Wichita County, Texas State Court Records
In Wichita County, Texas, court records are official files regarding case proceedings and judicial decisions. Such records may reveal the case parties' personal information, transcripts, case identification numbers, and judicial decisions. court records also include public documents that were filed during case proceedings. Case in point: criminal case records may contain arrest reports, vital records, and criminal history files.
Wichita County court records are under the purview of the clerk of the courts that heard the case. The clerks maintain and release copies of court documents to interested parties.
Are Wichita County Court Records Public?
Yes, court records in Wichita County are publicly accessible under Texas laws. For example, Rule 78a of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure allows the public to access court records in the custody of designated government agencies. The law also requires agencies to maintain options with which the public can obtain records.
Note that Texas laws prevent public access to specific court documents. Such documents contain information whose disclosure may violate a party's right to privacy and safety. Non-public court records may include the following:
- Court records that are sealed or expunged.
- Court documents that may expose the personal identities of crime victims, juvenile offenders, and witnesses.
- Mental health case proceedings.
What Information is Available in Wichita County Court Records?
Court records in Wichita County may reveal the following information:
- Case parties' personal information.
- Case identifying details, including the case number, status, hearing date, and judgment year.
- Information about legal counsels and judges.
- Docket entries.
- Motions and pleadings.
- Filed documents, including petitions, exhibits, and arrest reports.
- Judicial decisions, including judgment, orders, or decrees.
Wichita County Court Records Search
Record seekers may search court records in Wichita County by using the following options:
Online Access
The Wichita County Clerk's Office maintains an online search portal for probate cases. Record seekers may look up records on the portal by providing these details:
- Case party names
- Document number
- Recording date.
In-Person Access
To request records in-person, record seekers must first identify the court that handled the case. The Wichita District court oversees felony criminal, civil, and family law cases. To obtain district court records, interested parties must visit the district court clerk's office at this address:
900 7th Street
Room 250
Wichita Falls, TX 76301
Phone: (940) 766-8100.
In contrast, the county clerk's office maintains misdemeanor and probate records. Record seekers may request such records in-person at this address:
900 7th Street
Room 250
Wichita Falls, TX 76301
Phone: (940) 766-8195.
Mail and Phone Requests
For mail-in requests, record seekers must submit a written request to the clerk of the court that heard the case. The request must include the following details:
- Case identifying information.
- The requester's contact information.
- Copy of a valid ID if the record contains confidential information.
Upon receiving the form, the court will send the estimated fee to the record seeker's mail address. Record seekers may only obtain records after paying the required fees.
Fees for Court Records in Wichita County
In Wichita County, record seekers must pay specific fees to obtain copies of court documents. The fees may vary based on the court handling the request and the document type. For example, the district clerk's office charges $1 per page of copied court records and $5 per certified court document.
The request option may also influence the cost of obtaining records. Record seekers using mail-in requests must pay postage fees, which may differ based on the postage service.
Wichita County Courthouse Locations
The trial court system in Wichita County comprises the District Courts, Constitutional County Courts, County Courts at Law, Justice Courts, and Municipal Courts. The public may find the courts at these locations:
District Courts in Wichita County
Wichita County 30th District Court
900 7th Street
#303,
Wichita Falls, TX 76301
Phone: (940) 766-8100 ext. 5
Wichita County 78th District Court
900 7th Street
#303
Wichita Falls, TX 76301
Phone: (940) 766-8100 ext. 5
Wichita County 89th District Court
900 7th Street
#303
Wichita Falls, TX 76301
Phone: (940) 766-8100 ext. 5
Wichita County Constitutional Court
900 7th Street
#250
Wichita Falls, TX 76301
Phone: (940) 766-8100 ext. 1
Fax: (940) 716-8554
County Courts at Law in Wichita County
Wichita County Court at Law No. 1
900 7th Street
#303
Wichita Falls, TX 76301
Phone: (940) 766-8100 ext. 5
Wichita County Court at Law No. 2
900 7th Street
#303
Wichita Falls, TX 76301
Phone: (940) 766-8100 ext. 5
Justice Courts in Wichita County
Wichita County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 - Place 1
900 7th Street
#281
Wichita Falls, TX 76301
Phone: (940) 766-8141
Fax: (940) 766-8282
Wichita County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 - Place 2
900 7th Street
#282
Wichita Falls, TX 76301
Phone: (940) 766-8143
Fax: (940) 766-8283
Wichita County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2
100 West College, #2
Burkburnett, TX 76354
Phone: (940) 569-1140
Fax: (940) 569-3368
Wichita County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3
404 North Wall Street
Iowa Park, TX 76367
Phone: (940) 592-9388
Fax: (940) 592-2638
Wichita County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4
2023 SH 25 North
Electra, TX 76360
Phone: (940) 495-2460
Fax: (940) 495-4098
Municipal Courts in Wichita County
Burkburnett Municipal Court
501 Sheppard Road
Burkburnett, TX 76354
Phone: (940) 569-7331
Electra Municipal Court
103 West Cleveland
Electra, TX 76360
Phone: (940) 495-3536
Iowa Park Municipal Court
103 North Wall Street
PO Box 190
Iowa Park, TX 76367
Phone: (940) 213-7133
Wichita Falls Municipal Court
611 Bluff Street
Wichita Falls, TX 76301
Phone: (940) 761-7880
Fax: (940) 761-7990
Criminal Records Access in Wichita County
The Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS) handles requests for criminal history checks in Wichita County. As the record custodian, the agency allows name- and fingerprint-based checks for criminal records. For name-based checks, record seekers must create an account and provide relevant search information.
To conduct fingerprint-based checks, record seekers must schedule an appointment with a third-party fingerprinting service provider. The provider will forward the completed request to the TxDPS. The TxDPS will process the request and forward the record to the record seeker's mail address.
Wichita County Probate Records
In Wichita County, probate records contain all files generated during probate case proceedings. Such records reveal information about probate-type issues, such as name changes and the administration of a decedent's estate.
Record seekers may access most information in Wichita County probate records. For instance, record seekers may view case parties' information, case transcripts, and court judgments. However, Texas laws prevent public access to probate records that may threaten the safety or privacy of concerned parties. The general public is unable to obtain confidential probate documents, such as detailed account statements and personal identification of minors.
Wichita County Family Court Records
Wichita County family court records contain information about family law cases, including domestic abuse, divorce, child custody, and adoption matters. Record seekers may find such records in the custody of the Wichita County District Clerk. The clerk's office allows mail or in-person requests for family court records. Thus, record seekers must submit a request letter to the clerk at this address:
Wichita County Courthouse
900 7th Street
Room 108
Wichita Falls, TX 76301
The request must include identifying details about the court case. Furthermore, requesters must attach required copy fees along with their request. The clerk's office charges $1 per page of copied documents and $5 per certified document.
Federal Court Records in Wichita County
Federal cases in Wichita County are under the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. The court hears federal cases, such as civil rights violations, bankruptcy, and patent or copyright disputes.
In Wichita County, record seekers may find federal court records by using resources provided by the federal court. The court maintains an online searchable portal for federal cases. Record seekers must register an account and provide relevant data to view records on the portal. Alternatively, they may request physical copies of records by contacting the federal court at this address:
United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas - Wichita Falls Division
1000 Lamar Street
2nd Floor
Wichita Falls, TX 76301
Phone: (817) 850-6600.