Court records in Erath County, Texas are maintained by the county clerk and district clerk and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's office. ErathCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Erath County. You can also search records through the Erath County Online Services portal, the District Clerk's office, and the County Clerk's office, along with state-level resources maintained by the Texas Judicial Branch.
Erath Court System Overview
Erath County is part of the 266th Judicial District in Texas. The 266th District Court serves Erath County exclusively and handles felony criminal matters, civil cases, family law, and juvenile proceedings at the district level. The county also has two Justice of the Peace courts and a County Court at Law that handle misdemeanors, small claims, and other lower-level matters. The Erath County Courthouse is located in Stephenville, the county seat. Court proceedings and clerk services are available at the courthouse during regular business hours.
Erath County Courthouse
Courts Serving Erath County
| Court | Address / Contact |
|---|---|
| 266th District Court | 100 W. Washington St., Stephenville, TX 76401 |
| Erath County Court at Law | 100 W. Washington St., Stephenville, TX 76401 |
| Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1 | 100 W. Washington St., Stephenville, TX 76401 |
| Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2 | Erath County, TX |
| Stephenville Municipal Court | 298 W. Washington St., Stephenville, TX 76401 |
| U.S. District Court – Northern District of Texas | Fort Worth Division |
Erath County falls within the Northern District of Texas for federal matters, with cases typically handled through the Fort Worth Division.
What Types of Cases Erath County Courts Hear
Courts in Erath County handle a broad range of case types across multiple levels of jurisdiction:
- Criminal: Felonies, misdemeanors, Class C misdemeanors, traffic violations
- Civil: Lawsuits, small claims, debt disputes, evictions, property disputes
- Family Law: Divorce, child custody, child support, protective orders, paternity, termination of parental rights
- Probate: Wills, estates, guardianships, conservatorships
- Juvenile: Juvenile delinquency, child protective services cases
- Traffic: Citations, CDL violations, driving with a suspended license
The sections below explain which court handles each category.
District Court Cases in Erath County
The 266th District Court hears felony criminal cases, civil lawsuits where the amount in controversy exceeds the County Court at Law's jurisdictional limit, family law matters including divorce and custody, and juvenile cases. Felony cases typically arrive at the district court after indictment by a grand jury. A district judge presides over all proceedings, and cases are managed by the Erath County District Clerk, who serves as custodian of all district court records, indexes filings, and secures case files. Appeals from the County Court at Law and Justice of the Peace courts are also heard at the district level.
Magistrate Court Cases in Erath County
In Texas, magistrate functions — such as issuing arrest warrants, setting bail, and conducting initial appearances — are performed by judges who hold magistrate authority, including justices of the peace and the county court at law judge. The Erath County Court at Law handles Class A and Class B misdemeanors, civil cases up to $200,000, probate matters, and appeals from Justice of the Peace courts. Justice of the Peace courts hear Class C misdemeanors (fine-only offenses), traffic citations, evictions, and small claims cases with amounts up to $20,000 under current Texas law. The Stephenville Municipal Court handles city ordinance violations and Class C misdemeanors occurring within city limits.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Erath County
Family Law: Divorce, custody, child support, paternity, protective orders, and termination of parental rights are handled by the 266th District Court. Erath County provides pro-se divorce resources for individuals representing themselves. Divorce records are also maintained locally by the Erath County Clerk as a local vital records office.
Probate: The County Court at Law handles decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust matters. Probate filings are maintained by the County Clerk's office.
Juvenile: Juvenile cases, including delinquency proceedings, are heard in the 266th District Court. The Eighth Region South Child Protection Court handles child protective services cases involving Erath County. Juvenile records are confidential under Texas law and are not available through public record searches.
How Cases Move Through the Erath County Court System
- Filing / Initiation: A criminal complaint or indictment is filed by the district or county attorney. Civil cases begin with a petition filed with the appropriate clerk. Small claims and evictions are initiated at the Justice of the Peace court.
- Assignment: Cases are assigned to a judge based on the court's jurisdiction. District-level matters go to the 266th District Court; misdemeanors and lower civil matters go to the County Court at Law or JP courts.
- Initial Hearing: Criminal defendants are arraigned and informed of charges. Civil cases receive a scheduling order or initial conference.
- Pre-Trial Phase: Parties exchange discovery, file motions, and may negotiate plea agreements (criminal) or settlements (civil).
- Trial or Resolution: Cases proceed to jury or bench trial, or are resolved by plea, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment: Sentencing occurs in criminal cases. Civil judgments may be enforced or appealed. Appeals from county-level courts go to the district court; appeals from the district court go to the appropriate Court of Appeals.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Erath County
The 266th District Court is administered by the presiding district judge. Day-to-day court operations, record-keeping, and filing are handled by the District Clerk's office for district court matters and the County Clerk's office for county court and vital records matters.
- Local Rules: Local rules for the 266th Judicial District govern practice and procedure. Contact the District Clerk's office to obtain copies or ask about current standing orders.
- Public Access: Under the Texas Public Information Act and Texas Rules of Judicial Administration, most court records are generally public. Exceptions include sealed records, juvenile records, adoption records, and certain family violence filings. You can search court records and eDiscovery documents through the Erath County Online Services portal.
- Attending Hearings: Court hearings are generally open to the public. Contact the District Clerk or County Clerk to ask whether remote participation is available for specific proceedings.
- Government Directory: A full list of Erath County offices and officials is available on the Erath County Government page.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Erath County
- Court Record Search: Search County Clerk, District Clerk, and eDiscovery records through the Erath County Online Services portal.
- Public Records Lookup: The Erath County Find page provides links to official public records, vital records, marriage applications, and foreclosure postings.
- Land Records: Search deeds, liens, and other property documents through the Erath County Land Records department.
- Criminal History Search: The Texas DPS Criminal History Name Search allows public searches of Texas criminal records for a fee. The Texas State Law Library criminal history guide explains the process and limitations.
- Court Records Research Guide: The Texas State Law Library court records guide provides statewide tools for locating case information, including appellate records through TAMES.
- Expunction and Nondisclosure: If you need to clear an arrest from your record, the Texas expunction and nondisclosure forms guide provides petition forms and instructions.
- TDCJ Inmate Search: Locate individuals in Texas state custody using the TDCJ Offender Search or the TDCJ Inmate Information page.
- Erath County Jail: Information about current inmates and visitation is available on the Erath County Jail page.
- Sheriff's Office: The Erath County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement, warrant service, and jail operations.
- Child Protection Court Dockets: View docket information for child protective services cases through the Eighth Region South Child Protection Court docket page.
- Crime Records: The Texas DPS Crime Records Division maintains statewide criminal justice data and background check services.
- Property Tax Records: Property tax information for Erath County is available through the Erath County Tax Assessor-Collector and the Texas Comptroller's Erath County directory.