Washington County Court Records

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    Washington County, Texas is located in the heart of the state's Post Oak Belt region, with Brenham serving as the county seat. The county's court system — organized within Texas's 2nd Administrative Judicial Region — spans district courts, a constitutional county court, a county court at law, justice of the peace courts, and municipal courts. Together, these courts handle criminal, civil, family, probate, and juvenile matters. Two separate clerk offices — the County Clerk and the District Clerk — are the principal keepers of these records, each responsible for distinct case types.

    Court records in Texas can be searched through a combination of online tools, direct contact with clerk offices, and public access terminals. For anyone beginning a search, TexasStateCourts.us can help you identify the correct jurisdiction and understand how different courts manage their records across the state's 254 counties.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Washington County?

    The first step is figuring out which clerk's office filed the case. Civil lawsuits, felony criminal cases, divorces, adoptions, and family matters go through the District Clerk. Probate proceedings, guardianships, marriages, births, and deaths fall under the County Clerk's jurisdiction.

    Online Search Options

    Washington County court records can be searched online through several official and authorized platforms:

    • iDocket.com — Washington County's primary online portal for civil, family law, felony criminal, and probate case information. Both the District Clerk and County Clerk maintain case data accessible through this platform. Civil records from the County Court at Law are also available here.
    • re:SearchTX — The Texas courts' statewide case search system powered by the state's e-filing infrastructure. It covers civil cases from district, county, and justice of the peace courts. A free registration account is required.
    • Texas Judiciary Branch CaseSearch — Useful for locating appellate court case information for Washington County matters that have moved beyond the trial court level.

    In-Person Searches

    Both clerk offices welcome in-person record searches at the Washington County Courthouse during regular business hours.

    Washington County District Clerk
    Address: 100 E. Main Street, Suite 304, Brenham, TX 77833
    Phone: (979) 277-6200

    Washington County Clerk
    Address: 100 E. Main Street, Suite 102, Brenham, TX 77833
    Phone: 979-277-6216
    Fax: 979-277-6278
    Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (open through the lunch hour, closed on County holidays)

    Mail Requests

    Written requests can be mailed to either clerk office. Include case numbers, full names of parties, and the approximate filing date if available. Mail request payments are accepted by check or money order. Copy fees are $1.00 per page, and certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus $5.00 per document certification.

    Are Court Records Public in Washington County?

    The vast majority of Washington County court records are open to public inspection. As the Texas State Law Library Court Record Guide explains, access to court records in Texas is grounded in common law, statutory law, and court rules — not the Texas Public Information Act, which doesn't apply directly to judicial records. In practice, most case files, docket sheets, hearing transcripts, and judgments are freely available to any member of the public.

    That said, Texas law and court discretion create several categories of restricted records:

    • Sealed records — Judges may seal specific documents or entire case files when sensitive material is involved. Common examples include juvenile matters, certain family law cases, adoption proceedings, and unresolved criminal matters.
    • Confidential records — Personally identifiable information related to minors or crime victims may be redacted or withheld from otherwise public filings, consistent with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and applicable privacy statutes.
    • Vital records restrictions — Under Texas Government Code 552.115, birth records are restricted for 75 years from the date of birth, and death records are restricted for 25 years from the date of death. Access during these periods is limited to eligible requesters.
    • Expunged and non-disclosed records — Criminal records that have been expunged or placed under orders of non-disclosure are removed from public view by court order.

    Anyone is entitled to inspect and copy records that haven't been sealed or otherwise restricted. Court staff cannot make legal determinations about whether a specific document is properly withheld — requests for restricted records may require a court order or attorney assistance.

    Washington County Criminal Court Records

    Felony criminal cases in Washington County are filed with the District Clerk after indictment by the Grand Jury and are heard in either the 21st Judicial District Court or the 335th Judicial District Court. Class A and B misdemeanor matters go to the Washington County Court at Law, with records also maintained by the District Clerk. Justice of the peace courts handle Class C misdemeanor violations, traffic cases, and local ordinance matters. Municipal courts in Brenham and Burton have jurisdiction over city ordinance violations.

    21st and 335th Judicial District Courts
    Address: 100 E. Main Street, Suite 304, Brenham, TX 77833
    Phone: (979) 277-6200, ext. 5338

    Washington County Court at Law (Criminal)
    Address: 100 E. Main Street, Suite 203, Brenham, TX 77833
    Phone: (979) 277-6200, ext. 5323
    Fax: (979) 277-6285

    Brenham Municipal Court
    Address: 200 W. Vulcan, P.O. Box 1059, Brenham, TX 77833
    Phone: (979) 337-7599
    Fax: (979) 337-7504

    Criminal court case records are generally public and can be searched online through iDocket.com or re:SearchTX. In-person access is available at the District Clerk's office. For arrest records and booking information — which are law enforcement records separate from court records — contact the Washington County Sheriff's Office at 1206 Old Independence Road, Brenham, TX 77833, Phone: (979) 277-6251. The Sheriff's Office also maintains a public inmate roster. State-level criminal history background checks are processed through the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).

    Washington County Civil Court Records

    Civil litigation in Washington County is split between the District Court and the County Court at Law, depending on the claim type and amount in controversy. The 21st and 335th Judicial District Courts handle general civil suits, election disputes, defamation claims, land disputes, and cases beyond the jurisdiction of lower courts. The Washington County Court at Law holds concurrent jurisdiction over many civil matters and also hears non-disclosure petitions and occupational driver's license cases. Justice of the peace courts handle small claims matters, with a civil filing fee of $74.00 (with service).

