Wichita County
Wichita County is located in northern Texas and is part of the Wichita Falls metropolitan area. It occupies an area measuring 633 square miles, and its estimated population is 130,180. Established in 1858, the county was not officially organized until 1882.
The trial court structure in Wichita County has four levels, such as District Courts, County Courts at Law, Justice Courts, and Municipal Courts. The Wichita District Courts are trial courts of general jurisdiction and can handle legal matters that are not under the purview of another court. The original jurisdiction includes felony criminal matters, divorce cases, civil lawsuits involving amounts above $200, and election contest matters.
The County Courts at Law equally exercise criminal and civil jurisdiction. They hold hearings for misdemeanor cases, probate matters, family law issues, and appeals for cases originally decided in the Municipal or Justice Courts.
The Justice Courts in Wichita County have original jurisdiction over class C misdemeanors punishable by fine only. Small claims where the amount in controversy does not exceed $20,000, evictions, and motor vehicle offenses are resolved in these courts. Additionally, they officiate marriage ceremonies, issue search and arrest warrants, and set bail.
The Wichita Municipal Courts, such as those in Burkburnett, Iowa Park, Wichita Falls, and Electra, have concurrent jurisdiction with the Justice Courts over class C misdemeanors within their geographical confines. These courts issue fines up to $200 for public health and fire safety violations and fines up to $4,000 for dumping of refuse.
The District Clerk is responsible not only for accepting documents for filings in felony, family, juvenile, tax, and civil court cases but also for overseeing the management of the records produced during these proceedings so that they are easily retrieved for public inspection. Conversely, the County Clerk is the filing clerk and official custodian of County Courts at Law records.
To physically examine your court records, visit the office of the relevant court clerk during regular business hours with sufficient details about your case. The District Clerk's Office is located in Room 108, and the office for the county clerks is located inside Room 250 the Courthouse in Wichita County. The address is 900 7th Street, Wichita Falls, TX 76301.
