Shelby County Court Records

Court records in Shelby County encompass files, audio recordings, and visual materials generated by the Shelby County District, Constitutional, Justice, and Municipal Courts during legal proceedings. These documents are vital to the county's judicial system, serving as evidence of case trials, documenting prosecutions, and promoting transparency, accountability, equity, and fairness in legal trials across the various courts in the county.

Generally, court records include but are not limited to case numbers, filing dates, names of litigants, court information, complaints/indictments, answers/responses, exhibits, Pleas, orders, and judgments. Court records may also include Shelby County arrest records and other crime incident documents relating to criminal case prosecutions within the county.

Are Court Records Public in Shelby County?

Generally, unless specific statutes or rules state otherwise, Shelby County court records are public in Shelby County. Rule 12 of the Texas Rules of Judicial Administration, Common Law and Statutory Provisions, and local court rules define public access to Shelby County Court records. Nonetheless, Texas Statutes exempt public access to Shelby County court records or information relating to:

• Juveniles
• Sealed or expunged records
• Judicial work products (this includes drafts, notes, and other materials generated by judges during adjudication duties)
• Mental health records
• Sensitive personal information such as Social Security Number and driver's license.

Shelby County Court Records Search

Shelby County court records are accessible online and offline. Searchers may access these documents online through third-party platforms with Shelby County judicial records databases. Additionally, Shelby County court records may be accessible through the Shelby County District Clerk's Office and the clerk's offices across the county's various courts.

Shelby County Courts

Shelby County's court system includes District, Constitutional County, Justice, and Municipal Courts, each having varying jurisdictions over case trials. Per Texas judicial hierarchy, the Shelby County District Court is the apex county-level court within the county.

The Shelby County District Court has broad authority over civil and criminal matters. However, the Shelby County District Court addresses cases that fall outside the scope of authority of the other county courts. For inquiries, contact the various courts in Shelby County using the information below:

Shelby County 123rd District Court
200 San Augustine Street,
P.O. Drawer 1953,
Center,
TX 75935
Phone: (936) 598-4164
Fax: (936) 598-3323

Shelby County 273rd District Court
200 San Augustine Street,
P.O. Drawer 1953,
Center,
TX 75935
Phone: (936) 598-4164
Fax: (936) 598-3323

Shelby County Constitutional Court
200 San Augustine Street,
P.O. 6,
Center,
TX 75935
Phone: (936) 598-3863
Fax: (936) 598-3146
Email: sandra.green@co.shelby

Shelby County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1
518 Nacogdoches Street,
Center,
TX 75935
Phone: (936) 598-3735
Fax: (936) 590-4161

Shelby County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2
174 FM 417 E,
P.O. Box 220,
Shelbyville,
TX 75973
Phone: (936) 598-7797

Shelby County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3
12723 US Highway 84 East, Suite 1,
P.O. Box 503,
Joaquin,
Tx 75954
Phone: (936) 269-3152
Fax office: (936) 269-3194

Shelby County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4
140 Ed Wall Street,
P.O. Box 902,
Tenaha,
TX 75974
Phone: (936) 248-4001
Fax: (936) 248-4002

Shelby County Justice of the Peace Precinct 5
501 Austin Street,
P.O. Box 285,
Timpson,
TX 75975
Phone: (936) 254-3922
Fax: (936) 254-3994

Center Municipal Court
1020 Shelbyville Street,
P.O. Box 1900,
Center,
TX 75935
Phone: (936) 598-3080

Joaquin Municipal Court
124 Preston Street,
P.O. Box 237,
Joaquin,
TX 75954
Phone: (936) 269-3021

Tenaha Municipal Court
122 North Center Street,
P.O. Box 70,
Tenaha,
TX 75974
Phone: (936) 248-5942

Timpson Municipal Court
456 Jacob Street,
P.O. Box 369,
Timpson,
TX 75975
Phone: (936) 254-2421
Fax: (936) 254-2933

Shelby County Criminal and Civil Records

Shelby County civil court records detail non-criminal proceedings across the county's courts. Similarly, Shelby County criminal court records are case files relating to crime-related trials within the Shelby County District, Constitutional County, and Municipal Courts. Typically, civil court records include, but are not limited to, case files relating to:

• Contract disagreements
• Civil rights lawsuits
• Tort claims
• Property disputes
• Family law cases
• Intellectual property lawsuits
• Probate and estate disputes
• Class actions
• Business and commercial lawsuits.

Individuals seeking access to Shelby County civil and criminal records should mail or visit the Shelby County District Clerk's Office or the clerk's offices of the other Shelby County courts and request access to court records in their possession.

Alternatively, visit the Texas Courts re:SearchTX website, create accounts, and log into the search portal to search for case records. Searchers may also access criminal case documents such as Shelby County arrest records and incident reports through the Shelby County Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement agencies.

Requesters should note that accessing some Shelby County civil court records may require valid identification due to their sensitive information.

Shelby County Marriage Records

In Shelby County, marriage records are publicly accessible. Interested individuals may access basic information such as the spouses' names, marriage dates and locations, marriage license numbers, and other information not exempted by law.

Individuals seeking access to Shelby County marriage records should mail or visit the Shelby County Clerk's Office at:

124 Austin Street,
P.O. Box 1987,
Center,
TX 75935
Phone: (936) 598-6361

Alternatively, log in to the Shelby County, Texas County Clerk Web Access Portal and search for marriage records. Interested individuals may also order Shelby County marriage verification letters through the Texas Health and Human Services website or download, complete, and mail Marriage or Divorce Records Application Forms to:

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

Shelby County Divorce Records

Divorce records are public in Shelby County and across Texas. However, custodian agencies will redact sensitive information such as Social Security Numbers and financial account details from publicly accessible divorce records.

