Houston County Court Records Search: Texas Clerk, County Court, Justice Court, Appeals & PACER Routes
Houston court records can mean two different things: Houston County, Texas in Crockett, or the City of Houston in Harris County and nearby counties. This guide is for Houston County, Texas and explains which official office handles felony, civil, divorce, child support, misdemeanor, probate, guardianship, Justice Court, appeal, federal, and bankruptcy records.
Public-Court-Records.us is independent. This website is not Houston County, the Houston County District Clerk, the Houston County Clerk, County Court at Law, Justice of the Peace, Texas courts, PACER, a law firm, or a government agency. This guide is general information only and is not legal advice.
Responsible-use warning: a name match does not prove identity. A complaint, indictment, charge, citation, lawsuit, petition, judgment, warrant, or docket entry does not prove guilt, liability, payment status, or current legal status. Do not use this page as an FCRA-regulated employment, tenant, credit, insurance, or background-screening product.
Houston County, Texas court records are not Harris County / City of Houston court records
Houston County, Texas is a county in East Texas with the county seat in Crockett. Its courthouse address is 401 East Houston Avenue, Crockett, Texas 75835. If your case happened in the City of Houston, the record may instead belong to Harris County, Fort Bend County, Montgomery County, or another county depending on the address, court, and filing location.
- The case papers mention Crockett or Houston County.
- The court is the 3rd District Court, 349th District Court, Houston County Court at Law, County Court, or Houston County Justice of the Peace.
- The clerk listed is the Houston County District Clerk or Houston County Clerk.
- The courthouse address is 401 East Houston Avenue, Crockett, TX.
- The incident, lawsuit, ticket, divorce, or probate case was filed in Houston, Texas city limits.
- The court paper names Harris County District Clerk, Harris County Clerk, Harris County Justice Courts, or Houston Municipal Courts.
- The address is downtown Houston, such as 201 Caroline Street.
- The case is in a Harris County district, county civil, probate, criminal, family, or JP court.
Houston County court records are split by court and clerk
The Houston County District Clerk is the record office for District Court proceedings. Its official page states that felony case records are kept in the District Clerk’s office and that the District Clerk handles records for serious civil litigation, divorces, child support, custody, tax collection, and related district-court proceedings.
The Houston County Clerk serves as clerk and records custodian for the Commissioners Court, Constitutional County Court, and Statutory County Courts. The County Court at Law page separates matters filed through the District Clerk from matters filed through the County Clerk, so the filing office matters when you request copies.
Main courthouse location in Crockett for several Houston County court offices.
Official county pages list the 3rd District Court and 349th District Court.
County Court at Law lists Class A and B misdemeanors through the County Clerk route.
JP pages include debt, eviction, small-claim, repair and remedy, and occupational license materials.
Houston County court record route finder
Select the type of record. This helper runs in your browser and does not ask for names, case numbers, citation numbers, birth dates, addresses, or other personal information.
The official District Clerk page states that felony case records are kept in the District Clerk’s office. Provide the case number, defendant name, filing year, and exact document needed when requesting copies.
Choose the correct Houston County court or records custodian
Use this table before opening a portal, calling an office, or requesting a certified copy. Texas counties often split responsibilities between a district clerk, county clerk, justice court, county court, appellate court, and federal system.
| Need | Correct source | What to check first |
|---|---|---|
| Felony criminal case | Houston County District Clerk | Use the District Clerk route. Verify case number, defendant name, court, filing year, charge entries, disposition, sentence, and later orders. |
| Major civil lawsuit, tax collection, personal injury, contract, real estate, or consumer lawsuit | Houston County District Clerk / District Court | District Clerk records cover District Court proceedings and some civil matters heard in County Court at Law. |
| Divorce, child support, custody, SAPCR, adoption, name change, or protective order | District Clerk for family filings; County Court at Law may exercise concurrent jurisdiction | Family records may involve sensitive or restricted information. Ask the clerk what is publicly available before requesting copies. |
| Class A or Class B misdemeanor, Class C appeal, probate, guardianship, mental health, county civil, condemnation, or occupational driver’s license petition | Houston County Clerk / County Court at Law | County Court at Law lists these as matters filed through the County Clerk’s Office. |
| Justice Court small claims, debt claim, eviction, repair and remedy, or JP occupational license material | Houston County Justice of the Peace | Use the JP page and the correct precinct. Precinct 1 and Precinct 2 have separate contact information. |
| Juvenile matter | County Court at Law / juvenile route through applicable clerk | The County Court at Law page lists juvenile law for children 10 to under 17. Juvenile records often have access restrictions. |
| County Court criminal docket or County Judge docket | County Court at Law page or County Judge page | Check the official docket postings, then contact the court or clerk to confirm current scheduling because dockets can change. |
| State appeal | Texas appellate courts / Texas Judicial Branch case search | Use the appellate case number if available and compare it to the trial-court cause number. |
| Federal civil, federal criminal, or bankruptcy case | PACER / Eastern District of Texas / Eastern District bankruptcy court | County clerks do not maintain federal dockets. Use PACER Case Locator when the federal court is unknown. |
| City of Houston case | Usually Harris County, Houston Municipal Courts, or another county depending on filing location | Use Harris County online services or the proper municipal court if the case is in Houston city, not Houston County. |
Houston County District Clerk: felony, district civil and family records
The District Clerk’s official page identifies the office as the record office for proceedings heard in District Courts and some civil and family matters heard in County Court at Law. It specifically lists serious personal injury, contract, real estate, consumer lawsuits, divorces, child support, custody cases, tax collection cases, and felony case records.
