How Courts in Texas Are Organized

Texas runs one of the most layered court systems in the country, and knowing which layer handles your problem saves hours. The state has two courts of last resort: the Supreme Court of Texas for civil and juvenile matters, and the Court of Criminal Appeals for criminal cases. Below them sit fourteen courts of appeals, then the trial courts where most residents actually appear in person.

Our directory lists 2,238 court offices across 907 Texas cities and all 254 counties. Most people never see an appellate court. Their business happens at a municipal court window, a justice of the peace office, or a county courthouse clerk counter. The Texas Constitution sets the basic structure, and the Texas Government Code fills in jurisdiction and procedure. The Office of Court Administration supports the judiciary statewide, but each trial court is run locally by its own judge and clerk staff.

Here is how the trial-level courts divide the work:

Metro Courthouses and Rural County Seats Across Texas

Where you live shapes your experience more than almost anything else. Houston has 32 listings, the most of any city, and Harris County has 55 across the county. The Downtown Houston Justice of Peace Court at 1302 Preston Street is one of many precinct courts there. Before filing a small claim or eviction in the Houston area, confirm which precinct covers the address involved. Filing in the wrong precinct can delay your case.

San Antonio and Dallas follow the same pattern, with heavier felony and civil dockets. The Bexar District Civil Court at 100 Dolorosa sits in the heart of downtown San Antonio, in Bexar County. The Dallas Criminal Court at 600 Commerce Street serves Dallas County, and the Fort Worth District Court at 200 East Weatherford Street is in Tarrant County. In Austin, Austin Justice of Peace Court V at 1811 Springdale Road belongs to the precinct system of Travis County, which is separate from the district courts.

Outside the big metros, one courthouse often serves an entire county. Kerr County Court at 700 Main Street in Kerrville, Comal County Court at 199 Main Plaza in New Braunfels, and Jasper District Court at 121 North Austin Street all sit in county seats where residents handle many kinds of business under one roof. Regional hubs draw people from surrounding counties. San Angelo and Victoria each have 14 listings, and Amarillo has 13. Runnels District Court at 112 West Beauregard Avenue is in San Angelo, in Tom Green County. Jackson District Court at 115 North Bridge Street is in Victoria, and Armstrong District Court at 501 South Fillmore Street is in Amarillo, in Potter County.

Border and Valley communities have their own rhythm. Laredo Justice of Peace Court III at 8501 San Dario Avenue serves Webb County, and Rio Grande City Justice of Peace Court I at 401 Britton Avenue is in Starr County. Hidalgo and Cameron counties together carry dozens of listings. If English is not your first language, ask the clerk early whether an interpreter can be arranged for your hearing date.

A word on names. Some district court listings carry a name that differs from the city where the courthouse sits. Culberson District Court II is listed at 500 East San Antonio Avenue in El Paso, and Dimmit District Court at 500 Quarry Street in Eagle Pass. Texas district courts are often numbered, and some cover more than one county. Always call the listed number before you drive.

Matching Your Problem to the Right Texas Court

Start with the type of problem, not the nearest courthouse. A traffic ticket goes to the municipal court of the city that issued it, or to a justice court if the stop happened outside city limits. The citation lists the court name and a response date. Ignoring that date can lead to added fees or a warrant, so contact the clerk before it passes.

Money disputes under $20,000 belong in justice court, where the rules are simplified and you do not need a lawyer. Evictions also start there, in the precinct where the rental property is located. Divorce, child custody, and felony cases go to district court, although some counties assign family matters to a county court at law. Wills and estates go to the county court or a statutory probate court. Longview Justice of Peace Court I at 101 East Methvin Street in Gregg County and Beaumont Justice of Peace Court IV at 7933 Viterbo Road in Jefferson County are examples of precinct justice courts in mid-sized East and Southeast Texas cities.

If you are unsure, call the clerk. Clerks cannot give legal advice, but they can tell you which court has jurisdiction over the type of filing you describe.

Clerks, Filing, and Costs in Texas Courts

Each court's paperwork runs through a clerk. District clerks manage district court files, county clerks handle county court and probate records in most counties, and justice and municipal courts keep their own clerks. Hours are typically weekday business hours, and some small offices close over lunch.

Texas has a statewide e-filing system, eFileTexas, which attorneys must use in most civil cases in the higher courts and which self-represented people can use too. Many clerks still accept paper filings from individuals at the counter. Bring a government photo ID, your case number or citation, and copies of every document. Court costs and filing fees differ by county and case type, so ask for the current fee schedule before you go.