Record seekers may access Shelby County divorce records online through affiliate third-party websites. For certified copies of divorce records, requesters should mail or visit the Shelby County District Clerk's Office at:

200 San Augustine Street, Suite B,
P.O. Drawer 1953,
Center,
TX 75935
Phone: (936) 598-4164
Email: district.clerk@co.shelby.tx.us.

Shelby County divorce verification letters are also accessible online through the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Vital Records Ordering Page. Alternatively, to request Shelby County divorce verification letters:

• Download and complete the DSHS Marriage or Divorce Records Application Form
• Include a photocopy of valid photo identification and check/money order for $20.00 per copy fee (expedited delivery is available for additional fees)

• Mail the requests to:

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

For in-person requests for Shelby County divorce verification letters, visit the DSHS - Vital Statistics Section at:

1100 W. 49th
Street,
Austin,
TX 78756.

Shelby Birth Records

Per Texas laws, there is a time restriction on public access to Shelby County birth records. In Shelby County and across Texas, birth records less than 75 years old are confidential. Access to these documents is limited to the persons named on the birth certificates, their immediate family members, legal guardians or representatives, and those with notarized permissions.

Shelby County birth records serve numerous purposes. They're sometimes used as legal identification documents and proof of citizenship and nationality. Additionally, Shelby County birth records are prerequisites for obtaining official documents such as passports, driver's licenses, and national identification cards.

Access to Shelby County birth records depends on the age of the documents and eligibility. Record seekers may request copies of Shelby County birth records online through the Texas Department of Health and Human Services Birth Certificate Page. As an alternative, request copies of Shelby County birth certificates through mail or in-person visits to the Shelby County Clerk's Office at:

124 Austin Street,
P.O. Box 1987,
Center,
TX 75935.

Another option is to download, complete, and mail the Texas Birth Records Application Forms to the Texas Vital Statistics
Department of State Health Services at:

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

For expedited services, mail the request to:

Texas Vital Statistics
MC 2096
Department of State Health Services
1100 W. 49th Street,
Austin,
TX 78756.

Requesters should note that access to Shelby County birth records may require valid identification documents and fee payments.

Shelby Death Records

In Shelby County and across Texas, death records are confidential for the first 25 years after death. During this period, only the immediate family members of the deceased, legal guardians or representatives, and entities with notarized permissions may access these documents.

Nonetheless, Shelby County death records are publicly accessible 25 years after the demise of their subjects.

Death certificates are important legal and administrative documents. They play crucial roles in estate settlements, transfer of property, life insurance claims, and government benefits such as Social Security, pension, and veterans' claims.

Interested individuals seeking access to Shelby County death records should mail or visit the Shelby County Clerk's Office. Alternatively, request copies of Shelby County death records through the Texas Department of Health and Human Services Death Certificate Page.

Record seekers may also download and complete Texas Death Records Application Forms and mail them along with valid identification documents and necessary payments to:

The Texas Vital Statistics
Department of State Health Services
P.O. Box 12040,
Austin,
TX 78711-2040.

Shelby County Probate Court Records

Shelby County probate court records are legal documents relating to the management of deceased persons' estates within Shelby County, TX. In Shelby County, the Constitutional Court handles probate adjudications, and its jurisdiction encompasses cases relating to trust administration, guardianships, claims against estates, conservatorships, escheats, Will contests, and intestate successions.

Shelby County probate court records are accessible online through the Texas Courts re:SearchTX portal. Alternatively, visit or send an official mail request for Shelby County probate court records to the Shelby County District Clerk's Office at:

200 San Augustine Street, Suite B,
P.O. Drawer 1953,
Center,
TX 75935.

Shelby County probate records are also accessible through the Shelby County Clerk's Office at:

124 Austin Street,
Center,
TX 75935
Phone: (936) 598-6361
Fax: (936) 598-3701
Email: jennifer.fountain@co.shelby.tx.us.

Shelby County Property Records

Shelby County property records are official documentation on real estate ownership and transactions within Shelby County, TX. These documents encompass but are not limited to:

• Deeds
• Building permits
• Parcel numbers
• Plat Maps
• Property sales histories
• Zoning information
• Liens and encumbrances
• Property tax records
• Mortgage information.

Shelby County property records are accessible online and offline. For online access to Shelby County property appraisal values, ownership history, and tax information:

• Log in to the Shelby County Appraisal District (CAD) Property Search Portal.

For in-person or mail-in access to Shelby County property records, visit or send mail requests to the Shelby County Clerk or Appraisal District Offices at the following addresses:

Shelby County Clerk's Office
124 Austin Street,
Center,
TX 75935
Phone: (936) 598-6361
Email: jennifer.fountain@co.shelby.tx.us

Shelby County Appraisal District Office
724 Shelbyville Street,
Center,
TX 75935
Phone: (936) 598-6171
Email: scad@shelbycad.com.

Shelby County Court Records Online

Third-party websites may sometimes offer convenient alternatives. These private platforms gather documents from various sources and make them available in one place. Non-government databases like Texascourtrecords.us provide global access to case files from courts across Texas through advanced search tools. However, despite the many advantages of third-party online resources, users should verify their content because they are independent and do not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of documents and information.