Start at the official Houston County District Clerk page and look for the online criminal and civil records search link or related records resources.
Houston County lists the 3rd District Court and 349th District Court. Some matters may involve County Court at Law but still be filed through the District Clerk.
Case number searching is usually safer than name-only searching. If using a name, compare the court, filing year, party role, and docket entries.
Family, juvenile, adoption, protective-order, child-related, sealed, nondisclosure, expunction, and confidential records may not be fully viewable online.
Provide the case number, party names, filing year, exact document title, and whether you need certification, exemplification, or a plain copy.
Houston County Clerk and County Court at Law records
The Houston County Clerk serves as clerk and custodian of records for the Commissioners Court, Constitutional County Court and Statutory County Courts. The County Court at Law page says that Class A and B misdemeanors, Class C appeals, probate matters, guardianships, mental-health cases, certain civil litigation, condemnation litigation, and occupational driver’s license petitions are filed through the County Clerk’s Office.
- County Court at Law criminal records for Class A and B misdemeanors.
- Class C appeals where applicable.
- Probate and guardianship records.
- Mental-health records, subject to confidentiality rules.
- County civil litigation and occupational driver’s license petitions.
- Official public records such as deeds and bonds.
- Birth and death certificate applications.
- Assumed name / DBA filings.
- Marriage licenses and certified marriage copies.
- Foreclosure sale notices and recording-related services.
Houston County Justice of the Peace records
The Houston County Justice of the Peace page lists Precinct 1 and Precinct 2 information and provides materials for occupational license petitions, eviction filings, debt claims, small claims, and repair and remedy cases. These matters should not automatically be searched through the District Clerk or County Clerk route.
Judge Mike McCreight
700B South 4th Street
Crockett, TX 75835
Phone: 936-544-2564
Fax: 936-544-1460
Judge Ronnie Jordan
110 East Houston Avenue
Crockett, TX 75835
Office: 936-544-3255 ext. 269
Hours listed: 7:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. and 12:00 noon–4:00 p.m.
Official Houston County court-record links and what to do after opening each one
Use these official or court-authorized resources. Each link includes a short action guide so users know what to click, what to verify, and when to contact the office.
Use this for felony, District Court, major civil, divorce, child support, custody, and related records.
- Confirm you are on co.houston.tx.us.
- Look for Online Criminal & Civil Records.
- Check forms, fee schedule, future settings and local rules when relevant.
- Use the District Clerk contact details for certified-copy requests.
Use this for County Court records, probate/guardianship routing, official records, marriage, assumed names, and recording records.
- Identify whether you need a court record or an official recorded document.
- Use the Criminal & Civil Online Record Search via LGS link where appropriate.
- Check the deputy extension by record type when listed.
- Call before visiting because some services require appointments or specific timing.
Use this to understand County Court at Law jurisdiction and docket postings.
- Check whether the case was filed through the District Clerk or County Clerk.
- Review the civil or criminal docket posting if your case is listed.
- Confirm current settings because dockets can change.
- Contact the court coordinator or correct clerk for records and scheduling questions.
Use this when a County Court docket, County Judge matter, or Commissioners Court function is involved.
- Review the listed County Court docket if posted.
- Confirm whether the record is judicial or administrative.
- Do not send District Court requests to the County Judge page.
- Call the listed office if the docket date is unclear.
Use this for JP-level small claims, debt, eviction, repair and remedy, and occupational license materials.
- Choose the correct precinct.
- Use the listed petition or information sheet for your case type.
- Call the correct JP office before filing or requesting copies.
- Do not assume JP records appear in the District Clerk system.
Use this for court-specific information for the 3rd Judicial District Court.
- Confirm the case belongs to the 3rd District Court.
- Use the District Clerk for official records.
- Use court coordinator contact details for court setting or reporter questions.
