Search Texas court records in 2026 using re:SearchTX, county clerk portals, district clerk offices, Texas appellate case search, DPS criminal history tools, and PACER for federal cases. This practical guide explains free public search options, case number lookup, criminal, civil, family, probate, traffic, JP and municipal court records, certified copies, sealed records, nondisclosure, expunction, and official record verification.
Need Texas Court Records Right Now?
For many public Texas court records, start with re:SearchTX, then verify through the correct county clerk, district clerk, municipal court, justice of the peace court, appellate court, or federal PACER system. Texas does not work exactly like a one-county court portal because the state has 254 counties, many court levels, and different record systems by court type.
Texas Court Records Overview
Texas court records are official records created by courts in Texas. They may include case numbers, party names, filing dates, docket entries, hearings, pleadings, judgments, orders, case dispositions, and sometimes public documents. The correct place to search depends on the court level and case type.
Texas has a large decentralized court system. District courts usually handle felony, large civil, family, juvenile and some tax matters. County courts and county courts at law handle many misdemeanor, probate, civil and local matters. Justice of the peace and municipal courts handle traffic, small claims, evictions, city ordinance violations and lower-level matters. Appellate cases use the Texas Judicial Branch appellate search system.
Where to search first
| Record Type | Best Starting Point | Important Note |
|---|---|---|
| State trial court cases | re:SearchTX or county/district clerk | Coverage and document access vary by county and court. |
| District court records | District clerk | Often includes felony, family, juvenile, tax and higher civil cases. |
| County court records | County clerk | Often includes probate, misdemeanor, county civil and some records. |
| Traffic and city tickets | Municipal court or JP court | Search using citation number, driver details or court notice. |
| Texas appellate cases | Texas appellate search | Search Supreme Court, Court of Criminal Appeals and courts of appeals. |
| Federal cases | PACER | Federal district and bankruptcy cases are not searched through county clerks. |
re:SearchTX Free Public Search
re:SearchTX is the official statewide court record search platform connected to Texas e-filing data. It can help users search case information from Texas counties and courts, but it does not mean every document from every court is fully free online. Access, document availability, fees and restrictions can vary.
What re:SearchTX can help with
| Use re:SearchTX For | Search Method | What to Watch |
|---|---|---|
| Case number lookup | Enter full case number | County formatting may be different. |
| Name search | Party name or business name | Common names need careful identity verification. |
| Document search | Open case record and check available documents | Some documents may require purchase or may be restricted. |
| Hearing information | Open the case details | Always verify hearing details with the assigned court. |
| Multi-county search | Use broad party search | Results depend on participating data and case type. |
- Open the official website Go to research.txcourts.gov. Avoid paid third-party sites until you have checked the official system.
- Create or sign in to an account if required Some search features may require account access. Use accurate email and profile details because court systems may send notices or receipts.
- Search by case number first Case number search is usually more accurate than name search. Use the full number exactly as written on the court notice.
- Verify through the clerk when needed If the record is incomplete, old, sealed, restricted or needed for official use, contact the court clerk that maintains the record.
Search by Case Number
A case number is the best way to search Texas court records. It reduces wrong matches and helps you find the correct county, court, docket and document list. Texas case number formats are not always the same because each court and county may use its own format.
Step-by-step case number lookup
- Find the full case number Check your citation, petition, indictment, order, judgment, hearing notice, eFileTexas notice, attorney letter, or clerk receipt.
- Start in re:SearchTX Use re:SearchTX Court Records Search and enter the case number exactly.
- Check county and court name Confirm that the result belongs to the right Texas county, court level, case type and party.
- Request official copies from the clerk For legal proof, contact the district clerk, county clerk, municipal court or JP court that maintains the file.
Search by Name or Business Name
Searching Texas court records by name is useful when you do not have the case number. You can search a person, business, attorney, party, plaintiff, defendant, estate name, company name or government entity depending on the portal.
How to search by name safely
- Use the full legal name first Search last name and first name. Add middle initial, suffix, date range or county when available.
- Try spelling variations Use hyphenated names, maiden names, married names, initials, business abbreviations, LLC/Inc variations and punctuation changes.
- Verify identity carefully Check county, court, case type, party role, filing date, attorney, address details if public, and date of birth if legally displayed.
