Collin County Court Records Search | Criminal and Civil Cases Collin County Court Records Search

Collin County, Texas · Felony, misdemeanor, civil, family, probate and Justice Court records

Find the Case First—Then Ask the Right Collin County Clerk for the Record

Collin County makes the first part of a court-record search fairly simple: one county search can locate many criminal and civil cases. The part that causes trouble is what comes next. Felony and District Court records go to the District Clerk, while County Court at Law misdemeanors and many mid-range civil cases go to the County Clerk.

Start by finding the cause number, court and case type. Then use the sections below to read the docket, check same-day activity, locate older cases, request a certified judgment or dismissal, find a divorce case, track a small claim or eviction, and avoid sending a court-record request to the Sheriff or general Public Information Office.

Start the official court search Which clerk has my case? Search an older case

Full party name Cause number Date of birth for criminal searches Approximate filing year Court number if known

COLLIN COUNTY DOCKET SORTER ROUTING CASE

DISTRICT CLERK FELONY
CIVIL
FAMILY

COUNTY CLERK MISDEMEANOR
CIVIL
PROBATE

JUSTICE COURT TRAFFIC
SMALL CLAIMS
EVICTION

CAUSE NUMBER → CORRECT CLERK

Do not file a general open-records request for a court case. Collin County specifically directs judicial records to the clerk of the court that maintains them. Police reports go to law enforcement; court pleadings, judgments, criminal cases, divorces, probate cases, traffic matters and lawsuits go to the appropriate court clerk.

One search hub

County Case Information routes across several court systems.

Same-day changes

Use Case Record Inquiry when a daily search has not updated.

Manual searches

District and County Court at Law historical searches are $5.

Courthouse

2100 Bloomdale Road in McKinney with free public parking.

Official review

Procedures checked August 8, 2026.

The most important decision

Which Collin County clerk actually holds your case?

DISTRICT CLERK Felony, family and District Court civil

Use for felony prosecutions, divorce and family cases, child-support matters and civil litigation assigned to a District Court.

Open District Clerk

COUNTY COURT AT LAW CLERKS Misdemeanors and qualifying civil suits

Use for Class A/B misdemeanors, Class C appeals and civil lawsuits within the County Courts at Law’s stated $500–$325,000 jurisdictional range.

Open County Court at Law Clerks

JUSTICE COURT Traffic, Class C, small claims and evictions

Use the assigned precinct for Justice Court criminal matters, debt claims, small claims, eviction cases and similar JP proceedings.

Find the Justice Court

CITY MUNICIPAL COURT Some city tickets never reach a county clerk

If a ticket or Class C case was filed in Plano, McKinney, Frisco, Allen or another city municipal court, search that municipal court instead.

Read county record-routing guidance

Fast rule: If you do not know which clerk you need, do not guess. Search the case first and copy the cause number, court name and case type. Those three fields usually tell you where to request the document.

Start here

How to search Collin County criminal and civil court records

Open Collin County Case Information This county page is the safest starting point because it explains the available search systems and their different update schedules. Open Case Information

Start with the party name when the cause number is unknown Use the most complete legal name you have. For criminal cases, compare a date of birth or other available identifying information before assuming a result belongs to one person.

Use the cause number whenever possible A cause or case number is more precise than a name because the same person can have multiple cases and unrelated people can share a name.

Try the citation number for a ticket The Online Judicial Search supports citation-number searches and can help route county traffic or Justice Court matters.

Open the result and identify the court Look for District Court, County Court at Law, Probate Court or Justice Court rather than assuming all cases belong to one clerk.

Copy the cause number exactly Keep punctuation and formatting. Use that number when contacting the clerk or requesting a certified document.

Read the case status and latest event “Active,” “closed,” “disposed” or a similar status is only a summary. Read the docket entries to understand what actually happened.

Check the court calendar separately when timing matters A case record and a calendar answer different questions. Confirm the current hearing date before travelling.

Request the document from the correct clerk Search results help locate a case; the court clerk provides official copies, certifications and older material that is not viewable online.

Three tools, three different jobs

Choose the Collin County search that matches your question

Online Judicial Search

Best first stop when you want one broad, mobile-friendly search.

Search by name.
Search by case number.
Search by citation number.
Locate criminal and civil cases.
Can also link jail, bond and warrant information when relevant.

Case Search

Best when you want to search many county case types on one screen.

District Courts
County Courts at Law
Probate
Justice Courts
Specified historical cases

Update timing: the county says this database updates daily at approximately 6 p.m.

