Houston County Court Records Search
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Houston County, located in East Texas with Crockett as its county seat, runs a court system that spans several levels of jurisdiction — from district courts handling serious felonies and complex civil matters down to justice of the peace and municipal courts dealing with minor offenses and small claims. Records from these courts document the full arc of legal proceedings: initial filings, motions, orders, judgments, and final outcomes. Attorneys, litigants, journalists, researchers, and ordinary members of the public rely on these records to understand or verify what happened in a specific case.
If you're searching Texas court records, you can use official clerk offices, public access terminals at the courthouse, and online case search tools. TexasStateCourts.us can help you locate publicly available case information from across Texas, including Houston County, and is a useful place to start before contacting individual clerk offices directly.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Houston County?
The District Clerk's Office and the County Clerk's Office are the two main offices that hold Houston County court records. Which one you need depends on which court handled the case.
Houston County District Clerk — Laura Goolsby
Address: 401 East Houston Avenue, Suite E, Crockett, Texas 75835
Phone: (936) 544-3255, Ext. 235
Fax: (936) 544-9523
Email: Districtclerk@co.houston.tx.us
Houston County Clerk — Terri Meadows
Address: 401 East Houston Avenue, Suite D, Crockett, Texas 75835
Phone: (936) 544-3255, Option 2
Hours: 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Monday–Friday
There are several ways to search for records:
- Online case search — The District Clerk offers an Online Records Search portal for civil and criminal case information. A FAQ document is available to guide users through the system.
- In-person search — Visit either clerk's office during regular business hours. Bring the case number or the names of the parties to help staff locate the records quickly.
- Mail requests — Written requests may be mailed to the appropriate clerk's office. Include relevant case identifiers and a check or money order for copy fees.
- iDocket — The County Clerk's office participates in iDocket.com, which provides public online access to county court case information.
If you're representing yourself and need help navigating the process, texascourthelp.org offers forms and instructions approved by the Texas court system.
Are Court Records Public in Houston County?
Court records in Houston County are generally open to the public. Rule 12 of the Texas Rules of Judicial Administration establishes the right to inspect and copy court records during regular business hours without being required to explain your reason. The Texas Public Information Act, codified at Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code, also covers certain government records that may overlap with court information.
That said, Rule 12 identifies several categories of records that are exempt from public disclosure:
- Information that is confidential under other applicable law
- Records related to ongoing litigation or active settlement negotiations
- Judicial work product and draft documents
- Private personal data such as Social Security numbers, home addresses, and family information
- Personnel records whose disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy
- Internal deliberations related to court or judicial administration matters
Certain case types carry additional statutory confidentiality protections. Juvenile case records are protected under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. Adoption records are sealed by default. Mental health records are confidential under the Texas Health and Safety Code. Records covered by orders of nondisclosure under Texas Government Code § 411.081(f-1) are withheld from public access.
If you have a legal basis to access sealed documents, the District Clerk maintains a Request for Inspection of Sealed Records Form for that purpose.
Houston County Criminal Court Records
Felony criminal cases in Houston County are filed and maintained in the district court system. Two district courts serve Houston County:
3rd District Court
Serves Anderson, Henderson, and Houston Counties
Judge: Mark Calhoon
Address: 401 E. Houston Avenue, Crockett, TX 75835
Coordinator: Tina Teetz, (936) 544-3255, Ext. 205 | Fax: (936) 545-0382
349th District Court
Serves Anderson and Houston Counties
Judge: Pam Foster Fletcher
Address: 401 E. Houston Avenue, Crockett, TX 75835
All felony case records are maintained by the District Clerk's Office at Suite E in the Houston County Courthouse. Deputies of the District Clerk carry out court orders by issuing writs, abstracts of judgment, warrants, and commitment documents in criminal matters.
Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases are handled by the Constitutional County Court and the Statutory County Court at Law, with records held by the County Clerk's Office. Class C misdemeanors — traffic violations and city ordinance infractions — are handled by the justice of the peace and municipal courts.
For arrest records and information about individuals in custody, contact the Houston County Sheriff's Office:
Address: 700A South 4th Street, Crockett, Texas 75835
Phone: (936) 544-2862
Email: hcso@co.houston.tx.us
Open Records Requests (Chapter 552): Zak Benge, Houston County Sheriff's Office, 700A South 4th Street, Crockett, Texas 75835
A current Houston County Inmate List is available on the county website. Victims seeking notification of offender status changes can register through the IVSS system at toll-free (866) 268-8959. Registered sex offender information for Houston County is searchable through the Texas DPS Sex Offender Registry.
