Cameron County Court Records

Cameron County Courts, TX *

Cameron County is one of the most populous counties in Texas, which means it has a large court system. Cameron County regularly hears cases involving civil disputes, small claims, traffic offenses, election disputes, and wills and estates.

As a resident of Cameron County, it is important that you know how the legal system works. You may need to use the court system to solve a dispute with your landlord over repairs. You may use the courts to handle a divorce or a child custody issue. You may need to argue a traffic ticket.

If you are a landlord, a business owner, or someone who needs to recoup money you lost due to someone else's negligence, it is important that you can access the records in Cameron County. People in the county use court records all the time to help them make decisions, hire employees, or buy a home.

Overview of the Cameron County Court System

Cameron County is the southernmost county in Texas, and its population ranks 13th of all Texas's 254 counties. Because it is so large, it is very important that you understand where to find court records in Cameron County. Many of the court cases in Cameron County originate in the Cameron County Courthouse located in Brownsville. The massive courthouse houses historic court records, bail bond boards, the county sheriff and constables, and serves as the headquarters for the county courts, district courts, and probate courts. In addition, municipal courts and justices of the peace are located throughout the county to hear cases involving minor violations and traffic infractions.

Within the court systems in Cameron County, there are plenty of legal clerks and professionals who can help you navigate the records, courtrooms, court calendars, and proceedings. These professionals are invaluable to the court system's efficient operation.

Types of Courts in Cameron County, TX

Because Cameron County is large and heavily populated, there are several court systems. Here is a breakdown of all the court systems in Cameron County.

District Courts

Cameron County has nine district courts. Each district court office is in the Cameron County Courthouse, except for the 484th District Court, which is in San Benito, and specializes in juvenile cases.

Jurisdiction:

Juvenile crime (felonies)
Felony criminal cases
Divorce
Child custody and support
Land disputes and land titles
Civil cases over $200
Child neglect or abuse

Magistrate Court

The Magistrate Court is a specialized court that serves as the initial stop for defendants who first appear after being arrested and jailed on criminal charges at the Carrizales-Rucker Detention Center in Olmito.

Jurisdictions:

Initial hearings
Bail settings
Probable cause reviews
Bond hearings

The Magistrate Court acts as the first stop in the criminal court process. Hearings are held at the detention center.

County Courts at Law

Cameron County does not have a Constitutional County Court, like many other counties in Texas. Instead, the county has four county Courts at Law.

Jurisdictions:

Class A and B misdemeanors
Civil Cases with monetary limits
Family law
Child support and custody
Child abuse and neglect
Felonies
Civil Cases with damages between $500 and $200,000
Appeals from Justice of the Peace and Municipal Courts

The county is divided into four courts, but all are housed in the Judicial Building in Brownsville. Each Judge in the Courts at Law has their own clerks for criminal and civil cases, as well as records.

Probate Court

Because Cameron County has a large population, the Probate Court for the county is separate from the Courts at Law.

Jurisdictions:

Wills, trusts, and estates
Mental health hearings
Guardianship
Trustees and Executors

Justices of the Peace

Cameron County has 10 justices of the peace, each serving a different area in the county. Justices of the Peace are responsible for civil lawsuits originating in the county. The JP in Cameron County is responsible for minor violations that occur outside city limits but within the county.

Jurisdictions:

Small claims cases
Class C misdemeanors
Civil cases with damages under $20,000
Arrests and search warrants
Driver's license suspensions
Inquests
Evictions
Marriages

Inquests are formal investigations by law enforcement into the death of someone in Cameron County. In Texas, inquests can happen when someone dies without witnesses, when a death is suspicious, or does not occur naturally.

Municipal Courts

Cameron County has six municipal courts located throughout the county. The courts are housed in Brownsville, Harlingen, La Feria, Los Fresnos, Port Isabel, and San Benito.

Jurisdiction:

Class C misdemeanors
City code violations
Dangerous dog rulings
Parking offenses
Zoning law violations
Juvenile offenses

Class C misdemeanors are criminal offenses that carry fines as punishment, but no jail time. They include offenses such as speeding, public intoxication, and disorderly conduct. In Brownsville and Harlingen Municipal Courts, juvenile offenses, such as underage drinking, are heard in Municipal Court, but under a separate juvenile court proceeding, and parents must appear with the juvenile.

How to Access Cameron County Court Records

When you are looking for court records in Cameron County, it is important to understand where and how to access them. Each court in the county is different, and it is important to understand exactly what the procedure is for each court.

