Kaufman County Court Records Search | Criminal and Civil Cases

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Kaufman County, Texas · Criminal, civil, family, probate, judgment and JP records

Find the Case First—Then Ask the Right Kaufman County Clerk for the Document

The fastest way to search a Kaufman County case is the county-linked Tyler Odyssey court portal. Start with the cause number when you have it. If you only know a person or business name, Smart Search and its advanced filters can narrow the case by filing date, case type, status, date of birth, judicial officer or judgment.

The part that confuses people is what comes next: Kaufman County has a District Clerk, County Clerk, three district courts, two County Courts at Law and four Justice of the Peace courts. This guide shows exactly which office holds felony, misdemeanor, civil, family, probate, eviction and small-claims records—and how to obtain a certified copy when the online result is not enough.

Search Kaufman County court records Find a criminal case Find a civil case
Cause number Full party name Date of birth if relevant Approximate filing year Case type Court or judge if known
KAUFMAN CASE ROUTER SEARCH → VERIFY → COPY
TYLER SMART SEARCH PUBLIC ACCESS
CASE FOUND ROUTE TO CORRECT CLERK
CRIMINAL
CIVIL / FAMILY
JP / PROBATE
Do not assume every “Kaufman County court record” comes from the same clerk. Class A and B misdemeanors and County Court at Law civil cases are maintained by the County Clerk. Felony and district-level civil or family cases are handled through the District Clerk. Evictions, small claims and many fine-only cases belong to a Justice of the Peace court.
Official search

Kaufman County links directly to the Tyler Odyssey Portal.

District Clerk

469-376-4640 · felony and district-level records.

County Clerk Court Division

469-376-4736 · misdemeanor and County Court at Law files.

Main Justice Center

1902 E. US Highway 175, Kaufman, TX 75142.

Source review

Official procedures checked August 23, 2026.

Start with the record type

Which Kaufman County court office should you use?

DISTRICT CLERK Felony, district civil and family cases

Use the District Clerk for records filed in the 86th, 422nd or 489th District Courts.

Phone: 469-376-4640
COUNTY CLERK Class A/B misdemeanor and County Court at Law records

The County Clerk also maintains probate, guardianship, bond forfeiture and County Court at Law civil files.

Court Division: 469-376-4736
JUSTICE COURT Small claims, eviction and many Class C cases

Use the precinct court that actually handled the citation, landlord-tenant dispute or small civil case.

Kaufman County has four JP precincts.
OTHER COURT Municipal or federal case?

A city ticket or ordinance case may belong to a municipal court. A federal case is not a Kaufman County clerk record.

Confirm jurisdiction before paying for a search.
Best workflow: search the public portal → save the cause number → identify the court → identify the correct clerk → request only the document you actually need.

Go directly to your Kaufman County court-record task

Smart Search shortcuts

Search by case number, person, business, booking number or judgment

Search options currently displayed in the Kaufman County Tyler portal
Search option How to use it When it helps
Exact case / record number Enter the record number in Smart Search. Best option when you already have the cause number.
Wildcard case number The portal requires at least four characters for a wildcard case-number search. Useful when part of the cause number is unreadable or missing.
Person name Use Last, First Middle Suffix format. Use when you do not know the cause number.
Wildcard person name Enter at least three last-name characters followed by * and at least one first-name character followed by *. Useful for uncertain spelling.
Business Use Advanced Filtering → Search Type → Business Name. Civil suits, collections, contract cases and business disputes.
Business wildcard Use at least four characters followed by an asterisk. When the complete registered business name is unknown.
Date of birth Use the DOB From and DOB To fields in Party Search Criteria. Separate criminal defendants with similar names.
Booking number Open Advanced Filtering and use the Booking Number field. Connect a known booking identifier with a criminal court case.
SO or FBI number Use the specific Party Search fields. Criminal identity matching when the identifier is already known.
Case type/status Use Advanced Filtering → Case Search Criteria. Separate criminal, civil, family and other results.
Filing dates Enter File Date Start and File Date End. Very common names or businesses with many cases.
Judicial officer Choose the judge or judicial officer in Case Search Criteria. When you know which court handled the matter.
Judgments Include Judgments and filter by judgment type or date range. Civil judgments and final court actions.
Search broad first, narrow second. Entering too many filters can hide a valid result when a middle name, date or filing year is different from what you expected.
Criminal cases

Search a Kaufman County misdemeanor or felony without mixing the clerks

Class A and B misdemeanor

Kaufman County states that misdemeanor cases are filed with the County Clerk and proceed in the County Courts at Law.

