Polk County
Polk County was established in 1846 and named after James. K. Polk. Its government seat is in Livingston. The county's land area covers approximately 1,057.0 square miles, making it the 58th largest county in Texas by total area. Its court system consists of two District Courts, a Constitutional County Court, a County Court at Law, four Justice of the Peace Courts, and four Municipal Courts.
The District Courts in Polk County have the constitutional authority to handle cases beyond the jurisdiction of other courts. They hear felony cases, family cases, and juvenile matters. The Constitutional County Court handles cases involving the probate of wills and misdemeanors. The County Court at Law has jurisdiction over certain criminal and civil cases, including guardianships, Class A and B misdemeanors, and civil cases where the amount in controversy does not exceed $250,000. Additionally, the court hears appeals from the Justice of the Peace and Municipal Courts.
The Polk County Justice of the Peace Court handles cases involving minor alcohol violations, traffic offenses, juvenile detention hearings, and civil cases where the amount in dispute is under $20,000. Cases involving Class C misdemeanors, municipal ordinances violations, and city ordinances violations are handled by Polk County Municipal Courts.
Polk County court records are official files created and documented during court proceedings. These records include transcripts, dockets, judgments, tapes, and orders. Certain records, such as those related to adoptions, sealed cases, and juvenile court matters, are deemed confidential. However, most court records are public and available for Polk County residents to view and copy. Courts clerks are responsible for maintaining these records. Common court records in Polk County include the following:
- Traffic Records
- Probate Records
- Civil Records
- Family Records
- Criminal Records
Individuals may access court records by visiting the courthouses. Records from Polk County District Courts may also be searched online through the District Clerk's QuickLink.
