Lubbock County Court Records

Lubbock County Courts, TX *

Lubbock County was established in 1876, and its government was fully organized by 1891. And the City of Lubbock was established as the county seat. The county comes in as the 18th most populated county in Texas with a population of 327,400 residents as of 2025. Over the years, the county has earned the nickname Hub City, reflecting Lubbock's role as the economic, educational, and healthcare center of the South Plains multicounty region.

Lubbock County has a well-developed court system that includes six District Courts, three County Courts of Law, a Constitutional County Court, four Justice of the Peace Precinct Courts, and four Municipal Courts. These courts enable the county to have jurisdiction over a wide range of cases, from civil matters to small claims, with each court having a share of cases to preside over.

Overview of the Lubbock County Court System

Most of Lubbock's courts are located within the main county courthouse. The District Courts, the Constitutional and the County Court of Law, as well as the Justice of the Peace precinct courts. The Municipal courts are located within their cities of jurisdiction.

Understanding what each of these courts handles is important in helping you file a case with the Lubbock County court system or to perform a records search. And to do this, you need to understand which case is responsible for managing which cases within the county. Below is a discussion of the different courts present in the county and their case jurisdiction.

Types of Courts in Lubbock County, Texas

District Court

The District Courts of Lubbock County are the primary state trial courts of general jurisdiction, handling the most serious civil, criminal, and family law matters in the county. There are six District Courts: the 72nd, 99th, 137th, 140th, 237th, and 364th operating in Lubbock County. And all six District Courts are located in the Lubbock County Courthouse. The court's case jurisdiction includes:

Felony criminal cases
Civil disputes with no upper monetary limit
Divorce and legal separation
Child custody and visitation
Child support
Adoption
Protective orders
Juvenile delinquency
Contested probate and guardianship
Suits affecting the parent-child relationship (SAPCR)
Termination of parental rights
Family violence cases
Habeas corpus proceedings
Injunctions and restraining orders
Land title disputes
Writs of attachment, garnishment, and sequestration

Cases are distributed according to a Case Allocation Order, which determines how incoming cases are assigned to each court. Also, Lubbock is one of only five Texas counties with district court magistrates, appointed by district judges to handle preliminary matters, including arraignments, bond settings, and warrant issuances. The court has the District clerk's office, which is the official custodian of all records for the six District Courts.

Constitutional Court

The Constitutional County Court is a court established directly by the Texas Constitution and presided over by the County Judge. It serves as both a judicial body and the county's chief administrative office. The court is located on the first floor of the Lubbock County Courthouse. The court presides over the following legal matters:

Probating wills of deceased persons
Granting letters testamentary and letters of administration
Establishing guardianships for incapacitated adults
Establishing guardianships for minors
Settling accounts of personal representatives
Administering and transacting all business related to decedents' estates
Civil commitments to mental hospitals
Mental health hearings
Emergency management matters
Calling and certifying elections

The Lubbock County Clerk serves as custodian of all probate, guardianship, criminal, and civil records generated through this court.

County Court of Law

Lubbock County operates three statutory County Courts at Law in addition to its Constitutional County Court, which are called County Court at Law No. 1, County Court at Law No. 2, and County Court at Law No. 3. All three courts operate from the Lubbock County Courthouse. They have legal jurisdiction over the following cases:

Misdemeanor criminal cases (including DWI and Class A & B misdemeanors)
Civil cases involving monetary disputes within statutory limits
Probate and guardianship matters
Appeals from Justices of the Peace courts
Traffic-related appeals
Selected family law proceedings, such as protective orders and certain domestic relations matters, depending on assignment

County Courts at Law are important in large Texas counties like Lubbock County because they help distribute the judicial workload by handling cases that would overwhelm the district courts and constitutional county courts. They increase the speed of processing criminal, civil, and probate matters across the county system.

Justice of the Peace

Lubbock County's four Justice of the Peace Courts handle the county's most accessible tier of civil, criminal, and juvenile matters across four defined precincts. All four JP courts are located on the first floor of the Lubbock County Courthouse. They handle the following cases:

Civil claims and debt collection cases up to $20,000
Small claims cases up to $10,000
Tort cases
Suits on account
Landlord and tenant disputes
Evictions
Foreclosure of mortgages on personal property
Enforcement of liens on personal property
Driver's license hearings
Class C misdemeanors punishable by fine only

JP courts are described as the legal jurisdiction closest to the average citizen because no attorney is required, cases are resolved faster, and the monetary stakes are lower. This makes them the practical first stop for most residents dealing with everyday disputes, unpaid debts, landlord conflicts, or minor traffic matters.

