County Courts

Constitutional County Courts

As provided in the Texas Constitution, each of the 254 counties of the State has a single county court presided over by a county judge.

These courts have concurrent jurisdiction with justice of the peace and district courts in civil cases in which the amount in controversy is small. Jurisdiction is said to be concurrent when two levels of courts have authority to try the same type of case.

The constitutional county courts generally hear the probate cases filed in the county. They have original jurisdiction over all Class A and Class B misdemeanor criminal cases, which are the more serious minor offenses. These courts usually have appellate jurisdiction in cases appealed from justice of the peace and municipal courts, except in counties where county courts at law have been established. Unless the appeal is one from a designated municipal court of record (trial proceedings are recorded by a court reporter), the appeal takes the form of a trial de novo (a completely new trial).

In addition to performing judicial functions, the county judge serves as the administrative head of the county government. In the more populated counties, the administrative duties occupy most of the time of the county judge, and the Legislature has created county courts at law and statutory probate courts to relieve the county judge of most, and in some cases all, of the judicial duties usually performed by that office.

Further Information on Court Jurisdiction

County Courts at Law

Because the Constitution limits each county to a single county court, the Legislature has created statutory county courts at law in the larger counties to aid the single county court in its judicial functions.

The legal jurisdiction of the special county-level trial courts varies considerably and is established by the statute which creates the particular court. The jurisdiction of statutorily-created county courts at law is usually concurrent with the jurisdiction of the county and district courts in the county.

The civil jurisdiction of most county courts at law varies, but is usually more than that of the justice of the peace courts and less than that of the district courts. County courts at law usually have appellate jurisdiction in cases appealed from justice of the peace and municipal courts.

County Court Addresses and Websites

Texas County Courts' contact information, including web site links, is available in the Texas Judicial System Directory.

Please email the Judicial Information Division to update your court contact information for the Texas Judicial System Directory.

County Websites

The County Information Resources Agency, in cooperation with the Texas Association of Counties and the Judicial Committee on Information Technology, provides website development and hosting services for rural counties. JCIT is pleased to be a partner in this initiative to expand information technology capabilities to counties, districts, and precincts across Texas.

These county web sites include information about District, County and Justice of the Peace courts.
www.county.org/counties/txcounties.asp#list