    Washington County District Clerk (Civil)
    Address: 100 E. Main Street, Suite 304, Brenham, TX 77833
    Phone: (979) 277-6200

    Washington County Court at Law (Civil)
    Address: 100 E. Main Street, Suite 203, Brenham, TX 77833
    Phone: (979) 277-6200, ext. 5323
    Fax: (979) 277-6285

    Washington County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1
    Address: 1305 E. Blue Bell Road, Suite 114, Brenham, TX 77833
    Phone: (979) 277-6260 | Fax: (979) 277-6296

    Washington County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2
    Address: 4260 Sausage Lane, Chappell Hill, TX 77426
    Phone: (979) 836-5008 | Fax: (979) 353-0041

    Washington County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3
    Address: 100 E. Main Street, Suite 202, Brenham, TX 77833
    Phone: (979) 277-6200, ext. 5320

    Washington County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4
    Address: 402 N. Main Street, P.O. Box 120, Burton, TX 77835
    Phone: (979) 289-2921 | Fax: (979) 289-5001

    Some civil records from the County Clerk's office are available online through iDocket.com. The County Clerk also maintains the Official Public Records database at edoctecinc.com, which allows searching deed records, vital statistics indexes, and other official documents by party name, document type, or advanced criteria. Filing fees for civil suits include a non-disclosure civil case filing fee of $350.00 and a bill of costs preparation fee of $8.00. Standard copy fees are $1.00 per page; certified copies run $1.00 per page plus $5.00 per document certification.

    Washington County Family Court Records

    Family law matters — including divorces, parent-child relationship suits, adoptions, name changes, child support enforcement cases, and protective orders — are filed with the Washington County District Clerk and heard in the 21st or 335th Judicial District Courts, or the County Court at Law as appropriate. All Office of the Attorney General Child Support Enforcement Division cases are also filed through the District Clerk's office.

    Washington County District Clerk (Family)
    Address: 100 E. Main Street, Suite 304, Brenham, TX 77833
    Phone: (979) 277-6200

    Family case records that are not sealed can be searched online through iDocket.com and re:SearchTX. In-person access is available at the District Clerk's office during regular business hours.

    Marriage Records

    Marriage licenses are issued and maintained by the Washington County Clerk's office. An appointment is required — call 979-277-6216 to schedule. Fees are $81.00 for a marriage license when one or both applicants are Texas residents, and $181.00 when neither applicant is a Texas resident. An informal marriage license costs $46.00. Certified copies of marriage licenses are $7.00 each. Marriage records are also available through the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Vital Statistics Office via an online application ($20.00 processing fee) or by mail ($22.00 by check or money order payable to DSHS Vital Statistics, mailed to P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040). The DSHS vital statistics office provides uncertified marriage verification letters and marriage license application indexes through this process.

    Divorce Records

    Certified copies of divorce decrees are available through the District Clerk's office in person. Uncertified divorce record verifications and reports of divorce or annulment indexes can be requested from the DSHS Vital Statistics Office using the same online or mail process as marriage records.

    Birth and Death Records

    Birth records are restricted under Texas Government Code 552.115 for 75 years from the date of birth, and death records are restricted for 25 years from the date of death. Eligible requesters — including the subject of the record, immediate family members, and legal representatives — may access them at any time. Certified birth certificates cost $23.00 each through the County Clerk's office; death certificates are $21.00 for the first copy and $4.00 for each additional copy of the same record within the same request. Both record types can also be requested through the DSHS online vital records portal at $20.00 online or $22.00 by mail, using the birth record mail application or the death record mail application.

    Washington County Probate Court Records

    Washington County has no dedicated probate court. All probate, guardianship, and related proceedings are heard by the Washington County Court at Law, with records maintained by the Washington County Clerk. Case types handled in this capacity include administration of estates, muniment of title, small estate affidavits, declarations of heirship, letters testamentary, foreign wills, trust proceedings, and guardianship appointments and oversight.

    Importantly, all new probate and guardianship cases must be e-filed by attorneys under a standing court order effective January 1, 2016. The court has also issued a policy requiring that individuals filing a probate or guardianship case be represented by legal counsel — pro se (self-represented) filers are not permitted in these proceedings.

    Washington County Clerk (Probate)
    Address: 100 E. Main Street, Suite 102, Brenham, TX 77833
    Phone: 979-277-6216
    Fax: 979-277-6278
    Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

    Probate and Guardianship Filing Fees (effective January 1, 2022):

    Filing Type

    Fee

    New Probate Case (Administration, Muniment, Small Estate, etc.)

    $405.00

    New Guardianship Case

    $405.00

    In-County Service

    $85.00

    Citation (each)

    $8.00

    Action in Existing Case

    $120.00

    Claims

    $10.00

    Inventory (filed after 90 days from order)

    $27.00

    Final Account of Estate

    $61.00

    Annual Report/Account of Guardianship or Estate

    $12.00 / $27.00

    Application for Sale of Real or Personal Property

    $61.00 (includes posting fee)

    Letters Testamentary, Administration, or Guardianship

    $2.00 each

    Copies per page

    $1.00

    Certification per document

    $5.00

    Probate filing fees paid to the Clerk are non-refundable. Some probate case information is available online through iDocket.com. The County Clerk's office also provides self-help resources for probate, including legal information, lawyer referral services, legal aid contacts, and law library links. For e-filing questions, the Clerk's office has published an E-filing FAQ specifically for probate matters.