Bee County Court Records Lookup

Bee County Courts, TX *

Bee County has a multi-layered court system, meaning that it has different courts, with each one of them operating within its own jurisdiction. The residents of Bee County have to navigate the court system whenever they are seeking justice. The process can be so complicated, especially if you do not have a legal representative to help you throughout the process.

Knowing where to start when you are dealing with a civil dispute, a criminal matter, or a probate filing, or tracking down an old case record for personal reasons will save you a lot of time and frustration.

Overview of the Bee County Court System

Bee County was established in 1858 and named after an American diplomat and politician, Barnard E. Bee Sr. The county is relatively rural, with a population of approximately 31,000 residents. Its court infrastructure has been built to handle several legal matters at different levels.

The Texas court system has layers, with the district courts at the top, with the responsibility of handling the most serious civil and criminal matters. The other courts are the county-level courts, justice of the peace courts, and municipal courts, with each having their well defined jurisdictions. Bee County has all these courts and follows the same structure of operation.

Bee County falls under the jurisdiction of the 13th Court of Appeals, which deals with serious crime cases and appellate matters, while the lower courts deal with minor crimes and civil issues.

Types of Courts in Bee County, Texas

Bee County has five courts, with each one serving a different function. Below is a breakdown of the different courts.

District Courts

The 36th, 156th, and 343rd Judicial District Courts are the highest-level trial courts in the county. The court not only serves Bee County, but it also operates in Aransas, Live Oak, McMullen, and San Patricio counties. All serious cases in the county, including felony drug charges, assault, major civil suits, child protective services (CPS) hearings, contested wills, and family law disputes involving significant property or custody arrangements, are handled in one of the three district courts.

As per the Texas Government Code Chapter 24, the courts handle:

• Felony criminal cases
• Civil matters where the claim amount is $200 or more
• Divorce and family law proceedings
• Child custody cases
• Disputes over land or property titles
• Contested probate matters are transferred from the county court

The District Clerk's Office maintains records for all three courts. In the case one wants to access records, the office serves as the first stop.

Multi-County Court at Law

The Multi-County Court at Law of Bee County became effective January 1, 2000. The court acts as the middle tier between the District Courts and the Justice of the Peace Court by handling issues that are below the District Court and above the Justice of the Peace Court.

It handles:

• Civil claims up to $10,000
• Class A and Class B misdemeanors
• Juvenile cases
• Probate matters such as wills, estate administration, guardianships, and conservatorships

As the District Courts, it also handles some family law and criminal cases depending on how they were filed. The County Clerk's office manages all records of cases filed in this court.

Primary Location: Bee County Courthouse

Justice of the Peace Courts (Precincts 1 through 4)

Bee County has four Justice of the Peace courts, each one located at one precinct. They are responsible for settling the everyday disputes of the residents, making them the ones that most residents interact with. They have civil jurisdiction over:

• Claims up to $20,000 as of recent updates to state law
• Misdemeanor offenses punishable by fine only
• A range of landlord-tenant
• Small claims matters

The four precincts cover a geographic area of the county, with Precinct 1 and Precinct 3 based at the main courthouse in Beeville, Precinct 2 located in Tuleta, and Precinct 4 in Skidmore.

Daily, the justice courts handle:

• Evictions
• Traffic citations
• Bad check cases
• Debt claims
• Truancy matters

The courts also have the mandate to act as the magistrates' courts for initial appearances in criminal cases and perform wedding ceremonies for the people of Bee County. Although the four precincts operate under the same jurisdiction, they have their own unique operating rules.

Primary Locations: Precinct 1, Precinct 2, Precinct 3, Precinct 4

Constitutional County Court

The County Judge is the one that precedes over the Constitutional County Court and also serves as the chair of the Commissioners Court, which is the governing body of the county.

The constitutional court has general county court jurisdiction, including original jurisdiction over:

• Probate matters
• Mental health commitments
• Certain civil and criminal cases.

The constitutional court mainly handles administrative and governmental functions alongside its judicial role. For individuals, the court can only be relevant to the probate cases that have not been assigned to the County Court at Law. Also, it can help solve issues involving mental health proceedings and certain cases filed directly with the county judge.

Primary Location: Bee County Judge's Office

Municipal Court

The City of Beeville has a Municipal Court that is located at 405 N. St. Mary's Street in downtown Beeville. The court handles violations of city ordinances, traffic infractions within city limits, minor criminal offenses, and some small claims and landlord-tenant disputes. Also, the court handles traffic and some juvenile and traffic cases that happen within Beeville City. In case of any appeals at this court, the cases move to the county court and are handled as new trials.

