McLennan County Court Records Search: District Clerk, County Clerk, JCA, JP & PACER Routes
Use this guide to find the correct official route for McLennan County court records: District Clerk records, County Clerk court files, County Courts at Law, Justice of the Peace cases, probate and guardianship files, state appeals, and federal PACER records.
Public-Court-Records.us is independent. This website is not McLennan County, the McLennan County District Clerk, the McLennan County Clerk, a Texas court, a law firm, a government agency, PACER, or a Consumer Reporting Agency. This page is general public-record guidance only and is not legal advice.
Responsible-use warning: a name match does not prove identity. A complaint, arrest, charge, indictment, lawsuit, petition, citation, docket entry, or search result does not prove guilt or liability. Do not use this page for employment, tenant, credit, insurance, licensing, or other FCRA-regulated screening decisions.
McLennan County court records depend on the court and clerk
McLennan County has separate record custodians for different court levels. The District Clerk is the main route for district-level felony, civil, family, and child-support records. The County Clerk is the route for County Court at Law civil, misdemeanor, probate, guardianship, and certain county-court records.
The county’s official case-search page explains that McLennan developed a searchable index of criminal and civil cases from 2001 to present, with general case information from the early 1980s forward converted from the legacy “Bridge” system. For older files, archived documents, certified copies, or unclear searches, the official clerk route matters.
McLennan County states criminal and civil cases from 2001 to present are in the searchable index.
General case information from the early 1980s forward was converted from the legacy Bridge system.
District Clerk and County Clerk pages list many court-file copies at $1 per page.
The County Clerk announced a 2026 transition to a new case-management system beginning August 21 and planned for August 24.
McLennan County court record route finder
Select the record type. This helper runs in your browser and does not ask for names, case numbers, dates of birth, addresses, or other identifiers.
Search through the District Clerk court-record website when appropriate, then contact the District Clerk criminal division at 254-757-5054 for copy or certified-record questions.
Choose the correct McLennan County court record system
Use this table before opening a portal. McLennan County has multiple court systems, and a valid record can look “missing” if searched in the wrong office.
| Need | Correct source | What to do first |
|---|---|---|
| Felony criminal case or district criminal matter | McLennan County District Clerk / district courts | Use the District Clerk court-record website or official case-search route. For copies, contact the criminal division at 254-757-5054. |
| District civil lawsuit, family case, divorce, child support, or related district record | McLennan County District Clerk civil division | Use case number if available. For civil/family copies, include the case/cause number and requested document titles; call 254-757-5057 for questions. |
| Class A or Class B misdemeanor criminal case | McLennan County Clerk / County Courts at Law | Use County Clerk case-search resources. County Clerk FAQs explain that Class A and B misdemeanors are handled by the county criminal courts. |
| County Court at Law civil case | McLennan County Clerk civil department | Use the JCA Court Case Search route or public workstations. County Clerk civil search requests are handled by the civil department at 215 N 5th Street, Room 201. |
| Probate, estate, will, guardianship, or minor/incapacitated-person matter | McLennan County Clerk probate department | Use County Clerk probate resources and JCA Court Case Search. Probate and guardianship files are maintained by the County Clerk for Probate Court. |
| Small claims, eviction, debt claim, repair and remedy, JP traffic, truancy, fine-only misdemeanor, or magistrate function | McLennan County Justice of the Peace court | Identify the correct JP precinct/place. Eviction petitions must be filed in the precinct where the dwelling is located, and JP tickets route to the JP listed on the citation. |
| City ticket, ordinance case, or municipal citation | The municipal court named on the ticket | Check whether the citation came from Waco, Bellmead, Hewitt, Woodway, McGregor, West, Robinson, or another municipality. Municipal court records are not always county clerk records. |
| Deed, deed of trust, lien, plat, assumed name, cattle brand, affidavit, or recorded real-estate instrument | McLennan County Clerk Official Public Records | Use the Official Public Records search, not the court case search. Online OPR coverage begins January 1, 1996, with some older book-volume records available in-office or electronically. |
| State appeal from a McLennan County case | Tenth Court of Appeals, Waco | Use the Texas Tenth Court of Appeals route and compare the lower-court case number. Appeals are separate from trial-court record searches. |
| Federal civil, federal criminal, or bankruptcy case | PACER, Western District of Texas Waco Division, or Western District of Texas Bankruptcy Court Waco Division | Use PACER Find a Case or the specific federal court. McLennan County state and county portals do not contain federal case records. |
How to search McLennan County court records without using the wrong office
McLennan County’s court-record access is split between the District Clerk, County Clerk, County Courts at Law, JP courts, municipal courts, appellate courts, and federal courts. Start with the official county case-search page, then follow the route for the record type.