Typical records:

  • Complaint or information
  • Docket events
  • Bond-related court entries
  • Motions and orders
  • Plea or trial information
  • Judgment or dismissal

County Clerk Court Division: 469-376-4736

Felony

Kaufman County’s District Attorney explains that felony cases are filed with the District Clerk and are generally presented to a grand jury before prosecution proceeds in district court.

Typical records:

  • Indictment or charging record
  • Bond and bail orders
  • Hearing settings
  • Motions
  • Plea or trial events
  • Judgment and sentence

District Clerk: 469-376-4640

Do not use the booking allegation as the final charge. Prosecutors decide what to file. Search the court case after the arrest to see what charge actually entered the court system and how it was resolved.

Current Kaufman County criminal case-assignment pattern

Kaufman County currently publishes an assignment order effective April 5, 2024. Always verify the actual court shown on the live case because assignments can change.
Assignment order currently posted by Kaufman County
Case category Party surname Assigned court under posted order
Misdemeanor A–K County Court at Law
Misdemeanor L–Z County Court at Law 2
DWI felony A–K County Court at Law
DWI felony L–Z County Court at Law 2
Other felony A–F 86th District Court
Other felony G–M 422nd District Court
Other felony N–Z 489th District Court
Use the live case, not the assignment chart, for a court date. Reassignment, recusal, transfer, specialty handling or a newer order can change where a case is actually pending.
Civil, family and probate records

Find the correct civil record before requesting copies

District civil

District-level civil lawsuits are handled through the District Clerk and the 86th, 422nd or 489th District Courts.

Family

Divorce, parent-child and other district family matters are generally maintained through the District Clerk.

County civil

Civil cases filed in the County Courts at Law are maintained by the County Clerk.

Probate / guardianship

The County Clerk Probate Division maintains public probate and guardianship files, subject to confidentiality rules.

Searching a person or business in a civil case

Start with the exact cause number when available A citation, demand letter, pleading or judgment normally includes it.
For a person, search Last, First Use a filing-date range when the person has several cases.
For a company, switch Search Type to Business Name Do not force a business into a personal last-name field.
Filter the case type This can remove criminal or family results when you are looking for an ordinary civil lawsuit.
Check judgments separately The portal allows users to include judgments and filter by judgment type and date.
Request the document from the clerk when legal proof is required An online index is not the same as a clerk-certified judgment, order or pleading.
Family-case privacy: A public case entry does not mean every document inside the file is publicly downloadable. Sensitive records can be restricted, sealed or available only under specific court rules.
Local court map

Which Kaufman County court is connected to the case?

Main Kaufman County trial courts and current contacts
Court Current judge Useful contact Common case role
86th District Court Judge Casey Blair Court Coordinator: 469-376-4670 Felony, district civil and family matters.
422nd District Court Judge Shelton T.W. Gibbs IV Court Coordinator: 469-376-4666 Felony, district civil and family matters.
489th District Court Judge Tracy Gray Court Coordinator: 469-376-4505 Felony, district civil and family matters.
County Court at Law Judge Joseph Russell 469-376-4745 Misdemeanor and county-level civil matters.
County Court at Law 2 Judge Bobby Rich Court Coordinator: 469-376-4757 Misdemeanor, probate and county-level civil matters under current assignments.
Do not contact a judge privately about a pending case. Kaufman County court pages specifically warn against contacting a judge by mail, email, telephone or in person about a pending or potential lawsuit. Use the clerk or court coordinator for administrative questions.
Read beyond “open” or “closed”

How to determine what actually happened in the case

Confirm the cause number Make sure every document and docket event belongs to the same case.
Check the filing date and case type These help distinguish two matters involving the same person or business.
Read the newest events A case may contain several settings, continuances or amended pleadings before reaching an outcome.
Look for the controlling order Depending on the case, this may be a dismissal, judgment, decree, sentence, final order or other disposition.
Check every count or claim One criminal count can be dismissed while another is resolved differently. One civil claim may survive when another does not.
Get a certified record when proof matters Use the correct Clerk instead of relying on a screenshot of an online docket.
“Closed” is a status, not a complete explanation. For a criminal background issue, look for the disposition. For a civil dispute, locate the final judgment, dismissal or order that ended the case.
Official copies

Kaufman County court-record copy and certification fees

County Clerk published fees

County Clerk Searches & Copies
Service Published fee
Inspect public County Clerk court records No charge
Plain copy $1 per page
Certified copy $5 certification + $1 per page
Certification of Facts $5
Check County Clerk fees before ordering

District Clerk posted fee schedule

District Clerk schedule currently posted by the county
Service Posted fee
Record search $5
Copies $1 per page
Certification $5

The county currently posts a District Clerk fee schedule effective January 1, 2024. Confirm current charges at 469-376-4640 before ordering because fees can change.

