Henderson County was formed in 1846 and named after James Henderson, the first attorney general of the Republic of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 82,150 people and a median household income of $65,283. The county seat is Athens City.

Courts in Henderson County

Courts in Henderson County include District Courts, the Constitutional County Court, County Courts at Law, Justice Courts, and Municipal Courts.

Henderson County District Courts are the county’s highest trial court. The criminal jurisdiction of the court covers all felonies and serious offenses in the county. The courts also handle disputes over contracts, property, money, and other civil cases involving more than $200. The District Courts also have jurisdiction over family, election, and contested probate cases.

The Constitutional County Court in Henderson Court has jurisdiction over misdemeanors with a potential penalty of a year or less jail term or a fine not exceeding $500, or both. The court also hears civil claims of $10,000 or less and probate and juvenile cases.

Henderson County Courts at Law share jurisdiction with the District Courts in family matters and civil claims involving $100,000 or less. They also have jurisdiction over matters that the Constitutional County Courts can hear.

Justice of the Peace Courts in Henderson County has jurisdiction over Class C misdemeanors, minor civil cases, and issuance of warrants. The courts also hear small claims not exceeding $20,000 in value and eviction cases.

Municipal Courts operate within cities in Henderson County. Matters within their jurisdiction include Class C misdemeanor offenses and city code violations.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Henderson County

The Henderson District Clerk maintains the records for cases heard by the District Courts, while the Henderson County Clerk keeps records of other courts in the county besides Municipal Courts. Depending on the type of case, interested persons can contact either clerk to obtain relevant court records. Record requests can be made in person or sent via mail. Likewise, researchers can also find Henderson County court records on the county’s public case record search. Municipal courts have clerks or records departments that maintain their records and grant public access to such records.

Types of Public Court Records in Henderson County

Court records contain details of court cases, including parties pleading, court judgments and orders, and filings. The following case records are generally open to the public in Henderson County:

• Felony case Records
• Misdemeanor records
• Civil Court Records
• Small claims records
• Probate Court Records

Confidential Court Records in Henderson County

In Henderson County, some court records are exempt from public access by law, usually for the protection of certain persons or to avoid violation of privacy. Such records are considered confidential, and they include:

• Juvenile case records
• Records containing child abuse investigation
• Records disclosing license and card numbers
• Family case records
• Records sealed by court order

Juvenile Delinquency in Henderson, TX

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Henderson 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 62 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Henderson County. Of that total, 100% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 62 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Henderson County, TX

https://texas.gov/

County Seat:	Athens
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1846
Total Square Miles:	948
2019 Population:	81,064
Persons/Square Mile:	0.01
County Contact:	Courthouse Square County Courthouse Athens , TX 75751-0000 http://www.co.henderson.tx.us

Henderson County, TX Courts