Harris County Court Records Search | Criminal and Civil Cases

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Harris County, Texas · Criminal, civil, family, probate, JP and municipal court records

Find the Correct Harris County Court Database Before You Search

Harris County does not place every court case in one public database. Felony, misdemeanor, district civil and family matters generally begin with the District Clerk. County civil and probate cases use the County Clerk. Evictions, small claims and JP citations have another search, while Houston municipal tickets use the city court system.

Start by identifying the type of case. Then search with the cause number whenever possible, confirm the parties and filing date, read the docket in order, and obtain a certified judgment or disposition when a screenshot is not enough.

Search District Clerk cases Search County Clerk records Choose the right court
Cause or case number Full party name Approximate filing year Plaintiff or defendant role Court or case type
COURTHOUSE DOCKET ELEVATOR ROUTING CASE
CASE
CRIMINAL
CIVIL
DISTRICT CLERK Criminal · District Civil · Family
COUNTY CLERK County Civil · Probate
MUNICIPAL Houston Tickets · City Cases
CORRECT COURT SYSTEM FOUND
Do not assume “Harris County court records” means one portal. A valid case can appear missing simply because it is maintained by another clerk, Justice Court, municipality or federal court.
District Clerk login

Free registration is required to view public case information.

Best search key

The complete cause number is more reliable than a name.

Family documents

Case information may appear while public document viewing is restricted.

County civil history

The County Clerk portal reports filings from January 3, 1977.

Official review

Portals, contacts and copy fees checked August 3, 2026.

Start here

Which Harris County court system should you search?

DISTRICT CLERK Criminal, district civil and family

Felonies, county criminal court cases, district civil lawsuits, divorces, custody, tax suits and other district-court causes.

Use the District Clerk Search Our Records portal.
COUNTY CLERK County civil and probate

County Civil Courts at Law, estates, wills, guardianships, probate administration and mental-health court records.

Use the County Clerk Document Search Portal.
JUSTICE COURTS JP civil, eviction and citation cases

Evictions, small claims, justice court suits, traffic citations, bad-check and other Class C criminal matters filed in a Harris County JP court.

Use Find My Case and Court Date.
HOUSTON MUNICIPAL City tickets and ordinance cases

City of Houston traffic citations, municipal Class C cases, city ordinance violations and municipal court dispositions.

Use Houston Municipal Courts Online Services.
Fast Harris County court-record routing table
Type of case
Record holder
Best search information
Official starting point
Felony criminal
District Clerk
Cause number, defendant name, DOB, filing range or SPN.
Criminal search
County criminal court misdemeanor
District Clerk
Cause number, party name, date range and offense type.
Criminal search
District civil lawsuit
District Clerk
Cause number, case style, party role and filing year.
Civil and Family search
Divorce or family case
District Clerk
Cause number, spouse or party name and filing range.
Civil and Family search
County Civil Court at Law
County Clerk
Case number, party, company, attorney, court or status.
County Civil search
Probate, estate or guardianship
County Clerk
Case number, decedent, party, attorney, company or filing range.
Probate search
Eviction, small claim or JP case
Justice Court
12-character case number, DL, name and DOB or business name.
Find My Case
Houston traffic or municipal case
Houston Municipal Courts
Citation, case number, defendant name, DOB or driver’s license.
Municipal online services
Federal civil, criminal or bankruptcy
U.S. Southern District of Texas or PACER
Federal case number, party name or filing year.
Federal case search

Go directly to the court-record task

Choose the portal first, then use the search and copy instructions for that system.

District Clerk search

What the Harris County District Clerk portal includes

The District Clerk’s Search Our Records and Documents portal contains separate Civil and Family and Criminal search areas. A free registered account and login are required to view public case information.
Criminal records

Public felony and county criminal court causes, parties, offenses, settings, costs, documents and dispositions.

Civil and family

District civil, family, divorce, tax and related public cause information maintained by the District Clerk.

Dockets and judgments

Quick docket searches, detailed court-setting searches and trial-judgment searches for qualifying public civil cases.

