Located southeast of Houston, Galveston County is one of 254 county governments in Texas. Founded in 1838, the county sprawls over 908 square miles and has its county seat in the City of Galveston. As of the 2020 census, the County had a population of around 350,000 people.

Courts in Galveston County

The trial court system in Galveston County consists of District Courts, County Courts at Law, Probate Courts, Justice of the Peace Courts, and Magistrate Courts.

In Galveston County, the District Courts have jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases and generally handle cases beyond the jurisdiction of other courts. The court’s Civil Division typically handles cases relating to divorce, most disputes relating to title to land, personal injury, workers' compensation, and tax disputes. The court’s Criminal Division handles cases relating to felonies, certain misdemeanors, and lesser included offenses.

County Courts at Law in Galveston County handle both civil and criminal cases. Their civil jurisdiction extends to cases where the claims are less than $10,000 but more than $500. They also handle cases relating to family law and juvenile delinquency. The Criminal Division of the court extends to misdemeanors.

Probate Courts handle cases relating to the probate of wills, administration of estates, guardianship, mental health proceedings, and other related matters.

Justice of the Peace Courts generally handles criminal cases relating to preliminary hearings, some traffic offenses, and misdemeanors without penalty of incarceration. The court also handles civil cases relating to small claims, mortgage foreclosures, and enforcement of some liens on personal property.  

The county’s Magistrate Courts handle cases relating to municipal ordinance violations, some misdemeanors, and felony preliminary hearings. They also handle civil cases involving the ownership of dangerous dogs.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Galveston County

The Galveston County Clerk’s Office is responsible for maintaining official court records in the county. To access these records, interested persons can submit a records request form to the office of the County Clerk. Alternatively, interested persons can search for the records online.

Types of Public Court Records in Galveston County

Court records refer to documents emanating from court proceedings. They include case files, docket sheets, trial dates, etc. All court records are regarded as public unless restricted by law or court order. Examples of public court records in Galveston County include:

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

Confidential Court Records in Galveston County

Certain records are designated confidential in Galveston and redacted from public access. Examples of confidential court records are:

• Adoption Records
• Mental Illness Commitment Records
• Juvenile Non-offender Records
• Paternity Records
• Alcohol and Drug Treatment Commitment Records

Juvenile Delinquency in Galveston, TX

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

In 2017, a total of 773 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Galveston County. Of that total, 99% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 768 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Galveston County, TX

https://texas.gov/

County Seat:	Galveston
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1838
Total Square Miles:	874
2019 Population:	335,036
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	722 21St St County Courthouse Galveston , TX 77550-2317 http://www.galvestoncountytx.gov/

Galveston County, TX Courts