Case Record Inquiry

Useful when a same-day filing, setting or case change is important.

Select the case type first.
Search one category at a time.
Includes active and qualifying historical cases.
Collin County describes its data as updating in real time.

Court Calendar Search

Use this after you have identified the correct case.

Check hearing dates.
Check court schedules.
Confirm the correct court.
Recheck shortly before appearing because settings can change.

Open all official search options

Read the result before requesting documents

What the Collin County docket fields are telling you

Use these fields to decide what to do next
Field	What it tells you	What it does not necessarily tell you	Next action
Cause number	Identifies one specific court case.	It does not identify every other case involving the same person.	Use it on every clerk request.
Case type	Helps identify criminal, civil, family, probate or Justice Court jurisdiction.	It does not tell you which document contains the final answer.	Match it to the correct clerk.
Court	Shows the court assigned to the case.	It does not guarantee that an old hearing date is still current.	Check the calendar or latest docket event.
Filed date	Shows when the case was entered with the court.	For criminal cases it is not necessarily the arrest or offense date.	Use it to narrow historical searches.
Party	Lists plaintiffs, defendants, respondents, petitioners or other case participants.	A name match alone may not establish identity.	Compare DOB or other identifying details when available.
Case status	Provides a summary such as active, pending or disposed.	“Closed” does not explain how the case ended.	Read the final order, judgment or disposition.
Docket event	Records filings, hearings, orders and other case activity.	A docket description may not contain the full document.	Request or view the underlying filing when needed.
Disposition	Explains how a criminal count or case was resolved.	Different counts can have different results.	Read each count separately.
Judgment/order	May contain the court’s actual ruling.	An online docket summary may not substitute for a certified copy.	Order certification if proof is required.

For employment, licensing, immigration or record-clearing proof: do not stop at a search-result screen. Find the final judgment, dismissal, disposition or order and request a certified copy when the receiving organization requires official proof.

Criminal records

Felony and misdemeanor records go to different clerks

Felony case

Record custodian: Collin County District Clerk.

The District Clerk maintains District Court felony criminal records, including pleadings, warrants issued through the court, judgments and sentences.

District Clerk criminal records

Class A or B misdemeanor

Record custodian: County Clerk, County Court at Law Clerks.

The County Clerk supports seven statutory County Courts at Law and maintains Class A/B misdemeanor cases and Class C appeals.

County Clerk criminal records

What to save from a criminal case

Cause number

Defendant’s booked or filed name

Court number

Filed charge

Count number when several charges exist

Bond or warrant docket activity when relevant

Plea or trial result

Judgment, dismissal or disposition date

Criminal case search is not the same as an arrest report. A police narrative, 911 recording, body-camera file or Sheriff incident report must be requested from the law-enforcement agency that created it. The court clerk maintains the judicial case.

Civil lawsuits

Use the court assignment—not just the dollar amount—to route a civil case

Collin County states that its County Court at Law Clerks file civil lawsuits within a jurisdictional range of $500 to $325,000. District Courts also handle major civil cases. After searching, use the court shown on the case result as your controlling routing clue.

County Court at Law civil

Includes civil suits within the stated jurisdictional limits, occupational driver’s-license matters, NISI cases and cases appealed from Justice Courts.

General civil clerk: 972-548-6423

District Court civil

Use the District Clerk when the online result identifies a District Court. District Courts handle major civil litigation in addition to family matters and felonies.

Justice Court civil

Small claims, debt claims, eviction and certain other lower-level civil matters are maintained by the appropriate Justice Court precinct.

Do not choose a clerk only from the amount demanded in a lawsuit. Appeals, case type, statutory jurisdiction and the court where the case was actually filed can affect the correct record holder. Search the cause number and use the court listed in the official case result.

County Court at Law civil District Court civil

Divorce, custody and child support

Family records belong with the District Clerk

Divorce, custody, child-support and other District Court family cases are maintained by the Collin County District Clerk. Begin with the county search to identify the cause number, case style and assigned court.

For a divorce decree

Search both spouses’ names.
Confirm the case is a family/divorce matter.
Save the cause number and court.
Find the final decree or judgment entry.
Request an official copy from the District Clerk when needed.

For child-support payment records

The District Clerk maintains a separate Child Support Division for Collin County cases entered into the State Disbursement Unit system.

