Texas Civil Court Records

Trial Courts and Appellate Courts make up the Texas court system.

The Municipal Courts, Justice Courts, Probate Courts, County Courts, and District Courts make up Texas Trial Courts. These courts handle civil cases but have different areas of jurisdiction.

The District Courts handle civil cases involving more than $200, while County Courts handle civil cases with claims between $200 and $250,000.

But the Justice Courts have initial jurisdiction over civil cases under $20,000, according to Chapter 27 of the Texas Government Code.

The Appellate Courts include the Court of Appeals, the Court of Criminal Appeals, and the Supreme Court.

The Texas Courts of Appeals are appellate jurisdiction courts that do not hear testimony or admit new evidence. These courts have authority over the vast majority of appeals in the state, except for instances that fall solely under the control of the Court of Criminal Appeals.

The Court of Criminal Appeals and the Supreme Court are the highest authorities in this state. These courts control civil and juvenile proceedings, and their judgments are final.

Can you access Texas Civil Court Records? The Texas Public Information Act gives you access to this data. But this Act does not apply to the Texas Judiciary. Thus, the Supreme Court controls access to certain records, even though they are public.

The Texas Bankruptcy Records contain comprehensive financial data on individuals and businesses who have filed for bankruptcy with the Federal Court.

Any person or business in financial distress may file for bankruptcy protection in this state and go through a sequence of court actions to have their debts discharged.

In Texas, debtors who cannot meet their financial obligations file the following bankruptcy petitions:

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

This sort of bankruptcy liquidates a debtor's assets to clear debts due to creditors.

In Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the court will provide a trustee to sell the debtor's assets and give the money from the sales to the debtor's creditors.

The ability to discharge outstanding debts, such as income tax arrears, medical bills, and personal loans, makes this one of Texas' most prevalent types of bankruptcy.

In addition, if the court finds enough evidence of severe distress, individual debtors may potentially have their student loan debts discharged under this bankruptcy filing. However, this kind of bankruptcy does not shield debtors from the obligations listed below:

• Court costs and fines
• Spousal support
• Personal debts from intoxication-related accidents
• Child support

In Texas, a record of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy stays on credit reports for ten years.

Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

This type of bankruptcy lets people reorganize their finances to pay off their debts. It allows firms or individuals to declare bankruptcy and arrange a plan to repay debts without selling assets or ceasing operations.

In this state, corporations and individuals can also apply for bankruptcy if cash flow or product demand drops.

A Chapter 11 bankruptcy can stay on credit reports for ten years after filing.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

In Texas, this form of bankruptcy is an attractive alternative for debtors since it shields their assets from liquidation.

Under Chapter 13 bankruptcy, a debtor agrees to repay all or a portion of their debt to creditors over three to five years.

People can only file for this type of bankruptcy if they have enough money to make regular monthly payments. Therefore, debtors must reveal their income source to the bankruptcy court within two weeks of filing.

In Texas, a Chapter 13 bankruptcy stays on file for seven years after filing.

You might also see Chapter 12 bankruptcy, along with Chapter 7, 11, and 13, in Texas Bankruptcy Records.

How To Find Texas Bankruptcy Records?

Bankruptcy Courts and Federal Records Centers (FRCs) of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) kept Texas Bankruptcy Records.

You can go to the Clerk's Office in the courthouse that handled your case to find these documents. You can use the public access terminals to look at these records for free at these offices and pay to have copies made.

In addition to going to the office, you can also send a letter requesting to see bankruptcy records. The copying fees are the same as those for requests made in person.

Accessing these records is also possible via the Multi-Court Voice Case Information System (McVCIS).

As part of the Texas Civil Court Records, a property lien is a legal entitlement on loan-collateral assets.

A property lien gives creditors the legal power to repossess the debtor's assets as compensation when the debtor cannot pay their debts.

In Texas, property liens come in different forms. But the following are the most common types:

Judgment Lien

A judgment lien results from a civil action to ensure that creditors receive the court-ordered payments.

