Travis County Court Records Search
TexasStateCourts.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports. All searches conducted on TexasStateCourts.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.
Travis County encompasses the Texas state capital of Austin and ranks as one of the most populated counties in the state. Its court system includes a broad network of district courts (handling both civil and criminal matters), county courts at law, county criminal courts, a dedicated probate court, five justice of the peace precincts, a juvenile court, and several specialty courts such as drug diversion, veterans treatment, and DWI courts. Two separate offices serve as the principal custodians of court records: the Travis County District Clerk, who maintains files for all district-level proceedings — felonies, civil litigation, and family law cases — and the Travis County Clerk, who oversees county court records including misdemeanors, probate filings, vital statistics, and real property instruments.
For anyone beginning a search for court records in Texas, the TexasStateCourts.us website offers a starting point for identifying the right court or clerk office across the state. Within Travis County specifically, free online case lookups are available through the county’s Odyssey Portal, and public-access terminals at multiple courthouse locations allow in-person research during business hours. Official clerk offices also accept written requests by mail and through online forms. Certified or authenticated document copies require formal submissions and payment of statutory fees, while basic case data can often be viewed at no cost through the county’s electronic search tools.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Travis County?
Travis County provides multiple pathways for locating case information, depending on whether you need district court records (felony criminal, civil, or family cases) or county-level records (misdemeanors, probate, and county civil matters).
Free Online Searches
The Travis County Odyssey Portal is the primary free search tool for public court records. Users can search by party name, case number, or attorney. The portal covers family and civil cases from 2006 to the present and criminal cases from 2008 to the present. Justice of the peace records are accessible through a separate Odyssey portal. Criminal court docket information can also be reviewed through the criminal docket search page.
For county-level records maintained by the County Clerk — including misdemeanor court data, probate cases, and recorded documents — case indexes from the mid-1980s forward and redacted document images from the mid-2000s forward are available online. Probate case data is available from July 1992 onward, with redacted document images from November 2009 to the present.
Requesting Official Copies
Physical certified, authenticated, or official copies must be obtained directly from the appropriate clerk’s office. The District Clerk accepts requests through three channels:
- Online — Complete the Court Records Request Form
- By mail — Send a written request to: Travis County District Clerk, Records Request, P.O. Box 679003, Austin, TX 78767
- In person — Visit during office hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
In-person locations vary by case type:
Civil and Family Records
Civil and Family Court Facility
1700 Guadalupe Street, Room 3.200
Austin, TX 78701
Felony Criminal Records
Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center, Gault Annex
501 W. 11th Street, 2nd Floor, Room 2.300
Austin, TX 78701
District Clerk Copy Fees
| Copy Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Non-certified paper copy (per page) | $1.00 |
| Certified paper copy (per page) | $1.00 + $5.00 certificate/seal |
| Electronic copy (up to 10 pages) | $1.00 |
| Electronic copy (each page over 10) | $0.10 |
| Non-certified document converted to electronic | $1.00 |
| File search without case number | $5.00 |
Credit card payments incur a non-refundable 3% convenience fee (minimum $3.00). Payments are also accepted by personal or business check, cashier’s check, money order, or cash.
Are Court Records Public in Travis County?
Texas court records carry a strong presumption of public access. Although the judiciary is technically exempt from the Texas Public Information Act (Government Code Chapter 552), the Texas Rules of Judicial Administration — particularly Rules 12.2 through 12.5 — and Rule 76a of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure establish that court records are presumptively open to inspection. Rule 76a requires a court hearing and specific findings before any documents can be sealed.
Most court filings are accessible for public review, including criminal dockets, charging instruments, civil petitions, motions, orders, judgments, and probate filings such as wills admitted to probate.
Certain categories of records are restricted or confidential under state law and court rules:
- Sealed records — documents placed under court seal are not publicly accessible
- Juvenile proceedings — confidential under Texas Family Code Title 3
- Expunged records — removed from public access upon court order
- Judicial work products and drafts — exempt under Rule 12.5 of the Texas Rules of Judicial Administration
- Personal identification information — Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, bank account numbers, and similar identifiers are redacted from publicly available court documents (per Texas Government Code § 552.108)
- Medical records of parties involved in a case
- Security plans and certain personnel records
- Ongoing investigation materials — may be withheld until the investigation concludes
Birth records maintained by the County Clerk are confidential for 75 years from the date of the event, and death records for 25 years. Vital record access is limited to eligible individuals as defined by Section 181.1(21) of the Texas Administrative Code.
