Court records in Hunt County, Texas are maintained by the district clerk and the county clerk and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's offices. HuntCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Hunt County. You can also search records through the Hunt County official website, the District Clerk's office, and the County Clerk's records request page. State-level resources from the Texas Judicial Branch and the Texas State Law Library provide additional access points.
Hunt County Court System Overview
Hunt County is part of the Texas state court system and is served by two state district courts — the 196th District Court and the 354th District Court. The county also has two statutory county courts at law that handle a broad range of civil and criminal matters. A constitutional county court, presided over by the county judge, rounds out the trial-level structure. Justice of the peace courts and municipal courts within the county handle minor matters. All courts operate out of or near the Hunt County Courthouse in Greenville.
Courts Serving Hunt County
State District Courts
County Courts at Law
Justice of the Peace Courts
Hunt County has multiple justice of the peace precincts handling small claims, evictions, and Class C misdemeanors. Contact the Hunt County website for precinct-specific addresses and phone numbers.
Federal Court
Hunt County falls within the Eastern District of Texas. Federal bankruptcy cases are handled by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
Municipal Courts
Cities within Hunt County — including Greenville, Commerce, Wolfe City, Quinlan, and Caddo Mills — operate municipal courts with jurisdiction over city ordinance violations and Class C misdemeanors committed within city limits.
What Types of Cases Hunt County Courts Hear
Hunt County courts collectively handle a wide range of case types across criminal, civil, and family matters:
- Criminal: Felonies, misdemeanors, Class C misdemeanors (traffic and other infractions), DWI cases
- Civil: Lawsuits of all dollar amounts, small claims, evictions, debt collection
- Family Law: Divorce, child custody, child support, protective orders, paternity, adoption, termination of parental rights
- Probate: Wills, estates, guardianships, mental health commitments
- Juvenile: Delinquency proceedings, child protective services cases
- Traffic: Moving violations, CDL violations, license suspensions
The sections below explain which court handles each category.
District Court Cases in Hunt County
The 196th and 354th District Courts hear the most serious matters filed in Hunt County. Their jurisdiction includes:
- All felony criminal cases
- Civil lawsuits where the amount in controversy exceeds the county court at law jurisdictional limit
- Divorce and family law cases (shared jurisdiction with the county courts at law)
- Contested probate and guardianship matters
- Juvenile cases
- Appeals from lower courts
Felony cases typically begin with an arrest and an initial appearance before a magistrate, then move to a district court after indictment by a grand jury. Cases are assigned to one of the two district courts. The District Clerk's office maintains all records for district court proceedings and processes filings. You can search for upcoming court settings through the county's docket search tool.
Magistrate Court Cases in Hunt County
In Texas, the term "magistrate" refers to a function rather than a separate court. Judges at every level — including justices of the peace, municipal court judges, and county court at law judges — serve as magistrates for purposes such as issuing arrest warrants, setting bail, and conducting initial appearances.
The two County Courts at Law in Hunt County handle:
- Class A and Class B misdemeanors
- Civil cases where the amount in controversy falls between $200 and $250,000
- Probate matters (original jurisdiction)
- Appeals from justice of the peace and municipal courts
Justice of the peace courts handle:
- Civil cases up to $20,000
- Small claims up to $20,000
- Eviction (forcible detainer) cases
- Class C misdemeanors, including most traffic violations
- Truancy cases
DWI arraignments typically occur before a magistrate at the county level before being assigned to a county court at law or district court depending on the charge level.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Hunt County
Family Law
Divorce, custody, child support, protective orders, paternity, and termination of parental rights cases are filed in the district courts or county courts at law. Both levels share jurisdiction over family law matters in Hunt County. The District Clerk handles filings for cases in the district courts, while the County Clerk handles filings assigned to the county courts at law. Certified copies of marriage and divorce records can also be obtained through the Texas Department of State Health Services or through the local vital records offices in Hunt County.
