Erath County
Erath County was established in 1856 as part of the Cross Timber region. It is named after George Bernard Erath, a surveyor and soldier of the Texas Revolution. Located in Central Texas, the county spans approximately 1,083.2 square miles and had a population of about 42,788 residents as of 2022. Its county seat is Stephenville, which is also home to Tarleton State University, a major regional institution.
Erath County's court system is composed of District, County, Justice, and Municipal Courts. The District Court has jurisdiction over felony criminal cases, family law matters, including divorces, domestic violence, and child custody disputes, and contested probate cases. It also manages land title disputes, enforcement of liens on land, juvenile matters, contested elections, and general civil claims. County Courts at Law oversees misdemeanor criminal cases, civil lawsuits with claims up to $100,000, probate and estate matters, trusts, and guardianships. It also hears appeals from Justice and Municipal Courts. On the other hand, the Justice of the Peace Courts handles preliminary hearings, certain misdemeanors punishable by fines only, civil cases involving claims within financial limits, small claims disputes, and landlord-tenant disputes, including evictions. The Municipal Courts in Erath County address city ordinance violations, traffic infractions, and class C misdemeanors occurring within city limits.
Court records in Erath County document legal proceedings and are maintained for public access to promote judicial transparency and accountability. Examples of publicly available court records include:
- Criminal case records
- Civil court records
- Traffic and ordinance violation records
- Probate records
- Family law records
- Land title and dispute records.
However, under the Texas Public Information Act, juvenile, adoption, sealed, and other sensitive records are exempt from public disclosure.
The District Clerk maintains records from District Court cases, while the County Clerk manages records from County Courts, Justice Courts, and Probate cases. Court records can be accessed via the Texas re:SearchTX portal which allows users to conduct a name-based or case-based lookup. Additionally, record seekers can request court records by visiting the Erath County Courthouse at:
100 West Washington Street
Stephenville, Texas 76401
Phone: (254) 965-1482
Fees may apply for obtaining certified copies or detailed case records.
