Fannin County Public Records /Fannin County Court Records

Fannin County Court Records

What Is Fannin County Court Records

Court records in Fannin County, Texas, are official documents generated by the judicial system in the course of legal proceedings. These records encompass a broad range of materials, including case files, docket sheets, pleadings, motions, orders, judgments, transcripts, exhibits, and sentencing records. Each document type serves a distinct function: docket sheets provide a chronological index of all filings in a case, while pleadings and motions reflect the arguments submitted by parties, and judgments and orders represent the court's official rulings.

Court records are distinct from other categories of public records maintained at the county level. Property records, for example, are held by the Fannin County Appraisal District and the County Clerk's real property division, while vital records such as birth and death certificates are administered separately under the Texas Department of State Health Services. Court records, by contrast, are generated exclusively through judicial proceedings and are maintained by the clerks of the respective courts.

Under Texas Government Code § 552.003, public information includes any information collected, assembled, or maintained by or for a governmental body. The courts in Fannin County that maintain records include the District Court (which handles felony criminal, civil, family, and juvenile matters), the County Court at Law (which handles misdemeanor criminal, civil, and probate matters), Justice of the Peace Courts (which handle small claims, Class C misdemeanors, and traffic matters), and the Municipal Court of Bonham (which handles Class C misdemeanor and traffic violations within city limits). Records span civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters across these courts.

Are Court Records Public In Fannin County

Court records in Fannin County are presumptively open to the public under Texas law. The Texas Public Information Act, codified at Texas Government Code Chapter 552, establishes that members of the public have the right to access government records, including judicial records, unless a specific statutory exemption applies. The Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure further affirm the principle of open court proceedings and accessible records.

Records that are generally available to the public include most civil case files, criminal case files following the filing of charges, final judgments and court orders, docket sheets, and scheduled hearing information. Members of the public may inspect these records in person at the clerk's office during regular business hours or, where available, through online portals.

A distinction exists between state and federal court records. Records from proceedings in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, which has jurisdiction over federal matters arising in Fannin County, are governed by federal law and are accessible through the federal PACER system rather than through county offices. The Texas Judicial Branch provides administrative oversight of state court records and publishes access policies applicable to all Texas courts.

Certain records are exempt from public disclosure under Texas law. These include juvenile records, sealed case files, mental health commitment records, and records subject to protective orders. The court may also restrict access to sensitive personal information such as Social Security numbers and financial account numbers pursuant to Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21c.

How To Find Court Records in Fannin County in 2026

Members of the public seeking court records in Fannin County may obtain them through several official channels. The process varies depending on the court in which the case was filed and the type of record requested.

Identify the correct court: Determine whether the case was heard in the District Court, County Court at Law, Justice of the Peace Court, or Municipal Court, as each maintains its own records.
Contact the appropriate clerk: The District Clerk maintains records for the District Court; the County Clerk maintains records for the County Court at Law and probate matters; Justice of the Peace clerks maintain records for JP courts; and the Municipal Court Clerk maintains records for the City of Bonham Municipal Court.
Submit a written request or visit in person: Requestors may appear in person at the clerk's office during public counter hours or submit a written public information request pursuant to Texas Government Code § 552.221, which requires a governmental body to promptly produce requested records.
Provide identifying information: To locate a specific case, requestors should supply the full name of a party, the case number if known, and the approximate year of filing.
Pay applicable fees: Certified copies and reproduced records are subject to fees established under Texas Government Code § 552.261. Standard paper copies are currently set at $0.10 per page for most governmental bodies.

Fannin County District Clerk 101 E. Sam Rayburn Dr., Suite 201, Bonham, TX 75418 (903) 583-7459 Fannin County District Clerk Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM

Fannin County Clerk 101 E. Sam Rayburn Dr., Suite 102, Bonham, TX 75418 (903) 583-7486 Fannin County Clerk Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM

How To Look Up Court Records in Fannin County Online?

Several online portals currently provide access to Fannin County court records, depending on the court type and the nature of the case.

