Searching Travis County Court Records
How do I search Travis County court records online?
Use the Travis County Odyssey Portal. Click Smart Search and enter a case number or a name in Last, First Middle order. Registration is not required for a public search, though the official guide says signed-in users may see more detail. Use Advanced Filtering Options to choose a clerk, a case type, a date range, or a judge. The full walkthrough and search fields are on the court records page.
Are Travis County court records free online?
Public online viewing through Odyssey is free. Official, certified, authenticated, or physical copies require a paid request through the District Clerk or County Clerk. County Clerk documents printed from your own computer are free but carry an unofficial watermark. Certified copies and clerk-made copies have per-page or per-document fees, listed on the court records page.
What years are online in the Travis County portal?
It depends on the office. The District Clerk lists family and civil cases from 2006 and criminal from 2008. The County Clerk lists misdemeanor data from January 1981, civil from June 1986, and probate from July 1992, with redacted documents starting later. Older cases may show only an index entry. See court records for the coverage detail.
How do I find a court date or docket?
Open the case in the portal and look at the Hearings and Events list, which sorts newest first. For criminal settings, you can also call Criminal Court Administration at 512-854-9244. Dates can change, so confirm with the court before you travel. The court dockets page explains how to read a docket and confirm a date.
Why can't I find a newly filed document?
The County Clerk says case data updates every 24 hours, and newly filed document images take about 72 hours to appear online. So a filing from today may not show its scanned image yet. Hearing dates can also change and should be confirmed with the court. If a case is sealed, juvenile, adoption, or otherwise confidential, the public portal may show little or nothing. The court dockets page covers this lag.
Travis County Clerks and Copies
Which Travis County clerk has my record?
Felony, district civil, divorce, family, and name-change records are District Clerk records. Class A and B misdemeanor, county civil, probate, marriage, and recording records are County Clerk records. Travis County splits these between two offices, so picking the right one is the first step. See the District Clerk and County Clerk pages for what each holds.
How do I request a certified copy?
Find the cause number in the portal, then submit a request to the clerk that holds the file. The District Clerk takes requests online, by mail to P.O. Box 679003, or in person, with a certified copy at $5 per document. For confidential files, bring a photo ID. Full steps are on the District Clerk page.
Where are felony records kept?
Adult felony records, felony search warrants, felony nondisclosures, and all expunctions are kept by the District Clerk Criminal Division. In-person felony requests go to the Gault Annex at 501 W. 11th Street, Room 2.300. Misdemeanor records, by contrast, are County Clerk records. See the arrest records page for the split.
How much is a District Clerk records search?
The District Clerk fee schedule lists a records search at $5 per cause, name, or item searched. Paper copies are $1 per page, certified copies are $5 per document, and a certificate of divorce or name change is $10. Credit-card payments add a 3 percent fee with a $3 minimum. A specific request costs less than a broad one. The District Clerk page has the full fee table.
Can the clerks give legal advice?
No. The clerks can provide general information, records, and filing or copy procedures, but their staff are not attorneys and cannot give legal advice. For forms and legal information, use the Travis County Law Library, Texas Law Help, or an attorney. The public records page lists more help options.
Arrests, Jail, and Warrants in Travis County
How do I find someone in the Travis County Jail?
Use the Sheriff's Find an Inmate tool to search the jail roster by name, or call jail information at 512-854-4180. A profile shows the booking number, charges, and housing facility. The Sheriff warns the data is for convenience and should be verified. The inmate records page explains how to read a profile and contact an inmate.
How do I search for Travis County warrants?
Use the Travis County Sheriff's warrant search, which is free and official. The Sheriff states no warranty is made on accuracy, so verify any result with the issuing court. Avoid private warrant sites, which often sell old data. The warrant records page explains how to verify and resolve a warrant.
Can I remove an arrest from my record?
Possibly, through expunction or nondisclosure if Texas law allows. The District Clerk Criminal Division handles all expunctions, and the petition fee is $350. Expunction removes a qualifying record, while nondisclosure seals it from the public. Eligibility is specific, so consult an attorney. The arrest records page covers the difference.
How do I visit someone in the Travis County Jail?
The county allows two visits per week, face-to-face or by onsite video kiosk, Wednesday through Sunday, 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM, at the Correctional Complex in Del Valle. Face-to-face visits are non-contact and must be scheduled at least 24 hours ahead through ViaPath. Arrive 30 minutes early, since late check-ins are rejected. The inmate records page lists the full visitation and mail rules.
What happens if I miss court?
Missing court can lead to a warrant, a capias, a bond forfeiture, or license consequences in traffic cases. Contact the court right away. For criminal settings, call Criminal Court Administration at 512-854-9244. For a traffic ticket, contact the court on the citation. See warrant records for how a missed date becomes a warrant.
Marriage, Divorce, and Probate Records
Where do I get a marriage license?
The Travis County Clerk issues marriage licenses, with a standard fee of $80, and the signed license must return within 30 days of the ceremony. Check the Clerk's marriage page for current ID, waiting-period, and absent-applicant rules. The marriage and divorce records page has the application steps and fields.
Where do I get a divorce decree?
Divorce decrees are District Clerk family records. Request a copy through the District Clerk records request form or in person at 1700 Guadalupe, Room 3.200. A certificate of divorce is $10, and certified copy fees also apply. In most cases a divorce petition must be on file at least 60 days before a final hearing. See marriage and divorce records.
How long does a divorce take in Travis County?
In most cases the Original Petition for Divorce must be on file at least 60 days before a final hearing. Self-represented filers must contact the Travis County Law Library for a mandatory case review before that hearing. Contested issues, service problems, and child custody or support can push the timeline well past the minimum. The marriage and divorce records page walks through the full process.
Where do I search probate records?
Use the Odyssey portal and select the Probate Court location, or start at the Travis County Probate Court page. The county has two probate courts at 200 W. 8th Street, and the County Clerk Probate Division phone is 512-854-5958. Probate data is online from July 1992. The probate records page covers fees and steps.
Traffic and Federal Records
How do I resolve a Travis County traffic ticket?
Read the back of the ticket for the court. The Sheriff says Justices of the Peace preside over traffic court across five precincts, and the officer should mark the court to contact. City tickets may belong to Austin Municipal Court. You can pay, contest, or ask about defensive driving or deferred disposition. See traffic court records for the options.
How do I find federal court records for Travis County?
Federal cases are searched through PACER and CM/ECF for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, not the county portal. Bankruptcy cases use the Western District Bankruptcy Court. PACER is account-based with per-page fees. The federal records page explains the federal courts, PACER, and the BOP inmate locator.