Travis County Criminal Court Records
Criminal prosecutions in Travis County are divided among district courts, county criminal courts, and justice of the peace courts. Nine criminal district courts handle felony cases, all located at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center, 509 W. 11th Street, Austin, TX 78701. Seven county criminal courts (Courts No. 3 through 9) adjudicate Class A and Class B misdemeanors at the same building, and justice of the peace courts process Class C misdemeanors and traffic violations.
Key Criminal District Courts
| Court | Floor | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| 47th District Court | 7th | (512) 854-9311 |
| 167th District Court | 8th | (512) 854-9310 |
| 299th District Court | 8th | (512) 854-9442 |
| 331st District Court | 9th | (512) 854-9443 |
| 390th District Court | 7th | (512) 854-4885 |
| 403rd District Court | 2nd | (512) 854-9808 |
| 427th District Court | 3rd | (512) 854-3663 |
| 450th District Court (Veterans Court) | 9th | (512) 854-2441 |
| 460th District Court | 1st | (512) 854-6150 |
Felony case records are maintained by the District Clerk and can be searched for free through the Odyssey Portal (2008 to present). Official copies are requested through the District Clerk’s criminal division at 501 W. 11th Street, 2nd Floor. The standard copy fees listed above apply, and a $5 search fee is charged if the requester does not have a case number.
Misdemeanor Records
The Travis County Clerk maintains records for county criminal courts. The Clerk’s office will perform misdemeanor background searches covering Class A and B cases in the county’s centralized justice system. A search of electronic data (1981 to present) for one name with up to three aliases is free, plus the cost of any copies. For records predating 1981, the fee is $10 per name plus copy costs. Certified copies of the findings are available after payment. Contact the County Clerk’s Recording Division at (512) 854-9188 or visit 5501 Airport Boulevard, Suite 100B, Austin, TX 78751 (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).
Sheriff’s Office Records
The Travis County Sheriff’s Office processes public records requests for arrest and incident reports. Requests can be submitted in person or by mail to:
Travis County Sheriff’s Office
P.O. Box 1748
Austin, TX 78767
Phone: (512) 854-9770 (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
Central Records: (512) 854-9749
Email: tcsor@traviscountytx.gov
The Sheriff’s Office also provides a warrant search tool for checking active warrants. Statewide criminal history checks are available through the Texas DPS Criminal Record Service at $3 per name-based search.
Travis County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in Travis County are handled by twelve civil district courts at the Civil and Family Court Facility, 1700 Guadalupe Street, Austin, TX 78701, and by two county courts at law at the same address. District courts have original jurisdiction over civil disputes exceeding $200,000, while the county courts at law handle cases involving amounts up to $200,000, including evictions and breach of contract claims.
Civil district courts in Travis County include the 53rd, 98th, 126th, 200th, 201st, 250th, 261st, 345th, 353rd, 419th, 455th, and 459th, all located on floors 7 through 11 of 1700 Guadalupe Street. County Courts at Law 1 and 2 are on the 7th floor of the same building.
Searching Civil Records
The Odyssey Portal provides free online access to civil case data from 2006 to the present. For older records or official copies, contact the District Clerk’s Civil Division at (512) 854-9457 or submit the online records request form. In-person appointments for document pickup can be scheduled online, or walk-ins are accepted during business hours.
All attorneys must e-file civil documents through eFileTexas. Self-represented litigants may also use the e-filing system or file in person at the clerk’s office. A full fee schedule is available on the District Clerk’s website. The total base filing fee for a new civil case in the district courts is $350, broken down as follows: Clerk’s basic filing fee ($50), law library fee ($35), records preservation/management fee ($30), court reporter fee ($25), courthouse security fund ($20), court facility fund ($20), alternative dispute resolution fee ($15), county jury fund ($10), appellate judicial system fee ($5), language access fund ($3), local consolidated fee ($213), and state consolidated fee ($137).
Property Records
Real property documents — deeds, liens, mortgages, and easements — are recorded and maintained by the County Clerk’s Recording Division. The public can search property records through the County Clerk’s Real Estate Index or schedule a visit to view records in person at 5501 Airport Boulevard, Suite 100B, Austin, TX 78751. Recording fees for official public records begin at $25 for the first page and $4 for each additional page. Plain copies of recorded documents cost $1 per page; certified copies cost $5 per document plus $1 per page.