District Clerk search limits: The portal searches Harris County records only. It does not search federal cases, another Texas county, Justice Court cases or municipal Class C cases.
Open Search Our Records Read District Clerk FAQs Check current office hours

Before you create the search

Use the complete cause number when available
Write the party name as Last, First when requested
Know whether the person is plaintiff, defendant or another role
Estimate the filing year or date range
Select Criminal or Civil and Family correctly
Use court type before selecting a case or offense type
Felony and misdemeanor cases

How to search Harris County criminal court records

Open the District Clerk search and log in Select the Criminal section after creating or entering your free registered account. Open the criminal court search
Search the exact cause number first Copy it from a citation, bond paper, charging instrument, attorney notice, jail result or court correspondence.
Use Party Inquiry when the cause number is unknown Enter the defendant’s name and select the correct party role.
Add a filed-date range Use the approximate arrest or charging year, then widen the range when necessary.
Select the court type The court-type selection controls which case or offense options appear.
Filter by case status or offense type only when needed Too many filters can hide a valid case entered differently than expected.
Open every plausible cause Compare the defendant, DOB when displayed, filing date, court, offense and known arrest timeline.
Read the docket from oldest to newest Look for the charging instrument, probable-cause activity, bond orders, resets, pleas, dismissals, judgments and sentencing.
Review every count separately One count may be dismissed while another remains pending or ends in a different disposition.
Order a letter of disposition when proof is required A certified disposition or no-record letter may be more useful than a public screenshot.
Do not confuse a charge with a disposition. The offense field identifies what was filed in the cause. The docket and judgment show whether it was dismissed, reduced, pleaded, tried, deferred or otherwise resolved.
Recent criminal filing shortcut: The District Clerk’s New Suits page publishes same-day petitions and charging instruments. An uncertified image may be printable without charge until the filing is verified and moved into the main records system.
View recent criminal filings
District civil and family

Search civil lawsuits, divorce and family case information

District civil case

Search by cause number when known. Otherwise use the party name, party role, filing range, case status, court type and case type.

  • Confirm whether the person or business is plaintiff or defendant.
  • Compare the case style and filing date.
  • Review parties, attorneys, documents, settings and costs.
  • Use the trial-judgment search only for qualifying public non-family civil judgments.

Family or divorce case

The public search can return public family cause information, but the portal warns that family documents are not available for general review through the party inquiry.

  • Search with the cause number whenever possible.
  • Use both spouses’ or parties’ names when the first search fails.
  • Confirm the filing year and assigned court.
  • Use the official copy service for an available divorce decree.
Select Civil and Family Do not remain in the Criminal tab.
Enter the cause number or party name Use the complete case number when it appears on a citation, petition, order or decree.
Select the party’s role Plaintiff, petitioner, defendant and respondent are not interchangeable search roles.
Add the filing range Use the year the lawsuit or family case began, not the date of the latest hearing.
Open the case details Compare the style, parties, court, type of action and date filed.
Check docket settings separately A case record and an upcoming setting answer different questions.
Order the controlling document Request the final judgment, dismissal, divorce decree or signed order instead of relying only on the status label.
District Clerk civil and family help
Civil Intake: 832-927-5600
Family Intake: 832-927-5700
General customer service: 832-927-5800
County Clerk civil portal

Search Harris County Civil Courts at Law separately

A District Clerk civil search does not replace the County Clerk search. County Civil Courts at Law have a separate document portal maintained by the Harris County Clerk.
The County Civil portal reports filings accepted from January 3, 1977 to the present. Online document images are generally available from January 1, 2008 to the present.
Open the County Civil Document Search Portal Search County Civil Court records
Search by case number when available The exact number avoids party-name and business-name variations.
Select the court and status only when helpful Leave optional filters broad when the assigned court is unknown.
Search by party, attorney or company Use the correct search mode before entering the name.
Add a filing-date range Expand it when the lawsuit began near the end or beginning of a year.
Open the case and document list Confirm the parties, court, status, filing date and document description.
Create an account for document purchasing Available watermarked images may be viewed or printed free. Purchased copies are emailed to the address connected to the account.
Raised-seal warning: The County Clerk states that certified copies purchased online do not have a raised seal. Obtain the copy in person or through the official request process when the receiving organization requires one.
County Civil Courts at Law Department
Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street, Suite 300
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: 713-274-1330
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Estates, wills and guardianships

