required by law.

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 9570
Amarillo, TX 79105

Physical Address:
350 SE 6th Ave., Suite 1B
Amarillo, Texas 79101

Email: districtclerk@co.potter.tx.us

Potter County Criminal Records

The Potter County Sheriff's Office maintains Potter County arrest and criminal records. Records such as active warrants and sex offenders can be found on the Potter County Sheriff's website. They can be viewed by any member of the public. For other criminal records, requestors can make a request via the Public Information Request form, which is also available on their website.

Requestors can also direct their request to the County Sheriff's office by mail or email.

Email:

LEC-PublicRecords@co.potter.tx.us

Mailing Address:
13103 NE 29th Avenue
Amarillo, Texas 79111

It must be noted that not all criminal records will be accessible or available to the members of the public. The Public Information Act gives public bodies two exception to disclosure.

• Mandatory Exception: Public bodies must not disclose any private information such as social security numbers, dates of birth of living persons, license plate numbers and more.
• Discretionary Exceptions: Public bodies have the option to withhold non-confidential information in certain circumstances, such as attorney-client information and audit working papers.

Potter County Criminal Court Case Lookup

The Potter County District Courts conduct criminal court cases in Potter County. Appeals from there go to the Texas Seventh District Court of Appeals (COA). Searchers can look up criminal court cases in Potter County via an online database provided by the Potter County District Clerk's webpage.

Alternatively, a criminal court case lookup may be carried out through their public search portals available at their office. Searches can also be conducted online via a third-party database, most of which will charge a fee.

Get Potter County Civil Court Records

The offices of the Potter County District Clerk and County Clerk are the custodians of their county civil court records in Potter County. These offices maintain the records of the cases the civil cases tried in the Potter County District Courts and County Courts. Civil court records result from civil court proceedings such as guardianship, probate, property disputes, claims, contract disputes, divorce family, etc.

To access records produced by the District Courts, searchers can use the database provided by the District Clerk's webpage by clicking on "case information" or the public search computers at the District Clerk's office. As for records arising from the Potter County Courts, searchers can use the database provided by the County Clerk's webpage by clicking on "court records".

Alternatively, Potter County civil case records can be accessed online via a third-party database, most of which will charge a fee.

Potter County Family Court Records

Potter County does not have a general family court. The Potter County District Courts hear all family law cases, including divorce, child support, custody issues, and child endangerment.

To access the records for family law cases in Potter County, searchers can use the database provided by the District Clerk's webpage by clicking on "case information," or they can use the public search computers at the District Clerk's office.

The family department of the District Clerk's office can be reached at (806) 379-2319 and familyinformation@co.potter.tx.us

It must be noted that some family court records in Potter County are Vital Records. Potter County Vital Records are confidential. Examples of such records are birth and death certificates/documents. These records from part of the family court records can only be accessed by persons named on the certificate, immediate family by blood or marriage.

Potter County also has two courts strictly for hearing certain child support and child protection cases. The IVD Child Support Court hears contested contempt cases, document-intensive cases, and cases requiring an uncommon foreign translator. The High Plains Child Protection Court hears cases on child protection.

Potter County Dissolution of Marriage Records

In Potter County, dissolution of marriage is the same as divorce. Therefore, the Potter County District Clerk's office maintains both records.

Potter County Marriage and Divorce Records

The Potter County Clerk's office collates the county's marriage records. The County Clerk's office collates marriage records such as marriage certificates/licenses. The records can be viewed on their Potter County Clerk Self Service Web page, and copies attract a fee of $8.

In Potter County, Texas, divorce/dissolution of marriage matters are handled by the District Courts. Therefore, Potter County divorce records are maintained by the Potter County District Clerk's office. Where the records form part of a case they can be accessed via the database provided by the District Clerk's webpage by clicking on "case information", or they can use the public search computers at the District Clerk's office. Alternatively, searchers can submit a written request to the District Clerk's office or make the request in person.

Marriage records in Potter County are part of Potter County Vital Records. The Texas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics provides marriage and divorce records for Potter County, Texas.

Potter County, Texas Birth and Death Records

Under the Texas Public Information Act, birth and death records are considered confidential information unavailable to the general public except for permitted persons. Permitted persons are:

• Persons named on the birth or death certificate
• Immediate family by blood or marriage (father, mother, brother, sister, adult child, spouse, grandparent)

Birth and death records are useful in conducting censuses. For Potter County birth and death records, there are two ports of call. The City of Amarillo Office of Vital Statistics and the Texas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics.

Records from the City of Amarillo Office of Vital Statistics can be ordered online via their website. Certified copies of birth certificates have a fee of $23, death certificates a fee of $21, and $4 for any additional copies. The records can be received by pick up or shipping. Deliveries may attract additional costs ranging from $0-27.

The Texas Department of State Health Services, also offers access to Potter County birth and death rercords. The records can be ordered online on Order Records webpage. Fees range from $22-60 depending on type of birth or death record being ordered.

Potter County Probate Court Records

Probate matters in Potter County are handled by the Potter County Court, which makes the County Clerk's office the custodian of the probate court records. The County Court hears cases on guardianship, estate administration, succession of property, etc.

Records can be obtained by first visiting the County Clerk's webpage and using their online database. When on the database, researchers must register as users. User registration and obtainment of copies of the records may attract a fee.

Potter County Property Records

Property records in Potter County, Texas are held mainly by the District Clerk and County Clerk. The Potter County Tax office holds property tax records specifically. Property records include records on mortgages, loans, ownership, deeds of trust, properties used as security instruments, properties with liens, etc.

They can be accessed via the database provided by the District Clerk's webpage by clicking on "case information" or using the public search computers at the District Clerk's office. Alternatively, searchers can submit a written request to the District Clerk's office or make a request in person.

Potter County property records can also be accessed via the County Clerk's self-service for official public records. Real Estate documents on the site can be purchased at $2 per non-certified copy and $7 for certified copies.

Potter County Court Records Online

Members of the public can access Potter County court records online through the Court's website, government websites, or a database managed by the Court. Individuals can also access these records through third-party websites like Texascourtrecords.us.

Third-party sites are more convenient than contacting the county office in person. However, viewing or obtaining documents usually requires a subscription and attracts a fee. Further, the information provided on some of the sites may not be up to date. Individuals using third-party sites should always check back with the relevant county office to ensure accurate information.