Fannin County, Texas Court Records
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Fannin County sits in the northeastern corner of Texas, with its county seat in Bonham. The county court system spans district, county, justice of the peace, and municipal levels, generating case files, orders, judgments, motions, witness lists, and court minutes that cover everything from property disputes to felony prosecutions. These documents are used for background research, legal proceedings, genealogical inquiries, and property matters.
You can search public court records through clerk offices, public access terminals at the courthouse, and online judicial portals. TexasStateCourts.us is a good place to start when you need to locate publicly available case information across the state. At the county level, the Fannin County District Clerk and County Clerk each maintain separate sets of records depending on case type, so it helps to identify the right office before making a request.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Fannin County?
Fannin County offers both online and in-person search options, depending on which court handled the case.
Online Search Tools
The main online resource is the Fannin County Court Public Records Search portal, powered by Tyler Technologies' Odyssey system. This portal gives you free public web access to county and district court records — both civil and criminal — and lets you search by name without needing a case number. It also includes a court calendar showing scheduled cases. You can go directly to the Odyssey Public Access Case Records page, which separates searches into criminal case records, civil/family/probate case records, and the court calendar.
For document-level searches across the entire state, the re:SearchTX platform gives registered users access to case information and documents from courts participating in the Texas e-filing system. It covers all 254 Texas counties and is especially useful if a case may have moved between jurisdictions.
In-Person Requests
You can submit record requests in person at either the District Clerk's office or the County Clerk's office, depending on the case type. The District Clerk's office also accepts mail and email requests — all document or information requests must be submitted in writing to dcrecords@fanninco.net.
Key Court Offices
| Office | Address | Phone | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| District Clerk (April Gibbs) | 200 E. 1st Street, Bonham, TX 75418 | (903) 583-7459 | Mon–Fri, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. |
| County Clerk Criminal Dept. | 101 E. Sam Rayburn Drive, Suite 101, Bonham, TX 75418 | (903) 583-8502 | Mon–Fri, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. |
| County Clerk Probate/Civil Dept. | 101 E. Sam Rayburn Drive, Suite 107, Bonham, TX 75418 | (903) 640-2008 | Mon–Fri, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. |
| County Clerk Land/Vitals/Main | 800 E. 2nd Street, Suite 300, Bonham, TX 75418 | (903) 583-7486 | Mon–Fri, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. |
The District Clerk's office accepts credit card payments (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express). The County Clerk also offers online payment options. If you mail a request to the District Clerk, include the case number, fee type, and fee amount so the payment is applied correctly.
Are Court Records Public in Fannin County?
Texas law creates broad public access to court records through two complementary frameworks. The Texas Public Information Act gives citizens the right to inspect or copy records created by any government body, including courts. Rule 12 of the Texas Rules of Judicial Administration specifically covers access to judicial records held by judicial agencies. Texas common law provides an additional basis for obtaining records not addressed by statute.
That said, certain categories of records are exempt from public disclosure in Fannin County:
- Juvenile court records — Protected by statute; identifying information about minors is restricted from public view.
- Grand jury materials — Proceedings and related documentation are sealed.
- Complaint affidavits in warrant applications — Generally withheld to protect ongoing investigations.
- Trade secrets — Commercially sensitive information appearing in filed documents may be redacted or withheld.
- Documents containing personal identifiers — Any filing that includes a person's Social Security number, home address, personal phone number, or family member information may be restricted or redacted. A Social Security Number Redaction Request form is available from the County Clerk if you need to remove such identifiers from a public filing.
- Witness lists — May be restricted in certain proceedings where disclosure poses a risk.
A Fannin County court may also seal records by order when disclosure could endanger an individual or affect public safety. When a request is denied, the custodian must identify the applicable exemption.
Fannin County Criminal Court Records
Criminal jurisdiction is divided between two courts depending on the severity of the offense.
Felony Cases — 336th District Court
All felony criminal cases are filed with and maintained by the Fannin County District Clerk's office. District Clerk April Gibbs oversees the office. Deputy Casey Peebles handles criminal clerk and court clerk functions; Deputy Casey Fry manages indictments, NICS reporting, and court clerk duties; and Deputy Elizabeth Berry handles criminal appeals and post-conviction writs.
336th Judicial District Court
Address: 210 S. Main Street, Bonham, TX 75418
Phone: (903) 583-2863 | Fax: (903) 640-1826
Misdemeanor Cases — County Court at Law
Misdemeanor criminal cases — including DWIs, theft by check, possession of marijuana, criminal trespass, and tampering with government records — go through the County Court at Law and are managed by the County Clerk's Criminal Department. Deputy Sarah Long oversees that department, which also handles criminal searches, issues arrest warrants and subpoenas, collects fines and court costs, and reports dispositions to the Office of Court Administration and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
County Court at Law Criminal
Address: 101 E. Sam Rayburn Drive, Suite 101, Bonham, TX 75418
Phone: (903) 583-8502 | Fax: (903) 583-9598
Contact: Sarah Long — slong@fanninco.net
Arrest and Custody Records
Arrest records are separate from court records and are maintained by the Fannin County Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's Office offers a public inmate lookup that requires only the inmate's full name or jail-assigned identification number.
Fannin County Sheriff's Office / Jail
Address: 2389 Silo Road, Bonham, TX 75418
Phone: (903) 640-4171 | Fax: (903) 640-0832
Statewide Criminal History Checks
The Texas Department of Public Safety maintains the statewide criminal history repository. Name-based checks are available to the public through the FACT Clearinghouse for $1.00 to view a record (granting 31-day access). Fingerprint-based checks cost $15.00 through DPS, with an additional $10.00 fingerprinting fee when using FAST-authorized sites.