Online Access

For the municipal courts in Cameron County, you cannot access the records online, but you can email the court clerk. Brownsville has an email address specifically for court records requests. For Justices of the Peace, Probate Court, and the County Courts at Law, you can search court cases and hearing dates on the court calendar using the Cameron County Public Portal. You can also use re:SearchTexas to find information about district cases, as well as the Cameron County Public Portal.

Alternative Online Options

You cannot access all of the county's court records in one place. There are databases available in Cameron County, but they may be difficult to find. You can consider another option to save you time searching for Cameron County court records. You may want to try a third-party search engine, such as CourtCaseFinder, because it can search cases across multiple jurisdictions.

In-Person Requests

Most of the municipal courts in Cameron County allow in-person requests for court records. Requests for records at the Harlingen Municipal Court must be made in writing using a specific form. In Los Fresnos, in-person requests are allowed, but court clerks are not available during municipal court sessions.

Because there are so many Justices of the Peace, the best way to access court records in person would be to visit the County Clerk's Office. You can also email the clerk in advance of your visit.

Each of the Courts at Law and the District Courts allows in-person requests.

Archived Records

The best way to access most archived records in the six municipal courts in Cameron County is to email the court clerk. Brownsville Municipal Court has an email address for requesting both current and archived records. In Harlingen, you must request the archived records in writing using a form. Los Fresnos, La Feria, Port Isabel, and San Benito allow you to access archived court records by emailing the court clerk.

If you want to access court records from the Justices of the Peace in person, visit the County Clerk's Office. You can also email the clerk in advance of your visit. The County Court at Large Court Clerk is available to get current records and archived records from the Probate Court.

For Attorneys and Legal Professionals

If you are an attorney who doesn't regularly practice in Cameron County or as a legal professional, it is important to know which court you need to file in. If you have a large civil case, you need to know it is most likely in the county or district court. Small claims cases are almost exclusively heard in one of the justices of the peace courtrooms. Family law matters are heard in either the county court or the district court. If you aren't sure where your case is located, you can always contact the clerk of the court for the respective courts.

How to File a Case in Cameron County

Filing a case in Cameron County seems like a long undertaking, but it is easier than it appears. Here's information on filing a case in Cameron County.

Step 1: Choose the Correct Court

The six municipal courts of Cameron County have jurisdiction over traffic violations (city or state), code violations, or parking violations that occur within the city limits of Brownsville, Harlingen, La Feria, Los Fresnos, Port Isabel, and San Benito. If you have a civil suit to file, you would file it with a Justice of the Peace. County Courts at Law hear land-dispute claims, appeals from municipal courts and justices of the peace, protective orders, and child-custody or support cases. Initial hearings, bonds, bail, and arraignments go before the Magistrate's Court. The Probate Court hears cases involving probate, wills, estates, and guardianships. Large civil lawsuits, major felony crimes, major land disputes, family law cases, and election cases are filed with a District Court.

Step 2: Complete Required Forms

One of the most difficult parts of filing a case in Cameron County is determining which forms to fill out. Usually, you would not file a case in Municipal Court, because those city courts deal with violations from city authorities. Small civil lawsuits are filed with a Justice of the Peace. While the Cameron Justices of the Peace don't have forms and instructions on their website, they are available on the TexasLawHelp website. Cameron County Courts at Law do not have the forms on their pages, but the County Clerk provides forms and instructions for the County Courts at Law and the Probate Court. District Court forms and instructions are available on the website.

Step 3: File Your Case

Now that you have the forms filled out, it's time to file. You will need to file with the county clerk for the Justice of the Peace. Other county, probate, and district cases can be filed using the eFile Texas website.

Step 4: Pay Filing Fees

If you are filing with a Justice of the Peace, you will need to pay the filing fees to the county clerk. The clerk takes payment in cash, cashier's check, or a money order. If you use eFile Texas, you will pay on-site when you file using a credit or debit card.

Step 5: Serve the Other Party

In Texas, once you have filed, you must serve the other litigant (the person you are filing against) with the papers from the filing. Court papers can be served in Texas by a sheriff or constable in the county. Also, an adult over the age of 18 can serve papers with the court's permission. You may want to use a process server certified by the Judicial Branch Certification Commission (JBCC). Once you serve the paperwork, you have to file an affidavit of service with the court. If a sheriff or constable serves the paperwork, they will file an officer's affidavit of service with the court.

Step 6: Monitor Your Case

It is important to monitor your case so you don't miss a court hearing. Each court has a court clerk, so that you can check on the progress of your case with the clerks of court at the municipal court, justices of the peace, probate court, county court, or district courts. You can talk to court clerks in person, by phone, or via email.

Cameron County Courthouse Directory

It can be difficult to understand where the court systems are located in Cameron County. Here is an outline of contact information for each court system.