Municipal Court

Lubbock County's municipal courts are city-level courts operating within each incorporated city. The courts are responsible for handling the following cases:

City ordinance violations within city limits
Class C misdemeanors punishable by fine only
Traffic citations and minor traffic offenses
Speeding and reckless driving violations
Running red lights and stop signs
Parking violations
Public intoxication
Juvenile misdemeanor offenses within city limits

Municipal courts have original and exclusive jurisdiction over city ordinance violations within their city limits. They also share jurisdiction with Justice of the Peace Courts over Class C misdemeanors punishable by fine only.

How to Access Lubbock County Court Records

Most Lubbock County Court records are publicly accessible unless sealed by law or court order. Records can be sealed to protect privacy or comply with the Texas State laws. Sealed records include juvenile cases, adoption, mental health commitments, certain family law matters, and sealed criminal proceedings.

Online Access

The statewide portal for accessing court records online in Lubbock County is re:SearchTX. Types of Lubbock County cases that can typically be found through re:SearchTX are the District court civil cases, felony criminal matters, probate filings, family law cases, and county court records. Also, to supplement the statewide system, Lubbock County has a local online court access that maintains local clerk and court resources.

Alternative Online Options

There are alternative online options that you can use to access Lubback country court records since the official systems can sometimes be fragmented or difficult for unfamiliar users to navigate, especially when cases span multiple court levels. CourtCaseFinder is a public records search platform that aggregates court information from multiple jurisdictions, enabling users to search for criminal cases, civil filings, traffic matters, probate records, and other public court records in one place.

In-Person Requests

Other than the online options for accessing court records, you can also physically access the court records by personally visiting the District Clerk, County Clerk, or specific court clerk offices inside the Lubbock County Courthouse and make requests. With an in-person request, you can access certified copies, older case files, probate packets, archived criminal records, and documents not yet digitized, which are often easier to retrieve directly from clerk's offices. If you want regular or certified copies, note that you must pay a fee.

Archived Records

Not many older Lubbock County court records are always available online. Still, many historical court files remain stored in paper format or older archive systems that may not be fully digitized. These older records are maintained by the District Clerk, County Clerk, courthouse storage systems, or state archival repositories, depending on the record type. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission preserves historical governmental and judicial materials.

For Attorneys and Legal Professionals

For visiting attorneys, you should know that, under the county's six-district court structure, cases are assigned to each district court via Case Allocation Order. Visiting attorneys cannot choose their assigned court and must confirm the designation through the e-filing portal or by contacting the District Clerk after filing is accepted.

Also, the Lubbock County District Clerk began mandatory electronic case filing in 2014 with a key focus on civil case documents and family-related case files, with very limited exceptions. In 2018, they made it mandatory for criminal case files to be electronically filed as well. Filing is done through eFile Texas.

How to File a Case in Lubbock County

Filing a court case in Lubbock County is a detail-oriented process, as it requires selecting the correct court, completing the proper forms, paying filing fees, and following Texas procedural rules. Errors can delay hearings, cause rejected filings, or affect the progress of the case.

Step 1: Choose the Correct Court

The first step is selecting the court with jurisdiction over your case. And to do that, you need to understand what cases each of the courts in Lubbock County presides over. If this is not clear, you can then contact the clerk's office, which will help you select the correct court that will hear your case.

Step 2: Complete Required Forms

Once you have the correct court, you need to file the case forms. Forms are available through the appropriate court clerk, the Texas Judicial Branch website, TexasLawHelp, and local court offices. Most filings will require the names and addresses of the parties, case facts, the requested relief, signatures, and supporting documentation relevant to the case type.

Step 3: File Your Case

After you have filled out these forms, you need to submit them, either online or in person. Most cases filed in Lubbock County are handled at the District level, and county-level cases are filed through the appropriate clerk's offices in the Lubbock County Courthouse. And for electronic filing, Texas mandates electronic filing for most attorneys and many civil case types through the statewide eFile Texas system. The documents typically submitted during filing are petitions, complaints, citations, supporting exhibits, civil cover sheets, and filing-related affidavits, which are commonly submitted during case initiation.

Step 4: Pay Filing Fees

When filing your case, Lubbock County has a filing fee applied to each case. The fees vary depending on the court, case category, number of parties, and whether additional services, such as citations or certified copies, are requested. If you are unable to pay your filing fee, Texas courts allow eligible individuals to request a fee waiver by filing a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs.

Step 5: Serve the Other Party

Once you have filed the case, you need to notify the opposing party that a case has been filed against them. This is done through a process known as service of Process. The service is commonly completed by constables, sheriffs, certified process servers, or other individuals authorized under Texas law. Upon completion of the service, file proof with the court.

Step 6: Monitor Your Case

Once the opposing party is notified of the case, you have to start monitoring it using the case number provided by the clerk after the case is filed. With the case number, you can track hearings, filings, rulings, docket activity, and future court deadlines. Case progress can be monitored through clerk offices, re:SearchTX, eFile Texas notifications, and online court-record systems. CourtCaseFinder provides an additional option for searching public court records and tracking available case information across multiple court systems.

