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Galveston County Court Records

What Is Galveston County Court Records

Galveston County court records are official documents created and maintained by the county's court system during legal proceedings. These records document various court activities, including criminal cases, civil disputes, family matters, probate proceedings, and more. They serve as the official history of court actions and decisions within Galveston County's jurisdiction.

Court records typically include case filings, motions, orders, judgments, hearing transcripts, and other documents submitted during court proceedings. These records are maintained by the Galveston County District Clerk's office for district and county courts, while municipal courts maintain their own records.

District Clerk's Office: 600 59th Street, Suite 4001, Galveston, TX 77551

Are Court Records Public In Galveston County

Yes, most court records in Galveston County are considered public information under Texas law and the Freedom of Information Act. This means that any person can request access to these records without having to provide a reason for their request.

However, there are important exceptions to public access. Certain records may be sealed or redacted to protect:

  • Juvenile records
  • Adoption proceedings
  • Mental health cases
  • Cases involving minors
  • Certain family court matters
  • Records sealed by court order
  • Information protected by privacy laws

Additionally, some sensitive personal information like Social Security numbers, bank account details, and certain medical information is typically redacted from public court records to protect privacy.

How To Find Court Records in Galveston County in 2025

To find court records in Galveston County in 2025, you have several options:

  1. Visit the Galveston County District Clerk's Office in person: Galveston County District Clerk, 600 59th Street, Suite 4001, Galveston, TX 77551

  2. Visit the specific court where the case was heard:

    • For district court cases: Galveston County Justice Center, 600 59th Street, Galveston, TX 77551
    • For county court cases: Galveston County Courthouse, 722 Moody, Galveston, TX 77550
    • For justice of the peace cases: Visit the specific precinct office

  3. Use the online portal for Galveston County court records (details in next section)

  4. Submit a written request to the appropriate clerk's office

  5. Hire a professional records retrieval service

When searching for records, you'll need basic information such as:

  • Case number (if known)
  • Names of parties involved
  • Approximate date of the case
  • Type of case

How To Look Up Court Records in Galveston County Online?

Galveston County offers several online resources for accessing court records:

  1. Galveston County Records Search: The county maintains an online database where you can search for various court records. Website: https://www.galvestoncountytx.gov/our-county/district-clerk

  2. idocket.com: This third-party service provides access to Galveston County court records. Website: https://idocket.com/

  3. Texas Judicial Branch Website: For certain cases, especially appeals. Website: https://www.txcourts.gov/

  4. Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER): For federal cases in Galveston County. PACER Service Center, P.O. Box 780549, San Antonio, TX 78278

To search online, you typically need:

  • Case number
  • Party names
  • Date range
  • Case type

Some records may not be available online due to privacy restrictions or because they haven't been digitized. In such cases, you'll need to request records in person.

Can You Search Galveston County Court Records for Free?

Yes, there are free options for searching Galveston County court records, but they have limitations:

Free options:

  • Basic case information is available through the Galveston County District Clerk's website
  • In-person viewing of non-confidential records at the clerk's office
  • Public access terminals at the courthouse
  • Galveston County Law Library, 600 59th Street, Suite 1005, Galveston, TX 77551

Fee-based services:

  • Copies of court documents (typically $1 per page)
  • Certified copies (additional fee)
  • Complete case file access through subscription services
  • Records that require extensive research or retrieval

The Galveston County District Clerk's office charges the following fees:

  • Regular copies: $1.00 per page
  • Certified copies: $1.00 per page plus $5.00 certification fee
  • Electronic copies: Varies based on file size and format

What's Included in a Galveston County Court Record?

A typical Galveston County court record includes:

  1. Case Information:

    • Case number
    • Filing date
    • Court assignment
    • Judge presiding
    • Parties involved (plaintiffs, defendants, attorneys)
    • Case type and status

  2. Legal Documents:

    • Petitions and complaints
    • Answers and responses
    • Motions and briefs
    • Court orders and judgments
    • Subpoenas
    • Affidavits and declarations
    • Settlement agreements

  3. Procedural History:

    • Hearing dates and outcomes
    • Trial information
    • Continuances
    • Dismissals
    • Appeals information

  4. Evidence (in some cases):

    • Exhibits
    • Witness testimonies
    • Expert reports
    • Deposition transcripts

  5. Financial Information:

    • Filing fees
    • Court costs
    • Judgments and monetary awards
    • Payment records

How Long Does Galveston County Keep Court Records?