- Request reporter’s records in writing as instructed by the court page.
Use this for court-specific information for the 349th Judicial District Court.
- Confirm the case belongs to the 349th District Court.
- Use the District Clerk for official case records.
- Use coordinator or court-reporter information for court-specific requests.
- Do not treat court-administration contacts as certified-copy ordering contacts.
Use this only for current custody or jail-status questions, not court disposition proof.
- Search custody information separately from court records.
- Do not treat booking information as a conviction.
- Use the court clerk for final court disposition.
- Use victim notification resources only for their intended purpose.
Use this for Texas appellate and statewide judicial-branch search routing where available.
- Search by case number when possible.
- Compare the lower-court cause number.
- Check the appellate court name and filing date.
- Return to the trial clerk for trial-court certified copies.
Use this for federal district-court venue questions in Texas.
- Enter the county, city, or ZIP code.
- Confirm the correct federal division.
- Use PACER for federal docket and document access.
- Do not search county clerk pages for federal court records.
Use this for bankruptcy court information in the Eastern District of Texas.
- Confirm the bankruptcy division and office.
- Use PACER for case dockets and documents.
- Review public terminal options if visiting a federal courthouse.
- Do not use county civil court to search bankruptcy cases.
Use this for federal civil, criminal, bankruptcy, and appellate cases.
- Use Case Locator if the federal court is unknown.
- Use the specific court for the most current docket.
- Review current PACER pricing before opening documents.
- Remember county portals do not contain federal PACER records.
Houston County courthouse offices, contacts and map
Call before visiting to confirm the correct office, room or suite, public-access method, copy requirements, accepted payment, appointment rules, and whether a document is sealed, restricted, archived, or held by a different office.
401 East Houston Avenue, Suite E
Crockett, TX 75835
Office: 936-544-3255 ext. 235
Fax: 936-544-9523
Email: Districtclerk@co.houston.tx.us
Use for District Court, felony, major civil, divorce, child support, custody and related records.
401 East Houston Avenue, Suite D
Crockett, TX 75835
Phone: 936-544-3255
Hours listed: 8:15 a.m.–4:15 p.m.
Use for County Court, probate, guardianship, county-court criminal/civil, official records, marriage and recording-related routing.
401 East Houston Avenue, Suite H, 2nd Floor
Crockett, TX 75835
Phone: 936-544-3255 ext. 230
Fax: 936-545-9605
Hours listed: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Use for County Court at Law docket and court-specific routing.
401 East Goliad Avenue, Suite 201
Crockett, TX 75835
Phone: 936-544-3255 ext. 221
Fax: 936-544-8053
Use only for the County Judge or County Court matters listed by that office.
700B South 4th Street
Crockett, TX 75835
Phone: 936-544-2564
Fax: 936-544-1460
Use for Precinct 1 JP matters.
110 East Houston Avenue
Crockett, TX 75835
Office: 936-544-3255 ext. 269
Hours listed: 7:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. and 12:00 noon–4:00 p.m.
Use for Precinct 2 JP matters.
Houston County appeals, federal court and bankruptcy records
State appeals and federal records do not always appear in the local county portal. Use the correct appellate or federal system.
Use Texas Judicial Branch search and the applicable Texas court of appeals. Compare the appellate case number with the original trial-court cause number.
Houston County, Texas is in the Eastern District of Texas. Use the federal court locator and PACER for federal civil or criminal dockets.
Bankruptcy is federal. Use the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Texas and PACER, not Houston County civil or probate searches.
What to do if a Houston County court-record search returns no result
- You searched Houston County when the case is actually in Harris County or the City of Houston.
- You searched the District Clerk for a County Clerk, JP, probate, or county-court matter.
- You searched County Clerk records for a felony or district family case.
- You searched a county portal for federal, bankruptcy, or appellate records.
- You searched court records when the record belongs to jail, sheriff, recorder, or vital-records custody.
- New filings or docket entries may not appear immediately.
- Sealed, expunged, nondisclosed, juvenile, adoption, protective-order, or confidential records may be restricted.
- Older files may require clerk research, paper retrieval, or archive handling.
- Name-only searches can miss spelling variants or produce false matches.
- Some official copies require in-person, mail, or written request procedures.