- Do not rely on name-only results for legal decisions A name match is not proof that the record belongs to the person you are researching.
Texas Criminal Court Records
Texas criminal court records may include felony cases, misdemeanor cases, charges, indictments, informations, plea records, hearing entries, sentencing details, judgments, probation entries, warrants in a case, and orders. The correct search path depends on whether the matter is felony, misdemeanor, traffic, municipal, JP, appellate or federal.
Where criminal records are usually maintained
| Criminal Record Type | Likely Custodian | Search Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Felony criminal case | District clerk | Search re:SearchTX, then district clerk records. |
| Misdemeanor criminal case | County clerk or county court clerk | Search county clerk criminal records. |
| Traffic misdemeanor | Municipal court, JP court or county court | Use citation number and court listed on ticket. |
| Appealed criminal case | Court of appeals or Court of Criminal Appeals | Use Texas appellate search. |
| Federal criminal case | U.S. district court | Use PACER, not Texas county portals. |
- Start with case number or defendant name Use re:SearchTX or the correct county clerk/district clerk portal.
- Check the charge and disposition Look for filed charge, amended charge, plea, dismissal, deferred adjudication, conviction, sentence or final judgment.
- Confirm whether it is state or federal Texas state cases are handled in Texas courts. Federal crimes are searched through PACER.
- Use DPS for statewide criminal history For a public Texas criminal history name search, use the official Texas DPS system.
Civil, Family, Probate & County Records
Texas civil court records include lawsuits, contract disputes, personal injury cases, debt collection, property disputes, business cases, tax suits, injunctions, and judgments. Family records may include divorce, custody, child support and protective order matters. Probate records may include estates, wills, guardianships and heirship proceedings.
Common Texas civil and family searches
| Search Query | Best Starting Point | What to Check |
|---|---|---|
| Texas civil court records | re:SearchTX or district clerk | Party names, case type, filing date, court and judgment. |
| Texas divorce records | District clerk in county of filing | Cause number, final decree, confidential family details. |
| Texas probate records | County clerk or probate court | Estate name, decedent name, will filing, letters testamentary. |
| Texas eviction records | Justice of the peace court | Precinct, citation, judgment, appeal status. |
| Texas small claims records | Justice court | Claim amount, plaintiff, defendant, judgment and appeal. |
Traffic, JP and Municipal Court Records
Texas traffic tickets and minor local cases are often handled by municipal courts or justice of the peace courts. These cases may not appear in the same place as district court or county court records. Search using the court named on the ticket, citation number, driver information or court notice.
How to look up a Texas traffic ticket
- Read the citation carefully The ticket usually names the municipal court, justice court, city, precinct, county, due date and citation number.
- Use the court’s official payment or case portal Search the city municipal court or county justice court website. Do not pay through unofficial pages.
- Check available options You may be able to pay, request a court date, request deferred disposition, take a driving safety course, or contest the citation.
- Confirm final disposition After payment or court appearance, verify that the record is closed and that any driver-license consequence is resolved.
Texas Supreme Court, Court of Criminal Appeals and Appeals Search
Texas has two highest courts: the Supreme Court of Texas for civil matters and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals for criminal matters. Texas also has regional courts of appeals. Appellate records are searched through Texas Judicial Branch appellate search tools, not county clerk portals.
Texas appellate search paths
| Appellate Record | Where to Search | Useful For |
|---|---|---|
| Supreme Court of Texas | Supreme Court page | Civil and juvenile appellate matters. |
| Court of Criminal Appeals | CCA page | Criminal appeals and post-conviction matters. |
| Courts of appeals | Appellate case search | Intermediate civil and criminal appeals. |
| Orders and opinions | Texas Judicial Branch search pages | Opinions, orders, case events and documents. |
- Open Texas appellate case search Go to search.txcourts.gov.
- Search by case number or party Use appellate cause number, trial court cause number, party name, attorney or court if available.
- Check document and event tabs Review filings, opinions, orders, briefs, submission dates and judgment details.
- Confirm trial court record separately The appellate record may mention the trial court case, but original trial documents are usually maintained by the trial court clerk.
Copies and Certified Court Records
Online search results are helpful, but official use usually requires a plain copy, certified copy, authenticated copy or clerk-certified record. In Texas, copy requests are normally handled by the clerk of the court that keeps the record.
