How to Look Up Eviction Records in Texas 2026

Where to Search Texas Eviction Records

Texas Eviction (Forcible Entry and Detainer) cases are filed in the Justice of the Peace (JP) Court for the precinct where the property is located. There is no unified statewide online portal for JP Court records. County-level search: Dallas County Clerk (dallascountyclerk.com), Harris County (hcdistrictclerk.com for appeals; JP courts are at individual JP offices), Travis County (traviscountytx.gov/county-clerk). The Texas OCA (txcourts.gov) publishes aggregate statistics but not individual case-level public search. Source: TEX. PROP. CODE § 24.001 et seq.

Step-by-Step: How to Search Texas Eviction Records

1. Identify the county court. Find the Justice of the Peace Court; County Court at Law on appeal website for the county where the property is located.
2. Search by party name. Enter the prospective tenant's full legal name (last name, first name) as a defendant/respondent. Try name variations including maiden names.
3. Filter by case type. Select eviction, forcible detainer, unlawful detainer, or summary possession as the case type depending on the court's terminology.
4. Review the disposition. Identify whether the case resulted in a judgment for the landlord (eviction), dismissal (tenant won or case settled), or is still pending. A filing alone does not mean the tenant was evicted.
5. Check the filing date. Consider how old the record is — most tenant-screening best practices recommend discounting records older than 5–7 years.
6. Request certified copies if needed. For a certified copy of the court record, contact the Justice of the Peace Court; County Court at Law on appeal clerk's office directly. Fees are typically $0.10/page (JP courts vary).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I look up eviction records in Texas?

Texas Eviction (Forcible Entry and Detainer) cases are filed in the Justice of the Peace (JP) Court for the precinct where the property is located. There is no unified statewide online portal for JP Court records. County-level search: Dallas County Clerk (dallascountyclerk.com), Harris County (hcdistrictclerk.com for appeals; JP courts are at individual JP offices), Travis County (traviscountytx.gov/county-clerk). The Texas OCA (txcourts.gov) publishes aggregate statistics but not individual case-level public search. Source: TEX. PROP. CODE § 24.001 et seq.

Are eviction court records public in Texas?

Yes — eviction court records in Texas are presumptively public under Texas's public records law. Eviction actions are civil court filings and are part of the court's public record, accessible by any member of the public.

Can a tenant get an eviction record removed or expunged in Texas?

Texas does not currently have a general statutory right to expunge or seal eviction court records. The record of an eviction filing remains in the court's public file unless the court orders it impounded in a specific case.

How much does it cost to get a certified copy of an eviction court record in Texas?

In Texas, certified copy fees for court records are typically $0.10/page (JP courts vary). Fees are set by the Justice of the Peace Court; County Court at Law on appeal and may vary by county or court location. Many courts also charge a flat certification fee on top of the per-page copy fee. Online access to basic case information (party names, filing date, disposition) is typically free through the court's public portal where available.

Related Texas Landlord Guides

Court portal information sourced from the Texas court administrative office official website. Expungement laws from published Texas statutes (see citations above). Last updated April 30, 2026. For informational purposes only — not legal advice.