Bowie County, Texas State Court Records
Bowie County court records refer to the official documentation of events, whether in paper or electronic form, generated in connection with a court proceeding within the Bowie County court system. These records are primarily maintained by the Bowie County District Clerk as the chief custodian of district and county court case filings. However, the clerk of every court within Bowie County maintains court-specific case records for courts within their jurisdiction.
That said, Bowie County court records do not always exist in isolation or function independently. Often, these records are linked to other government files, such as arrest records, probate documents, and vital records, to ensure a properly functioning government system. For example, arrest records often form the foundation of a criminal court case, while certain court records, such as probate and divorce matters, may refer to vital records held by the Bowie County Clerk.
Are Bowie County Court Records Public?
Yes. The Texas Public Information Act (PIA), which regulates the dissemination of government documents to the public, specifically excludes the judiciary from its provisions. However, common law, various rules of court, and other statutes applicable in Texas expressly or impliedly provide for public access to court case files. For example, Rule 76a of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure presumes that most court records in civil proceedings are open to the public, except when they are subject to a stringent sealing process. The Texas State Law Library also confirms that most case files are considered public records.
While Bowie County court records are presumed public documents, certain information may be redacted from court case files because they contain protected sensitive data or due to privacy concerns and legal confidentiality requirements. Such exempt records and information include
- Juvenile records
- Sealed documents
- Expunged records
- Specific family law matters, especially those involving minors
- Personal information such as social security numbers and home addresses
What Information is Available in Bowie County Court Records?
The specific contents of a Bowie County court case file depend on the nature of the case, as civil proceedings include different documents than those of criminal proceedings. As such, one must examine individual case files to verify their contents.
However, the following types of information are commonly found in Bowie County court records:
- Party information
- Docket sheet
- Complaint
- Summons
- Disposition
- Pleadings
- Motions
- Exhibits
- Court orders/judgments
Bowie County Court Records Search
Individuals can find Bowie County court records by querying the Bowie County District Clerk or the respective clerk's office online, in person, or electronically. Details on each method are discussed below.
Online Access
Bowie County Case Records Search is a county-maintained remote access portal that allows the public to search and retrieve court case information from the Bowie County District Clerk's online databases. While searchers cannot access filed documents on this platform, they can find valuable information about court proceedings, case events, and other case details.
The search portal is divided into three categories (civil/family case records, criminal case records, and court calendar). Individuals should click the appropriate section to begin their search. For example, those looking to search a non-criminal case should select the "Civil/family case records" option.
Next, users may conduct a search by party, case, attorney, or date filed. After inputting the necessary details, they should click "Search" to display the relevant results.
In-Person Access
An in-person visit to the Bowie County District Clerk's Office may be necessary to view or obtain copies of actual case documents. The office is located at
District Clerk's Office
James Bowie Drive
New Boston, Texas 75570
Phone: (903) 628-6750
Visits should be scheduled during regular work hours, and requesters may wish to verify whether public access terminals are available for searching court records and viewing documents. Alternatively, they may provide staff with relevant case details, such as the party name, filing date, and case number, to assist with the search.
Mail and Phone Requests
The Bowie County District Clerk also accepts records requests via telephone and postal mail. Those opting for mail-in applications should forward their requests to the aforementioned business address (mentioned under "In-Person Requests"), ensuring a check or money order is enclosed for the requisite duplication costs. Conversely, telephone requests may require a credit card for electronic payment. All applicants should clearly state the required record(s) and provide their current contact details to ensure the successful processing of their requests.
Note that the methods above only describe case access through the District Clerk's Office in Bowie County. If searching for other county court records not maintained by this office, it is crucial to know the court of filing so the request can be submitted there.
Fees for Court Records in Bowie County
Inspection of court case records in Bowie County is free of charge. However, obtaining copies of documents may be subject to the following fees:
- $1 per page for printed copies
- $1 for the first 10 pages and 10 cents per additional page for electronic copies
Payment must be made before copies are released.
Bowie County Courthouse Locations
The Bowie County courthouse serves as the main hub for most court activity in the county. The courthouse houses 3 District Courts (5th District Court, 102nd District Court, and 202nd District Court), the Bowie County Court at Law, the Constitutional Court, and the Justice of the Peace Court (Precinct 2).