The Sheriff's Office civil process fees are as follows: $100.00 for citations, subpoenas, and notices; $150.00 for writs, plus $50.00 per hour after the first two hours.
Houston County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in Houston County are distributed across district courts, county courts, and justice of the peace courts depending on the dollar amount in dispute and the complexity of the case. The 3rd and 349th District Courts have general jurisdiction over civil cases involving amounts exceeding $200, including property disputes, debt collection, contract claims, and condemnation proceedings. The Constitutional County Court and County Court at Law handle lower-value civil matters, while JP courts hear small claims cases.
The District Clerk's 2024 civil and family filing fee schedule sets the following key fees:
| Case Type | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Civil Suit (General) — Base Fee | $350.00 |
| Divorce — Base Fee | $350.00 |
| Adoption of Adult or Child | $350.00 |
| SAPCR (Suit Affecting Parent-Child Relationship) | $350.00 |
| Foreign Judgment | $350.00 |
| Counterclaim / Cross-Action (Family) | $80.00 |
| Counterclaim / Cross-Action (Non-Family) | $80.00 |
| Contempt Action | $80.00 |
| Motion for Modification (SAPCR) | $80.00 |
| Copies (per page) | $1.00 |
| Copies — Certified (add per document) | $5.00 |
| Records Search (per name) | $5.00 |
| Jury Fee | $10.00 |
| Abstract of Judgment | $8.00 |
The District Clerk's Local Administrative Rules govern procedural requirements for cases filed in Houston County's district courts. Legal aid and self-help resources are available through Texas Law Help.
If you cannot afford court costs, you may file a Statement of Inability to Afford Court Costs with the District Clerk's office.
Houston County Family Court Records
Divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, protective orders, and all other family law matters in Houston County are filed in the district courts and maintained by the District Clerk's Office. The District Clerk is the official office of record for district court proceedings and, in Houston County specifically, for certain civil and family matters heard in the County Courts at Law.
To get a copy of a divorce record, contact the District Clerk's office in person, send a written mail request, or search through the Online Records Search portal. Have the names of the parties and the approximate filing date ready to speed up the search. The Texas Department of State Health Services also maintains statewide public indexes of marriages and divorces — marriages from 1966 to present and divorces from 1968 forward — which may help confirm basic details without requiring a certified copy.
Marriage licenses are issued and recorded by the Houston County Clerk's Office. To request a certified copy, complete and submit the Application for a Certified Copy of the Marriage License to the County Clerk's office with a valid photo ID and a fee of $21 per certified copy. You can also order a Texas marriage verification letter online through the Texas Department of Health and Human Services Vital Statistics Department.
For vital records connected to family proceedings:
- Birth certificates — Restricted for 75 years under Texas Government Code § 552.115; during that period, access is limited to the named individual, immediate family, legal guardian, or authorized representative. Request by mail using the Application for Birth Certificate form with photo ID; the fee is $23. Eligible parties may also order a birth certificate online through Texas DSHS.
- Death certificates — Restricted for 25 years; the fee is $21 for the first certified copy. Requests may be made by mail using the Application for Birth/Death Certificate form, or ordered online through DSHS.
Adoptions in Houston County are handled by the District Court, with the District Clerk maintaining a Certificate of Adoption form. Adoption records are sealed by law and require a court order to access.
Houston County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Houston County — estate administration, probating of wills, guardianship proceedings, and related mental health matters — fall within the jurisdiction of the Constitutional County Court and are maintained by the Houston County Clerk's Office. The County Clerk also participates in iDocket for online access to county court case information.
To obtain probate records, you can:
- Visit in person at 401 East Houston Avenue, Suite D, Crockett, Texas 75835, during office hours (Monday–Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.)
- Call (936) 544-3255, Option 2 to inquire about specific records
- Search online through iDocket.com for case-level information
- Submit a written request by mail with identifying case information and copy fees
The County Clerk's 2024 fee schedule covers document copy and certification fees for probate and all other county clerk-maintained records. Some guardianship and mental health records within the probate system carry confidentiality protections and may require a court order before access is granted.
For property-related records frequently connected to estate proceedings, the Houston County Appraisal District at 1512-B E. Loop 304, P.O. Box 112, Crockett, TX 75835, Phone: (936) 544-9655, offers an online property search tool. The Houston County Tax Office at 401 East Goliad Avenue, Suite 101, Crockett, TX 75835, Phone: (936) 544-3255, Ext. 244, 257 & 277, also provides a searchable property records portal.