Galveston County Court Records
Per Rule 12.2 of Texas Rules of Judicial Administration, Court records are materials (like paper, map, document, letter, book, photograph, tape, film, or recording) created or kept by or for a Galveston County Court. These records are maintained by Galveston County and District Clerks pursuant to the Texas Court Rules.
Court records are important because they provide evidence that an action occurred. They can be used as evidence in future judicial proceedings. Case parties request court records to retrieve information on the status of their cases. Access to court records allows members of the public to monitor Galveston County Court operations and helps ensure the fairness and transparency of court proceedings.
Are Court Records Public in Galveston County
Yes. Per the Texas Public Information Act, court records are public records in Galveston County. This allows members of the public to inspect and copy court records at the County or District Clerk Offices during normal business hours. Texas law excludes certain records from public disclosure. Per Rule 12.5 of Texas Rules of Judicial Administration, the following records are exempt from public disclosure:
- Security plans
- Personnel information
- Court law library information.
- Judicial work product and drafts
- Judicial Calendar Information
- Litigation or Settlement Negotiations
- Investigations of Character or Conduct
- Internal deliberations on the court or judicial administration matters
- Any record reflecting any person's home address, home or personal telephone number, social security number, or family members.
Where to Conduct a Galveston County Case Lookup
Individuals can conduct case lookups at the various record custodian offices in Galveston County. These custodians generate court records during judicial proceedings and ensure the records are available for public perusal. Requesters should be able to retrieve case records from the following record custodians:
- The First Court of Appeals
- Galveston County Magistrate Court
- Galveston County Courts
- Galveston County Probate Court
- Galveston County Judicial District Courts
How to Conduct a Galveston County Case Records Search
Galveston County permits the inspection of case records of the District and County Courts online through the Tyler Odyssey Portal. Conduct a search by case number, last name, or first name, which leads to the case page. The requester should select the case number hyperlink to access the case. Copies of court records can be obtained by mail at the Galveston County District Clerk’s office. A Request for Copies of Documents must be submitted alongside the necessary fees with a self-addressed stamped envelope to:
Galveston County District Clerk’s office
600 59th Street
Room. 4001
P.O. Box 17250
Galveston, TX 77551
General inquiries regarding District Clerk court records should be emailed to DCWEB@co.galveston.tx.us. Alternatively, interested persons can visit the courthouse where a case was heard to obtain copies of case documents. Galveston County Courts attend to case records requests during normal business hours from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Copies of court records cost $1 per page, while certified copies cost $5 with an additional $1 per page.
Galveston County Civil Court Case Records
A civil court case record is a document that provides information on the protection of a legal right or the redress of a wrong. The County Clerk and District Clerk Civil Section are the custodians of civil court records in Galveston County. The District Court hears civil cases like contract, personal injury, and delinquent tax and consumer lawsuits. Civil records can be retrieved online, by mail, or in person at the court where the case was heard. Online requests can be made through the Odyssey Portal. A case number, last name, or first name is required to initiate the search. Mail requesters must submit a completed Request for Copies of Documents to the District Clerk’s office with a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Galveston County Criminal Court Case Records
A criminal case record is a paper or document that contains information on the criminal offenses a person commits against the state. The County Clerk and District Clerk Criminal Section are the custodians of criminal court records in Galveston County. Copies of criminal records can be obtained from the court where a case was heard. However, certain information about the case, like the defendant’s name or case number, may be required to facilitate the search. The Clerks charge fees for copies and certification of criminal documents. Alternatively, requesters can use the Odyssey Portal to view criminal case records at no cost. The search parameters are by case number, last name, or first name.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
Individuals can get court records maintained by the County and District Clerks online for free through the Odyssey Portal. Upon getting to the Portal’s landing page, select “Smart Search” to begin a search. Enter a case number, last name, or first name in the search field. Select the Submit button to access the “Cases” page. Select the case number hyperlink to view the case for free.
Courts in Galveston County
Below is an overview of the addresses of all the courts serving Galveston County:
Galveston County Justice Center
600 59th Street, Suite 2300
Galveston, TX 77551
Phone: (409) 770-6044
First Court of Appeals
301 Fannin Street, Room 208
Houston, TX 77002-2066
Phone: (713) 274-2700
League City Branch
174 Calder Road, Room 149
League City, TX 77573
Phone: (281) 316-8732
