Houston Family Court Records

Houston family court records are filed and maintained by the Harris County District Clerk, and searching them is something you can do online or at the courthouse on Caroline Street. The city is home to over 2.3 million people and has eleven dedicated family district courts handling divorce, custody, child support, and protective orders. This guide explains how to find Houston family court records, what the courts handle, where to go in person, and how to get copies of court documents whether you need them for a legal matter, background check, or personal reference.

Harris County District Clerk

All family court records for Houston are held by the Harris County District Clerk. District Clerk Marilyn Burgess manages filings for all district courts in the county, including the eleven family district courts that handle cases for Houston and its surrounding communities. The main office sits at 201 Caroline Street in downtown Houston.

The eleven family district courts in Harris County are the 245th, 246th, 247th, 248th, 257th, 308th, 309th, 310th, 311th, 312th, and 507th Judicial District Courts. Each one handles the full range of family matters including dissolution of marriage, child custody, child support modifications, adoption, and protective orders. When you search for a family court case, it will be assigned to one of these courts based on case filing date and judge rotation.

The courthouse is accessible by the METRORail. Bring a valid photo ID and be ready to go through security screening. Staff can pull case files, print copies, and certify documents while you wait. For large or older requests, it helps to call ahead with the case number or party names.

How to Search Houston Family Court Records

The Harris County District Clerk has a free online case search at hcdistrictclerk.com. You can look up cases by party name, cause number, attorney bar number, or date filed. The system shows party names, case type, current status, and a list of docket entries. Document images are available for many case types and can be purchased online with a credit card. Records go back to the 1970s for most case types.

The statewide portal re:SearchTX is another option. It pulls data from district courts across Texas, including Harris County. You can search by name or cause number and see basic docket information. Some older or sealed records won't appear in either system, in which case an in-person visit to the clerk's office is the only option.

Houston Municipal Courts at houstontx.gov/courts handle Class C misdemeanors and city ordinance violations, not family matters. For custody, divorce, child support, or adoption, always go to the District Clerk, not Municipal Court.

To search family court records, you typically need at least one party's full name and an approximate filing year. A cause number speeds things up considerably. If you don't have the number, searching by last name usually finds it, though common names may return many results.

Houston Courts Online Resources

The Houston Municipal Courts website provides citation search, court location info, and payment options for city-level matters. While not the source for family court records, it is useful if a case involves related city violations or protective order compliance citations.

The city also maintains an open records portal through the Houston City Secretary at houstontx.gov/secretary/openrecords.html. Under the Texas Public Information Act, residents can request city-level records through this portal with a ten-business-day response window.

For most family law records, you will want to use the Harris County District Clerk's e-Gov portal directly rather than the city portal. The District Clerk handles all district court filings, and its case search system is separate from city-level tools.

What Houston Family Courts Handle

Family court records in Houston cover a wide range of case types. Divorce and legal separation filings are the most common, but custody, paternity, and child support cases each make up a large share of the docket. Harris County's eleven family courts collectively handle tens of thousands of new filings each year.

Texas family law is governed by the Texas Family Code. Divorce cases fall under Family Code Chapter 6, which sets out grounds, residency requirements, and the 60-day waiting period. To file in Harris County, at least one spouse must have lived in Texas for six months and in the county for at least 90 days under Family Code Section 6.301. Child custody and conservatorship cases are governed by Family Code Chapter 153, and child support calculations follow the guidelines in Chapter 154.

Protective orders are filed in family court when there is a threat of family violence. These are public records handled through the District Clerk, though the underlying family violence affidavit may have restricted access. If you need to search for a protective order in Harris County, the District Clerk's case search is the right place to start.

Adoption records are confidential in Texas under Family Code Chapter 162. You won't find them through the public case search. Adult adoptees may petition the court for access to original birth certificates and court records under specific conditions set out in state law.

Getting Copies of Houston Family Court Documents

The Harris County District Clerk charges $1.00 per page for standard copies and a $5.00 certification fee plus copy fees for certified documents. Electronic certified copies are available for many case types through the online portal. You can pay by credit card online or in person at the clerk's office.

Mail requests are accepted. Send a written request that includes the party names, cause number, and what documents you need. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check or money order for the fees. The office processes requests in the order they are received. Complex or older requests may take more time.

Note: Document images are available for purchase online for many cases filed in recent years. Older cases may require an in-person or mail request since paper files may not have been scanned.

Legal Help in Houston

Houston has several resources for people who need help with family court matters. Lone Star Legal Aid serves low-income residents in the Houston area and handles family law cases including divorce, custody, and protective orders. Call (800) 733-8394 or visit lonestarlegal.org to check eligibility.

Houston Volunteer Lawyers runs free legal clinics for people who qualify. Call (713) 228-0732 for information. The State Bar of Texas lawyer referral service is available at (800) 252-9690. You can also search the attorney directory at texasbar.com.

The Texas Courts Self-Help Center at txcourts.gov has guides for handling family cases without an attorney. TexasLawHelp at texaslawhelp.org also has step-by-step instructions and all official court forms. Forms are also available through the Texas State Law Library at guides.sll.texas.gov.

You can file electronically through eFileTexas.gov. Most family courts in Texas now require e-filing for represented parties, and it is available to self-represented filers as well.

Harris County Family Court Records

Houston sits within Harris County, and all family court filings go through the Harris County District Court system. The county is the most populous in Texas, covering Houston and dozens of surrounding cities. For a full look at Harris County court resources, fees, and the District Clerk office, visit the county page.

View Harris County Family Court Records

Nearby Cities

Other major Texas cities also have family court records available through their respective county district clerks.

• San Antonio - Bexar County
• Austin - Travis County
• Corpus Christi - Nueces County