District, county court at law, JP, municipal, probate, appellate, and federal records do not all live in the same system.
Open McLennan County’s Case Search page. Use the District Clerk route for district cases and the County Clerk route for county-court records.
McLennan County explains that the County Clerk JCA Court Case Search and certain online docket/case information systems require registration or account creation.
A case number is more reliable than a name. If using a name, compare date of birth where legally available, filing year, court, docket, party role, and case type.
The county states the searchable index includes criminal and civil cases from 2001 to present, with general case information from the early 1980s forward converted from Bridge.
Use the clerk that maintains the official file. The website may let you browse an index, but certified copies usually require written or in-person request steps.
Confirm disposition, certification, expungement/sealing status, appeal status, and current copy fees with the responsible office.
McLennan County court-record copy and search fee references
Fees can change and may depend on court, clerk, requester status, search scope, page count, certification, delivery method, credit-card convenience fees, archived-file retrieval, and whether the request is broad or custom. Confirm the exact total with the official office before paying.
| Request | Listed fee or rule | Practical next step |
|---|---|---|
| District Clerk copies | District Clerk public-record copy page lists copies at $1 per page, certified or non-certified. | Include case/cause number, party name, date of birth for criminal requests, and exact document titles. |
| District Clerk record search | District Clerk written requests list an additional $5 when a record search is required. | Use a case number when possible to avoid unnecessary search work. |
| District Clerk certified criminal record search | The District Clerk record-search page lists $10 when the criminal record search is certified. | Ask whether you need a certified search letter or a certified document copy. |
| County Clerk criminal name search | County Clerk criminal searches are listed at $5 per name, and criminal search letters are listed at $5. | Mail requests should include name, identifiers such as date of birth, return address, phone number, and correct payment. |
| County Clerk criminal copy | County Clerk criminal copies are listed at $1 per page, with certified copies an additional $5 per case. | Confirm whether certification is per case and whether copy delivery is by portal, mail, pickup, or fax. |
| County Clerk civil name search | County Clerk civil name searches are listed at $5 per name and are not done over the phone unless prepaid by credit card. | For mail requests, include name, identifiers, and a date range such as 1990-2010. |
| County Courts at Law document export | The county case-search page lists $20 for an export of all filings for a single case unless a custom hourly rate applies. | Use the online portal for eligible orders, but request certified copies in writing or in person. |
| PACER federal records | PACER pricing verified September 20, 2026: $0.10 per page, $3.00 cap for many case-specific documents, $30 quarterly waiver threshold; temporary change to $0.12 per page and $40 quarterly waiver threshold starts January 1, 2027. | Use a case number or narrow date filters because search results and no-match searches can still generate charges. |
Copy and search cost estimator
This is only a planning aid based on common listed amounts. The official clerk quote, receipt, or current fee schedule controls.
Official McLennan County court-record links and what to do after opening each one
Every important official link below includes practical next steps so users do not land on the right website and still choose the wrong office.
Use this for district-level criminal, civil, family, and child-support record routing.
- Confirm the record belongs to District Court.
- Use Criminal Division phone 254-757-5054 or Civil Division phone 254-757-5057.
- Use the District Clerk case-search route for online records.
- Ask about certified copies, archived files, or sealed records before relying on online results.
Use this as the county’s official overview for criminal and civil case index searching.
- Read the coverage note for 2001-present and legacy Bridge records.
- Choose the correct case lookup route.
- Create an account if the linked system requires registration.
- Use written or in-person request steps if a certified copy is required.
Use this for District Clerk court-record searching after reading the disclaimer.
- Confirm the page is the McLennan County District Clerk record website.
- Read the no-warranty disclaimer before accepting.
- Search by case/cause number when available.
- Contact the District Clerk for official copies or certified records.
Use this for District Clerk copy, mail, fax, in-person, payment, and archived-file instructions.
- Choose criminal or civil/family request instructions.
- Prepare case number, full name, date of birth for criminal requests, and document titles.
- Include payment and self-addressed stamped envelope when mailing.
- Ask about archives if the file was created before 2000.
Use this for county court, misdemeanor, probate, commissioners’ court, marriage, assumed name, and recorded-document routing.
- Confirm whether the record is a court case or an Official Public Record.
- Note the 2026 case-management-system transition notice.
- Select the correct division from the county clerk menu.
- Call the relevant division before mailing payment.
Use this for County Court at Law civil case file information.
- Confirm the matter belongs in County Courts at Law.
- Use public workstations or JCA Court Case Search as directed.
- Register if the online system requires login.
- Contact the civil department at 254-757-5189 for copy questions.
