| District Clerk | Fort Bend County District Clerk — Online Court Records |
|---|---|
| County Clerk | Fort Bend County Clerk — Online Record Search |
| Clerk address | District Clerk: Fort Bend County Justice Center, 1422 Eugene Heimann Circle, Richmond, TX 77469. County Clerk: 301 Jackson St, Richmond, TX 77469 |
| Phone | Listed on the clerk website |
| Hours | Confirm current hours with the clerk before visiting |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| Plain copy fee | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
| Certified copy fee | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
Fort Bend County (Sugar Land, Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenberg), southwest of Houston, keeps district-court records with the Fort Bend County District Clerk and misdemeanor, probate, and county civil records with the Fort Bend County Clerk. The district clerk's online court records site offers a case search and a historical records search, and the county clerk's case search no longer requires a login to view public documents.
District courts sit at the Fort Bend County Justice Center in Richmond; the county clerk's main office is at the historic courthouse a short distance away. Each city in the county runs its own municipal court for city tickets.
Search Fort Bend County court records online
District Clerk
Fort Bend County District Clerk — Online Court Records
- Cost
- Free case search; fees for certified copies
- Coverage
- District-court felony, civil, and family cases, plus a historical records search
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family
The online court records page links to the public case search and to historical indexes.
County Clerk
Fort Bend County Clerk — Online Record Search
- Cost
- Free; public documents viewable without registration
- Coverage
- County courts at law (misdemeanors and county civil) and probate courts
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Probate
Public documents on the county clerk's case search have been viewable without a login since early 2024.
Other courts
Fort Bend County Public Access (case records)
- Cost
- Free
- Coverage
- District and county court case records
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate
Choose the court type on the first screen, then search by name or case number.
What is available online
District and county case summaries and docket entries are searchable online. The county clerk's search shows public documents without registration; the district clerk's search shows case information and, for many civil cases, documents. The historical records search covers older indexes that predate the current system.
Which clerk has your record
In Texas, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the Texas page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| District Courts | Felony criminal cases; Divorce, custody, and other family cases; Civil suits with larger amounts in dispute | District Clerk of the county |
| County Courts (constitutional and statutory) | Class A and B misdemeanors; Civil cases with smaller amounts in dispute; Probate and guardianship | County Clerk of the county |
| Justice Courts (justice of the peace) | Class C misdemeanors; Small claims and civil cases up to the justice-court limit; Evictions | Clerk of the individual justice court precinct |
| Municipal Courts | Class C misdemeanors within city limits; City ordinance violations; Traffic tickets issued by city police | Municipal court clerk for that city |
Request records in person or by mail
Fort Bend County clerk offices
District Clerk: Fort Bend County Justice Center, 1422 Eugene Heimann Circle, Richmond, TX 77469. County Clerk: 301 Jackson St, Richmond, TX 77469
Contact details were taken from the office's website and are re-checked on a schedule; confirm hours before visiting.
District-court records. Request in person at the district clerk's office in the Justice Center at 1422 Eugene Heimann Circle, Richmond, or by mail to the Fort Bend County District Clerk at that address. Include the cause number or party names, the documents needed, plain or certified, and payment. The district clerk's research and data page explains fees and request options.
County-court, probate, and misdemeanor records. Request from the Fort Bend County Clerk's courts division at 301 Jackson St, Richmond, or by email to the courts division address listed on the county clerk's website.
Justice courts. Fort Bend County's justice courts keep their own files by precinct.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in Texas |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
| Certified copy | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
Copy fees are set by state statute (Government Code Chapter 51 for district clerks; Local Government Code Chapter 118 for county clerks) and are charged per page, with an added certification fee for certified copies. Amounts change when the Legislature amends the fee schedules, so confirm the current figure with the clerk before sending payment.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
Texas court records are presumed open, but several categories will not appear in any public search:
The Texas guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an account to see Fort Bend County court documents?
Not for the county clerk's case search, which shows public documents without a login. The district clerk's search also shows case information without an account; some documents may require a request.
Where is the Fort Bend County District Clerk?
At the Fort Bend County Justice Center, 1422 Eugene Heimann Circle, Richmond, TX 77469, where the district courts sit.
Which office keeps Fort Bend County probate records?
The Fort Bend County Clerk, which keeps probate and county-court files and offers an online record search.
Are Sugar Land or Missouri City tickets in the county system?
No. City police tickets go to each city's municipal court. County-issued citations go to the justice courts.
Sources
- Fort Bend County District Clerk's Office — https://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/government/departments/fort-bend-county-district-clerks-office
- Fort Bend County District Clerk — Online Court Records — https://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/government/departments/fort-bend-county-district-clerks-office/online-court-records
- Fort Bend County Clerk — Online Record Search — https://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/government/departments/county-clerk/online-record-search
- Texas Judicial Branch — About Texas Courts — https://www.txcourts.gov/about-texas-courts/
- re:SearchTX (Office of Court Administration) — https://research.txcourts.gov/CourtRecordsSearch/
- Texas DPS Crime Records Division — https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/crime-records
- Code of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 55A — Expunction of Criminal Records — https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/htm/CR.55A.htm
- Government Code, Chapter 411 — Orders of Nondisclosure (Subchapter E-1) — https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.411.htm
- Government Code, Chapter 51 — District Clerk Fees — https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.51.htm
- Local Government Code, Chapter 118 — County Clerk Fees — https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/LG/htm/LG.118.htm
- Government Code, Chapter 552 — Public Information Act — https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.552.htm
- PACER — Federal court records — https://pacer.uscourts.gov/
See also: all Texas counties.