Marion County Court Records

Marion County Courts, TX *

The citizens of Marion County need information on how the court system works, how to obtain court records, and how to research court actions to handle daily county transactions. No matter what they need to use the courts for (a divorce, paying a traffic ticket, a small claims lawsuit, or a land dispute), it's important to understand how the Marion County Court system works.

Overview of the Marion County Court System

Marion County is home to several court systems. The county has one municipal court, one Justice of the Peace, one county court, and two district courts. Other than the Jefferson municipal court, which is in the Jefferson City Hall, court takes place in the historic Marion County Courthouse, built in 1913 and restored in 2021. Marion County is in the Texas 6th Court of Appeals, which is located in Texarkana.

Types of Courts in Marion County, Texas

Each court has specific jurisdictions within Marion County, but in some cases, the jurisdictions overlap. All courts in Marion County hear a mix of civil and criminal cases, except for the municipal courts.

District Court

Marion County is represented by two district courts. The 115th District Court covers parts of Marion County and Upshur County. The 276th District Court covers parts of four counties: Camp, Marion, Morris, and Titus counties. District courts represent the highest level of trial court in Texas.

Jurisdictions:

Contested divorces
Felonies
Disputes over land or titles to land
Election disputes at the municipal or county level
Large civil cases

This trial court has jurisdiction over a wide range of high-stakes cases. It also handles appeals from lower courts and any unassigned cases.

County Court

Marion County has a County Judge, but no county court at law, because of its small population. The county judge has multiple functions within the county system. They act as the county administrator, which means they can approve budgets, administer grants, and represent the county at official federal or state levels. They preside over county commissioners' meetings.

Jurisdictions:

Uncontested or self-represented divorce
Child support and custody
Child abuse and neglect cases
Probate, trusts, and estates
A and B misdemeanors
Preliminary felony hearings
Civil Cases with damages between $500 and $200,000
Guardianship and Mental Health
Appeals from Justice of the Peace and Municipal Courts

The county courts represent the intermediate level of the court system in Texas, between the municipal courts or Justices of the Peace and the higher district court system.

Justice of the Peace

Marion County has two Justices of the Peace. Precinct 1 is located in the Marion County courthouse. Precinct 2 is located outside the courthouse in Jefferson. Justices of the Peace, along with the municipal courts, represent the lowest level of the court system in Texas. While municipal courts handle minor violations within city limits, Justices of the Peace handle violations outside Jefferson but within Marion County.

Jurisdictions:

Class C misdemeanors
Can issue arrest and search warrants
Driver's license suspensions
Small claims cases
Inquests
Evictions

Justices of the Peace have several other county functions. They can administer oaths of office and perform marriages. They can hold inquiries, or formal investigations, into a death in Marion County.

Municipal Court

There is only one Municipal Court in Marion County, and that is in Jefferson, the county seat. In Texas, the municipal court system has jurisdiction only over violations that occur within its city limits.

Jurisdiction:

Class C misdemeanors
Zoning law and construction violations
Parking and traffic offenses
Dangerous dog rulings

Class C misdemeanors are the lowest category of misdemeanor offenses that carry fines but no jail time. These violations would include speeding, public intoxication, disorderly conduct, and running a stop sign. Zoning law violations in Jefferson may include fire safety hazards, sanitation violations, and public health hazards. Parking offenses include violations for parking in a no-parking zone.

How to Access Marion County Court Records

Each court in Marion County has its own rules for accessing court records. Knowing how to access the county's court records helps you research past court cases, such as criminal charges, evictions, and marriage licenses.

Online Access

Because Marion County is small, your options for online access are limited. The court does allow you to pay your citations online. However, the Jefferson Municipal Court does not allow you to search for cases online. The Justices of the Peace have online payments, but some of their court records will be available online. Because small claims lawsuits do not have attorneys, those filing the case can file in person or online. If they file online, you can see those records and others, such as evictions, at re:SearchTX, a website you can use for cases at the county and district level. Both district courts and the County Judge's records are available on re:SearchTX.