If you cannot afford the costs, Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145 lets you file a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs. Free legal help is available through regional legal aid groups such as Lone Star Legal Aid and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, which serves the Rio Grande Valley.

Courts in Texas operate under a unified state judicial system that handles everything from traffic infractions and small claims disputes to major felony trials and civil litigation. The Texas Supreme Court serves as the highest state court with authority over all state court matters.

Courts locations are available in 907 cities across Texas. They are spread across 254 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Houston, San Antonio, Austin, reflecting areas where county seats and urban centers house multiple court divisions to handle high caseloads.

Residents of Texas should know which court has jurisdiction over their matter — whether it is a municipal, district, circuit, or superior court — before filing documents or appearing for a hearing.

Courts by Counties

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Residents of Texas who need to access court services should identify the correct court for their matter, check the court's website for filing fees, forms, and procedures, and consider using the court's self-help resources if they are not represented by an attorney.

Browse Courts by county across Texas to find the nearest location.

Planning a Court Visit in Texas by Region

Texas distances are real. A courthouse trip can take ten minutes in Houston or half a day in the Panhandle or Big Bend. Culberson District Court I is listed at 201 West Avenue A in Alpine, in Brewster County, the largest county in Texas by area. It is a reminder that West Texas courthouses cover a lot of ground.

Every courthouse uses entrance security. Bring a government photo ID, leave pocketknives and other prohibited items at home, and arrive thirty minutes early to clear screening and find parking. Phone and recording rules differ by courtroom, so ask the bailiff or clerk.

Denton County has 41 listings, many of them municipal courts in fast-growing towns. A ticket from a small town goes to that town's municipal court, not the county. Brazoria, Hidalgo, Collin, and Cameron counties also carry heavy listing counts. Gulf Coast counties such as Brazoria and Galveston can close courts during hurricane season storms, so check county announcements before you drive.

Frequently Asked Questions About Courts in Texas

Check the citation for the court name, the offense, and the deadline. Most Texas tickets are Class C misdemeanors, so you can plead guilty or no contest and pay, or plead not guilty and ask for a hearing or trial. Contact the clerk of the municipal or justice court named on the ticket, since many offer online or phone payment. Depending on the offense and your record, you may qualify for a driving safety course or deferred disposition, which can lead to dismissal. Ask the clerk what applies, and act before the deadline to avoid a failure-to-appear charge.

Texas justice courts hear civil cases up to $20,000, not counting interest and court costs. You file a petition with the justice court clerk, generally in the precinct where the defendant lives or where the events happened. You pay the filing fee and arrange service on the defendant. Fees vary by county, so call first. The defendant gets time to answer, then the judge sets a hearing. A lawyer is optional. Bring contracts, receipts, photos, and messages. If you lose, you can generally appeal to county court within 21 days, where the case is heard again.

Divorces are filed with the district clerk in the county where you or your spouse lives, although some counties let a county court at law hear family cases. One spouse must have lived in Texas for the previous six months and in the filing county for the previous 90 days. Texas also imposes a 60-day waiting period after filing before most divorces can be granted, with exceptions in some family violence situations. Cases involving children or property usually take longer. Ask the clerk for standard forms, and check with legal aid groups if you do not have a lawyer.

Landlords file evictions in the justice court for the precinct where the property sits. A written notice to vacate usually comes first, typically at least three days unless the lease says otherwise. After filing, the court issues a citation and sets a trial, generally ten to twenty-one days later. Tenants should attend and bring the lease, rent receipts, and photos. Either side can appeal to county court within five days after the judgment. Appeals involve bonds or rent payments into the court registry, so ask the clerk about requirements right away.

Under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145, you can file a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs with the clerk. It is signed under oath and describes your income, expenses, and assets. Proof of certain public benefits, or representation by a legal aid provider, can support your request. The clerk or the opposing party may contest it, and the judge may hold a short hearing. Legal aid groups such as Lone Star Legal Aid, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas help eligible residents with civil cases, including family and housing problems.

Texas district courts are numbered, may cover more than one county, and are sometimes referred to by different names. As a result, a listing name may not match the county where the courthouse sits. Dimmit District Court is listed at 500 Quarry Street in Eagle Pass, in Maverick County, and Grimes District Court II at 1100 University Avenue in Huntsville, in Walker County. Rely on the street address and phone number. Call before you drive, ask for the court number, and confirm with the district clerk that your case is assigned to that location.