Save money by finding the cause number yourself first. A clear request for one identified judgment or order is easier to process than asking the clerk to research an entire name history.
Copy-ready certified record request
I am requesting a certified copy of the [judgment / dismissal / final order / decree / sentence / other document] in Kaufman County cause number [cause number], styled [party name] v. [party name], filed approximately [date]. Please confirm the current copy and certification charge and the available delivery methods before processing.
County Clerk requests

Request misdemeanor, probate or County Court at Law records

The Kaufman County Clerk states that public court records maintained by the office may be inspected without charge, except confidential mental-health and juvenile records.

Information to include in a mailed search request

Misdemeanor criminal
  • Name of person charged
  • Date of offense or conviction within a 10-year period
  • Type of offense if known
Probate
  • Name of deceased
  • Approximate date of death
Guardianship
  • Name of person
  • Approximate filing date within a 10-year period
The County Clerk says a mailed search is conducted only on the name provided by the requester. Check spelling carefully before mailing payment.
County Clerk Court Division
Kaufman County Justice Center
1902 US Highway 175
Kaufman, TX 75142

Phone: 469-376-4736

E-Fax: 469-595-0562

Mail requests
Court Department
Kaufman County Clerk
P.O. Box 729
Kaufman, TX 75142
Court email: cccourts@kaufmancounty.net
General land, vital and court requests: countyclerkrequests@kaufmancounty.net
Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., except county-approved holidays
Open County Clerk Review County Clerk court records
District Clerk requests

Get a felony, district civil or family record

Find the cause number in Smart Search This usually prevents an unnecessary paid record search.
Confirm that a district court handled the case Look for the 86th, 422nd or 489th District Court.
Identify the exact document Ask for the judgment, indictment, order, decree, dismissal or another named record rather than “the entire case” unless you need everything.
State whether certification is required The clerk needs to know before preparing the record.
Confirm the charge and delivery method Large files can cost substantially more than a single final document.
Kaufman County District Clerk
Kaufman County Justice Center
1902 E. US Highway 175
P.O. Box 729
Kaufman, TX 75142

District Clerk Rhonda Hughey

Phone: 469-376-4640

Email: dc@kaufmancounty.net

The District Clerk states that in-office payments may be made by cash, check or card. Card payments carry a convenience fee.
Open District Clerk Find the cause number first
Small claims, evictions and Class C records

Justice of the Peace cases use the correct precinct court

Kaufman County Justice Courts hear civil matters involving up to $20,000, including small claims and landlord-tenant disputes, as well as traffic and other fine-only criminal matters within their jurisdiction.
JP Precinct 1
1906 E. US Highway 175
Kaufman, TX 75142

469-376-4182

Hours published: 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

JP Precinct 2
Forney Sub Courthouse
200 E. Main Street
Forney, TX 75126

469-376-4600

Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

JP Precinct 3
Terrell Sub Courthouse
408 E. College Street
Terrell, TX 75160

469-376-4587

Mon–Thu 8:00–5:00; Fri 8:00–3:00.

JP Precinct 4
1906 E. US Highway 175, 2nd Floor
Kaufman, TX 75142

469-376-4620

Mon–Fri 8:00–4:00; lunch 12:00–1:00.

Paying a JP ticket online can have legal consequences. Kaufman County JP pages warn that online payment can constitute a no-contest plea and may result in a conviction. Contact the correct court first if you want to ask about deferred disposition, a driver-safety course or another option.

JP2 court-record copy fees are different from County Clerk fees

Kaufman County JP Precinct 2 currently publishes a Request for Court Records form stating: plain copies cost $1 for the first page plus $0.25 for each additional page; emailed plain copies are free; certified copies cost $2 for the first page plus $0.25 for each additional page and cannot be emailed. These are JP2-specific fees—do not assume they apply to another court.
JP1 JP2 JP3 JP4
Upcoming court settings

Do not mistake the posted County Court docket for a live schedule

The County Clerk publishes selected dockets for County Court at Law and County Court at Law 2 as a courtesy.

