Founded in 1846, Collin County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Texas. It has 848 square miles of land and 27 cities. As of 2020, the county’s population was estimated to be 1,064,465, making it the sixth most populous county in Texas. The county seat is McKinney.

Courts in Collin County

The court system in Collin County consists of District Courts, County Courts at Law, Justice Courts, and the Magistrate Court. 

The District Courts have general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases. They have exclusive jurisdiction over felony crimes. They also handle civil cases related to divorce, election disputes, and general civil claims beyond the jurisdiction of other courts.

Collin County also has County Courts at Law. These courts hear civil cases, including general civil claims where the amount in dispute exceeds $100,000 but is more than $500, divorce cases, child custody cases, cases involving workers' compensation, etc. The courts also handle criminal cases relating to misdemeanors.

The Justice Courts in the county handle criminal cases relating to preliminary hearings of felonious offenses, some traffic misdemeanors, and some misdemeanors without the potential penalty of imprisonment. They also hear civil cases related to small claims, foreclosure of mortgages, and enforcement of some liens on personal property.

Lastly, the Magistrate Court in Collin County also hears both civil and criminal cases. They conduct preliminary hearings for criminal cases and hear some minor criminal offenses and county ordinance violations. They also handle civil cases relating to small claims.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Collin County

Under the Freedom of Information Act and the Texas Public Information Act, members of the public have a right to access court records. To gain access to these records, interested persons can visit the Collin County Clerk’s Office in person to submit a request form. 

Alternatively, interested persons can access public court records by searching through the Collin County Judicial Online Search Portal. The portal is a detailed online directory designed to allow interested persons to search for court records and cases by name, case number, attorney, or traffic citation number.

Types of Public Court Records in Collin County

There are several public court records in Collin County. Examples include the following:

• Criminal Records
• Civil Records
• Traffic Citations
• Family Records
• Divorce Decrees
• Probate Case Files
• Land and Property Case Files

Confidential Court Records in Collin County

Although court records are generally available to the public, some are exempt from public disclosure due to state laws or court orders. These court records are considered confidential, and only parties involved in the case or their attorneys are granted access to them. Examples of confidential court records in Collin County include:

• Mental Health Records
• Adoption Records
• Juvenile Records
• Substance Abuse Treatment Records
• Identifying Information about Jurors

Juvenile Delinquency in Collin, TX

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Collin County, juvenile delinquency offenses are on the rise. There are many reasons for the inflation in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Texas often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of charges, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 1088 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Collin County. Of that total, 94% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 1018 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Collin County, are focusing on family counseling and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Collin County juvenile delinquency tallies will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Collin County, TX

https://texas.gov/

County Seat:	McKinney
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1846
Total Square Miles:	886
2019 Population:	969,603
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00

Collin County, TX Courts