Use this for County Clerk misdemeanor search fees and mail-search requirements.
- Use this route for county criminal records, not district felonies.
- Prepare name and identifiers such as date of birth.
- Include return address and phone number for mail requests.
- Confirm the current fee for search letters, copies, and certifications.
Use this for estate, probate, and guardianship case-file routing.
- Confirm the record is probate or guardianship.
- Use public workstations or JCA Court Case Search as directed.
- Contact Probate at 254-757-5186 for copy or access questions.
- Protect sensitive guardianship and incapacity information.
Use this for County Clerk court-record searching after reading the disclaimer.
- Confirm the page is the McLennan County Clerk court-record website.
- Read the no-warranty disclaimer before accepting.
- Search all reasonable name spelling variations.
- Contact the County Clerk for official or certified copies.
Use this for County Court at Law judges, hearing lists, rules, dockets, and county-court routing.
- Choose CCL1, CCL2, or CCL3 when known.
- Review hearing lists and court dockets where available.
- Use County Clerk for court-file copies.
- Call 254-757-5030 if you do not know which court has the case.
Use this for small claims, evictions, debt claims, JP traffic, fine-only criminal matters, and precinct contacts.
- Identify the correct precinct/place.
- Use the street guide for eviction filing location.
- Use JP payment links for traffic tickets only when they match the ticket.
- Call the listed JP clerk for case-specific record questions.
Use this for deeds, deeds of trust, liens, releases, assumed names, plats, powers of attorney, and recorded instruments.
- Do not use this for ordinary court dockets.
- Use Online Records Search for OPR documents from January 1, 1996 forward.
- Use in-office book volumes for older record categories when needed.
- Remember the County Clerk cannot provide legal advice or title opinions.
McLennan County offices for court-record help
Before visiting, call the relevant office to confirm the correct building, room, division, record availability, copy fees, certification fees, archive retrieval times, security screening, and payment method.
501 Washington Avenue, Suite 300
Courthouse Annex
Waco, TX 76701
Criminal Division: 254-757-5054
Civil Division: 254-757-5057
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
The District Clerk notes that the office is on the 3rd floor in the Annex building, accessible through courthouse security or the jury entrance.
215 N 5th Street
Room 223 (A & B)
Waco, TX 76701
Phone: 254-757-5078
Fax: 254-757-5146
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Use this office for County Clerk record divisions, Official Public Records, marriage, assumed names, and related county records.
215 N 5th Street
Room 201
Waco, TX 76701
Civil: 254-757-5189
Probate: 254-757-5186
Fax: 254-757-5146
Use this route for County Court at Law civil, probate, and guardianship case-file questions.
501 Washington Avenue
Room 210
Waco, TX 76701
Phone: 254-757-5030
Fax: 254-757-5013
CCL1, CCL2, and CCL3 are listed in the courthouse. Use the County Clerk for official case-file copies.
Do not confuse McLennan court records with Official Public Records
The County Clerk also maintains Official Public Records, but those records are not the same as court dockets. Official Public Records include deeds, deeds of trust, liens, hospital liens, transfer of liens, release of liens, military discharges, assumed name certificates, cattle brands, plats, powers of attorney, affidavits, and other recorded instruments.
- Felony and misdemeanor cases
- Civil lawsuits
- Family and divorce cases
- Probate and guardianship cases
- Small claims, evictions, and JP tickets
- Court judgments, orders, and dispositions
- Deeds and deeds of trust
- Liens and releases
- Assumed names
- Plats and affidavits
- Military discharge filings
- Recorded real-estate instruments
McLennan County appeals, federal court records, and bankruptcy records
State trial-court records, state appeals, federal district cases, and bankruptcy cases are separate systems. If you search the wrong level, a real case can look missing.
The Texas Tenth Court of Appeals is in Waco and serves McLennan County among other counties. Its physical and mailing address is at the McLennan County Courthouse, 501 Washington Avenue, Room 415, Waco, TX 76701-1373.
McLennan County is listed in the Western District of Texas. The Waco Division federal courthouse is at 800 Franklin Avenue, Room 380, Waco, TX 76701, with phone 254-750-1501.
Bankruptcy is federal. The Western District of Texas Bankruptcy Court Waco Division is at 800 Franklin Avenue, Suite 140, Waco, TX 76701, with office phone 254-750-1513.
What to do if a McLennan County court-record search returns no result
- Wrong clerk: District Clerk vs County Clerk.
- Wrong court: district, county court at law, JP, municipal, probate, appellate, or federal.
- Searching a felony in the County Clerk system or a misdemeanor in the District Clerk system.
- Wrong name spelling, business suffix, date range, or case number format.