Important limitation: Kaufman County says not all County Court at Law dockets are posted. Selected dockets are placed online about two weeks before court day, and during that two-week period the online docket is not updated to reflect later court changes.
Find the case in Smart Search first Save the cause number and assigned court.
Check the posted docket when available Use it as a convenience, not as the sole proof of the setting.
Check the newest online event A reset or continuance may have happened after the courtesy docket was posted.
Call the clerk or court coordinator when attendance matters Confirm before travelling if a setting may have changed.
Check County Court dockets
Filing is different from searching

Use eFileTexas to file documents—not as a substitute for the county record portal

Tyler Odyssey Portal

Use it when your goal is to find or review a Kaufman County case.

Search court records
The District Clerk states that e-filing became mandatory in Kaufman County on July 1, 2018. Texas currently requires attorneys to electronically file in district and county courts, and eFileTexas lists all four Kaufman County JP precincts as active e-filing courts.
Self-represented litigants should read the specific court’s instructions before filing. Finding a case online does not mean the portal is the correct place to submit a motion, answer or petition.
No case found

What to try when Kaufman County Smart Search returns nothing

Search the cause number without guessing the complete number The portal allows wildcard case-number searches with at least four characters.
Reverse the person’s name Use the required Last, First format rather than First Last.
Use a wildcard Try the minimum supported characters followed by an asterisk when spelling is uncertain.
Remove the middle name A middle initial, suffix or nickname can prevent an overly precise search from matching.
Expand the filing-date range The case may have been filed earlier or later than the incident, arrest or dispute date.
Switch Person to Business Name A company should be searched through the Business Name option.
Check the Justice Court Small claims, evictions and many traffic or fine-only cases may be precinct records.
Check municipal court A city citation or ordinance case may not be a county clerk record.
The filing may be very recent Contact the clerk if you have a filed-stamped document but cannot locate the case online.
The record may not be public Juvenile, mental-health, sealed and other restricted matters can be unavailable to the general public.
Copy-ready clerk call
I am trying to locate Kaufman County cause number [number], or a case involving [full party name], filed approximately [date]. I believe it is a [felony / misdemeanor / civil / family / probate / eviction / small-claims] matter. Can you confirm whether your office maintains the case and what information you need from me to locate or order the record?
Public access limits

Some Kaufman County case information is not public

Juvenile

The County Clerk expressly identifies juvenile case files as confidential and non-public.

Mental health

The County Clerk also identifies mental-health case files as confidential and non-public.

Sealed or restricted documents

A case may be visible while a particular filing is sealed or restricted by statute, court rule or judicial order.

Do not try to bypass restricted access. If you are a party, lawyer or otherwise legally entitled to the document, ask the clerk what identification, authorization or court order is required.
Court records vs open records

Do not send an ordinary court-copy request to the District Attorney’s open-records inbox

Kaufman County maintains a Public Information Act process through the Criminal District Attorney for county public-information requests. That is useful for appropriate administrative government records, but it is not the normal route for obtaining a court judgment, pleading, docket or certified disposition.

Need a court document?

Use the County Clerk, District Clerk or Justice Court that maintains the official case.

Need a county administrative record?

Use the county’s designated Public Information Act procedure when the record is not a judicial court record.

This distinction saves time: “I need the final judgment in cause 12345” is a court-clerk request. “I need administrative emails about a county policy” may be an open-records request.
Local court contacts

Kaufman County court-record offices and precinct courts

Kaufman County Justice Center
1902 E. US Highway 175
Kaufman, TX 75142

Main county phone: 469-376-4100

District Clerk

Rhonda Hughey, District Clerk

469-376-4640

dc@kaufmancounty.net

County Clerk Court Division

Laura Hughes, County Clerk

469-376-4736

cccourts@kaufmancounty.net

County Clerk Probate

469-376-4738

ccprobate@kaufmancounty.net

86th District Court

Judge Casey Blair

Coordinator: 469-376-4670

422nd District Court

Judge Shelton T.W. Gibbs IV

Coordinator: 469-376-4666

489th District Court

Judge Tracy Gray

Coordinator: 469-376-4505

County Court at Law

Judge Joseph Russell

469-376-4745

County Court at Law 2

Judge Bobby Rich

Coordinator: 469-376-4757

Public Defender
1902 E. US Highway 175, Suite 500
Kaufman, TX 75142

469-376-4534

Map to the Kaufman County Justice Center

Hours are not identical for every office. The County Clerk publishes Monday–Friday hours of 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. The main Justice Center county listing shows 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Contact the specific clerk or court before making a time-sensitive trip.
Useful local shortcuts

Small Kaufman County search details that prevent wasted time

Use the new Justice Center address

The District Clerk specifically directs visitors to the new Justice Center at 1902 E. US Highway 175.