How to search Harris County probate records

The County Clerk probate portal reports filings accepted from November 17, 1837 to the present. Document images are generally available from January 1, 2008 to the present.
Open the Probate Court Document Search Portal Search Harris County probate cases
Use the probate case number when known It is normally the most accurate search.
Search the decedent, estate, guardian, ward, party or company Try the legal name without titles or punctuation when the first attempt fails.
Add the filing-date range Probate may begin months after a death, so do not use an overly narrow date range.
Confirm the probate court and status Harris County has multiple statutory probate courts.
Review inventories, orders and letters carefully Availability depends on public-access rules and the documents filed in the case.
Request official letters through the Probate Department Letters Testamentary, Administration and Guardianship are requested through the main probate location.
Harris County Clerk Probate Department
Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street, Suite 800
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: 713-274-8585
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Justice Court records

Search evictions, small claims, traffic and JP cases

The Harris County JP search covers Justice Court cases. The fastest search is a valid 12-character case number. Prefixes can include codes such as TR, CR, BC and EV.
Case-number search

Enter the 12-character Justice Court cause number from the citation, petition, notice or court correspondence.

Name and DOB search

Enter the full last name and date of birth. A full or partial first name can narrow the result.

Business search

Enter at least eight characters of the company name and select the court when known.

Open Find My Case and Court Date Search Harris County Justice Court cases
Use one complete search method Enter the cause number, driver’s license, name and DOB, or business name in the appropriate field group.
Select the known JP court Choosing the correct precinct and place can substantially reduce search time.
Open the case summary and documents Confirm the court, parties, status, hearing date and available online actions.
Check the docket separately JP docket results can be viewed for the next 60 days in ranges of up to seven days.
Confidential Justice Court cases do not appear publicly. The JP system also warns that information about cases disposed more than five years ago may not be available through the standard search.
Open JP case services Search JP dockets Find the correct JP courthouse
Scam warning: Harris County Justice Courts warn about fake court documents and payment links. Verify the case through the official JP website before scanning a QR code or paying a demand.
City of Houston cases

Search Houston municipal tickets outside the county portals

A Houston traffic citation or municipal Class C case may not appear in the District Clerk, County Clerk or JP search.
Open Houston Municipal Courts Online Services Open Houston Municipal Courts
Choose ticket, case or record assistance Use the citation-management route for an active ticket and the records route for copies or a disposition.
Prepare the identifying details Use the defendant’s full name, DOB, Texas driver’s license, citation or case number when available.
Do not pay before reviewing the options Payment can result in a conviction. Review eligibility for defensive driving, deferred disposition or another court option first.
Request a certified disposition when necessary Use the Municipal Courts Public Information Office for an official letter or certified case document.
Selected Houston Municipal Court record charges
Municipal record
Published charge
When it may help
Certified Letter of Disposition
$20 each
Official proof of the municipal case outcome.
Certified case details or image
$3.40 first page; $1.70 each additional page
Certified municipal case information.
Non-certified system image
$0.75 per page
Informational copy when certification is unnecessary.
Houston Municipal Courts
Herbert W. Gee Municipal Courthouse
1400 Lubbock Street
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: 713-247-5479
Federal court records

Use PACER when the case is federal

Harris County clerk portals do not contain federal district, bankruptcy or appellate cases. Federal matters filed in the Houston area generally use the Southern District of Texas and PACER.
PACER

Create a PACER account and search with the federal case number, party name or filing year. Remote document access may involve fees.

Free public terminal

The Southern District of Texas provides free PACER access at public terminals in its clerk offices.

Telephone case information

McVCIS provides free automated federal case information at 866-222-8029, extension 822.