Court records vs jail, sheriff, county clerk official records and vital records
Houston County court records are not the same as every local public record. The right custodian depends on what the document is and which office created or maintains it.
| Need | Usually not the court-record portal | Likely route |
|---|---|---|
| Current custody or booking status | A court docket may show filings, not current jail custody. | Houston County Inmate List or sheriff/jail route. |
| Incident report or investigative file | A court case may not include the police report. | Sheriff, police, prosecutor, or County Attorney open-records route depending on the record. |
| Deed, land record, assumed name, brand or official recording | Official records are not ordinary court dockets. | Houston County Clerk recording / official records route. |
| Birth or death certificate | Vital records are not the same as lawsuits or criminal dockets. | County Clerk or state vital-records process, depending on the certificate. |
| Federal lawsuit or bankruptcy | County records do not replace PACER. | PACER, Eastern District of Texas, or Eastern District bankruptcy court. |
How to read Houston County docket results without over-interpreting them
A docket shows court activity. It does not always explain the legal meaning of every entry, and it may not show whether a later order changed the status. Read the sequence of entries and verify current disposition with the correct clerk when the record matters.
Plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent, appellant, appellee, judgment creditor, judgment debtor, decedent, guardian, ward, and personal representative are roles. A role does not always imply wrongdoing.
Complaint, petition, citation, summons, motion, notice, order, judgment, sentence, warrant, continuance, dismissal, satisfaction, and appeal entries should be read in context.
Open, closed, disposed, dismissed, stayed, reopened, nondisclosed, sealed, or satisfied can mean different things depending on the case type. Ask the clerk or an attorney for official interpretation.
Use Houston County court records carefully
- Do not identify a person from a common name alone.
- Compare court, case number, filing date, case type, party role, and docket activity.
- Do not assume an arrest, charge, complaint, petition or indictment is a conviction or final ruling.
- Do not assume a judgment is still unpaid or enforceable without later docket and satisfaction review.
- Do not harass, threaten, shame, or retaliate against anyone.
- Do not republish children’s names, addresses, school details, medical information, or unnecessary sensitive details.
- Do not try to bypass sealed, expunged, nondisclosed, juvenile, mental-health, adoption, or confidential restrictions.
- Contact the official custodian for corrections, sealing, expunction, nondisclosure, or certified copies.
Frequently asked questions about Houston County court records
Is this page for Houston County, Texas or the City of Houston?
This page is for Houston County, Texas, whose county seat is Crockett. If you meant the City of Houston, most local court-record searches usually route through Harris County, Fort Bend County, Montgomery County, or another county depending on the case location.
Where do I search Houston County Texas felony court records?
Use the Houston County District Clerk. The District Clerk page states that felony case records are kept in the District Clerk’s office.
Where do I search Houston County divorce, custody, or child-support records?
Start with the Houston County District Clerk for District Court family records. The County Court at Law page also states that it has concurrent family-law jurisdiction for divorce, child support enforcement, suits affecting the parent-child relationship, protective orders, adoptions, and name changes when filed through the District Clerk’s Office.
Where do I search Houston County misdemeanor records?
Class A and Class B misdemeanor matters and Class C appeals are listed under County Court at Law jurisdiction when filed through the Houston County Clerk’s Office. Contact the County Clerk or County Court at Law if the online search does not answer your question.
Where do I search Houston County probate or guardianship records?
The Houston County Court at Law page lists probate matters, guardianships, and mental-health cases under County Court at Law jurisdiction through the County Clerk’s Office. Start with the County Clerk for probate and guardianship record routing.
Where do I search Houston County Justice of the Peace records?
Use the Houston County Justice of the Peace page for JP court information. The page provides Precinct 1 and Precinct 2 contact details and links for eviction, debt claim, small claims, repair and remedy, and occupational license materials.
Can I search Houston County court records by name?
The county provides an online criminal and civil records search through the Clerk pages, but a name match alone is not reliable. Compare the court, case number, filing date, party role, docket activity, and case type before assuming a result belongs to a specific person or business.
How do I get certified copies of Houston County court records?
Request certified copies from the office that maintains the original file: District Clerk for district and felony matters, County Clerk for county-court and probate matters, Justice of the Peace for JP cases, or the appellate or federal clerk for those records. Ask the office for current copy, certification, payment, and delivery requirements.
Where do I search Houston County appeals?
Houston County state appeals generally route through the Texas appellate system. Use the Texas Judicial Branch case search and the applicable court of appeals, and compare the appellate case number with the lower-court case number.
Where do I search Houston County federal or bankruptcy cases?
Use PACER and the federal courts, not the county portal. Houston County, Texas is in the Eastern District of Texas; bankruptcy matters use the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
Official-source review checklist
This guide was reviewed against official Houston County Texas pages for the District Clerk, County Clerk, County Court at Law, County Judge, Justice of the Peace, 3rd District Court, 349th District Court, County Attorney open-records contact, inmate list, Texas Judicial Branch search resources, Eastern District of Texas resources, Eastern District bankruptcy resources, PACER, and Harris County routing resources for users who meant Houston city rather than Houston County. Review date: September 19, 2026.