Payment-record requests: 972-548-4385

Email: childsupport@collincountytx.gov

Some family documents are restricted. A case may appear in an index while particular filings, identifying information, juvenile material, adoption information or protected records are not available to the general public.

Justice Court records

Traffic, small claims and eviction records are precinct-based

Traffic and Class C

Search the county portal first, then identify the Justice Court precinct handling the citation.

Small claims

Use the assigned JP court for small-claim pleadings, settings, judgments and copies.

Debt claims

Debt claim records stay with the Justice Court in which the case was filed.

Evictions

Use the case number to identify the precinct before contacting a clerk about possession or judgment records.

Online history: the county’s general Case Search includes historical Justice Court cases from 1984 to the present. Its older Case Record Inquiry has more limited historical start dates for individual precincts, which is why the newer county Case Search is often the better first stop.

Find Collin County Justice Courts Search Justice Court cases

A city ticket may be different. If the citation was filed in a municipal court rather than a Collin County Justice Court, use the city court named on the citation or case paperwork.

Estates and guardianships

Probate records use the County Clerk and Probate Court system

What the Probate Court handles

Probate cases
Inheritance matters
Guardianships
Involuntary mental commitment proceedings

Where to start

Search the county Case Information system for the estate or party name, then use the County Clerk probate department for record and filing questions.

Probate e-filing help: 972-548-6463

County Clerk Probate Probate Court

Historical court records

Know the online cutoff before assuming an old Collin County case is missing

Current online coverage and manual-search cutoffs
Case category	Online coverage stated by county	Older case route	Record holder
District Court criminal	1988 to present	1800s–1987 manual search	District Clerk
County Court at Law criminal	2000 to present	1800s–1999 manual search	County Clerk
District/County civil	1984 to present	Before 1984 manual search	District or County Clerk based on court
Probate	1984 to present in current Case Search	Before 1984 manual search	County Clerk
Justice Court	1984 to present in current Case Search	Before 1984 manual lookup	Correct Justice Court

Older District Court case

Use the District Clerk Record Request Form or visit/write the District Clerk.

Manual search fee: $5.
Provide the complete name and date of birth for criminal searches.
For mailed requests, include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment.
The office says searches are normally processed within one or two days of receipt.
Record searches are not provided by phone.

Older County Court at Law case

Use the County Court at Law Clerks office for pre-2000 criminal cases or pre-1984 civil matters assigned there.

Manual search fee: $5.
Provide the complete name and date of birth.
Mailed requests need a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment.
The office says manual searches are processed immediately when requested in person or by mail.
Record searches are not provided by phone.

Copy-ready historical search request

I am requesting a manual search for a Collin County [criminal/civil/family/probate] case involving [full legal name], date of birth [DOB if relevant], believed to have been filed or completed around [year]. If located, please provide the cause number, court, case style and available instructions for obtaining [judgment/disposition/order/decree/other document]. I have included the required search fee and return information.

Documents and certified copies

Find the case before paying for court copies

A name search tells you that a case exists. A document request asks the clerk for an actual pleading, order, judgment, dismissal or other filing. Locate the cause number first whenever possible.

County Court at Law document request

Current County Clerk court-record request pricing
Request	Published charge	Best use
Noncertified paper copy	$1 per page	Ordinary reference copy.
Noncertified electronic copy	$1 for first 10 pages; $0.10 per page after 10	Lower-cost electronic reference copy.
Certified copy	$5 per document plus $1 per page	Official proof when certification is required.

The County Clerk request form asks for the requester’s contact information, defendant or plaintiff name, date of birth when relevant, case number, case style, document title, file date and whether certification is needed.

Open County Clerk Record Request Form District Clerk forms and record request

County Clerk processing expectation: the current online request form asks users to allow up to five business days, while noting that normal completion is typically one to two days.

When should you pay for certification?

Background correction

A certified dismissal or judgment may be needed to prove a private report is wrong or incomplete.

Licensing or immigration

The receiving agency or lawyer may request certified dispositions rather than online screenshots.

Legal filing

A court, attorney or agency may specifically require a clerk-certified decree, judgment or order.

Court dates and hearings

A case search and a court-calendar search are not the same thing

Find the cause number Search by name or citation number and confirm the correct case.

Identify the assigned court Save the District Court, County Court at Law, Probate Court or Justice Court number.

Open Court Calendar Search Use Collin County’s Case Information page and select the calendar tool.

Recheck near the hearing date Court settings can be reset, cancelled or moved.