Open Southern District case search help
Southern District of Texas – Houston Division
515 Rusk Street
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: 713-250-5500
Case-field decoder

Understand what the court result is telling you

Common Harris County court-record fields
Field
Meaning
What to verify
Cause or case number
The court system’s identifier for one filed case.
Use the complete number, including suffixes or court-specific characters.
Case style
The formal names of the parties, such as State of Texas v. a defendant or one civil party v. another.
Confirm all names and the role of the person or company.
Filed date
The date the clerk accepted the case or charging instrument.
Do not confuse it with the incident, arrest, service or judgment date.
Case status
A broad administrative label such as active, pending, disposed or closed.
Read the actual final order or disposition instead of relying on the label alone.
Court
The court currently assigned to the cause.
Cases can transfer, consolidate or be reassigned.
Docket entry
A dated record of a filing, hearing, order or procedural event.
Open the associated document when available and read entries chronologically.
Court setting
A scheduled hearing, conference, trial or other court event.
Check the most recent setting because dates can be reset or cancelled.
Disposition
The way a criminal count or case was resolved.
Review each count separately and obtain a certified disposition when needed.
Judgment
A signed court decision resolving claims, liability, sentence or another issue.
Check whether it is final, amended, appealed or later set aside.
Public image number
An identifier connected to an electronic document image.
It is not the same as the cause number.
Court dates and new filings

Use the correct search for a case, docket or judgment

Case search

Use this when you need the parties, case status, documents, court, costs or complete docket history.

Docket search

Use this when you need scheduled court settings by date, court, cause number, docket type or other available criteria.

Trial-judgment search

Use this for jury and non-jury trial judgments in qualifying public non-family civil cases.

Open the main District Clerk portal Log in, then choose the search tab that matches the question.
Use Quick Docket Search for a court and date Enter the start date and select the court.
Use detailed docket criteria for a specific cause Add the date range, cause number, docket type, court type or court.
Use New Suits for newly processed filings Same-day petitions or charging instruments may be viewable before final verification.
Recheck the case before attending A docket listing can change after reset, transfer, cancellation or judicial order.
A docket date is not a guarantee that the hearing will proceed. Check the newest docket entry, the assigned court’s information and any notice from counsel before travelling.
Certified and non-certified records

Order the document that proves the result

District Clerk copies

Use for criminal, district civil, family and divorce records maintained by the District Clerk.

  • Paper printed copy: $1 per page
  • Electronic copy, 1–10 pages: $1
  • Electronic copy, 11 or more pages: $0.10 per page
  • Paper converted to electronic: $1 per page
  • Certification and seal: $5 per document
  • Primary information search: additional $5 when required case details are missing

County Clerk civil and probate copies

  • Non-certified paper: $1 per page
  • Certified paper: $1 per page plus $5 certification per document
  • Electronic non-certified: $1 up to 10 pages, then $0.10 per page
  • Electronic certified: electronic copy charge plus $5 certification
  • A 4% surcharge may apply when a credit card is used without the cardholder present
District Clerk online and in-person copy requests require the cause number, case style and DOB for a criminal search. When that information is unavailable, the office may need to perform a paid primary information search.
Identify the exact document Request the judgment, dismissal, charging instrument, divorce decree, probate order, letter of disposition or other named document.
Confirm whether certification is necessary A watermarked or non-certified copy may be enough for personal research.
Ask whether a raised seal is required Some agencies do not accept an electronic certification without a physical raised seal.
Provide the complete cause number This can avoid a separate paid search.
Check every page before relying on it Confirm the names, cause number, court, filing date, judge’s signature and certification.
Order District Clerk copies County Civil copy information Probate copy information
Copy-ready court-record request
I request a [certified/non-certified] copy of [document name] in Harris County cause number [complete cause number], styled [case style], filed in [court name or number]. The relevant party is [full legal name], and the approximate filing date is [date]. Please confirm the total copy, certification, search and delivery cost before processing if the charge exceeds $[amount].
No-result troubleshooting