Lubbock County Courthouse Directory

Lubbock County Courthouse

Houses most of the county courts, the District courts, the Constitutional county courts, the County Courts, and the Justice of the Peace precinct courts.

Lubbock

Address: 904 Broadway St, Lubbock, TX 79401

District Courts Phone: (806) 775-1317

Constitutional County Court Phone: (806) 775-1041

County Court at Law Phone: (806) 775-1355

Justice of the Peace Phone: (806) 775-1541

Website: lubbockcounty.gov/

Municipal Courts

Operating independently within its city limits, the municipal courts have jurisdiction over Class C misdemeanors and local ordinance violations arising specifically within that municipality.

Lubbock Municipal Court

Address: 1214 14th St, Lubbock, TX 79401

Phone: (806) 775-2473

Website: Lubbock Municipal Court

Shallowater Municipal Court

Address: 801 Avenue H, Shallowater, TX 79363

Phone: (806) 696-4300

Website: Shallowater Municipal Court

Slaton Municipal Court

Address: 130 S 9th St, Slaton, TX 79364

Phone: (806) 828-2000

Website: Slaton Municipal Court

Wolfforth Municipal Court

Address: 302 Main St, Wolfforth, TX 79382

Phone: (806) 855-4120

Website: Wolfforth Municipal Court

Legal Help and Self-Help Resources

Lubbock County has a strong network of nonprofit legal aid organizations, law school clinics, court self-help tools, and county-level clerk assistance covering everything from family law and elder law to tax disputes and housing matters.

Free Legal Assistance

The primary free legal aid organization serving Lubbock County residents is Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (LANWT). The organization handles general civil matters, including family law, wills and estates, landlord/tenant issues, public benefits, real property matters, and federal tax issues. Also, LANWT hosts community pro bono clinics at locations such as John's United Methodist Church and the Mae Simmons Community Center, staffed by volunteers from the Lubbock Area Bar Association and the Texas Tech University School of Law. Walk-ins are welcome; no appointment required.

Local Legal Support

Texas Tech Law operates eight faculty-supervised clinics where students represent real clients in real cases, handling factual investigations, negotiation, trial preparation, and case trials. Clinics cover family law, housing, criminal defense, civil practice, tax, and innocence cases. There are self-help legal resources at the Lubbock County Courthouse itself. For example, the Lubbock County Law Library is open to the public and provides access to legal materials, research databases including HeinOnline, Nexis Uni, and vLex Fastcase, and hosts workshops. Information on upcoming workshops is available on the Law Library's Facebook page.

FAQs

Can someone attend court hearings in Lubbock County without being involved in the case?

Yes. Most court hearings are open to the public unless sealed by law or restricted by the judge. Sensitive proceedings involving juveniles or protected records are more likely to have limited public access.

Does Lubbock County allow electronic filing for self-represented litigants?

Yes. Self-represented parties can use the eFile Texas system for many case types. Electronic filing helps users submit documents remotely without physically visiting the courthouse.

Can traffic tickets issued in Lubbock be resolved online?

Many municipal traffic citations can be paid or reviewed online through the City of Lubbock Municipal Court system. Some citations may still require a mandatory court appearance from you depending on the offense.

Are probate cases handled in the same courthouse as criminal cases in Lubbock County?

Yes. Probate matters and criminal proceedings are both handled through courts operating from the Lubbock County Courthouse complex. Different courts and clerk's offices within the courthouse handle the separate case types.

What happens if someone misses a court date in Lubbock County?

Missing a required hearing can lead to default judgments, warrants, dismissed claims, or additional penalties, depending on the case type. Contacting the court immediately after missing a hearing can sometimes help reduce complications.

Can someone request certified copies of court documents in Lubbock County?

Yes. Certified court records can be requested through the appropriate clerk's office for an additional certification fee. Certified copies are commonly required for legal filings, probate matters, and official government use.

Does Lubbock County have specialty treatment courts?

Yes. Lubbock County operates specialty programs, including Drug Court and DWI Court, which are designed to address rehabilitation and supervision. These programs focus on treatment and structured monitoring instead of traditional sentencing alone.

Can out-of-county attorneys access Lubbock County records remotely?

Yes. Attorneys frequently use Re:SearchTX, eFile Texas, and clerk systems to manage cases remotely. Remote access is especially useful for firms handling cases across multiple Texas counties.

What should someone do if they are unsure which Lubbock County court handled a case?

They can contact the clerk's office directly or use broader search platforms such as CourtCaseFinderto help narrow the search across multiple court levels. Having a party name, filing date, or cause number helps make the search process faster and more accurate.

Lubbock County Court Records Lookup

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