- Using an old bookmark during or after the 2026 case-management transition.
- Archived file created before 2000.
- Family, juvenile, guardianship, or protected information.
- Sealed, expunged, or restricted record.
- Municipal or JP case outside the county-court route.
- Federal case that belongs in PACER.
How to read McLennan County court-record fields without over-interpreting them
A docket or case index is a court activity record. It may show filings, hearings, motions, orders, judgments, charges, dispositions, bonds, or case events depending on the court and case type. It may not include sealed documents, restricted filings, complete evidence, or the full legal meaning of an entry.
Plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent, appellant, appellee, decedent, personal representative, guardian, ward, creditor, debtor, grantor, and grantee are roles. A role does not always mean wrongdoing.
Open, active, disposed, dismissed, adjudicated, satisfied, appealed, sealed, expunged, or archived should be read in context. Verify the current disposition with the clerk.
A petition, complaint, information, indictment, citation, charge, motion, or warrant is not proof that an allegation is true. Confirm final court action before relying on a record.
Use McLennan County court records carefully
- Do not identify a person from a common name alone.
- Compare court, case number, filing year, party role, docket entries, and lawful identifying details.
- Do not assume an arrest, charge, or indictment is a conviction.
- Do not assume a civil judgment shows current payment or satisfaction status.
- Do not harass, threaten, shame, or retaliate against anyone.
- Do not publish children’s names, home addresses, health details, financial identifiers, or unnecessary sensitive information.
- Do not bypass sealed, expunged, juvenile, guardianship, or confidential restrictions.
- Contact the official custodian for corrections, redactions, sealing, expungement, and certified copies.
Frequently asked questions about McLennan County court records
Where do I search McLennan County court records online?
Start with McLennan County’s official Case Search page. District Clerk records route to the District Clerk court-record website, while County Clerk and County Courts at Law records route through the County Clerk’s case-search systems, including the JCA/Tyler-hosted public portal where applicable.
Which clerk handles McLennan County felony, civil, and family cases?
The McLennan County District Clerk is the custodian for district-level court pleadings and papers. The District Clerk lists separate criminal and civil division phone numbers and handles district criminal, civil, family, and related district-court records.
Which clerk handles McLennan County misdemeanor, probate, and County Court at Law records?
The McLennan County Clerk serves as clerk for misdemeanor criminal and civil courts, commissioners’ court, and probate court. County Clerk departments handle County Court at Law civil, criminal, probate, guardianship, and related records.
Can I search McLennan County court records by name?
Yes, but rules and fees depend on the office and record type. County Clerk criminal and civil name searches are listed at $5 per name, and District Clerk records may require a case number, name, date of birth, or search fee depending on the request. A name match alone does not prove identity.
What years are included in the McLennan County case index?
McLennan County states that its searchable case index includes criminal and civil cases from 2001 to present, plus general case information from the early 1980s forward converted from the legacy Bridge system. Older or archived files may require a clerk request.
How much do McLennan County court copies cost?
The District Clerk and County Clerk pages list many copy requests at $1 per page. District Clerk certified or non-certified copies are listed at $1 per page, while County Clerk criminal certified copies are listed as an additional $5 per case. Confirm current totals with the office before ordering.
Where do I search McLennan County small claims, eviction, and JP traffic cases?
Use the McLennan County Justice of the Peace route. JP courts handle fine-only criminal misdemeanors, civil actions within justice-court limits, small claims, evictions, repair and remedy, truancy, magistrate functions, and some administrative hearings.
Are McLennan County land records the same as court records?
No. Deeds, deeds of trust, liens, assumed names, plats, powers of attorney, affidavits, military discharges, and other recorded instruments are Official Public Records handled by the County Clerk’s recording function, not ordinary court case dockets.
Where do I search appeals from McLennan County cases?
State appeals from McLennan County trial courts generally route to the Tenth Court of Appeals in Waco, which serves McLennan County and other counties. Use the appellate court’s official resources and compare the lower-court case number.
Where do I search federal or bankruptcy cases from McLennan County?
Use PACER and the federal court where the case was filed. McLennan County is listed in the Western District of Texas, and the federal Waco Division is at 800 Franklin Avenue. Bankruptcy matters route to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas Waco Division.
Official-source review checklist
This guide was reviewed against official McLennan County District Clerk pages, District Clerk case-search and copy-request pages, County Clerk pages, County Clerk civil, criminal, probate, and Official Public Records pages, County Courts at Law pages, Justice of the Peace pages, Texas Tenth Court of Appeals pages, PACER, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas Waco Division, and U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas Waco Division resources. Review date: September 20, 2026.