Fort Bend County is the ninth largest county in the State of Texas. It was founded in 1837 and named for a blockhouse at the Brazos River’s bend. According to the United States Census Bureau, about 822,779 people live in the County. The County has about 277,910 housing units and an average household income of $105,205. It spans over 861.8 square miles and is the 181st largest County in Texas by total area. Its County seat is Richmond.

Courts in Fort Bend County

The Fort Bend County court system consists of eight District Courts, four County Courts at Law, and one County Court. The District Courts have jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases. The criminal division hears felony cases, while the civil division hears cases where the amount in dispute is $200 or more.

In Fort Bend County, the County Courts at Law generally handle misdemeanors, criminal cases, juvenile matters, probate matters, civil mental health cases, and cases up to $250,000. On the other hand, Fort Bend County Court is designated to settle disputes between citizens that can not be resolved primarily by them.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Fort Bend County

Court records on cases such as divorce, felony, will and probate can be requested using the court website. Generally, records of the County Courts are filed by the County clerk. To obtain these files, members of the public can physically visit the office of the clerk to make requests. The records are also available online or by mail except for sealed or confidential documents.

Type of Public Court Records in Fort Bend County

The following types of court records are available to the public in Fort Bends County:

• Civil Court Records
• Criminal Court Records
• Family Court Records
• Probate Court Records

Confidential Court Records in Fort Bend County

All records are available to the public except those that are considered confidential by statute or case law. Such confidential records are only accessible to the parties involved upon the provision of valid identifications. Court records considered confidential in Fort Bend County include:

• Records of Juvenile Cases
• Domestic Violence Protective Orders
• Adoption Records
• Drug Treatment Records
• Certain Financial Information

Juvenile Delinquency in Fort Bend, TX

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Fort Bend County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Texas often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 1012 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Fort Bend County. Of that total, 97% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 977 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Fort Bend County, TX

https://texas.gov/

County Seat:	Richmond
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1837
Total Square Miles:	885
2019 Population:	764,828
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	301 Jackson St County Courthouse Richmond , TX 77469-3108 https://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/

Fort Bend County, TX Courts