District Clerk
The Harris County District Clerk provides court-related record access, document filing services, jury administration, downloadable forms, court cost information, and several specialized online systems. This article explains which services belong to the District Clerk, how to search for a case, what information to prepare before using an online system, how filing and service fees are calculated, and which office location handles general District Clerk or passport-related business.
District Clerk Responsibilities
The Harris County District Clerk maintains information connected with cases filed in the county’s district courts and certain county courts. The office supports civil, family, criminal, and child support matters through recordkeeping, document access, filing services, court forms, subpoenas, jury operations, and other administrative functions.
The District Clerk does not decide cases, provide legal representation, or determine what a person should file. Judges and courts make judicial decisions, while the District Clerk receives, stores, and provides access to court documents and case information. This distinction matters when a user needs help interpreting an order, choosing a legal procedure, or determining the effect of a filing. District Clerk staff can provide information about office systems and records, but the information should not be treated as legal advice.
The office is led by Harris County District Clerk Marilyn Burgess. Its public services are available through online systems, telephone assistance, and physical office locations. Many routine tasks can begin through the official District Clerk website, although some transactions, document requests, or specialized services may require additional steps.
Online Services Available
The District Clerk online services portal brings together several systems for court records, electronic filing, subpoenas, forms, and governmental access. These systems serve different users and should not be treated as interchangeable.
A person looking for an existing lawsuit generally needs the records and documents search. An attorney submitting a pleading generally uses the electronic filing process. An authorized legal representative who needs docket access, images, and court forms may use the Online Kiosk. Governmental agencies may qualify for e-Gov access. Selecting the system that matches the task can prevent unnecessary searches and filing delays.
Court Records and Documents
The records and documents search provides detailed information about court cases, which may also be described as causes. Available information can include court costs, case details, parties, documents, and the location of a case file within the District Clerk’s Office.
Before beginning a search, gather as much identifying information as possible. A case or cause number is especially useful because it distinguishes one court matter from another. Names should be entered as accurately as possible, including spelling, initials, and business names when applicable. A broad name search may return multiple people or cases with similar information.
Case Numbers and Other Identifiers
A court case number is not the same as every other number used by county agencies. Police report numbers, booking numbers, citation numbers, and other agency identifiers may belong to different systems. The District Clerk’s civil and family fee schedule also refers to an SPN as an identifier that may help with certain record searches.
If a case number or SPN is not provided and staff must search records to locate a cause, the published fee schedule lists a search fee. The schedule also lists a separate fee for searching files or records to determine whether an instrument or record exists in the District Clerk’s Office. Providing the correct identifier can therefore reduce uncertainty and may avoid a paid manual search.
Document and File Locations
An online result may show that a document exists or identify where a case file is located. That does not necessarily mean every document can be viewed, downloaded, or used without another request. Access may depend on the document format, the age of the file, the court record, and the type of copy requested.
The office has worked on film conversion projects to preserve older court records and make them available in more modern formats. Older records may therefore differ from recently filed electronic documents in how they are stored or retrieved.
Electronic Court Filing
Attorneys may electronically file documents with the Civil, Family, and Criminal District Courts and the County Criminal Courts at Law. Electronic filing is completed through eFileTexas.gov using a certified Electronic Filing Service Provider, commonly called an EFSP.
An attorney must register with the provider of the attorney’s choice. After registration, documents may be submitted remotely 24 hours a day, seven days a week, throughout the year. Continuous system availability does not mean every submission is immediately reviewed, accepted, or entered into the court record. Filing status, payment issues, document formatting, and court requirements can affect the result.
Users should confirm that they have selected the correct county, court, case category, case type, and existing cause before submitting a filing. A new case filing is different from a subsequent filing in an existing case. Filing into the wrong cause or choosing an incorrect case category can create delays and may require corrective action.
Online Kiosk Access
The Online Kiosk is intended for authorized legal representatives. It allows approved users to search cases and dockets, view images, and create, edit, and sign court forms that court staff can access directly.
The Kiosk should not be confused with the general public court record search. Its functions are designed around authorized legal work and direct interaction with court-accessible forms. A user who only needs to confirm a filing, review case details, or locate a public record should begin with the records and documents search instead.
