Harris County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Harris County is located in Texas. It is home to 4.73 million residents and is the most populous county in Texas. The county's seat is Houston, and its court system is organized to handle a wide range of legal proceedings involving criminal and civil cases to maintain justice and order. The regulation of law and order is facilitated through some important courts including District Courts, Constitutional Courts, County Courts at Law, Statutory Probate Courts, Justice Courts, and Municipal Courts.

The Houston-based District Courts hears criminal and civil cases. District Courts handle criminal cases that are considered felonies, and misdemeanors including official misconduct and civil cases such as divorce, disputes over land or election, defamation, and slander. District Courts also handle civil cases involving personal injury, property damage, worker's compensation, tax disputes, eminent domain and condemnation, and motor vehicle cases. Constitutional Courts have jurisdiction over probate cases and criminal cases including misdemeanors punishable by a fine of not more than $500. County Courts at Law, also referred to as Statutory County Courts, have jurisdiction over civil cases including civil claims of less than $100,000 and more than $500. County Courts at Law handle mental health proceedings, guardianships, child custody and support, and juvenile matters. Statutory Probate Courts have jurisdiction over the probate of wills, the administration of estates, and guardianships. Justice Courts such as those in Pasadena and Baytown have jurisdiction over criminal cases such as traffic misdemeanors and civil cases such as small claims. Municipal Courts have jurisdiction over criminal cases including municipal ordinance violations, and civil cases involving ownership of dangerous dogs.

Every year, the Harris County courts handle about 20,000 cases. During the standard year, Harris's County overall crime rate is 46.69 per 1000 residents. In Harris County, court records are available and accessible through the electronic system. The Clerk's Office of the county administers the electronic access program for online access to the Judiciary's case management systems to promote transperancy. There are sealed and confidential records such as Juvenile Court records and expunged records are considered confidential by statute.

In summary, the court system in Harris County is important to the county's administration and is dedicated to preserving law and order. With an organized court system that includes District Courts, Constitutional Courts, County Courts at Law, Statutory Probate Courts, Justice Courts, and Municipal Courts, the county is properly structured to preside over its court cases.