Galveston County follows Texas state retention schedules for court records, which vary by case type:

  • Criminal Cases:

    • Misdemeanors: Minimum of 5 years after final disposition
    • Felonies: Minimum of 20 years after final disposition
    • Capital felonies: Permanent retention

  • Civil Cases:

    • Most civil cases: Minimum of 12 years after final disposition
    • Tax cases: Minimum of 20 years
    • Real property cases: Permanent retention

  • Family Law:

    • Divorce records: Permanent retention
    • Child custody: Until the youngest child turns 18, plus minimum of 12 years
    • Adoption: Permanent retention

  • Probate Cases:

    • Wills and estate administration: Permanent retention
    • Guardianship: 10 years after termination of guardianship

  • Juvenile Cases:

    • Most juvenile records: Until the individual turns 21
    • Serious offenses: Longer retention periods

Records management is overseen by the Galveston County Records Management Department, 722 Moody, Room 110, Galveston, TX 77550.

Types of Courts In Galveston County

Galveston County has a multi-tiered court system:

  1. District Courts:

    • 10th District Court: 600 59th Street, Galveston, TX 77551
    • 56th District Court: 600 59th Street, Galveston, TX 77551
    • 122nd District Court: 600 59th Street, Galveston, TX 77551
    • 212th District Court: 600 59th Street, Galveston, TX 77551
    • 405th District Court: 600 59th Street, Galveston, TX 77551

  2. County Courts:

    • County Court at Law No. 1: 600 59th Street, Galveston, TX 77551
    • County Court at Law No. 2: 600 59th Street, Galveston, TX 77551
    • County Court at Law No. 3: 600 59th Street, Galveston, TX 77551
    • Probate Court: 600 59th Street, Galveston, TX 77551

  3. Justice of the Peace Courts:

    • Precinct 1: 2516 Texas Ave, Texas City, TX 77590
    • Precinct 2: 174 Calder Road, League City, TX 77573
    • Precinct 3: 4111 12th Street, Dickinson, TX 77539
    • Precinct 4: 7500 Stewart Road, Suite 100, Galveston, TX 77551

  4. Municipal Courts (various cities within Galveston County):

    • Galveston Municipal Court: 601 54th Street, Galveston, TX 77551
    • League City Municipal Court: 555 W. Walker, League City, TX 77573
    • Texas City Municipal Court: 1004 9th Avenue North, Texas City, TX 77590

What Types of Cases Do Galveston County Courts Hear?

Different courts in Galveston County handle specific types of cases:

  1. District Courts:

    • Felony criminal cases
    • Civil cases with amounts in controversy over $200,000
    • Family law matters (divorce, child custody)
    • Real property disputes
    • Election contests
    • Civil commitments

  2. County Courts:

    • Civil cases with amounts between $20,000 and $200,000
    • Misdemeanor criminal cases
    • Appeals from justice and municipal courts
    • Probate matters and guardianships
    • Mental health proceedings
    • Eminent domain cases

  3. Justice of the Peace Courts:

    • Civil cases up to $20,000
    • Small claims cases
    • Class C misdemeanors
    • Traffic violations
    • Evictions
    • Debt claims
    • Magistrate functions

  4. Municipal Courts:

    • City ordinance violations
    • Class C misdemeanors
    • Traffic violations within city limits
    • Parking violations
    • Code enforcement cases

How To Find a Court Docket In Galveston County

A court docket is a schedule of cases to be heard by a court. To find a court docket in Galveston County:

  1. Online Methods:

    • Visit the Galveston County District Clerk's website
    • Use idocket.com for Galveston County cases
    • Check specific court websites for their docket information

  2. In-Person Methods:

    • Visit the clerk's office for the specific court
    • Check docket postings outside courtrooms
    • Contact the court coordinator for the specific court

  3. By Phone:

    • Call the District Clerk's office: (409) 766-2424
    • Call the specific court where the case is being heard

  4. By Email:

    • Contact the court coordinator or clerk's office

When searching for docket information, you'll need:

  • Case number (if known)
  • Party names
  • Hearing date (if known)
  • Court number

Docket information is typically updated daily, but last-minute changes can occur. It's advisable to verify the docket information shortly before the scheduled hearing date.

Which Courts in Galveston County Are Not Courts of Record?

In Galveston County, the following courts are not courts of record, meaning they do not maintain an official transcript of proceedings:

  1. Justice of the Peace Courts:

    • All four JP precincts are not courts of record
    • Appeals from these courts are heard de novo (completely new trial) in County Courts

  2. Some Municipal Courts:

    • While the Galveston Municipal Court is a court of record, some smaller municipal courts in the county may not be courts of record
    • Appeals from non-record municipal courts are heard de novo in County Courts

Courts of record in Galveston County include:

  • All District Courts
  • All County Courts
  • Galveston Municipal Court of Record
  • Other designated municipal courts of record

The distinction is important because appeals from courts of record are based on the record created in the original trial, while appeals from courts not of record result in a completely new trial in the higher court.

Lookup Court Records in Galveston County

Criminal Section - Galveston County, TX

Municipal Court of Record | Galveston, TX - Official Website

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