Criminal Court Subpoenas
The eSubpoena service is available for all Harris County Criminal Courts. It provides a specialized process for subpoena-related work in criminal matters. Because eSubpoena is tied specifically to criminal courts, users should not assume that the same system applies to civil or family subpoenas.
The civil and family fee schedule separately lists fees for subpoenas, citations, writs, precepts, and other forms of process. The correct method and charge depend on the court division, document, issuance request, and requested form of service.
Government Agency Access
e-Gov is a web-based program that allows governmental agencies to access information maintained by the District Clerk over the internet. It is not described as a general public search tool. Members of the public should use the regular records and documents system unless they are acting through an eligible governmental agency account.
Civil and Family Cases
The District Clerk handles filings and records for a broad range of civil and family case categories. Civil matters in the published fee schedule include contract disputes, employment cases, injury or damage claims, real property cases, tax matters, administrative appeals, foreign judgments, fraudulent lien cases, expunction matters, seizure or forfeiture matters, and other civil proceedings.
Family matters include divorce, annulment, declarations that a marriage is void, adult or minor name changes, adoptions, child support, custody or visitation, parentage, termination of parental rights, grandparent access, protective orders, and other parent-child or family law proceedings.
The exact category matters during electronic filing because fees and party requirements can differ. For example, family cases involving children may include an additional domestic relations fee. The published schedule also states that a Title IV-D case requires one petitioner and two respondents as party types. Title IV-D categories are identified for use by the Office of the Attorney General and should not be selected merely because a case involves child support.
Some filings that occur after a judgment carry their own charges. The schedule identifies separate amounts for motions to enforce an order, certain motions to modify a decree involving children, motions for a new trial, license-related motions, and other post-judgment activity. A person should not assume that payment made when the original case was opened covers every later pleading, writ, or service request.
Criminal Case Services
The District Clerk provides services connected with Harris County criminal district court matters and County Criminal Courts at Law. These services include electronic filing for attorneys, criminal record access, forms, eSubpoena, and case information maintained by the clerk.
A criminal court case should not be searched solely by using a jail booking number. A booking number relates to custody processing, while a court cause number identifies a judicial proceeding. The two numbers may be associated with the same person but serve different purposes and belong to different records systems.
Users should also distinguish a criminal case from civil proceedings related to criminal matters. The civil fee schedule includes categories such as expunction, seizure or forfeiture, and a pre-indictment writ of habeas corpus. Their placement in the filing schedule affects how they are categorized and processed.
Court Costs and Fees
The District Clerk publishes a civil and family filing and service fee schedule. The reference schedule was updated July 15, 2026, and states that its filing fees are effective January 1, 2026.
The schedule separates charges into three main components:
The applicable filing fee for the case or pleading.
The fee for issuing a citation, notice, writ, subpoena, or other process.
The fee charged for serving that process.
The total amount may therefore be more than the basic filing fee. A new civil suit without service is listed at $350. A new family suit without service is also generally listed at $350, while listed family case types involving children may total $365 because of the additional domestic relations fee.
These figures should not be applied automatically to every submission. Some case types, subsequent pleadings, appeals, post-judgment motions, and service requests have different charges. A filing involving several defendants may also require multiple citations, copies, or service fees.
Copies and Certifications
The fee schedule distinguishes among printed paper copies, electronic copies, paper documents converted into electronic form, and certified copies. This distinction affects the charge and the form of the document received.
For civil records, the schedule lists paper printed copies at $1 per page. Electronic copies of one through ten pages are listed at $1, while electronic copies of eleven pages or more are listed at 10 cents per page. A certified copy or raised seal is listed at $5 each in the civil portion of the schedule.
The family section includes a separate provision for a certified copy of a record, judgment, order, pleading, or other paper on file. That charge is listed as $1 for each page or portion of a page and includes the certificate and seal. Because the published provisions are organized by case division and document type, users should identify the case and the exact copy needed before calculating a cost.
Record Search Charges
The schedule lists a $5 charge for searching files or records to determine whether an instrument or record exists. It also lists a $5 charge for locating a cause when a case number, docket number, or SPN is not provided.
