Brown County
Brown County was established in 1856 and named after Henry Stevenson Brown, a Republic of Texas militia commander. It is located in west-central Texas as part of the state's Hill Country region. Brown County spans approximately 944.5 square miles and has a population of around 38,159 residents as of 2022. The county seat is Brownwood.
Brown County's court system comprises the District, Constitutional, County, Justice, and Municipal Courts. The District Court handles felony criminal cases, family law disputes like divorces, child custody, and contested probate matters. Its jurisdiction also extends to land title disputes, juvenile cases, civil matters, and general civil claims within monetary limits. The Constitutional County Court oversees certain misdemeanors punishable by fines not more than $500 or a year jail sentence. It also handles probate matters, domestic violence, sexual assault protective orders, and administrative duties for county government. The County Court at Law oversees misdemeanor criminal cases without potential incarceration penalty, civil claims up to $100,000, probate cases, and guardianships. It also handles violations of health and safety ordinances. The Justice of the Peace Court jurisdiction includes small claims, landlord-tenant disputes, evictions, and class C misdemeanors. It also handles foreclosures of mortgages, enforcement of liens on personal property, and general civil claims without financial limits. The Municipal Courts including Brownwood and Early Municipal Courts handle city ordinance violations, traffic infractions, and certain misdemeanors that occur within municipal boundaries.
Court records in Brown County are official documents generated during in-court proceedings. These records contain information on case filings, litigants' names, hearing dates, evidence, court orders, transcripts, and appeals. Court records are publicly accessible to promote accountability and transparency in the county's judicial system. Common court records include:
- Criminal case records
- Civil court records
- Probate records
- Family law records
- Land title disputes
- Traffic and ordinance violations
Under the Texas Public Information Act, certain records, such as juvenile, adoption, and sealed cases, remain confidential.
District Court records are managed by the District Clerk. At the same time, the County, Justice, and Probate records are maintained by the County Clerk. Public access to these records is available through the re:SearchTX portal, where users can search by name or case number. Fees may apply for certified copies or detailed records. In-person requests can be made at the courthouse at:
200 South Broadway Street
Brownwood, TX 76801
Phone: (325) 646-5514