Copy request basics
| Copy Type | Typical Use | Where to Request |
|---|---|---|
| Plain copy | Personal reference or informal review | County clerk, district clerk, municipal court, JP court or portal. |
| Certified copy | Official legal proof | Clerk with custody of the file. |
| Authenticated/exemplified copy | Higher proof for some out-of-state or official use | Ask the clerk what certification is available. |
| Federal certified copy | Federal court filings and judgments | PACER or federal district/bankruptcy clerk. |
- Identify the exact court Find the county, court name, case number, party names and document title.
- Use the clerk’s official copy instructions District clerks and county clerks may have different request forms, fees and delivery methods.
- Ask for certified copy if needed Tell the clerk if the record is for immigration, name change, adoption, licensing, appeal, probate, school, bank or government use.
- Keep your receipt and request number Archived, sealed or older files may take longer than online documents.
Sealed, Confidential and Restricted Records
Not all Texas court records are public online. Some records are confidential by law, sealed by court order, restricted from remote access, or available only to parties, attorneys, agencies or people with a court order. Some portals show a case exists but hide sensitive documents.
Records that may be restricted
- Juvenile records in many situations
- Adoption records and certain parent-child records
- Family violence shelter, victim and protective-order information
- Medical, mental health, financial and identifying information
- Sealed criminal, civil or family documents
- Cases under expunction or nondisclosure orders
- Documents restricted by court rule, statute or judge order
Expunction and Nondisclosure
Texas has two important criminal-record relief concepts: expunction and nondisclosure. Expunction may remove qualifying arrest or case records from public access. Nondisclosure may seal qualifying records from public disclosure while allowing certain government or authorized agencies to see them.
Where to start
- Get the case details Find your case number, arrest date, charge, disposition, county, court and agency information.
- Read official nondisclosure forms Use the Texas Judicial Branch Orders of Nondisclosure page.
- Check State Law Library forms and guides Use the Texas State Law Library expunction and nondisclosure forms guide.
- File in the correct court Record relief is technical. File in the correct county and serve required agencies as required by law.
Court Records vs DPS Criminal History
Many people search “Texas court records” when they really need a criminal history check. These are not the same. Court records show case activity in a court. DPS criminal history records come from criminal justice reporting systems and may be used for public criminal history searches or authorized background checks.
Which one should you use?
| Need | Use | Official Link |
|---|---|---|
| Look up a Texas court case | re:SearchTX or clerk records | re:SearchTX |
| Search public Texas criminal history | DPS Criminal History Name Search | DPS criminal history search |
| Find court location or judge | Texas Judicial Directory | Judicial Directory |
| Search federal case | PACER | PACER |
Federal Court Records in Texas
Federal court records in Texas are not searched through county clerks or re:SearchTX. Federal cases use PACER and the correct U.S. District Court or U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Texas has four federal district court regions: Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas.
- Register or log in to PACER Go to pacer.uscourts.gov.
- Choose the correct Texas federal district Search Northern, Southern, Eastern or Western District depending on where the federal case was filed.
- Search by case number or party name Case number is best. Party name searches may return many results and may create PACER charges.
- Download documents carefully PACER charges by page, with a per-document cap for many case-specific documents and reports.
Texas federal district court links
| Federal Court | Official Website | Common Cities / Divisions |
|---|---|---|
| Northern District of Texas | txnd.uscourts.gov | Dallas, Fort Worth, Amarillo, Lubbock, Abilene, San Angelo, Wichita Falls |
| Southern District of Texas | txs.uscourts.gov | Houston, Galveston, Corpus Christi, Victoria, Laredo, McAllen, Brownsville |
| Eastern District of Texas | txed.uscourts.gov | Beaumont, Tyler, Sherman, Plano, Texarkana, Marshall, Lufkin |
| Western District of Texas | txwd.uscourts.gov | Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, Waco, Midland/Odessa, Del Rio, Alpine |
Texas Court Locations and Directories
Because Texas has 254 counties and many court levels, the safest way to find the correct court is to use the official Texas Judicial Branch directory and then go to the court or county clerk page listed by the court.