If the debtor cannot pay the sum owed, lienholders may seize the debtor's businesses, homes, real estate, vehicles, land, and furnishings with this kind of property lien.

Mortgage Lien

This kind of property lien is a contract that people sign when they buy a home. It allows people to pay for their homes in installments rather than entirely at once.

The Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending is in charge of mortgages in this state.

Once the person has paid the total cost of the house, including interest, the department will eliminate the property's lien. However, the agency can confiscate the property if too many mortgage payments are overdue.

UCC Lien

This property lien allows creditors to notify other creditors of their interest in a debtor's collateralized assets.

Like other states, Texas adopted the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), a federally-created set of regulations.

If you want to file for this type of property lien, you can fill out the UCC-1 form and send it to the Office of the Secretary of State.

In Texas Property Lien Records, you will see more than just judgment, mortgage, and UCC liens. Expect tax and mechanic liens as well.

How To Check Texas Property Lien Records?

You can check property lien records in Texas by contacting the office responsible for property registration.

In Texas, government organizations and most businesses that handle lien matters offer free internet lien searches to the general public.

The information obtained from such websites may comprise the following:

• The debtor's and creditor's names and addresses
• Types of liens on the property
• Lien termination date

However, the details you can find online are not complete or official records. So, it is best to go to the agency's office to look at and get a free copy of the comprehensive and official documents.

In Texas, those who violate state laws or municipal ordinances established to regulate the safe operation of automobiles and roads can be guilty of civil driving violations.

The Texas statutes list several civil traffic violation records, and some of the most common ones are:

• Seatbelt offenses
• Speeding
• Unsafe lane changes
• Defective vehicle equipment
• Ignoring a stop sign or red light

One difference between these violations and others is that they do not lead to jail or prison time and will not appear on Texas Criminal Records. However, these offenses may result in fines, volunteer work, driver's license suspensions, driving safety classes, and higher vehicle insurance premiums.

How To Look Up Texas Civil Driving Violation Records?

To access Texas Civil Driving Violation Records, you must first identify the court that has jurisdiction over the issue.

All Texas Traffic Courts have case or public inquiry systems on their websites that you can use to look up these records. You may usually get these documents from the database by entering a defendant's full name, citation number, or case number.

Alternatively, you can use the Online Driver Record Request System of the Department of Safety (DPS) to look up driver's records.

However, if you cannot access these documents online, you can visit the courthouse and conduct a free search onsite.

The conclusion of a legal lawsuit in Texas is in the Legal Judgment Records, accessible by the parties involved and any interested parties.

A legal judgment is a document issued by a judge that indicates who won a lawsuit. When the decision involves the payment of money, the court establishes who the debtor is and how long they have to pay.

Chapter 31 of the Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code provides comprehensive information on legal judgments in this state. It also describes the numerous methods available to successful litigants for collecting or enforcing judgments through the Texas court system.

Texas Legal Judgment Records have the names of the relevant parties, their statements, the date of the ruling, and the judge's name.

How To Look Up Texas Legal Judgment Records?

To find Texas Legal Judgment Records, you must first identify which court heard the case.

The next step is to contact the court's records custodian, who is frequently the court clerk. On request, you need to give relevant information to help the record search.

Alternatively, you can obtain these records by writing the court a written request. To locate the contact information for various Texas courts, you can explore the online directory maintained by the state judiciary.

Additionally, these records are searchable online. The Texas Appellate Courts have an online search engine to facilitate the search procedure. Counties such as Travis, Dallas, and Harris also offer web portals for online legal judgment record searches.

The Small Claims Records of the Texas Civil Court Records contain all formal files of material that show the progress of small claims cases through the legal system.

Per the Texas State Code, the Justice of the Peace Court is the Small Claims Court in this state. These courts decide on small civil cases that people bring to the legal system. In Texas, the maximum monetary amount for small claims actions is $20,000.