A user requesting clerk assistance should provide the case number whenever possible. If the number is unknown, provide accurate party names and any other supported identifying details. Avoid submitting only a common surname without context because that may not be enough to isolate the correct case.
Issuance and Service Fees
Issuance is the clerk’s preparation of a citation, subpoena, writ, precept, or similar process. Service is the delivery or execution of that process by an authorized officer or another permitted method. Paying an issuance fee does not automatically include the cost of service.
The civil and family schedule lists an $8 issuance fee for many citations, subpoenas, writs, and other forms of process. Certified or registered mail service carries an additional charge. Constable service is governed by the separate Harris County civil process service fee table included with the schedule.
Examples in the process table include an $85 service fee for a standard citation, subpoena, summons, or notice; a $125 fee for garnishment or certain injunction-related service; and higher fees for executions, orders of sale, sequestration, tax warrants, and other process requiring additional work. Expedited service is listed as an additional charge added to the underlying service fee.
Service fees should be calculated from the type of process actually requested. A citation, writ of execution, temporary restraining order, and publication request are not priced as the same service.
Inability to Pay Costs
The family fee schedule addresses users who have an uncontested Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs in their case. Under the cited Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145 provision, an eligible person is entitled to receive copies and other documents without being charged.
The District Clerk’s website does not yet provide free documents through its online capability for these users. The schedule directs eligible users to contact the clerk or appear at the clerk’s office to receive qualifying copies and documents without charge.
Forms and Document Preparation
The District Clerk provides downloadable general, criminal, and child support forms. A browser plug-in or Adobe Acrobat Reader may be needed to open or use the available forms.
A downloaded form should be reviewed for the correct court division and purpose before completion. Similar-sounding documents may serve different functions. For example, an original petition opens a case, an answer responds to a filing, a motion requests court action in an existing case, and a proposed order is prepared for a judge’s consideration.
Names, case numbers, court numbers, and party designations should match the existing court record. A petitioner should not be identified as a respondent merely because the person is responding to a later motion. Party roles generally remain tied to the structure of the case.
Electronic filers should also verify that attachments are included and readable. Missing pages, incomplete identifying information, incorrect case categories, and filings submitted to the wrong cause can interfere with processing.
Jury Service Administration
Jury administration is one of the District Clerk’s major public responsibilities. The office provides online tools that allow prospective jurors to respond to a summons, obtain basic information, and review what to expect before arriving at the courthouse.
A jury summons is separate from a court filing or case record request. A person responding to a summons should use the jury service information associated with that summons rather than the civil, family, or criminal record search.
The District Clerk has worked to modernize jury registration and check-in procedures, improve instructions and signage, and make the process clearer for residents. The office also led efforts to increase juror pay and broaden participation in jury service.
Jury schedules or operating instructions may be affected by court operations or emergency notices. Residents should review official District Clerk information before reporting, especially when an office closure or service change has been announced.
Passport Acceptance Services
The District Clerk operates passport acceptance services at an East End location and a downtown location. The East End service accepts walk-ins during the stated weekday service period and provides free parking. Management may suspend walk-in acceptance earlier when processing demand or operational limitations require it. The downtown passport office requires an appointment.
The District Clerk passport service page provides application requirements, location procedures, fee information, identification rules, citizenship evidence requirements, and instructions for adults and minors.
The District Clerk can accept applications, take passport photographs, assist with the application process, and collect applicable payments. The office does not issue the passport. Passport issuance and application status are handled by the U.S. Department of State.
Adult Application Documents
An adult applying in person must provide a completed DS-11 form. The form must be legible, completed in black ink, and left unsigned until the prescribed oath is administered during submission.
Evidence of United States citizenship may include an original or certified birth certificate, a prior adult U.S. passport book or card with ten-year validity, a consular report of birth abroad, or a naturalization certificate. Acceptable identity evidence includes a Texas driver’s license, Texas identification card, military identification, or an out-of-state driver’s license or identification card. An applicant using out-of-state identification must also bring a secondary form of identification.
If the applicant’s current name differs from the name on the most recent passport, certified legal name-change documentation may be required. The passport page identifies a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court-ordered name change document as examples.
Applications for Children
Each minor child applying for a passport book or card must appear in person. For a child under age 16, both parents or legal guardians generally must appear and provide the child’s completed unsigned DS-11 form, citizenship evidence, evidence of the relationship to the parents or guardians, parental identification, a recent photograph, and required fees.