Probate
Probate matters — including decedent estates, guardianships, and mental health proceedings — are heard in the county courts at law, which have original probate jurisdiction in Hunt County. The County Clerk maintains probate case records.
Juvenile
Juvenile cases, including delinquency proceedings and Child Protective Services matters, are heard in the district courts. Juvenile records are confidential under Texas Family Code and are not available to the general public. Contact the Hunt County Juvenile Probation Department for information about juvenile court services.
How Cases Move Through the Hunt County Court System
- Filing / Initiation: Criminal cases begin with an arrest or the filing of a complaint. Civil cases start when a plaintiff files a petition. Family law cases begin with an original petition (e.g., petition for divorce). E-filing is mandatory for attorneys through eFileTexas.gov.
- Assignment to a Court: Cases are assigned to a specific court — one of the two district courts or one of the two county courts at law — based on case type and local assignment rules.
- Initial Hearing: In criminal cases, the defendant appears for arraignment, where charges are read and a plea is entered. In civil cases, a scheduling conference or initial hearing sets deadlines for the case.
- Pre-Trial Phase: Both sides exchange evidence through discovery. In criminal cases, plea negotiations may occur. Motions (to dismiss, for summary judgment, to suppress evidence) are heard during this phase.
- Trial or Resolution: Cases may resolve by plea agreement, settlement, default judgment, or trial (bench or jury). Hunt County empanels juries from the registered voter and driver's license lists.
- Post-Judgment: After a verdict or judgment, parties may file post-trial motions or appeals. Criminal defendants may be sentenced immediately or at a later hearing. Civil judgments may require enforcement proceedings.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Hunt County
The district courts in Hunt County operate under the administrative authority of the presiding judge of the applicable administrative judicial region. Day-to-day court operations are managed by each court's staff and the respective clerk's office.
- Local Rules: Texas district and county courts follow the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and the Texas Rules of Criminal Procedure. Local rules and standing orders specific to Hunt County courts may be obtained from the individual court's office or through the Texas Judicial Branch rules page.
- Public Access: Under the Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code, Chapter 552), most court records are open to the public. Exceptions include sealed records, juvenile records, certain family violence records, and records subject to protective orders. The public can request records from the County Clerk's records request page or from the District Clerk's office.
- Attending Hearings: Court hearings in Hunt County are generally open to the public. Some proceedings may be conducted remotely; check with the specific court for current remote hearing procedures.
- Contact: For questions about court administration, contact the District Clerk or County Clerk offices at the Hunt County Courthouse, 2507 Lee Street, Greenville, TX 75401.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Hunt County
- Docket Search: Use the Hunt County docket search tool to find upcoming court settings by court and date for County Court at Law No. 1, County Court at Law No. 2, the 196th District Court, and the 354th District Court.
- Court Records Search: The Hunt County official website provides a court records search feature. You can also use HuntCourt.us to locate publicly available court record information.
- Public Records Requests: The County Clerk's office handles requests for property records, marriage records, and other public documents. The District Clerk's office maintains civil, criminal, and family case records for the district courts.
- Court Forms and Self-Help: The Texas Judicial Branch provides statewide court forms. The Texas State Law Library court records guide offers research guidance for locating court records across the state.
- E-Filing: Attorneys must file civil, family, probate, and criminal cases electronically through eFileTexas.gov. Self-represented litigants may also use the system.
- Marriage and Divorce Records: Certified marriage licenses are available from the County Clerk. Divorce records can be obtained from the District Clerk or through the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Unit. Statewide marriage and divorce indexes are also available.
- Texas Department of Criminal Justice: Search for inmates in state custody through the TDCJ Offender Search.
- Texas Sex Offender Registry: Search the Texas DPS Sex Offender Registry for registered offenders in Hunt County.
- County Clerk Contact: Hunt County Clerk Becky Landrum can be reached at P.O. Box 1316, Greenville, TX 75403, as listed on the Texas Secretary of State county clerks directory.