About Public Records in Texas

• General Jurisdiction / Upper Courts


• District Courts - one on more courts for each county in Texas. These courts handle the following case types:
• Civil - $200 minimum, no maximum claim amount. Torts, Contracts, real property rights, and estate.
• Domestic relations and divorce.
• Criminal felony, misdemeanor, and drunk driving.
• Juvenile cases, criminal and civil.


• Limited Jurisdiction / Lower Courts


• Constitutional County Courts - one court in each county in Texas. These courts handle the following case types:
• Tort, real estate, and contract claims up to $5,000.
• Estate, mental health, and civil trial court appeals.
• Criminal misdemeanor, drunk driving, criminal appeals.
• Moving traffic.
• Juvenile cases, criminal and civil.


• Probate Courts - These courts handle the following case types:
• Estate.
• Mental Health.


• County Court at Law - one court in most counties in Texas. These courts handle the following case types:
• Tort, real estate, and contract claims.
• Estate, mental health, and civil trial court appeals.
• Criminal misdemeanor, drunk driving, criminal appeals.
• Moving traffic.
• Juvenile cases, criminal and civil.


• Municipal Courts - most incorporated cities have municipal courts. These courts handle the following case types:
• Criminal misdemeanor, drunk driving, domestic violence.
• Traffic, Parking, Infractions, and Ordinance Violations.
• Preliminary hearings in criminal matters.


• Justice of the Peace Courts - one or more courts in each county in Texas. These courts handle the following case types:
• Tort, real estate, and contract claims to $5,000.
• Mental health.
• Criminal misdemeanor.
• Moving traffic.
• Preliminary hearings in criminal matters.

Texas real and personal property tax records are kept by the County Assessor in each county.
 

Texas deeds and general document recording are handled by the County Clerk in each county. Records kept include deeds, mortgage documents, easements, powers of attorney, and liens.

Almost all vital statistics are by the County Clerk in each county.