Travis County Family Court Records
Family law cases in Travis County — including divorces, suits affecting the parent-child relationship, child custody, child support, adoptions, name changes, and protective orders — are adjudicated by the civil district courts and associate courts at the Civil and Family Court Facility, 1700 Guadalupe Street, Austin, TX 78701. The IV-D child support court operates on the 6th floor of the same building, Phone: (512) 854-6453 Juvenile matters are handled by the 323rd District Court at the Juvenile Justice Center, 2515 S. Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78704, Phone: (512) 854-7063
The District Clerk’s Family Division maintains all family court records, including divorce decrees, custody orders, and adoption files. Family case data from 2006 forward is searchable for free through the Odyssey Portal. To obtain certified copies, use the same three request methods available for other District Clerk records (online form, mail, or in person). Cases involving minors — particularly custody, child support, and adoption proceedings — may contain restricted information accessible only to authorized parties.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses are issued by the County Clerk’s Recording Division at the Civil Family Courthouse, 1700 Guadalupe Street, 4th Floor, Suite 4.300, Austin, TX 78701. Both applicants must appear together in person. Key details:
- Formal marriage license fee: $80.00
- With premarital education certificate (Twogether in Texas): $20.00
- Informal (common law) marriage declaration: $45.00
- Non-resident surcharge (effective April 1, 2026): $100 if neither applicant can prove Texas residency
- Waiting period: 72 hours (waivable for active military, by judicial waiver, or with a premarital education certificate)
- License validity: 89 days from date of issuance
- Certified copy of marriage license: $6.00
- Plain copy: $1.00
Applications can be started online through the marriage license application portal. Marriage records are searchable through the County Clerk’s Marriage License Search. Statewide marriage and divorce indexes are available through the DSHS Vital Statistics Office.
Divorce Records
Divorce decrees are maintained by the District Clerk’s Family Division. They can be obtained in person at 1700 Guadalupe Street, Room 3.200, by mail to P.O. Box 679003, Austin, TX 78767, or through the online records request form. Standard copy fees apply. Some divorce records may be sealed by court order.
Birth and Death Records
The Travis County Clerk maintains birth and death records for events that occurred in Travis County from 1903 through 1956. For records within the Austin city limits, contact the City of Austin’s Office of Vital Records. For events outside Austin but within Travis County, contact the appropriate justice of the peace court. Statewide records can be obtained from the DSHS Vital Statistics Office.
County Clerk vital record fees:
- Certified birth certificate: $22.00
- Certified death certificate: $20.00 (each additional copy: $3.00)
Requests can be made by mail using the birth certificate request form or death certificate request form, with payment by cashier’s check, money order, or personal check sent to: Travis County Clerk, P.O. Box 149325, Austin, TX 78714. Only persons named on the record, immediate family members, legal guardians, or authorized legal representatives may request certified copies.
Travis County Probate Court Records
Travis County has a single probate court that handles the probate of wills, estate administration, guardianships of minors and incapacitated adults, conservatorships, trusts, mental health commitments, and related civil matters.
Travis County Probate Court
200 W. 8th Street, 2nd Floor
Austin, TX 78701
Phone: (512) 854-9258
Fax: (512) 854-4418
The County Clerk’s Probate Division serves as custodian of all probate records. For filing questions, contact the Probate Division at (512) 854-5958.
Searching Probate Records
Probate case data from July 1992 to the present is available online, with redacted document images from November 2009 forward. Indexes can be accessed through the County Clerk’s website. For cases filed before July 1992, a records search requires reviewing microfilm at a cost of $5 per name per decade of film searched. A cause number or status inquiry for automated records (after July 1992) is free — call (512) 854-9188.
Probate Copy Fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Copies made by Clerk | $1.00 per page |
| Self-serve copies (photocopier) | $0.20 per page |
| Self-serve copies (microfilm/computer) | $0.25 per page |
| Certified copies | $5.00 per document + $1.00 per page |
| Exemplified/authenticated copies | $7.00 per document + $1.00 per page |
| Electronic copies | $1.00 per document + $0.10 per page over 10 |
Credit card payments are accepted (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover), with a transaction fee of $3.00 for amounts under $100 or 3% for amounts of $100 or more.
Probate Filing Fees (Selected)
Most probate applications carry a standard filing fee of $360.00, including:
- Application for probate of will and issuance of letters testamentary
- Application for appointment of administrator (independent or dependent)
- Application for appointment of guardian or temporary guardian
- Application for determination of heirship
- Small estate affidavit
- Mental health suits (inside or outside Travis County)
- Management trusts and testamentary trusts
If the court requires appointment of an attorney ad litem — such as for probating a lost will, probating a copy of a will, or probating a will more than four years after the testator’s death — an additional deposit of $525.00 is added to the filing fee. Other selected fees include $10 for filing a claim against an estate, $25 for filing an annual or final account, $5 for recording a bond, and $2 for issuance of letters. The complete probate fee schedule is published on the County Clerk’s website.