Access Travis County Court Docket Records
Travis County court docket records are housed at the District Clerk's office in Austin, Texas, where 20 district courts handle civil, criminal, family, and juvenile cases. The county processes around 70,000 new filings per year, making it a major court system in Central Texas. This page walks through the search portals, clerk contact details, fee schedules, and legal resources you need to look up Travis County docket information online or at the courthouse.
Travis County Overview
Travis County District Clerk
The Travis County District Clerk maintains the official court docket records for all 20 district courts. The main office is at 1000 Guadalupe Street in downtown Austin, with additional operations at the Travis County Courthouse complex. This office handles felony criminal filings, civil lawsuits, family law cases like divorce and custody, and juvenile matters. Staff keep the docket current as cases move through the system, logging every filing, hearing, motion, and ruling along the way.
Travis County court records date back to 1840. The Records Management Division oversees archiving and digitization of historical files. Older records are in the county archives and available by request. For active cases, the docket is updated in real time as the clerk's staff process new filings and court orders. The office employs dedicated teams for each division, so you can reach the right people whether your case is civil, criminal, or family.
| Office | Travis County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 1000 Guadalupe Street, Austin, TX 78701 |
| Phone | (512) 854-9457 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | traviscountytx.gov/district-clerk |
The Travis County Clerk handles cases for 8 county courts at law and 2 probate courts. That office is at 5501 Airport Blvd in Austin. Call (512) 854-9188 for county court questions. The County Clerk manages misdemeanor criminal cases, civil disputes under the district court threshold, and probate matters. They also maintain property records, marriage licenses, and vital records for Travis County.
Note: The Travis County District Clerk and County Clerk are at different locations, so confirm which office you need before making a trip.
The Travis County District Clerk's website is the starting point for court docket lookups and filing information. The image below shows the District Clerk's homepage, which links to case search tools, fee schedules, and division contact details.
From this page you can access the online case search system and find contact information for each court division in Travis County.
Searching Travis County Docket Records Online
Travis County offers online case search through the Travis County Court Records portal. You can search by name, case number, or date range. Results display party names, case type, filing date, and current status. The portal covers district court filings across all divisions. For county court records, the Travis County Clerk Records Search provides a separate lookup tool.
The statewide re:SearchTX portal also includes Travis County records. Run by the Texas Office of Court Administration, this free tool covers over 150 counties and lets you search across jurisdictions. It is a good backup when the local portal does not have what you need, or when you want to search multiple counties at once. No registration is required for basic searches.
Not all documents show up online. Full docket sheets are typically available, but exhibits, sealed orders, and some older filings may require a direct request. Visit the courthouse during business hours to use public access computers, or call the clerk's office if you need help with a specific search. Mail requests are accepted too, though response times depend on staff workload.
The Texas Judicial Branch website provides a statewide directory for all Texas courts, including those in Travis County. The image below shows the homepage with links to court directories and resources.
This page connects you to the Office of Court Administration and the re:SearchTX portal for Travis County case lookups.
What Travis County Court Dockets Include
A court docket is the complete log of actions in a case. Travis County court docket records cover felony criminal cases, civil lawsuits, family law matters, and juvenile proceedings. Each entry on the docket shows the case number, the parties, what action was taken, and the date it happened. Criminal dockets track indictments, arraignments, bond settings, plea entries, trial settings, and sentencing. Family dockets include divorce petitions, custody motions, temporary orders, and final decrees.
The Civil Division records cover contract disputes, personal injury cases, real estate matters, and other lawsuits filed in district court. The Juvenile Division maintains its own records, but those are confidential under the Texas Family Code. Only authorized parties can access juvenile docket information. Under the Texas Government Code, permanent retention is the standard for felony criminal and civil case files. If you are not sure whether a record is public, call the District Clerk before making the trip.
Travis County Court Docket Copy Fees
Copy fees in Travis County follow Texas standard rates. Plain copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 for the court seal plus $1.00 per page. You need certified copies for submitting documents to other courts or agencies. Copies can be obtained in person at the District Clerk's office, by mail, or online where available.
The County Clerk charges $81.00 for a marriage license without counseling or $11.00 with a premarital counseling certificate. Birth certificates are $23.00 and death certificates are $21.00. Online appointment scheduling is available for marriage license applications. For mail requests, include a check or money order payable to the Travis County Clerk.
The eFileTexas system is used by attorneys to submit filings to Travis County courts electronically. The image below shows the eFileTexas login page for the mandatory e-filing platform.
Because attorneys must e-file, new Travis County docket entries often appear the same day they are submitted and processed by the clerk.
Note: If you need an exact cost estimate for a large records request, call the District Clerk at (512) 854-9457 before sending payment.
Public Access to Travis County Docket Records
Travis County court docket records are public records under Texas law. The Texas Public Information Act, Government Code Chapter 552, says government records are open unless a specific exception applies. Court records have additional rules under the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, but the default position is public access. You can submit a written open records request to the District Clerk, and the office has ten business days to respond in most cases.
The Texas Attorney General's Open Government page publishes guides for requesters. If you believe a Travis County office is wrongly withholding public records, the AG's office can review the situation. The main exceptions to public access are sealed cases, juvenile records, and certain family law filings where the court has restricted access.
The Texas Attorney General's Open Records page explains public rights when requesting court filings and docket sheets from offices like the Travis County District Clerk.
Understanding your rights under the Public Information Act helps when seeking Travis County docket records that should be publicly available.
Travis County Court Structure
Travis County has 20 district courts, 8 county courts at law, and 2 probate courts. District courts have general jurisdiction over felonies, civil cases above $200, family law, and juvenile matters. County courts at law handle misdemeanors, smaller civil disputes, and justice court appeals. The probate courts deal with estates, guardianships, and mental health cases. Austin also hosts federal courts, but those operate under a separate system entirely.
The Office of Court Administration publishes annual reports on caseloads statewide. Travis County ranks among the top counties in Texas for total filings, driven largely by Austin's growing population. Attorneys must e-file through eFileTexas. Self-represented litigants can file in person at the courthouse, and the clerk's staff can help with forms and filing procedures.
Legal Resources for Travis County
Several free resources serve Travis County residents who need help with court matters. TexasLawHelp covers family law, housing, debt, and other civil legal topics in plain language. The Texas State Law Library provides free access to statutes, court rules, and research databases. It is located in Austin, so Travis County residents can visit in person or use the online tools. The State Bar of Texas offers a lawyer referral service for the Austin area. Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid both provide free civil help to income-qualifying residents.
The Texas State Law Library, shown below, is especially convenient for Travis County residents since it is located right in Austin and offers both in-person and online access to legal research tools.
Staff at the library can help you locate the statutes and procedural rules that apply to your Travis County court case.
Nearby Texas Counties
Travis County borders several Central Texas counties, each maintaining its own court docket records through separate District Clerk offices. Cross-county cases may appear in more than one jurisdiction.