TexasArrestWarrantRecords.com | Texas Court Records

A court record is a document filed into the Texas records system by the county recorder or recorder of deeds. Court records refer to proceedings, acts and decisions of the court in relation to the law which are retained for permanent documentation in the county clerk's office. In accordance with the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA), court records are public domain and the act guarantees the public access to government held court records at all levels. These court records include vital records, background records, property records, and criminal records. Since court records are sanctioned by a judge they are presumed to be accurate unless otherwise contested.

In Texas, access to court case records is governed by common law, statutory law and court rules. Here is an illustrated overview of the Texas court structure. For your convenience there is an online interactive map of Texas counties on the state's judicial site. If you click on a county it will take you to a page which lists the judges and clerks in that county in addition to other valuable court resources and information.

Types of Court Records
There are various types of court records that can be accessed by the public in Texas. These include civil actions, arrest records, juvenile court records, vital records, background records, criminal records and more. Court records can include everything from personal information on civil cases to information on federal cases. Below you will find descriptions of the different types of courts in the state of Texas, the primary purpose they serve, and the records they keep.

TEXAS STATE COURT RECORDS
In Texas, state courts usually handle non-criminal cases. These records can include marriage/divorce records, birth/death records, property records, address records, property records and more.

TEXAS STATE CIVIL RECORDS
Civil court records pertain to cases involving monetary damages. Types of civil court records are: civil action cases, small claims cases, eviction actions, court judgments and probate cases.

TEXAS STATE CRIMINAL RECORDS
Criminal court records in Texas will cover misdemeanors, felonies, outstanding warrants, jail records, arrest records, criminal records, and sex-offender cases.

The types of records available to the public are as follows :

• Arrest Records
• Active/Outstanding Warrants
• Criminal/Jail Records
• Court Records
• Nationwide & Civil Judgments
• Court Dockets
• Age/Date of Birth
• Alias/Maiden Name
• List of Relatives with Addresses
• Roommates and Associates
• Possible Neighbors
• Public or Private Associations
• Property Ownership Records
• Nationwide Federal & State Tax Liens
• Marriage/Divorce Records
• Birth/Death Records
• DUI Records

How the Texas Court System Works
Since Texas is a huge state, there are many courts throughout each county that serve the justice system. If you're looking to obtain court records in Texas it's useful to understand how the court system is set up. The Texas court system's highest appellate courts are the Texas Supreme Court and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. A number of smaller courts fall under the umbrella of the Texas Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals including; courts of appeals, county-level courts, district-level courts, municipal courts, and justice of the peace courts.

Both the municipal courts and the justice of the peace courts are the lower level courts in the state. They serve the function of local trial courts with limited jurisdiction. The justice of the peace courts are responsible for cases involving criminal actions of small claims, criminal misdemeanors punishable by fine only, and magistrate functions. The municipal courts have jurisdiction over municipal ordinance criminal cases, criminal misdemeanors punishable by fine only, limited civil jurisdiction, and magistrate functions. For a clearer and better understanding of how the Texas judicial systems is designed please click here.

We will take a closer look at the Court of Criminal Appeals since we are talking about criminal and arrest records on this site. After a trial court has decided a criminal case, the state or the defendant may appeal to a higher court. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA) is the superior court for all criminal matters in Texas (excluding juvenile proceedings, which are considered civil matters). The Court is composed of 9 judges which includes a presiding judge. Decisions made by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals are considered final and can only be overruled by the United States Supreme Court. The physical address is Court of Criminal Appeals, Supreme Court Building, 201 W. 14th Street, Room 106, Austin, Texas 78701.

The appeals of cases in which the death penalty has been assessed are directed from the trial courts to the Court of Criminal Appeals. The appeals of all other criminal cases end up in one of the 14 Courts of Appeals in Texas. The Court of Criminal Appeals has the right to review their decisions as the presiding court for criminal cases in Texas.

Physical Address of the Texas Supreme Court
Supreme Court of Texas
Supreme Court Building
201 W. 14th Street, Room 104
Austin, TX 78701

Mailing Address
Supreme Court of Texas
PO Box 12248
Austin, TX 78711

Main: 512-463-1312
Fax: 512-463-1365

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Physical Address of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Court of Criminal Appeals
Supreme Court Building
201 W. 14th Street
Room 106
Austin, TX 78701

Mailing Address
Court of Criminal Appeals
P.O. Box 12308
Austin, TX 78711

Phone: 512-463-1551
Fax: 512-463-7061