Why the Harris County case may look missing

You searched the wrong clerk District civil and county civil cases use different portals.
The matter is in JP or municipal court Evictions, small claims, citations and Houston municipal cases do not belong in the main District Clerk search.
The case was filed very recently Check the New Suits page and search again after clerk processing.
The party name is entered differently Try a maiden name, former name, suffix, business name, abbreviated company or alternate spelling.
The filed-date range is too narrow Use the year the case began, then expand the range in both directions.
The case number is incomplete Include every digit, prefix, suffix and court-specific character.
The document is not digitally imaged An older case can exist even when no document image appears online.
The case or document is restricted Sealed, expunged, juvenile, confidential and protected documents may not appear publicly.
The case is federal or from another county Use PACER or the clerk in the county where the matter was filed.
The JP case is older The Justice Court system warns that cases disposed more than five years ago may be unavailable in the normal search.
Best recovery sequence: Remove optional filters, search the exact cause number, try the full legal and former names, widen the filing range, check the other clerk and contact customer service with the party role and approximate filing year.
Older and archived cases

Search beyond the newest online documents

District Clerk historical records

The District Clerk’s preservation work focuses on records dating from 1837 through 1951, with continuing digitization.

County Civil coverage

The County Clerk portal reports filings from January 3, 1977, but images generally begin January 1, 2008.

Probate coverage

Probate filings are indexed from November 17, 1837, while online images generally begin January 1, 2008.

The District Clerk Records Center at 5900 Canal Street provides access to judgments, divorce decrees and other court documents dating from 1837 to the present. It also houses the Judge Mark Davidson Historical Documents Viewing Room.
Local records tip: The Records Center lists free parking and welcomes walk-ins. Bring the cause number, case style, filing year, party role and photo identification when relevant.
Public-access limits

Why some case information or documents are hidden

Public case information does not mean every document is public
Situation
What may happen online
What to do
Sealed or expunged case
The case or covered information may be removed or unavailable.
Do not attempt to bypass the court restriction.
Family case
Public case information may appear while family documents remain unavailable for general review.
Use the official copy process and establish any required access.
Juvenile or adoption matter
Information may be confidential by law.
Contact the appropriate clerk or lawyer about authorized access.
Protected personal information
Addresses, identifiers, medical information or other data may be redacted.
Use the redacted public copy unless the court authorizes additional access.
Federal restricted document
PACER may state that the user lacks permission.
The document may be sealed, statute-restricted or limited to case participants.
Do not use court data to harass, threaten or misidentify someone. Verify the cause number, parties, DOB when available, filing date and controlling order before making an employment, housing, financial, legal or publication decision.
Court-record help

Harris County clerk contacts and record locations

District Clerk General Customer Service
1201 Franklin Street, 3rd Floor, Suite 3272
Houston, TX 77002

832-927-5800

Court locations, dates, website navigation, copies and general questions.

District Clerk Criminal Customer Service
1201 Franklin Street, 3rd Floor, Suite 3254
Houston, TX 77002

832-927-5900

Criminal records, background checks and court documents.

District Clerk Civil Intake
201 Caroline Street, 1st Floor, Suite 110
Houston, TX 77002

832-927-5600

District Clerk Family Intake
201 Caroline Street, 2nd Floor, Suite 210
Houston, TX 77002

832-927-5700

District Clerk Records Center
5900 Canal Street
Houston, TX 77011

832-927-5860

Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; free parking and walk-ins welcomed.

County Clerk Civil Department
201 Caroline Street, Suite 300
Houston, TX 77002

713-274-1330

Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

County Clerk Probate Department
201 Caroline Street, Suite 800
Houston, TX 77002

713-274-8585

Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Houston Municipal Courts
1400 Lubbock Street
Houston, TX 77002

713-247-5479

Map to the Harris County Civil Courthouse

Map to criminal customer service

Map to the District Clerk Records Center

Confirm before travelling: Check the current office hours, department suite, identification requirement, payment method and whether the requested document is available at that location.
Search mistakes to avoid

Small details that prevent a false “no record” result

Do not search only one clerk

A civil lawsuit can be in District Clerk or County Clerk records depending on the court.

Use the filing year

The hearing or judgment year may be much later than the year the case began.

Know the party role

A person may be plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent or another party.

Do not rely on status alone

Read the signed judgment, dismissal or disposition for the controlling result.