Start with Smart Search

The cause number you find online can prevent a clerk from needing to conduct a broader paid record search.

Use the business-name filter

Do not search an LLC or corporation as though it were a person.

Do not trust a courtesy docket as real-time

The County Clerk says selected dockets are not updated during the two weeks before court.

Know misdemeanor vs felony

This one distinction usually tells you whether County Clerk or District Clerk holds the criminal file.

Do not call asking staff for legal strategy

Clerks and court coordinators can give administrative information but cannot tell you what legal action to take.

10 practical questions

Kaufman County court-record questions answered

How do I search Kaufman County court records online?

Use the Court Search link on the official Kaufman County website, which opens the Tyler Odyssey Portal for Kaufman County. Smart Search accepts a case or record number or a party name in Last, First Middle Suffix format. Advanced filters can narrow results by party type, date of birth, booking number, case type, case status, filing dates, judicial officer, judgment type and judgment dates.

Which clerk has Kaufman County criminal court records?

It depends on the charge level. Kaufman County Clerk maintains Class A and Class B misdemeanor case files in the County Courts at Law. Felony cases are filed with and maintained by the Kaufman County District Clerk for the district courts.

Which office has Kaufman County civil case records?

Civil cases heard in the County Courts at Law are maintained by the Kaufman County Clerk. District-level civil and family cases are handled through the Kaufman County District Clerk. Small claims, eviction cases and many lower-level civil matters are handled by the appropriate Justice of the Peace court.

Can I search Kaufman County court records by name?

Yes. The official Tyler Odyssey Smart Search accepts names in Last, First Middle Suffix format. For wildcard searching, the portal instructs users to enter at least three characters followed by an asterisk for the last name and at least one character followed by an asterisk for the first name.

How much do Kaufman County County Clerk court copies cost?

The County Clerk currently publishes a fee of $1 per page for plain copies, $5 for certification plus $1 per page for certified copies, and $5 for a Certification of Facts without copies. Confirm current charges before sending payment because fee schedules can change.

How much does the Kaufman County District Clerk charge for copies?

The District Clerk fee schedule currently posted by Kaufman County lists $1 per page for copies, $5 for certification and $5 for a record search. Confirm the current fee with the District Clerk at 469-376-4640 before sending payment or requesting a large record.

Are juvenile and mental health court records public in Kaufman County?

The Kaufman County Clerk specifically identifies juvenile and mental health case files as confidential and non-public. Other court documents can also be sealed, restricted or withheld by law or court order, particularly records containing protected personal or family information.

How do I get a certified Kaufman County court disposition?

First identify the exact cause number and the clerk responsible for the case. Misdemeanor County Court at Law cases are generally handled by the County Clerk, while felony district-court cases are handled by the District Clerk. Request the final judgment, dismissal, order or other disposition and tell the clerk that a certified copy is required.

Where are the Kaufman County District Clerk and County Clerk located?

Both offices now operate at the Kaufman County Justice Center, 1902 E. US Highway 175, Kaufman, Texas 75142. The District Clerk can be reached at 469-376-4640. The County Clerk Court Division can be reached at 469-376-4736.

Why can I not find a Kaufman County case in the county court portal?

The case may be filed in a Justice of the Peace court, municipal court, federal court or another county; the filing may be too recent; the party name may be entered differently; or the record may be confidential or restricted. Search by cause number when possible, try a wildcard name search, broaden the filing-date range and contact the correct clerk if the case still cannot be located.

Official resources

Primary Kaufman County and Texas tools used in this guide

Search and court structure
Clerks and copies
Texas filing and self-help
Accuracy and legal-use notice

Texas-arrest.org is an independent informational website. It is not Kaufman County, the Kaufman County District Clerk, County Clerk, District Attorney, a Justice of the Peace court, Tyler Technologies, eFileTexas or a law firm.

Court assignments, judges, filing procedures, office hours, fees and online-access rules can change. Always compare a search result with the current official court record before relying on it for litigation, employment, housing, licensing, financial or background-screening decisions.

Court employees can provide administrative information but cannot give legal advice. If you need help deciding what to file, how to respond to a lawsuit, whether a criminal record can be cleared or how a court order affects your rights, consult a qualified Texas lawyer or an appropriate legal-aid resource.

Last official-source review: August 23, 2026. Primary research included Kaufman County’s official Tyler Odyssey portal, County Clerk, District Clerk, Courts & Public Safety, County Court docket, Justice of the Peace, District Attorney and current Texas e-filing resources.

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