Bowie County Courthouse (Main)
710 James Bowie Drive
New Boston, Texas 75570
Phone: (903) 628-6700
Fax: (903) 628-6761
Other court locations within the county are spread across the Bi-State Justice Building in Texarkana, which houses the 6th Court of Appeals and Justice of the Peace Court (Precinct 1, Places 1 and 2), as well as standalone Justice of the Peace courts in De Kalb and Maud.
Bi-State Justice Building
100 North State Line Avenue
Texarkana, Texas
Precinct 1, Place 1: (903) 798-3006
Precinct 1, Place 2: (903) 798-3038
Justice of the Peace (Precinct 3)
902 West Front
DeKalb, Texas 75559
Phone: (903) 667-3891
Fax: (903) 667-9931
Justice of the Peace (Precinct 5)
P.O. Box 189
Maud, Texas 75567
Phone: (903) 585-5428
Fax: (903) 585-2111
Bowie County is also home to municipal courts across De Kalb, Hooks, Maud, Nash, New Boston, Redwater, and Wake Village.
119 East Grizzly Drive
De Kalb, Texas 75559
Phone: (903) 667-3848
Hooks Municipal Court
P.O. Box 37
Hooks, Texas 7 5561
Phone: (903) 547-7056
P.O. Box 100
Maud, Texas 75567
Phone: (903) 585-2294
119 Elm Street
P.O. Box 520
Nash, Texas 75570
Phone: (903) 628-3503
108 North Center Street
New Boston, Texas 75570
Phone: (903) 628-3503
Redwater Municipal Court
120 Redwater Boulevard West
P.O. Box 209
Maud, Texas 75573
Phone: (903) 671-2775
Fax: (903) 671-2625
Wake Village Municipal Court
P.O. Box 3776
Wake Village, Texas 75501
Phone: (903) 838-0515
Criminal Records Access in Bowie County
Criminal records are all documents related to a criminal case, including court case documents and criminal history information. Criminal court case records are maintained by the Bowie County clerks' offices and are obtainable through the processes discussed above.
However, criminal history record information (CHRI) refers to a comprehensive documentation of an individual's interactions with criminal justice agencies. It includes notations of arrests, detentions, indictments, and criminal charges and is compiled by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).
Per Texas Government Code §411.082, full CHRIs are not public information and can only be disseminated to approved parties, such as the subject of the record. However, the public may view conviction information only through a criminal history conviction name search, while the secure criminal history portion is accessible only to legislatively authorized persons through a criminal history name search.
Bowie County Probate Records
Bowie County probate records are documents pertaining to the settlement of a deceased person's estate. They encompass information filed or generated during a probate proceeding, as well as probate-related documents submitted to the Bowie County Clerk's Office. Examples of probate records include wills, guardianship petitions, trust documents, and records filed in furtherance of estate administration.
Like other government records, Bowie County probate records are public documents subject to specific exemptions, including
- Information regarding minors
- Capacity declarations
- Estate inventories
- Medical information
Generally, Bowie County probate documents are accessible through the Bowie County Clerk, who doubles as the Probate Clerk for the county.
Bowie County Family Court Records
Bowie County family court records are documents generated in connection with a family court proceeding within the county. Such matters include divorce, child support, adoption, and other cases involving families and children. While family court records are generally public, the record custodian may limit access to certain information, such as adoption matters, in compliance with applicable confidentiality laws and statutory exceptions.
The Bowie County District Clerk maintains family court case files. Members of the public may query the District Clerk's Office at its physical location or utilize the Bowie County Case Records Search platform for online access to limited case information.
Federal Court Records in Bowie County
Court cases of a federal nature but emanating from Bowie County are handled by the Texas Eastern District Court (Texarkana Division) located at
500 North Stateline
Texarkana, Texas 75504
To access federal court records, individuals may contact the Texas Eastern District Clerk's Office in Room 31 at the address above. Most records are viewable at the public terminals in the Clerk's Office during official business hours. Requesters are advised to have sufficient details about the records sought to enable the Clerk's Office to fulfill the request.
Alternatively, members of the public may retrieve court documents using the Public Access to Courts Electronic Records (PACER) system. PACER is an online access system for court case and docket information from federal courts across the United States, including the Eastern District of Texas Court. It is particularly useful for searching federal records that were filed on or after 12/01/2007.
Individuals can also send a request using the court's Online Records Request Form. With this form, requesters can conduct name searches of civil and criminal case records, request copies of case records, and apply for true copy certifications.
The court's Records and Archives page contains comprehensive information on accessing court case information and files.
