Erath County Felony Records

Erath County felony records are held at the District Clerk's office in Stephenville, the county seat. The District Clerk maintains all court files for felony criminal cases processed in the county's district courts, from the initial filing through final judgment. Erath County sits in north-central Texas between Fort Worth and Abilene. Stephenville is home to Tarleton State University and serves as the main population center of the county. If you need to look up a felony case from Erath County, the re:SearchTX portal is the fastest online option.

Erath County District Clerk

The District Clerk in Erath County is the official keeper of all district court records. For felony criminal cases, the clerk files and tracks every document from the time a charge is brought through the end of the case. The office handles indictments, motions, plea agreements, judgments, and sentencing paperwork. After a case closes, the clerk reports the disposition to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The 266th Judicial District Court serves Erath County. This court has jurisdiction over all felony criminal cases in the county, along with civil matters over $200,000, family law cases, and juvenile matters. The courthouse is located in Stephenville at the Erath County Courthouse. Staff can assist with record lookups and copy requests during regular business hours.

How to Search Erath County Felony Records

You can look up felony records in Erath County online or at the courthouse. Online searches are free for basic case details. In-person searches give you access to full documents and certified copies.

The statewide re:SearchTX portal covers Erath County cases. Search by party name or cause number. Results show parties, charge type, filing date, case status, and hearing information. Some document images are available through the portal, though full access may require a subscription. The portal is run by the Texas Office of Court Administration and is updated regularly.

In person at the Erath County Courthouse, bring the person's full name and, if available, the year the case was filed. Staff will search the records system and pull up the case file. You can view documents and request copies. Copy fees are $1.00 per page for standard copies. Certified copies cost $5.00 per document plus the per-page copy fee. If the clerk needs to search for a cause number on your behalf, a $5.00 research fee applies. No personal checks are accepted.

Texas DPS at dps.texas.gov/section/crime-records handles statewide criminal history searches for $3.00 per name. This covers all Texas counties including Erath. For TDCJ inmates serving time on an Erath County conviction, use the offender search at offender.tdcj.texas.gov.

What Erath County Felony Records Include

A felony case file in Erath County is the full official record of a criminal prosecution. It covers everything from the initial charge to the final court order. All of it is kept by the District Clerk and available to the public unless sealed or expunged.

Felony records in Erath County typically contain the indictment returned by the grand jury. This document states the specific offense charged and the facts alleged. The file also includes any arrest warrant, bond paperwork, and conditions of release. Motions filed by the defense or prosecution and the court's rulings on those motions are part of the record. If the defendant entered a plea, the plea paperwork and any written agreement are filed with the clerk. After a verdict or plea, the judgment shows the sentence and any supervision conditions.

Most Erath County felony records are public. You do not need to be a party to the case to request copies. A few exceptions apply. Juvenile records are sealed under Texas law. Expunged records are not publicly available. Some victim information may be protected in cases involving sexual assault or family violence.

Note: The re:SearchTX portal and online searches show summaries only. For complete documents, visit the courthouse or mail a written request to the District Clerk's office.

State Resources for Erath County Criminal Records

Several state-level tools help with felony record searches that touch Erath County. These tools work alongside the county courthouse for different types of searches.

Re:SearchTX at research.txcourts.gov is the best free online tool for looking up Erath County court cases. It covers the 266th District Court and other courts in the county. Search by name or cause number. The portal is maintained by the Texas Office of Court Administration.

The TDCJ Offender Search at offender.tdcj.texas.gov shows currently incarcerated individuals in Texas state prisons. If someone was convicted on an Erath County felony charge and is serving time, they should show up here. The search is free and returns unit location, offense type, sentence start date, and projected release.

Texas DPS maintains the statewide criminal history database. The public access version provides name-based criminal history for $3.00 per search. It covers felony convictions from every Texas county. Visit dps.texas.gov/section/crime-records for details on how to submit a request.

For older Erath County case files, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) may have historical records. Some counties have transferred older court files to the state archives. Contact TSLAC at (512) 463-5480 or visit their website for more information.

Cities in Erath County

Erath County includes Stephenville, Dublin, Thurber, and other small communities. All felony cases from across the county are handled by the District Court in Stephenville.

No cities in Erath County currently meet the population threshold for individual records pages. All felony matters are processed through the Erath County District Clerk in Stephenville.

Nearby Counties

Erath County is surrounded by several counties in north-central Texas. If you are not sure which county court handles a case, check where the offense took place.