Contact the clerk—not the judge—if logistics are unclear Clerks may provide procedural or scheduling information but cannot give legal advice.

Do not contact a judge privately about a pending case. Collin County court pages warn against ex parte contact with judges by mail, email, telephone or in person regarding pending matters.

No-result troubleshooting

Why a Collin County court case may not appear

The filing happened today The general Case Search updates around 6 p.m. Try Case Record Inquiry for same-day activity.

The case is older than the online cutoff Pre-1988 District criminal, pre-2000 County Court criminal or pre-1984 civil cases may require manual research.

You are searching the wrong court level A felony, misdemeanor, JP ticket and municipal citation can live in four different systems.

The party name changed Try prior surnames, maiden names, business names, initials or alternate spellings.

The cause number was entered incorrectly Copy the number directly from a court notice, citation, bond document or another official record.

The record is confidential or restricted Some juvenile, adoption, sealed, protected and legally confidential documents are not publicly available.

It is a police record, not a court record Arrest reports, 911 recordings and body-camera files stay with the law-enforcement agency that created them.

The ticket is municipal Search the city municipal court named on the citation rather than a Collin County clerk.

Best troubleshooting order: try a broader name search → check Case Record Inquiry → confirm the court level → check the historical cutoff → contact the correct clerk with the approximate year and identifying information.

If you need to file something

Searching a case is different from filing into it

eFileTexas

Texas uses eFileTexas for electronic court filings. Collin County states that civil, family and probate matters are subject to statewide electronic-filing rules, and attorney criminal e-filing also applies in the relevant courts.

Open official eFileTexas

Self-represented filer

People without lawyers can use eFileTexas, and the state provides Guide & File self-help interviews for certain common documents.

Open eFileTexas Self Help

Before filing: verify the exact cause number, court and filing type. Filing into the wrong case or choosing the wrong filing code can create delays or rejection.

Need help finding forms or understanding the process?

Curt B. Henderson Law Library

Law librarians can help locate legal resources and provide short factual reference assistance, but they cannot give legal advice or tell you what you should file.

Phone: 972-548-4255

Email: lawlibrary@co.collin.tx.us

District Clerk document library

Includes record requests, civil information sheets, criminal forms, expunction information, issuance requests, local rules and other court resources.

Open District Clerk forms

Before driving to McKinney

Courthouse parking, security and in-person record searches

Free parking

Collin County’s District Clerk FAQ states that the Bloomdale courthouse has plenty of free parking, including accessible parking.

Security screening

Every visitor is screened. Arrive early if you have a hearing, filing deadline or appointment.

Construction awareness

Current county payment guidance warns visitors about construction in the McKinney courthouse area. Allow extra travel time.

Leave prohibited property outside

Firearms and ammunition

Knives and other weapons

Scissors, screwdrivers and multi-tools

Pepper spray and chemical irritants

Lighters and certain flammable items

Cameras and recording devices subject to courthouse rules

Glass or metal containers

Other items security identifies as unsafe

Security staff do not hold prohibited items for visitors. Do not reach the courthouse entrance with something you cannot take through screening.

Key record offices

Collin County court-record contacts

Collin County District Clerk

Russell A. Steindam Courts Building
2100 Bloomdale Road, 3rd Floor
McKinney, TX 75071

District Court felony, civil and family records.

Published office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

County Court at Law Clerks

2100 Bloomdale Road, Suite 12165
McKinney, TX 75071

Civil: 972-548-6423

Criminal: 972-548-6420

Email: cclclerks@co.collin.tx.us

Felony Collections

2100 Bloomdale Road
Suite 12124
McKinney, TX 75071

972-548-4317

For felony fines, costs and payment-plan questions.

County Clerk Court Collections

2100 Bloomdale Road, Suite 12165
McKinney, TX 75071

Misdemeanor payments: 972-548-6420

Payment plans: 972-548-3899

Child Support Division

2100 Bloomdale Road, Suite 10353
McKinney, TX 75071

972-548-4385

childsupport@collincountytx.gov

Curt B. Henderson Law Library

2100 Bloomdale Road, Suite 02536
McKinney, TX 75071

972-548-4255

lawlibrary@co.collin.tx.us

Map to the Russell A. Steindam Courts Building

Driving tip from the county Law Library: the courthouse is at 2100 Bloomdale Road near U.S. 75 in McKinney. Visitors coming from Plano or Dallas can use U.S. 75 north and the Wilmeth Road area; the county publishes fuller directions through its Law Library page.