The following are some examples of cases heard by these courts:

• Illegal possession of the plaintiff's property
• Contractual breach
• Personal or property damage
• Unpaid debts

In this state, if you want to file a small claims case, you must ensure you have all the documents you need to prove your case. After you have all the facts and details, you need to fill out the E-file Interview or download the forms from the local courthouse website.

After filing, the Texas Small Claims Records will include details such as the type of claim, the amount, and the court's ruling.

How To Look Up Texas Small Claims Records?

In Texas, the Clerk's Office of the Justice of the Peace Courts manages the records of small claims.

You can obtain copies of these files by visiting or mailing a request to the courthouse that presided over your case.

On request, you need to give relevant information, such as the date of filing, the case file number, and the address of the proper court. However, remember that there may be a small fee to look at Texas Small Claims Records.

In Texas, a divorce begins with the filing of a formal petition. When a married person asks for a divorce, they want the court to end their marriage legally.

You can read this handbook to learn more about how the divorce process works in this state. The Supreme Court of Texas also has court forms you may need if you want to get a divorce without a conflict and there are no minor children or real estate involved.

Following the filing, the Divorce Court will enter the material into the Texas Divorce Court Records, which might be in the following forms:

Divorce Certificate

This divorce document comprises a statement indicating two parties have signed a divorce agreement, the location where the divorce happened, and the date and time of the divorce's completion.

A divorce certificate is the most sought divorce record in Texas, although it contains minor information.

Only the two parties who filed divorce papers and the divorce lawyer have access to this document. Nonetheless, Texas permits access to divorce certificates under certain conditions.

Divorce Decree

This divorce document provides the same information as a divorce certificate, as well as a report detailing the divorce case's conclusion, which includes the following:

• Division of property
• Spousal support
• Visitation agreements
• Child custody
• Child support

A Texas divorce decree is usually only available to people involved, like those who filed for the divorce, their lawyers, and their authorized family members.

Divorce Record

This divorce court record has the same information as a divorce certificate and decree. It also has all the files and documents made when filing the divorce papers in Texas until the court's final decision.

Most of the time, divorce records are easier to find than divorce certificates or decrees.

How To Look Up Texas Divorce Court Records?

In Texas, you can get divorce court records in person, by mail, or online.

To request these records by mail, print and complete the application form and mail it to the Vital Statistics Office of the Texas Department of Health and Human Services (TDHHS). In addition to the application form, you must send a photocopy of your valid government-issued picture identification and the appropriate fee.

You can also seek access to these documents online by visiting the TDHHS vital records application page. Alternatively, you can access these records at the appropriate government offices.

To get divorce court records in person, you must go to the District Clerk's Office in the district that handled the case and fill out an application form. However, note that there is a price associated with acquiring this information, and the fee varies for each custodian.

The Texas Probate Court Records are the files maintained by a probate court following the demise of a person. It includes inventories, accounts, wills, bonds, and petitions.

In Texas, probate is the legal procedure for administering the deceased's estate. Probate Court handles the majority of probate actions in this state, ensuring the implementation of a will according to the deceased's wishes.

You can apply for probate at the county clerk's office where the deceased lived at the time of death. After filing, the clerk will assign a file number to the documents you provide for the deceased's estate.

The typical duration of a Texas probate case, from application filing through asset distribution, is between nine and twelve months. However, the probate duration depends on several variables, such as the estate's complexity and family dispute.

You can read Chapter 102 of the Texas Estates Code to learn more about the state's probate procedure.

Where can you get Texas Probate Court Records? You can get these records in this state by going to the Clerk's Office of the County Probate Court.

Contacting the court's record keeper will allow you to access Texas Civil Court Records. Each court's Office of the Court Clerk is often responsible for maintaining these records.

You can go to the record custodian or send a request by mail to get these records. However, some courts also offer internet access to some of these documents.

For instance, the offices of the District Clerks in Dallas County, Harris County, and Travis County all have web portals that let you look up civil court records online. An online case search site is also available from the Texas Appellate Courts.

You must give pertinent information to ease searching for these data while submitting a request. Also, remember that you usually have to pay a fee to get copies of these records.