Texas Judicial Branch eCourts Portal: The Texas Judicial Branch maintains a statewide portal through which members of the public may search for case information from participating courts. Users may search by party name, case number, or attorney name.
Odyssey File & Serve / Tyler Technologies Portal: Fannin County courts utilize the Tyler Technologies case management system. Members of the public may access publicly available case information through the county's online case search interface at the Fannin County official website.
PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records): Federal cases involving Fannin County parties that are heard before the Eastern District of Texas United States District Court are accessible through the PACER system at pacer.gov. Registration is required, and fees apply per page viewed.
Texas State Law Library Court Records Guide: The Texas State Law Library court records research guide provides detailed instructions for locating records from district courts, county courts, and appellate courts across Texas, including information specific to smaller counties such as Fannin.

To search online through the county portal:

Navigate to the Fannin County official website at co.fannin.tx.us.
Select the District Clerk or County Clerk department page.
Access the case search link provided on the clerk's page.
Enter the party name, case number, or filing date range.
Review the case summary and docket entries displayed.

How To Search Fannin County Court Records for Free?

Texas law guarantees members of the public the right to inspect court records at no charge. Under Texas Government Code § 552.228, a governmental body must allow inspection of public records without requiring payment unless copies are requested. In-person inspection at the clerk's office is free of charge during regular business hours.

The following resources are currently available at no cost:

In-person inspection at the Fannin County District Clerk's office and County Clerk's office, where members of the public may review case files, docket sheets, and orders without charge.
Online case search through the Fannin County clerk portals, which provide basic case information including party names, filing dates, and case status at no cost.
Texas Judicial Branch case search, accessible through the statewide portal at txcourts.gov, which provides free access to docket-level information for participating courts.
Texas State Law Library resources, which offer free guidance on locating court records statewide through the court records research guide.

Fees apply only when certified copies or reproduced documents are requested. Standard copy fees are set by statute and are currently $1.00 per page for certified copies and $0.10 per page for uncertified copies at most county offices.

What's Included in a Fannin County Court Record?

The contents of a court record vary by case type, but generally include the following categories of documents:

Civil Case Records:

Original petition or complaint
Defendant's answer and counterclaims
Motions and responses filed by all parties
Court orders and rulings
Final judgment
Notices of appeal

Criminal Case Records:

Charging instrument (indictment, information, or complaint)
Arrest and booking information
Bail and bond documents
Plea agreements
Sentencing orders and probation terms
Warrants (where not sealed)

Family Law Records:

Divorce petitions and decrees
Child custody and support orders
Protective orders (subject to access restrictions)
Adoption records (generally sealed)

Probate Records:

Will filings and probate petitions
Inventory and appraisement of estate assets
Letters testamentary and letters of administration
Final accounting and distribution orders

Traffic and Small Claims Records:

Citation information
Plea and payment records
Judgment for plaintiff or defendant in small claims matters

How Long Does Fannin County Keep Court Records?

Retention periods for court records in Fannin County are governed by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission's Local Schedule CC (Retention Schedule for Records of County and District Clerks), which establishes minimum retention periods for all classes of court records maintained by Texas county offices.

Felony criminal case files: Permanent retention
Misdemeanor criminal case files (Class A and B): 10 years minimum
Civil case files involving title to real property: Permanent retention
General civil case files: 10 years after final disposition
Family law case files (divorce, custody): 20 years after the youngest child reaches the age of majority, or permanent in some classifications
Probate case files: Permanent retention
Justice of the Peace civil case files: 5 years after final disposition
Justice of the Peace criminal case files: 5 years after final disposition
Municipal Court records: 2–10 years depending on case type and outcome

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission publishes the complete Local Schedule CC, which is the authoritative source for all retention requirements applicable to Fannin County court records.

Types of Courts In Fannin County

Fannin County operates within a multi-tiered judicial structure consistent with the Texas court system hierarchy. Courts progress from limited-jurisdiction courts at the local level through trial courts of general jurisdiction and ultimately to the state appellate courts.