Primary Location: Beeville Municipal Court

Court of Appeals and Federal Courts

Apart from the trial courts, Bee County is also under the jurisdiction of the 13th Court of Appeals. The court handles the appeals of criminal and civil cases from the district and county courts in the region.

At the federal level, Bee County is within the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, which takes further appeals to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. The appellate courts are not for the first trial but for cases in which one of the parties disagrees with the ruling.

Primary Locations: 13th Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit Court of Appeal

How to Access Bee County Court Records

Generally, Court records in Bee County are public as stipulated by the Texas Open Records Act. The law states that the public has the right to view most of the government records, which include court records, but with some exceptions. Some of the restrictions are:

• Records related to ongoing criminal investigations
• Sealed cases
• Juvenile records
• Certain sensitive personal data

Online Access

The easiest starting point for online record access at Bee County is the re:SearchTXportal. The statewide site gives you access to index information and court records of cases that were filed electronically. It simplifies the process of case monitoring by ensuring the parties involved are able to track their case progress and status changes without visiting the courthouse.

The attorneys and parties with active cases can use the Texas eCourts portal to access case status information. For the residents looking for information regarding an appellate case from the 13th Court of Appeals and other Texas appellate courts, the Texas Appeals Management and eFiling System (TAMES) can allow you access to the appeal case information.

Alternative Online Options

Apart from the official government sites, third-party tools such as CourtCaseFinder can be a good option for a broader county-level search as well as in other jurisdictions. It has aggregated case information from different courts in Bee County in one place, reducing the stress of having to check many other sites before pointing out the exact information that you need.

In-Person Requests

The in-person option is for documents that cannot be accessed on online platforms, like certified copies, and for records of the restricted cases. Such documents are accessed at the respective clerk's office in person. For District Court records, you are required to check the Bee County District Clerk's Office as the first place to check for any case information. The cases at this office include felony criminal cases, family cases, and civil cases that are not handled at the lower courts.

On the other hand, the County Clerk's office manages records for the lower cases, like small claims, misdemeanor cases, probate matters, and certain civil cases. To avoid rejection, it is important to ensure you carry your ID, case information, and the copying fees for the specific document.

Archived Records

Older and historical court records are not accessible at the official records sites. The District Clerk's Archive system is the first place one should consider when looking for older records, for records like case files, court orders, judgments, and other legal documents from concluded proceedings. For much older records of several decades, one might need to visit the District Clerk's Office personally and ask for archived material. Also, you can consider the Texas State Library and Archives Commission for historical Texas court records at the state level.

For Attorneys and Legal Professionals

The state-mandated e-filing platform is the eFileTexas, and attorneys practicing in Bee County's District Courts can use it to file electronically. E-filing is required for attorneys. The site allows them to file new cases, subsequent filings, and service documents.

The District Clerk's Office has several specialized staff contacts for legal professionals, who can be accessed at the District Clerk Staff Directory page. Ensure you call the specific staff and inquire before visiting the office to avoid any inconveniences.

How to File a Case in Bee County

Filing a case in Bee County requires one to follow some important steps. If you are a self-represented litigant, the general steps below can make the process easier.

Step 1: Choose the Correct Court

Bee County has several courts with different levels of jurisdiction. Each court has its area of operation and process they follow. When filing a case, it is important to understand the court type and its complexity before choosing the court to file in. Filing in the wrong court may lead to dismissal.

Step 2: Complete Required Forms

Once you have the right court, the next step is to fill out the filing forms. The Bee County District Clerk's Office provides several standard forms on its website. In case you are filing in person, it is important that you download and fill them out before visiting the clerk's office.

Step 3: File Your Case

Case filing in Bee County can either be online or in person. The people being represented by attorneys are mandated to file their cases online via the eFileTexas platform. The people representing themselves are exempt from this and are allowed to file their cases at the clerk's office. The people filing for criminal felonies, family issues, and civil cases that are higher than the county court can file at the District Clerk's Office. The other lower cases, like the small claim and civil cases, can be filed at the County Clerk's Office.

Step 4: Pay Filing Fees

Filing fees differ depending on the type of case and the court. Cases at the District Court vary from $300 to $400, and the Justice of the Peace court cases are always under $100. The clerk updates the fee schedule. In case you cannot afford the fee, the state allows you to file without paying the fee by filing an Affidavit of Inability to Pay Court costs.

Step 5: Serve the Other Party

Once you are done with filing, you are required to inform the other party about the lawsuit through the service of process. In Texas, one cannot serve the other party by themselves. The clerk issues the citation, and the sheriff, constable, or private process servers are to serve the documents. The documents can also be served via official mail.