When only one parent appears, additional documentation is required. Supported examples include a properly completed and notarized DS-3053 with the required identification copy, a death certificate for a deceased parent, or certified evidence that the appearing parent has sole authority to apply.
Photographs and Payments
Passport photographs must be recent color photographs taken within six months of the application. They must measure 2 by 2 inches and show a clear, front-facing image against a plain white or off-white background. Headgear that obscures the hair or hairline is generally excluded unless it is part of religious attire worn daily.
The District Clerk can take a passport photograph for an $18 fee. A $35 execution fee is charged for accepting each application. These amounts are payable to the Harris County District Clerk and are separate from the application fees payable to the U.S. Department of State.
Department of State passport fees must be paid by money order, cashier’s check, or personal check, with one payment for each application. District Clerk execution and photo fees may be paid by cash, money order, cashier’s check, or credit card. Personal checks are not accepted for the District Clerk portion.
Current federal passport processing information is available through the U.S. Department of State passport website. Travelers needing service before the three-week mark are directed to contact the National Passport Information Center regarding an appointment at a regional passport facility.
Common Errors to Avoid
Searching the wrong system is a frequent source of confusion. Court cause numbers should be used in the District Clerk system, while booking, police report, and citation numbers may belong to other agencies or databases.
Do not assume that an online search result is a certified court record. A screen display, downloaded image, ordinary copy, and certified copy can serve different purposes. Request the specific document format required for the intended use.
When calculating filing costs, include applicable filing, issuance, and service fees. The $350 base amount shown for many new civil or family suits does not include every citation, copy, writ, mailing charge, constable service, or later pleading.
Electronic filers should verify the court and cause before submission. A new suit should not be filed as a subsequent document, and a filing for an existing case should not be used to create an unrelated new cause.
Users should be cautious about unexpected payment messages. The District Clerk states that the office will not send an email or text message asking for sensitive information or payments. A recipient should not follow payment links in such a message and should report suspected fraud to the office’s customer service team.
Passport applicants should not sign the DS-11 before appearing before the acceptance agent. They should also confirm that citizenship evidence, identification, parental documents, photographs, and separate payments are prepared before arriving. Missing or inconsistent documents can delay processing or prevent the office from accepting the application.
District Clerk Offices
Harris County District Clerk
201 Caroline, Suite 420
Houston, TX 77002
(832) 927-5800
Harris County District Clerk Passport Service Center — East End
District Clerk’s Records Center
5900 Canal Street, 1st Floor
Houston, TX 77011
(832) 927-5690
Harris County District Clerk Passport Service Center — Downtown
Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street, Suite 170, 1st Floor
Houston, TX 77002
(832) 927-5690
District Clerk FAQs
Can I renew a passport with Form DS-82 at the District Clerk’s office?
No. The Harris County District Clerk’s passport acceptance locations do not process mail-in renewals using Form DS-82. Applicants who qualify for DS-82 renewal generally submit the form directly to the U.S. Department of State by mail. Eligibility usually requires the previous passport to be available, undamaged, issued when the holder was at least 16, issued within the past 15 years, and issued in the applicant’s current name or accompanied by certified name-change documentation. Anyone who does not satisfy every renewal requirement must normally apply in person with Form DS-11. Review the official Harris County passport instructions before choosing a form.
Should I apply for a passport book or passport card?
The correct document depends on how and where you expect to travel. A passport book may be used for international travel by air, land, or sea. A passport card is more limited: it may be used for land and sea entry from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and certain Caribbean destinations, but it cannot be used for international air travel. Travelers who may fly internationally should apply for a passport book, even when their immediate trip is by land or cruise ship. Applicants may also request both documents when they want the flexibility of a book and the convenience of a wallet-sized card.
Are weekend passport appointments regularly available?
Weekend service is not part of the ordinary weekday schedule. The District Clerk periodically holds Saturday Passport Fairs for residents who cannot visit during the workweek. Dates are announced separately and may vary based on staffing and operational plans. Before making weekend travel arrangements, check the District Clerk’s official website for current notices rather than assuming a Saturday event will be available.