Fannin County District Court (336th Judicial District) 101 E. Sam Rayburn Dr., Suite 201, Bonham, TX 75418 (903) 583-7459 Fannin County District Court Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM

Fannin County Court at Law 101 E. Sam Rayburn Dr., Suite 102, Bonham, TX 75418 (903) 583-7486 Fannin County Court at Law Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM

Fannin County Justice of the Peace Courts (Precincts 1–4) 101 E. Sam Rayburn Dr., Bonham, TX 75418 (903) 583-7427 Fannin County Justice of the Peace Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM

City of Bonham Municipal Court 514 Chestnut St., Bonham, TX 75418 (903) 583-7555 City of Bonham Municipal Court Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM

The court hierarchy in Texas proceeds as follows: Municipal and Justice of the Peace Courts (limited jurisdiction, Class C misdemeanors and small claims) → County Court at Law (intermediate jurisdiction, Class A and B misdemeanors, civil matters up to $200,000, probate) → District Court (general jurisdiction, felonies, major civil matters, family law) → Sixth Court of Appeals (intermediate appellate court, located in Texarkana) → Texas Supreme Court and Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (courts of last resort for civil and criminal matters, respectively).

What Types of Cases Do Fannin County Courts Hear?

Each court in Fannin County exercises jurisdiction over specific categories of cases as defined by Texas law.

336th District Court:

Felony criminal cases (state jail felonies through first-degree felonies)
Civil cases involving amounts exceeding $200,000
Family law matters including divorce, child custody, and termination of parental rights
Juvenile delinquency proceedings
Major civil litigation

Fannin County Court at Law:

Class A and Class B misdemeanor criminal cases
Civil cases with amounts in controversy between $200 and $200,000
Probate and mental health matters
Appeals from Justice of the Peace and Municipal Court decisions

Justice of the Peace Courts (Precincts 1–4):

Class C misdemeanor criminal cases
Small claims civil cases (currently up to $20,000)
Eviction (forcible detainer) proceedings
Traffic violation cases
Magistrate functions including setting bail and issuing warrants

City of Bonham Municipal Court:

Class C misdemeanor violations of state law occurring within city limits
City ordinance violations
Traffic citations issued within the City of Bonham

How To Find a Court Docket In Fannin County

A court docket is the official schedule and index of all proceedings and filings in a given case. Members of the public may access Fannin County court dockets through the following methods:

Online case search portal: The Fannin County District Clerk and County Clerk maintain online case search tools accessible through the county website at co.fannin.tx.us, where docket entries are listed chronologically for each case.
In-person review: Members of the public may visit the District Clerk's office or County Clerk's office during public counter hours to request a printed docket sheet for any non-restricted case.
Texas Judicial Branch portal: The statewide case search available through the Texas Judicial Branch provides docket-level information for cases in participating courts.
PACER for federal dockets: Dockets for cases filed in the Eastern District of Texas are accessible through the Eastern District of Texas United States District Court PACER portal.

To search a docket in person, requestors should provide the clerk with the case number or the full legal name of at least one party. Docket sheets are available for inspection at no charge; printed copies are subject to standard copy fees.

Which Courts in Fannin County Are Not Courts of Record?

A court of record is a court whose proceedings are officially recorded and preserved, and whose judgments carry the full weight of legal authority, including the ability to be appealed to a higher court on the record. Courts not of record do not maintain a verbatim transcript of proceedings; appeals from such courts are heard as trials de novo (entirely new proceedings) in a higher court rather than as reviews of the lower court's record.

Under Texas Government Code § 30.00003 and the Texas Constitution, Article V, Justice of the Peace Courts and Municipal Courts in Texas are generally classified as courts not of record, unless a specific statute grants a particular municipal court court-of-record status. In Fannin County, the Justice of the Peace Courts (Precincts 1–4) and the City of Bonham Municipal Court currently operate as courts not of record. Appeals from these courts are heard as de novo proceedings in the Fannin County Court at Law.

Because these courts do not maintain verbatim transcripts, the documentary record available from JP and Municipal Court proceedings is more limited than that available from the District Court or County Court at Law. Available records from courts not of record typically include the charging instrument, plea and judgment entries, payment records, and any written orders issued by the court.