Alternative Online Options

Because Texas does not have a single search engine for all of its court systems, it can be difficult to find the information you need online. It may be easier for you to use a third-party search engine, such as CourtCaseFinder. It will help you search multiple locations or jurisdictions for the case records and information you need.

In-Person Requests

All of the courts in Marion County allow you to make in-person requests for court records. For the city of Jefferson, you would want to go make an in-person request at the city hall with the Municipal Court Clerk. For the Justices of the Peace and the county judge, you would request records in person from the County Clerk. The two district court judges have their own District Clerk who handles in-person requests. You can also make requests by mail.

Archived Records

The procedure for each court for archived records is exactly the same as an in-person request. There is one exception. If the court records you are looking for are with the county, district, or Justices of the Peace courts, and they were decided after 2016, you may be able to find them on the re:SearchTX site. If you need even older records, you may be able to find them with the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

For Attorneys and Legal Professionals

Attorneys and legal professionals from outside Marion County need to know that there is no single searchable Texas database for all cases across 254 counties. In other words, the availability of court information online may be fragmented, especially in counties with small populations. You can search for Marion County records online using re:SearchTX. For those professionals unfamiliar with how the county's courts run, they can contact the court clerk for information on local rules and procedures.

How to File a Case in Marion County

If you follow the directions below, you should be able to get your case filed quickly and easily. If you have questions about court paperwork, you can email, call, or visit the county or district court clerk in person for help.

Step 1: Choose the Correct Court

The first step in filing your court paperwork is to choose the correct court to file with. You would not be filing in the municipal court in Jefferson. That court deals strictly with violations brought by government agencies, such as the police, fire, or code enforcement departments. You may be filing a small claims case with one of the Justices of the Peace. The county judge would hear larger civil lawsuits, probate cases, family law cases, and protective orders. District judges hear land disputes, election disputes, large civil cases, and contested divorces.

Step 2: Complete Required Forms

Just like each court hears specific cases, each court has specific forms you need to fill out in order to file a case. For the Justices of the Peace, while the forms are not available online in Marion County, you can find all of the forms and guides you need at the Texas Justice Court Training Center. You can find the county and district forms you need at the Texas Judicial Branch. What if you are not sure how to fill out your forms? You can ask the county or district court clerk for help making sure your forms are filled out correctly.

Step 3: File Your Case

Once your forms are completed, your next step is to file them with the appropriate court. If you are filing your forms with the Justice of the Peace, you can file in person or online. Both county and district courts require that you file online, unless you are representing yourself. Representing yourself means you have the option to file online or in person. Anyone who files online must use eFile Texas.

Step 4: Pay Filing Fees

If you are filing in person with either the district or the county clerk, you need to pay fees at the time of filing. You can pay with a check or with a money order. Cash is no longer accepted. If you are filing online using eFile Texas, you will pay your fees online, which means you can use a credit or debit card. What if you can't afford to pay the filing fees? You can request a waiver of your court fees by filling out a form.

Step 5: Serve the Other Party

Texas law requires that once you file a court case, you'll need to serve the other litigant or the person you are filing against with the paperwork. Texas allows you to choose who you want to serve the paperwork, as long as they are an adult 18 years of age or older. You can have the court clerk, sheriff, constable, or a process server serve the paperwork. They will have to file a proof of service form with the court.

Step 6: Monitor Your Case

Re:SearchTX is recommended for finding case information, upcoming hearings, and court documents. After your case is filed, you need to keep track of any court dates or hearings. You can also contact the state or county clerk for information on upcoming court dates and hearings.

Marion County Courthouse Directory

The 115th and 276th District Courts

Both district courts representing Marion County are located in the Marion County Courthouse in Jefferson, Texas, the county seat. These district courts are the highest trial courts in Marion County.

Jefferson

Address: 102 W Austin, Room 303, Jefferson, TX 75657

Phone: (903) 665-3261

Website: Marion District Judges