Founded in 1836, Harris County is the most populous county in Texas and the third-largest county in the United States by population. The county has a median age of 33.7 and an average household size of 2.84. According to the 2020 census, over 4.7 million people live in the county.
Courts in Harris County
Harris County is home to District Courts, Constitutional County Courts, Statutory County Courts, Probate Courts, Justice Courts, and Municipal Courts. The highest court in Harris County is the District Court. These courts have general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases and typically handle cases beyond the jurisdiction of other courts. They have original jurisdiction in civil actions over $200, divorce, title to land, and contested elections. They also have original jurisdiction in felony matters. There are 63 District of Canada Courts in Harris County with several divisions.
Constitutional County Courts in Harris County have original jurisdiction in civil actions between $200 and $10,000. They also have exclusive original jurisdiction over misdemeanors with fines greater than $500 and over misdemeanors that carry jail sentences. Statutory County Courts in Harris County handle all civil, criminal, original, and appellate actions prescribed by law for Constitutional County Courts. In addition, they have jurisdiction over civil matters between $200 and $200,000.
Harris County has four Probate Courts, which handle matters limited to probate. There are 15 Justice Courts in Harris County, located in Houston, Pasadena, Baytown, Spring, and Humble. These courts have jurisdiction over certain types of civil and criminal cases. Criminal cases heard by the courts include preliminary hearings and some misdemeanors that carry no jail penalty. The court also hears civil cases such as small claims under $20,000, foreclosure of mortgages, and enforcement of some lien on personal property.
Municipal Courts in Harris County handle criminal misdemeanors punishable by fines only. They have exclusive original jurisdiction over municipal ordinance criminal cases and have limited civil jurisdiction.
Where to Find Public Court Records in Harris County
The Harris County Clerk maintains records generated in the Harris County Courts and District Courts. The clerk’s office also maintains the records of the Commissioners Court, Harris County Probate Courts, and the Harris County Civil Courts at Law. These records can either be accessed online, by mailing a request, or in person at the clerk’s office. In addition to online access, members of the public can visit the locations of the various courts in Harris County to view and request copies of the records of cases heard in those courts.
Types of Public Court Records in Harris County
Harris County makes the following types of court records available to the public:
- Criminal Court Records: including court proceedings for misdemeanors and felonies
- Civil Court Records: such as non-criminal disputes like breaches of contract, debt recovery, and personal injury cases
- Family Court Records: including divorce, custody, and adoption cases
- Probate Court Records: such as wills and documentation of estate assets and liabilities
Confidential Court Records in Harris County
Confidential court records in Harris County include records that are sealed or accessible only to the parties involved. These records may be sealed either by default under Texas law or by a court order upon application by a party. Examples of confidential court records in Harris County include:
- Juvenile records
- Adoption proceedings
- Identifying information about jurors
- Pretrial bail
Parties may also apply to the court for their Harris County court records to be sealed if they contain sensitive information such as:
- Medical records
- Individual or corporate tax records
- Intellectual property details
Juvenile Delinquency in Harris, TX
Unfortunately, in many areas of the Harris 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 166 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Harris County. Of that total, 4% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 7 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.
A lot of counties, including, Harris County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Harris County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.
| Juvenile Cases | Number of cases |
|---|---|
| Delinquency | 231 |
| Dependency | 0 |
| Status | 2,021 |
Government of Harris County, TX
| County Seat: | Houston |
| Government Type: | County |
| Authority: | Dillon's Rule |
| Year Organized: | 1836 |
| Total Square Miles: | 1,777 |
| 2019 Population: | 4,652,980 |
| Persons/Square Mile: | 0.00 |
| County Contact: | 1001 Preston St Ofc Main
Downtown Main Office Houston , TX 77002-1839 http://www.co.harris.tx.us |
Harris County, TX Courts
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Harris County District Court
Address: P O Box 4651, Houston, TX 77210
Phone: 832-927-5800