Step 6: Monitor Your Case

After the case is filed and the other party is aware of the case, it is important to track the case's progress. The re:SearchTX can be a helpful tool for tracking case progress, ensuring that you keep all the court dates. Missing a court date may have consequences, such as the case being determined without you or a warrant of arrest being issued.

Bee County Courthouse Directory

Below is the list of all courts and offices in Bee County with their address, phone number, and online presence where available.

Legal Help and Self-Help Resources

Navigating the court system without legal training can be complicated. Bee County residents have several local and free resources to help them in the process.

Free Legal Assistance

Organizations offering free resources include:

• Texas Law Help: Provides free, reliable legal information and forms for self-represented litigants in family law, housing, consumer debt, benefits, and more.
• Texas Legal Services Center: Provides free legal aid services to low-income Texans.
• Texas State Bar Lawyer Referral Service: Operates a referral service that can connect you with a local attorney in the relevant practice area with a reduced initial fee.

Local Legal Support

The Texas Attorney General's Child Support Division is a local tool that helps in establishing paternity, enforcing child support orders, and related matters. Also, for victims of family violence, the Texas Council on Family Violence has a list of shelters and legal advocates that can help you with your protective orders and court accompaniment services at no cost.

FAQs

Other Counties in Texas

• Anderson
• Andrews
• Angelina
• Aransas
• Archer
• Armstrong
• Atascosa
• Austin
• Bailey
• Bandera
• Bastrop
• Baylor
• Bell
• Bexar
• Blanco
• Borden
• Bosque
• Bowie
• Brazoria
• Brazos
• Brewster
• Briscoe
• Brooks
• Brown
• Burleson
• Burnet
• Caldwell
• Calhoun
• Callahan
• Cameron
• Camp
• Carson
• Cass
• Castro
• Chambers
• Cherokee
• Childress
• Clay
• Cochran
• Coke
• Coleman
• Collin
• Colorado
• Comal
• Comanche
• Concho
• Cooke
• Coryell
• Crockett
• Crosby
• Culberson
• Dallam
• Dallas
• Dawson
• De Witt
• Deaf Smith
• Delta
• Denton
• Dimmit
• Duval
• Eastland
• Ector
• Edwards
• El Paso
• Ellis
• Erath
• Falls
• Fannin
• Fayette
• Fisher
• Foard
• Fort Bend
• Franklin
• Freestone
• Frio
• Gaines
• Galveston
• Garza
• Gillespie
• Glasscock
• Goliad
• Gonzales
• Gray
• Grayson
• Gregg
• Grimes
• Guadalupe
• Hale
• Hamilton
• Hansford
• Hardin
• Harris
• Harrison
• Hartley
• Haskell
• Hays
• Henderson
• Hidalgo
• Hill
• Hockley
• Hood
• Hopkins
• Houston
• Howard
• Hunt
• Hutchinson
• Jack
• Jackson
• Jasper
• Jefferson
• Jim Wells
• Johnson
• Jones
• Karnes
• Kaufman
• Kendall
• Kenedy
• Kerr
• Kinney
• Kleberg
• Lamar
• Lamb
• Lampasas
• Lavaca
• Lee
• Leon
• Liberty
• Limestone
• Live Oak
• Llano
• Loving
• Lubbock
• Madison
• Marion
• Matagorda
• Maverick
• Mcculloch
• Mclennan
• Medina
• Midland
• Milam
• Mitchell
• Montague
• Montgomery
• Moore
• Morris
• Nacogdoches
• Navarro
• Newton
• Nolan
• Nueces
• Ochiltree
• Orange
• Palo Pinto
• Panola
• Parker
• Parmer
• Pecos
• Polk
• Potter
• Rains
• Randall
• Red River
• Reeves
• Robertson
• Rockwall
• Runnels
• Rusk
• Sabine
• San Augustine
• San Jacinto
• San Patricio
• Scurry
• Shelby
• Sherman
• Smith
• Somervell
• Starr
• Stephens
• Tarrant
• Taylor
• Terrell
• Terry
• Titus
• Tom Green
• Travis
• Trinity
• Tyler
• Upshur
• Uvalde
• Val Verde
• Van Zandt
• Victoria
• Walker
• Waller
• Ward
• Washington
• Webb
• Wharton
• Wichita
• Wilbarger
• Willacy
• Williamson
• Wilson
• Wise
• Wood
• Yoakum
• Young
• Zapata
• Zavala