Collin County Court Records

Collin County court records are documents created or filed with the clerk of court in connection with a court case. These records may include motions, orders, judgments, transcripts, and exhibits. They serve as a permanent account of court case activities, decisions, and outcomes, providing an authoritative source of information for litigants, attorneys, and the public.

The County Clerk (includes the County Court at Law Clerks and Probate Clerk), District Clerk, Justice of the Peace Clerks, and Municipal Courts are responsible for maintaining court records in Collin County. Court records are part of the broader landscape of public records, which include vital records, arrest and criminal history records, and federal case files. Although each record differs from the other, they often intersect during various official processes.

Are Collin County Court Records Public?

Yes. Collins County court records are subject to public disclosure, but not under the Texas Public Information Act, which governs most public records. The Texas judiciary operates under a presumption of openness, meaning that unless a particular statute, court rule, or court order restricts access, a court case record is open for public inspection.

Certain records are generally restricted from public view due to privacy or legal protections, such as sealed records. These include

• Mental health commitment records
• Juvenile records
• Adoption records
• Records carrying sensitive information, such as financial records

What Information is Available in Collin County Court Records?

Researchers perusing a Collin County court record can generally expect to find the following information:

• Case information, including the case number, case type, presiding judicial officer, and case status
• Information about the parties involved and their attorneys
• Case events
• Charges (in criminal cases), including the charge number, code, description, and offense date
• Cause of action (in civil cases), including the file date, remedy sought, and remedy amount
• Financial summary (charges, payments, balances)

Collin County Court Records Search

Individuals have several options for accessing Collin County court records, depending on which is the best option for their needs.

Online Access

Collin County offers the public several tools for accessing court case information online, each designed for a specific purpose.

• The Justice System App: This tool can be used to search civil and criminal cases, look up current inmates, and check active warrants. It is updated in real time and is designed to be mobile-friendly.
• Case Search Portal: This consolidated tool allows users to search and view information for all case types at once using a party name, case number, or citation number. It is updated once daily.
• The Case Record Inquiry System: Similar to the Case Search Portal, this system allows users to search one specific case type at a time. It is updated in real time and often includes defendant mugshots for criminal cases when available.

In-Person Access

Some records, especially historical court records, may not be available on Collin County online databases. To access these records, researchers can visit the clerk of court's office where the record was filed for a manual search. Details such as a case number or party name will be needed to expedite a search. Researchers may also need to pay a fee if they request a record copy.

Mail and Phone Requests

Court records in Collin County can be requested by mail, though procedures vary by court. For instance, for District Court records, individuals should complete the Record Request Form and mail it to the District Clerk. A postage-paid return envelope should be included for mailing responsive records.

For records from the County Court at Law, inquirers can complete the County Clerk Record Request Form and select the mail-back option. Other options include in-person pick up and email delivery. While the Justice of the Peace Courts accept mailed requests, they prefer email as a more efficient method for record requests.

It is important to note that no court in Collin County discloses case information over the phone. All requests must be made in person, by mail, or through the online portals.

Fees for Court Records in Collin County

Obtaining court records in Collin County incurs specific fees, which vary based on the type of record and service required. The following fees generally apply:

• Non-certified paper copies: $1 per page
• Non-certified electronic copies: $1 per page for the first 10 pages; $0.10 per page for each additional page beyond 10
• Record certification: $5 per certification, plus the $1 per page copy fee
• Search fee: $5 per search

Payment for court records can be made using cash, check, or money order.

The fees for Collin County vital records maintained by the County Clerk also differ. Birth certificates cost $23 per copy, while death certificates cost $21 for an initial copy and $4 for each other copy requested at the same time. The County Clerk also issues marriage certificates, and they cost $6 per copy.

Collin County Courthouse Locations

Collin County has a comprehensive judicial system that includes District Courts, County Courts at Law, Justice of the Peace Courts, a Magistrate Court, a Probate Court, a Teen Court, and several municipal courts.

The District Courts consist of the 199th, 219th, 296th, 366th, 380th, 401st, 416th, 417th, 429th, 468th, 469th, 470th, 471st, 493rd, and 494th District Courts. The County Courts at Law include the County Courts at Law 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. The Justice of the Peace Courts are divided into Precinct 1, Precinct 2, Precinct 3, and Precinct 4.

Each court handles specific types of cases:

• District Courts: Adjudicate the most serious criminal cases and high-value civil matters.
• County Courts at Law: Hear Class A and B misdemeanors, mid-level civil disputes, probate cases, and appeals from lower courts.
• Justice of the Peace Courts: Cover small claims up to $20,000, evictions, and minor misdemeanors.
• Magistrate Court: Manages early criminal processes, such as issuing arrest warrants but does not hold trials.
• Probate Court: Oversees probate-related issues.
• Teen Court: Administers a county-wide program that handles cases referred by Justices of the Peace and other agencies.
• Municipal Courts: Hear Class C misdemeanor offenses, including traffic offenses, penal code, and city ordinance violations, within their respective cities & towns.

The addresses of the Collin County courthouses, excluding municipal courthouses, are as follows:

Criminal Records Access in Collin County

Criminal history checks in Texas are administered at the state level, not by county courts or local law enforcement. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), specifically its Crime Records Division (CRD), oversees this process. Individuals have two primary options:

• A name-based search through the Computerized Criminal History System, which is faster and available online, or
• A more comprehensive fingerprint-based search that provides more detailed information.

For local criminal court records in Collin County, the public can access information online using the county's case search tools, in person, or by submitting a mailed request to the relevant court.

Collin County Probate Records

Probate records cover cases involving the administration of estates following a person's demise and guardianships/conservatorships. The Collin County Probate Court handles these probate and inheritance matters, in addition to presiding over involuntary mental health commitment actions.

Probate records are available online through the county's case search portals, although older records may require in-person requests. However, certain case records, especially those involving minors, confidential guardianship details, or mental health commitments, are often excluded from publicly accessible documents.

Collin County Family Court Records

Family court records originate from family law cases in Collin County, which generally include divorce, child custody, child support, and spousal support. Jurisdiction over these cases lies with the District Courts, making the District Clerk the official custodian of all family court records.

To access family court records, interested parties may search the records online using their preferred county case search portal. Alternatively, they may request the record in person or by mail from the District Clerk's Office. Confidential family records may require a party to obtain a court order for access if they are not directly involved in the case.

Federal Court Records in Collin County

Federal cases originating in Collin County fall under the authority of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, particularly the Sherman Division. The Sherman Division serves both Collin and Denton counties.

Federal court records from the division can be accessed electronically through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) program. Users need to register an account to perform searches on the portal. Some documents in Social Security or immigration cases (non-orders) are not available via PACER. These records may be viewed on public terminals at the clerk's office or requested directly from the clerk.

The Sherman Division has three courthouses, two of which have clerk offices: