Orange County, Texas Court Records
Orange County, Texas court records are official records created during civil, criminal, family, probate, and other legal proceedings conducted within the county. Depending on the type of case, these records are maintained by the Orange County District Clerk or the Orange County Clerk, each serving as the custodian of records for their respective courts.
In addition to documenting court proceedings, court records may also be associated with other public records created throughout a case. For example, criminal cases often begin with an arrest, meaning an arrest record and a court record may relate to the same incident. Likewise, family law matters such as divorces, adoptions, and child custody cases may involve vital records, including birth certificates, marriage licenses, and death certificates, which are maintained separately by the Orange County Clerk and the Texas Department of State Health Services
Are Orange County, Texas Court Records Public?
Yes, under the Texas Public Information Act, Orange County court records are freely accessible to the public; however, certain restrictions may apply in specific circumstances established by law. These restricted records are confidential by law, while others may be sealed by court order under Texas Law. Examples of this include juvenile cases, adoption cases, and personal information like health data in publicly available court records.
What Information is Available in Orange County, Texas Court Records?
Orange County court records may include:
- Case number
- Case type
- Filing date
- Names of the parties involved
- Court dates and proceedings
- Motions and other filed documents
- Court orders
- Judgments
- Attorney information
- Court fees and fines
Orange County, Texas Court Records Search
Depending on the type of case, Orange County court records are maintained by either the County Clerk or the District Clerk. Individuals seeking Orange County court records do so in person, by mail, or via an online search.
- Online Access: Court records in Orange County can be accessed using the County Clerk's Online Records Search. It is also possible to find some District Court records using the statewide search portal. Some court records may be unavailable online and can only be obtained directly from the appropriate clerk's office.
- In-Person Access: Orange County court records can also be obtained by visiting the appropriate county clerk's office during business hours to use the public computers and index for self-service searches. There are also staff available to assist requesters in locating desired records and processing copy requests. Offices include:
801 West Division Avenue
Orange, TX 77630
Phone: (409) 882-7055
801 West Division Avenue
Orange, TX 77630
Phone: (409) 882-7059
- Mail and Phone Requests: This option involves mailing a request including the case number, party name, or filing date for the desired records to the County Clerk's office at 123 South 6th Street, Orange, TX 77630. Acceptable payment forms include check, money order, or credit card authorization. The County Clerk does not conduct record searches by phone or email. Requesters must contact the District Court office directly for records maintained by the District Clerk to confirm available request methods, applicable fees, and current processing times before submitting a request.
Fees for Court Records in Orange County, Texas
Public inspection of Court records in Orange County is free; however, fees may apply for copy requests, copy certification, and record searches. The charges are set and capped under Texas State Law rather than by individual counties and appear in the County Clerk's fee schedule and District Clerk's fee schedule.
- $1.00 per page for copies.
- $ 1.00 per page plus a $ 5.00 certification fee for certified copies
- $5.00 for record searches
Orange County Courthouse Locations
Orange County's judicial system includes district courts, the County Court at Law, County Court at Law No. 2, and Justice of the Peace Courts, each with jurisdiction over different types of cases. Most county-level proceedings take place at the Orange County Courthouse, while Justice of the Peace Courts operate from precinct offices located throughout Orange County. Federal cases arising in Orange County are heard by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Beaumont Division.
The addresses and contact information of the courts in Orange County are listed below.
|
Courthouse/Office |
Address |
Phone Number |
Divisions/Case Type |
Office Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
801 West Division Avenue, Orange, TX 77630 |
(409) 882-7055 |
Civil, criminal, family, juvenile, and other district court matters |
Mon - Fri; 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | |
|
801 W. Division Avenue, Orange TX 77630 |
(409) 882-7084/ (409) 670-4189 |
Civil, criminal, family, juvenile, and other district court matters | ||
|
Various precinct locations throughout Orange County |
Varies by precinct |
Traffic, small claims, evictions, magistrate duties, and other matters within each precinct's jurisdiction |
Mon - Fri; 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | |
|
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Beaumont Division |
300 Willow Street, Beaumont, TX 77701 |
(409) 654-7000 |
Federal civil and criminal cases arising in Orange County under the Eastern District of Texas |
Mon - Fri; 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. |
Orange County, Texas Criminal Records Access
Criminal records in Orange County include documents created during misdemeanor and felony court proceedings, such as case filings, judgments, and other records related to criminal cases. Depending on the type of case, these records are maintained by either the Orange County District Clerk or the Orange County Clerk. The District Clerk maintains felony criminal case records, while the County Clerk maintains misdemeanor criminal case records filed through the County Courts at Law.
In addition to local court records, individuals seeking a statewide criminal history check should obtain it through the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Records Service rather than the county courts.
Local criminal court records may be searched through official court record resources, including the re:SearchTX portal when available, or requested directly from the appropriate clerk's office. Misdemeanor record searches maintained by the County Clerk must be requested by mail or in person, as the office does not conduct searches by phone or email. Some records may be subject to restricted access under Texas law.
Orange County Probate Records
Orange County probate records are legal proceedings involving estate administrations, including wills, trusts, and guardianships. These records are maintained by the Orange County Clerk.
They are generally available to the public through the Clerk's Office, while more recent probate filings may also be accessible through the county's online records search, depending on the record type and availability.
However, some probate records or portions of records may be confidential or sealed under Texas law or court order, particularly when they contain protected personal information or involve proceedings made confidential by statute.
Orange County, Texas Family Court Records
Family court records in Orange County include cases involving divorce, child custody, adoption, child support, and other family law matters. The Orange County District Clerk maintains these records, including the family law docket handled through the county's two County Courts at Law.
Eligible records may be searchable through the re:SearchTX portal or requested directly from the District Clerk's Office, although online availability depends on the filing date and case type. Restricted family law matters generally require additional review before release. Certified copies can be requested from the District Clerk by mail or in person for the applicable copy and certification fees. Adoption records become confidential once a court finalizes the adoption and generally require a court order showing good cause for access.
County Court at Law/ County Court at Law No. 2
801 West Division Avenue
Orange TX 77630
Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Federal Court Records in Orange County
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Beaumont Division is the court with jurisdiction over criminal cases, civil disputes, bankruptcy, and all other cases involving federal law within Orange County. These records are maintained by the district court clerk's office.
The public can easily access federal records online through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records), searching by name, case number, or filing date. PACER requires account registration and may charge fees for accessing certain records. Also, some federal court records may not be publicly accessible if they are restricted or sealed under federal law.
