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Fort Bend County Court Records

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Fort Bend County Court Records

Fort Bend County court records refer to the official documents of judicial proceedings that occurred in the county's courts. These records capture the actions, decisions, and judgments in court proceedings, including hearings and trials. They are vital because they foster transparency and accountability within the judicial branch and allow people to understand how the legal system operates.

The custodians of Fort Bend County court records are the court clerks, for example, the district and county clerks in Fort Bend. The district clerks preserve records for the district courts, whereas county clerks maintain records for the county courts, including records of probate cases and county court-at-law cases. Court records are considered a category of Fort Bend Public Records and are disclosed to interested and eligible members of the public.

Are Court Records Public in Fort Bend County?

Yes, court records are considered public in Fort Bend County. However, the Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code, Chapter 552), which governs the public's right to access many government records, does not cover the public's right to access court records. Instead, several court rules determine how the public can view or copy these records.

Nonetheless, like the Texas FOIA, specific court records are restricted from public viewing by court rule or order. Examples include records of cases involving minors and certain criminal cases.

What Do Fort Bend County Court Records Contain?

Fort Bend County court records often contain the following information:

  • Case Details (e.g., case status, names of case parties, the presiding court and judge)
  • Court Orders and Judgments
  • Transcripts
  • Exhibits
  • Notices and Summonses
  • Motions and Responses
  • Docket Entries

Where to Conduct a Fort Bend County Case Lookup

Individuals can use the methods listed below to conduct a court case lookup in Fort Bend County.

  • Visit the courthouse that handled the case
  • Contact the relevant court court's office. For instance, the FortBend County District or County Clerk's Office
  • Utilize Online Case Lookup Tools

How to Conduct a Fort Bend County Case Records Search

As mentioned above, individuals can perform a Fort Bend County court case lookup at different places, including:

The Fort Bend County Clerk's Office

Inquirers looking for county court records, such as probate or misdemeanor case records, can visit the Fort Bend County Clerk's Office or utilize their online resources. In-person requesters must provide relevant case details, such as case numbers or parties' names, to the clerk's office staff. On the other hand, an online search requires inquirers to visit the county's website, which has a search portal for retrieving court case records.

The Fort Bend County District Clerk's Office

For district court case records, including felony criminal and family law records, individuals can contact the Fort Bend County District Clerk's Office. Like the county clerk's office, individuals can visit during business hours to request case information or utilize the online case search resources on the county government's website.

The Official Texas Courts Website

Individuals can navigate to the Texas Online Court Records Search website maintained by the state judiciary to find case records in Fort Bend County. Website visitors can select their desired county (in this case, Fort Bend County) and input the required keywords (e.g., a case number) to find related records. Some case records are freely accessible, while others require payment to obtain. However, all users must register to use the website.

Note that obtaining plain or certified copies of documents may involve associated fees.

Fort Bend County Civil Court Case Records

Civil court case records in Fort Bend County carry information about civil (non-criminal) proceedings within the county's jurisdiction. Such proceedings include contract disagreements, property disputes, personal injury claims, and domestic cases.

In Fort Bend County, two government offices preserve civil court case records.

Fort Bend County District Clerk's Office

The district clerk's office organizes civil court case records for district courts within the county. District courts handle a broad spectrum of civil cases, ranging from significant financial claims to family law affairs.

Fort Bend County Clerk's Office

The county clerk's office maintains civil court case records for county courts within Fort Bend County. County courts primarily deal with limited monetary value civil cases, including small claims.

To access Fort Bend County's civil court case records, individuals may visit the Fort Bend County District Clerk's Office or the Fort Bend County Clerk's Office or use case search tools provided on the county government's website.

Fort Bend County Criminal Court Case Records

Criminal court case records in Fort Bend County are official documents pertaining to criminal court proceedings. These records are under the care of two primary custodians: the Fort Bend County District Clerk and the Fort Bend County Clerk.

Fort Bend County District Clerk

The Fort Bend County District Clerk maintains criminal court case records associated with the county's district courts. These courts handle felony criminal and juvenile cases. To access district court case records, individuals can visit the clerk's office during normal work hours or access the online criminal case search portal provided on the county's official website.

Fort Bend County Clerk

The Fort Bend County Clerk maintains criminal records originating from the county courts at law. These courts handle misdemeanor criminal cases and juvenile matters. To acquire criminal case records from the county clerk's office, individuals can visit the courthouse during open hours or access the criminal case search portal on the county government's website. One may also contact the applicable court to find out how to find court records in person.

How to Get Court Records Online for Free

Individuals can explore case search resources provided on the Fort Bend County government's website to obtain court records online for free. The website provides convenient access to court records, including records from civil, criminal, probate, and family cases.

Another valuable resource for free Fort Bend court records is the Texas Judiciary Online Portal. This unified database facilitates access to court records throughout the state, including in Fort Bend County.

In addition to these official sources, some third-party websites offer free access to limited court record information. However, verifying the reliability and accuracy of the information provided is essential.

There are specific considerations to keep in mind when accessing court records online. Firstly, providing precise search terms, such as a case number or party's name, is critical to filter search results and obtain accurate results. Secondly, one should be aware of the potential limitations of online case search databases. In some cases, certain records may not be fully accessible online, or complete information may not be provided, particularly when a case record is sealed or contains confidential details.

Lastly, while online access can be a valuable and cost-effective means for obtaining court records, the courts charge requesters a fee to obtain plain or certified copies of documents.

Courts in Fort Bend County, Texas

Fort Bend County has different courts, including district, county courts at law, and justice of the peace courts, each having its own jurisdiction and responsibilities. Here is an overview of the courts in Fort Bend County, along with their main addresses:

Fort Bend County Courts at Law
1422 Eugene Heimann Circle
Richmond, TX 77469

Fort Bend County District Courts
Fort Bend County Justice Center
1422 Eugene Heimann Circle
Richmond, TX 77469

Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, Place 1
22333 Grand Corner Drive
Katy, TX 77494
Phone: (281) 238-1460
Fax: (832) 471-1870

Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, Place 2
6610 FM 359
Suite 600
Fulshear, TX 77441
Phone: (281) 341-3742
Fax: (281) 341-3746

Justice of the Peace Precinct 2, Place 1
303 Texas Parkway (FM 2234)
Room 107
Missouri City, TX 77489-1133
Phone: (281) 403-8080

Justice of the Peace Precinct 2, Place 2
3114 Rosenberg Street
Needville, TX 77461
Phone: (346) 481-6990
Fax: (832) 471-3821

Justice of the Peace Precinct 3
12919 Dairy Ashford
Suite 100
Sugar Land, TX 77478
Phone: (281) 491-6016
Fax: (832) 471-1842

Justice of the Peace Precinct 4
1517 Eugene Heimann Circle
Suite 100
Richmond, TX 77469
Phone: (832) 471-2550
Fax: (832) 471-1859

The Fort Bend County's courts webpage has the specific contact information, addresses, and operating hours for the district courts and county courts at law.