Texas Supreme Court Building
201 W. 14th Street, Austin, TX 78701
Main public resource: Texas Judicial Branch
Find courts and court contacts: Texas Judicial Directory
Useful official Texas court links
| Need | Official Page |
|---|---|
| Find a Texas court, judge or clerk | Texas Judicial Directory |
| Search statewide court records | re:SearchTX |
| Search appellate cases | Texas appellate case search |
| Texas court forms | Texas Judicial Branch forms |
| Self-help information | Texas Court Help |
Practical Search Tips for Texas Court Records
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I search Texas court records online for free?
Start with re:SearchTX. You can also search local county clerk, district clerk, municipal court and JP court websites depending on case type. For appellate cases, use Texas appellate case search.
What is the official Texas court records website?
The Texas Judicial Branch website is txcourts.gov. The statewide court records search platform is re:SearchTX.
Is re:SearchTX free?
re:SearchTX offers public search access, but document availability and fees can vary by case, court, county and access level. For official copies, contact the clerk that maintains the record.
Can I search Texas court records by name?
Yes. You may be able to search by person name, business name or party name in re:SearchTX or local clerk portals. Always verify identity using county, case type, filing date and party role because many people share the same name.
How do I find a Texas case number?
Check the citation, petition, complaint, indictment, order, judgment, e-filing notice, attorney letter or clerk receipt. In Texas, the case number may also be called a cause number.
Where do I find Texas criminal court records?
Search re:SearchTX first, then check the district clerk for felony cases or the county clerk/county court for misdemeanor cases. For public criminal history, use the Texas DPS Criminal History Name Search.
Is a Texas court record the same as a DPS criminal history report?
No. A court record shows case information from a court file. A DPS criminal history record is a separate criminal history search maintained through Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Records services.
How do I find Texas divorce records?
Texas divorce cases are usually maintained by the district clerk in the county where the divorce was filed. Search re:SearchTX first, then contact the correct district clerk for certified copies of a divorce decree.
How do I search Texas probate records?
Probate records are often kept by the county clerk or a statutory probate court, depending on the county. Search the county clerk’s probate records page or use the Texas Judicial Directory to find the correct court.
How do I look up a Texas traffic ticket?
Use the municipal court or justice of the peace court listed on your citation. Search by citation number, driver information or court notice. Traffic tickets may not appear in district clerk records.
How do I search Texas appellate court cases?
Use the official Texas appellate case search at search.txcourts.gov. It covers the Supreme Court of Texas, Court of Criminal Appeals and courts of appeals.
How do I get certified copies of Texas court records?
Request certified copies from the clerk that maintains the case file. This may be a district clerk, county clerk, municipal court clerk, JP clerk, appellate clerk or federal clerk depending on the record.
Why can’t I find a Texas court record online?
The record may be sealed, restricted, confidential, old, not digitized, filed in a different county, filed under another name, held by a local clerk portal, or filed in federal court. Contact the clerk of the court where the case was filed.
Are Texas juvenile records public?
Many juvenile records are restricted or confidential. Access depends on the law, case type, court order and requester’s role. Contact the correct juvenile or district court for official instructions.
How do I seal or clear a Texas criminal record?
Texas uses expunction and nondisclosure processes for qualifying cases. Start with Texas Judicial Branch nondisclosure forms and the Texas State Law Library expunction and nondisclosure guide. Eligibility depends on the exact case details.
How do I search federal court records in Texas?
Use PACER. Texas federal cases may be in the Northern, Southern, Eastern or Western District of Texas. Federal bankruptcy cases are also searched through federal court systems.
Can I use a screenshot as an official Texas court record?
Usually no. A screenshot can help you identify a case, but official use often requires a plain copy, certified copy or authenticated copy from the court clerk.
What is the fastest way to verify a Texas court record?
Search by case number in re:SearchTX, then confirm with the clerk of the court that maintains the record. For official proof, request a certified copy.
Final Summary
For texas court records, the best starting point is re:SearchTX. From there, verify records through the correct Texas district clerk, county clerk, municipal court, justice of the peace court, appellate court or federal PACER system. Texas records are decentralized, so the right search path depends on the case type and court level.
Always confirm the case number, county, court, party identity, case type and official source before relying on any result. If you need the record for legal, immigration, licensing, employment, school, probate, family or government use, request an official certified copy from the court clerk.