Galveston County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Located on the Gulf Coast in southeastern Texas, Galveston County is a vibrant area with a rich history and diverse population. It is part of the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land Metropolitan Statistical Area and has a population of over 350,800 people as of the 2022 census. Criminal and civil cases in the county are handled by various courts, including District courts, Constitutional County Courts, County Courts at Law, Statutory Probate Courts, Justice Courts, and Municipal Courts.

Galveston County has six District Courts: 10th District Court, 56th District Court, 122nd District Court, 212th District Court, 306th District Court, and 405th District Court. These courts oversee serious criminal cases, including murder, sexual assault, robbery, burglary, and drug offenses, civil disputes involving more than $200,000, family law matters, such as divorce cases, child support, and adoption, juvenile cases involving minors, and child protective services. The County Courts at Law handle civil cases such as monetary disputes between $200 and $200,000, criminal cases like DUI, theft, and minor assault charges, initial hearings for felony cases, probate matters including wills, estates, and guardianship, and family law cases involving divorce and child support. These County Courts at Law are identified by number, specifically, County Court at Law No. 1, County Court at Law No. 2, and County Court at Law No. 3.

The Probate Court is responsible for legal matters related to the administration of estates, wills, and guardianships. The Justice of the Peace (JP) Courts handle minor civil and criminal cases. These courts are called "the people's court" because they deal with issues affecting everyday life, and each precinct of Galveston County has a Justice of the Peace court. The Municipal Court has jurisdiction over misdemeanor criminal offenses, traffic violations, code enforcement violations, and other city ordinance violations. The Specialty Courts are alternative justice programs designed to address specific issues within the criminal system, such as rehabilitation and treatment.

The annual reports from the Texas Judicial Branch and the Galveston County Clerk's Office provide statistics on caseloads. Galveston County has a total crime rate of 35.47 per 1,000 residents, and these rates can fluctuate annually based on numerous factors such as population changes, economic conditions, and social dynamics. Public records are available online or through direct requests to the Clerk's Office at the particular court that handled the matter in question. Note that juvenile records and files with sensitive personal information are usually not accessible to the general public.

Galveston County's court system plays an important role in justice across a wide range of legal issues. It has a multi-tiered court system designed to handle its multiple caseloads.