Court records of Montgomery County, Texas, are available through several channels. MontgomeryCourt.us allows searching for public information on court cases in the county. Additionally, the official online portals of the county, the offices of the district and county clerks, as well as public terminals in the courthouse provide access to case registers, hearing calendars, and court documents.
Montgomery Court System & Jurisdictions
Montgomery County has an extensive court system, each of which handles specific categories of cases.
District Courts are courts of general jurisdiction. They hear serious criminal cases (felonies), civil lawsuits over $200,000, divorce and child custody cases, as well as cases regarding the termination of parental rights. Several district courts operate in the county, distributed by numbers.
County Courts at Law handle:
- Class A and B misdemeanors
- Civil lawsuits with a dispute amount from $200.01 to $200,000
- Appeals from justice courts
- Probate and guardianship cases — specific courts specialize in this
Justice of the Peace Courts serve smaller cases. Small claims up to $20,000, evictions, traffic violations, and minor criminal offenses all fall here. Each precinct has its own justice of the peace.
The city of Montgomery also has its own municipal court, which handles violations of city ordinances and traffic fines within the city limits. This court is not part of the county system.
Federal cases related to the county go to the Southern District of Texas, where a bankruptcy court also operates.
Montgomery Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
To find out the schedule of hearings for today, tomorrow, or the current week, use the re:SearchTX platform — a statewide system for searching court records and schedules. There you can find the time, date, and location of hearings for cases in district and county courts.
Steps to follow:
- Go to the re:SearchTX portal and select Montgomery County.
- Enter the name of the party or case number.
- In the search results, find the tab with the hearing schedule.
For the Montgomery city municipal court, the hearing schedule is published on the municipal court page. Note: the city municipal court is a separate entity from the county courts.
If you cannot find the necessary information online, call the office of the respective court directly. Clerks can usually confirm the time and place of the next hearing by phone.
How to Get a Copy of a Montgomery Court Document
The type of document determines which clerk to contact. The District Clerk keeps records of district courts — these are felony criminal cases, large civil lawsuits, divorce, and custody cases. The County Clerk maintains the records of county courts at law, as well as official public records of the county.
Certified and Non-Certified Copies
A non-certified copy is a regular printout for review. A certified copy has the clerk's seal and legal force, often required by banks, employers, or other courts.
How to obtain a copy:
- Online: Use the Official Record Search portal to search for public records of the county clerk. Through the eFileTexas system, you can request documents electronically.
- In person: Visit the office of the district or county clerk in the courthouse. You will need the case number or the full name of the party and the approximate filing date.
- By mail: Send a written request with case details, type of copy (certified or not), and payment.
Mailing address of the county clerk's office:
For vital records — birth, marriage, death certificates — the county clerk is also a local registration office. Certified copies of marriage certificates are issued by the county clerk, while divorce decrees are issued by the district clerk.
Some records have restricted access. Juvenile cases, sealed criminal cases, and certain family cases are usually not available for public viewing.
Montgomery Court Records Fees & Payment
The fees for copies of court documents in Texas are regulated by the Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 118, and administrative orders of the courts. Below are the approximate rates set for the county clerks' offices.
| Service | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Record search (by name) | $5.00 |
| Non-certified copy (per page) | $1.00 |
| Certified copy of a document | $5.00 (first page) + $1.00 for each additional page |
| Certification of an existing copy | $5.00 |
| Marriage certificate (certified copy) | $6.00 |
Specific amounts may vary depending on the court and type of document. Confirm the current fee amount with the respective office before visiting.
Payment methods:
- In person — cash, money order, cashier's check
- By mail — money order or cashier's check payable to the respective clerk
- Online — some portals accept credit and debit cards; additional fees may apply for electronic payments
To check criminal history through the state registry, use the Criminal History Name Search of the Texas Department of Public Safety — this service is also fee-based.