Fannin County Civil Court Records
Civil case jurisdiction is divided between the County Court at Law, the District Court, and the three Justice of the Peace precincts, depending on the dollar amount and nature of the dispute.
County Court at Law — Civil Division
The Probate, Guardianship, and Civil Department of the County Clerk's office handles civil cases including small claims appeals from justice courts, condemnations, and other non-criminal, non-family matters. Deputy Kristy Ellison (kellison@fanninco.net) and Deputy Belen Leyva (bleyva@fanninco.net, Spanish-speaking) manage this department.
County Court at Law Probate/Civil
Address: 101 E. Sam Rayburn Drive, Suite 107, Bonham, TX 75418
Phone: (903) 640-2008 | Fax: (903) 583-0315
Civil filing fees were updated as of January 3, 2025. You can find the current civil filing fee schedule on the county's website. A Civil FAQs document is also published to help self-represented litigants navigate the process.
Justice of the Peace Courts — Small Claims
The three JP precincts handle small claims cases up to $20,000, excluding statutory interest and court costs, under Texas Rules of Civil Procedure governing justice court practice. A Small Claims Packet for 2025 is available to download from Precinct 1's page.
Justice of the Peace Courts — Location Directory
| Precinct | Address | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Precinct 1 | 101 E. Sam Rayburn Dr., Suite 109, Bonham, TX 75418 | (903) 583-7489 | jp1@fanninco.net |
| Precinct 2 | 111 W. Collins, Leonard, TX 75452 | (903) 587-2846 | jp2@fanninco.net |
| Precinct 3 | 711 State Hwy. 56, Windom, TX 75492 | (903) 378-0015 | jp3@fanninco.net |
District Court — Civil Division
Larger civil matters — including cases that exceed county court jurisdictional limits — are heard in the 336th District Court. Civil filings are handled by Deputy Jennie Little (jlittle@fanninco.net) at the District Clerk's office. The updated District Court civil filing fees effective September 3, 2025 are posted on the District Clerk's page. For record requests, email dcrecords@fanninco.net with the case number and party names.
The Fannin County court calendar is publicly accessible and lists upcoming civil and criminal case schedules across county and district courts.
Fannin County Family Court Records
All family law matters in Fannin County — divorces, child custody determinations, child support orders, and Attorney General (AG) paternity and support cases — are handled exclusively by the 336th District Court. The County Clerk's office does not process family or divorce cases. This is an important distinction: if you contact the wrong office, you'll be referred to the District Clerk.
Within the District Clerk's office, Deputy Cheryl Dane (cmdane@fanninco.net) manages family cases and AG cases specifically.
Divorce and Custody Records
Divorce petitions, custody orders, support decrees, and related family law filings are all maintained by the District Clerk. To request copies or find a case, contact the District Clerk at (903) 583-7459 or submit a written request to dcrecords@fanninco.net with the party names and case number. The Odyssey Public Access portal includes a civil/family/probate case search function you can use to locate case numbers before requesting records.
Marriage Licenses
Marriage licenses are issued by appointment only through the Fannin County Clerk's office at 800 E. 2nd Street, Suite 300, Bonham. Marriage records — including licenses, certificates, marriage indexes, and verification letters — are restricted. To access them, you must be a party to the marriage, a parent, or a close relative of the parties, and you must provide both parties' names along with the date and location of the marriage.
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death certificates are filed and issued by the County Clerk's Vital Statistics and Records Department. The Application for Birth and Death Records in Fannin County is available to download. Birth records are confidential for 50 years from the date of birth; death records are restricted for 25 years from the date of issuance. Certified copies of birth records cost $23.00 per copy.
Requests can be made in person or by mail at the County Clerk's office, 800 E. 2nd Street, Suite 300, Bonham, TX 75418. You'll need to provide a valid photo ID along with the full name of the person on the record, the date of birth or death, birthplace, and the parents' full names. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) also lists the Fannin County Clerk as a designated local vital records office. Current fees are in the county's OPR, Vitals, and Other Filing Fees schedule (updated September 2025).
Domestic Violence
Protective orders are filed with and maintained by the 336th District Court. Copies can be requested through the District Clerk's office following the same written request procedure used for other criminal and family records.
Fannin County Probate Court Records
Probate matters fall under the jurisdiction of the County Court at Law, administered through the County Clerk's Probate, Guardianship, and Civil Department. This includes administration of wills, intestate estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and mental commitment proceedings.
What Records Are Available
Probate records filed with the County Clerk include:
- Applications for probate of will and issuance of letters testamentary
- Letters of administration for intestate estates
- Guardianship appointment orders and related reports
- Mental commitment orders and proceedings
- Inventory and appraisement filings
- Estate claims and creditor proceedings
These records are generally accessible to parties involved in the case, and most are considered public records unless sealed by court order.
How to Request Probate Records
Contact the Probate/Civil Department in person at 101 E. Sam Rayburn Drive, Suite 107, Bonham, TX 75418, or call (903) 640-2008. Written requests are also accepted. Provide the decedent's or ward's full name along with the approximate filing date or case number, and the office will confirm availability and applicable copy fees.
Probate Filing Fees
The Fannin County Probate Fee Schedule, updated January 3, 2025, lists current fees for probate filings including will applications, guardianship petitions, mental commitment proceedings, and estate claims. A Probate FAQs document is also published on the County Clerk's website as a general reference. The Odyssey Public Access portal includes a civil, family, and probate case records search, so you can look up a case number before contacting the clerk.
Land Records Related to Estates
Property records relevant to estate matters — including deeds, liens, deeds of trust, and other instruments — are searchable through the Fannin County Land Records official public records portal, which covers current records and documents dating back to the mid-1970s. Historical land records going back to the 1840s are available in person at the County Clerk's office.