Common mistakes

Six ways Collin County court searches go wrong

Requesting court records from the Sheriff

The Sheriff’s Office expressly says it does not release court records.

Calling the County Clerk about a felony

Felony District Court records belong with the District Clerk.

Calling the District Clerk about a misdemeanor

Class A/B County Court at Law misdemeanor records belong with the County Clerk.

Searching too early in the day

The general Case Search may not reflect same-day activity until its evening update.

Assuming no online result means no case

Historical cutoffs mean some older cases require a $5 manual clerk search.

Buying copies before identifying the document

Find the cause number and docket entry first so you request the judgment, dismissal, decree or order you actually need.

10 title-specific questions

Collin County court-record questions answered

How do I search Collin County court records online?

Start on Collin County’s official Case Information page. The Online Judicial Search can search court cases by name, case number or citation number. The broader Case Search covers active District, County Court at Law, Probate and Justice Court cases plus specified historical records. After locating the case, note the cause number, court, case type and status before requesting documents from the correct clerk.

Which Collin County clerk handles felony and misdemeanor criminal cases?

Felony criminal cases filed in Collin County District Courts are maintained by the District Clerk. Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases and Class C appeals handled by the County Courts at Law are maintained by the County Clerk’s County Court at Law Clerks.

Which Collin County clerk handles civil court records?

The correct clerk depends on the court. The County Court at Law Clerks handle civil lawsuits within their stated jurisdictional range of $500 to $325,000, along with certain appeals and related matters. District Court civil, family, divorce, child-support and larger civil matters are maintained by the District Clerk. Justice Courts maintain their own small-claims, debt, eviction and other Justice Court records.

How far back do Collin County online criminal and civil records go?

The county’s online case-search systems include District Court criminal cases from 1988 to the present, County Court at Law criminal cases from 2000 to the present, and District or County Court at Law civil cases from 1984 to the present. Older records require a manual search through the appropriate clerk.

Why is a Collin County case update missing from the online search?

The county’s general Case Search is updated daily at approximately 6 p.m., so activity entered during the business day may not appear there until after that update. The Case Record Inquiry system is described by Collin County as updating in real time and can be a better place to check same-day case activity.

How much does a manual Collin County historical court-record search cost?

Collin County currently lists a $5 fee for manual record searches performed by either the District Clerk or the County Court at Law Clerks. Older District Court criminal, County Court at Law criminal and pre-1984 civil cases may require this manual-search process.

How much are Collin County County Court at Law copies?

The current County Clerk court-record request form lists noncertified paper copies at $1 per page, noncertified electronic copies at $1 for the first 10 pages and 10 cents per page over 10 pages, and certified copies at $5 per document plus $1 per page.

Where do I search Collin County divorce and family court records?

Divorce, family and child-support cases handled in Collin County District Courts are maintained by the District Clerk. Start with the county Case Information search to identify the cause number and court, then use the District Clerk for copies or records that are not available through the online system.

Where do I search Collin County traffic tickets, small claims and evictions?

Justice Courts handle many county traffic and Class C matters, small claims, debt claims and evictions. Use Collin County’s Case Information page to identify the correct Justice Court. A ticket filed in a city municipal court may instead need to be searched through that city’s municipal court.

Can I search Collin County court records by name instead of case number?

Yes. Collin County’s Online Judicial Search is designed to locate cases by name, case number or citation number. A cause number is still the safest identifier when requesting copies because people can share the same name and a single person can have several unrelated cases.

Official sources used

Where these Collin County procedures were verified

Case search and District Courts

County and Justice Courts

Copies, filing and courthouse help

Accuracy and legal-use notice

Texas-arrest.org is an independent informational website. It is not the Collin County District Clerk, County Clerk, Justice Courts, District Courts, Sheriff’s Office, Texas Office of Court Administration or a law firm.

Court assignments, case status, fees, office hours, filing rules and online access can change. Verify the cause number and current information through the official court or clerk before filing documents, paying money, appearing in court or relying on a record for employment, housing, licensing, immigration or legal decisions.

Public access does not mean every document in every case is public. Sealed, expunged, juvenile, adoption, protected, confidential and legally restricted records may be withheld from public access.

Last official-source review: August 8, 2026. The article intentionally distinguishes court records from police records and separates District Clerk, County Clerk, Justice Court and municipal-court responsibilities to reduce misdirected searches.

Collin County Court Records Search | Criminal and Civil Cases