Check document-image dates

An indexed case can exist even when the portal has no electronic image.

Verify payment links

Open the official court site directly instead of paying from an unexpected text, email or QR code.

10 title-specific questions

Harris County court-record questions answered

How do I search Harris County court records?

First identify the court system. Use the Harris County District Clerk for district-court civil and family cases and for felony and county criminal court cases. Use the Harris County Clerk for County Civil Courts at Law and Probate Courts. Use the Justice Courts search for JP traffic, criminal, eviction, small-claims and justice civil cases. Houston municipal cases use the City of Houston Municipal Courts system.

Which Harris County office maintains criminal court records?

The Harris County District Clerk maintains public criminal case records for Harris County district courts and county criminal courts at law. The portal requires a free registered login. Search by cause number when known, or use the defendant’s name, filed-date range, case status, court type and offense type.

Where do I search Harris County civil court cases?

District-court civil and family cases are searched through the Harris County District Clerk. County Civil Courts at Law cases use the Harris County Clerk’s separate County Civil Document Search Portal. Evictions, small claims and other Justice Court suits use the Harris County JP case search.

Can I search Harris County divorce and family court records online?

Public family case information can be searched through the District Clerk’s Civil and Family portal after login. The portal warns that family documents are not available for general public review through the party inquiry. A known divorce decree or other available document may be ordered through the District Clerk’s copy service using the cause number and case style.

What is the difference between district civil and county civil court records?

District civil cases are maintained by the Harris County District Clerk and searched with the District Clerk’s Civil and Family portal. County Civil Courts at Law cases are maintained by the Harris County Clerk and use a separate document portal. Searching only one system can miss a valid civil case filed in the other.

How do I search Harris County probate court records?

Use the Harris County Clerk Probate Court Document Search Portal. Search by case number, court, status, filing-date range, party name, attorney or company. The portal reports probate filings from November 17, 1837 to the present and generally provides document images from January 1, 2008 forward.

How do I find a Harris County Justice Court case?

Use the official Harris County JP Find My Case search. A 12-character Justice Court case number is the fastest option. You may also search by driver’s license number, last name and date of birth, or a business name of at least eight characters. Confidential cases and some cases disposed more than five years ago may not appear.

Why can I not find a Harris County court case?

The case may be in a different clerk’s system, filed under another name, too new to appear, older than the portal’s online coverage, confidential, sealed, expunged or entered with a different filing date. Verify the court type, search a wider date range, try the exact cause number and contact the appropriate clerk when the online search remains incomplete.

How much do Harris County court-record copies cost?

The District Clerk currently lists paper copies at 1 dollar per page, electronic documents of 1 to 10 pages at 1 dollar, electronic documents over 10 pages at 10 cents per page, and certification at 5 dollars per document. A 5 dollar search fee may apply when required case information is missing. The County Clerk publishes similar civil and probate copy charges.

Do online certified Harris County court copies have a raised seal?

Not always. The Harris County Clerk warns that certified county civil and probate copies purchased online do not have a raised seal that some organizations may require. Confirm the receiving organization’s requirement before ordering. For a raised-seal copy, use the applicable clerk’s in-person or official copy-request procedure.

Official resources

Primary Harris County court-record portals

District Clerk
County Clerk and JP
Municipal and federal
Accuracy, privacy and legal-use notice

Texas-arrest.org is an independent informational resource. It is not the Harris County District Clerk, Harris County Clerk, Harris County Justice Courts, City of Houston Municipal Courts, Southern District of Texas or a law firm.

Case status, court settings, document availability, office hours, fees and portal functions can change. Confirm the cause number, parties, court and newest docket entry through the official clerk before making a legal, employment, housing, financial or publication decision.

Court clerks can explain records and filing procedures but cannot provide legal advice. Contact a qualified attorney or an authorized self-help resource when you need advice about deadlines, defenses, appeals or the legal effect of an order.

Last official-source review: August 3, 2026. The review covered the Harris County District Clerk, Harris County Clerk, Harris County Justice Courts, Houston Municipal Courts and Southern District of Texas.

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