Franklin County Court Records

Franklin County court records cover civil, criminal, family, and probate cases filed in this East Texas county. The District Clerk and County Clerk both maintain public records at the courthouse in Mount Vernon. With a population of about 10,500 residents, Franklin County is served by the 8th Judicial District. You can visit the courthouse in person or use state online tools to search case information. The clerks handle all filings from district court, county court at law, and justice of the peace courts.

Franklin County District Clerk

The Franklin County District Clerk handles all felony criminal cases, civil suits, and family law matters filed in the 8th Judicial District. This includes divorce cases, child custody matters, child support orders, and civil suits above the county court threshold. The District Clerk also maintains the official case files and dockets for all district court proceedings in Franklin County. The District Clerk's office is located at the Franklin County Courthouse, 200 North Kaufman Street, Mount Vernon, TX 75457. You can reach the office by phone at (903) 537-4252. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Staff can help you search for case records by party name or case number. Copies of court documents cost $1 per page, with additional fees for certified copies. For statewide online access, the re:SearchTX portal from the Texas Judicial Branch covers e-filed cases from Franklin County courts. You can search by party name, case number, or attorney. Basic searches are free. This is often the fastest way to find recent case information without making a trip to Mount Vernon. The screenshot below shows the TexasFile county clerk records portal for Franklin County, which provides access to official public record filings. TexasFile indexes Franklin County public records including deeds, liens, and other documents filed with the County Clerk.

Franklin County Clerk

The Franklin County Clerk maintains misdemeanor criminal records, probate filings, real property records, and official public documents. That includes deeds, liens, assumed name certificates, marriage licenses, and Commissioner Court minutes. The County Clerk also manages records from the Justice of the Peace courts and County Court at Law proceedings. These records are separate from the District Clerk's files. The County Clerk's office shares the courthouse at 200 North Kaufman Street in Mount Vernon. Phone: (903) 537-4252. For property records and deed searches, TexasFile provides an online index of many Franklin County Clerk filings. You can also use the re:SearchTX system for court-related records that have been e-filed in the county. Probate matters in Franklin County go through the County Court, which handles wills, estate administration, guardianship appointments, and related proceedings. If you need a copy of a will or an estate inventory, contact the County Clerk's office with the decedent's name and approximate date of death. Staff can locate the file and provide copies on request.

How to Search Franklin County Court Records

You have a few options for searching Franklin County court records. The most direct way is to visit or call the courthouse at 200 North Kaufman Street in Mount Vernon. Bring the party name or case number. Staff will help locate the file. Plain copies cost $1 per page. Certified copies cost more. Call ahead to confirm current rates before making the trip. Online, your best option is re:SearchTX. This free portal from the Texas Judicial Branch covers e-filed cases across the state, including Franklin County. Enter a name or case number to pull up basic case details, docket entries, and filed documents for recent cases. Some older cases may not be in the system if they were filed before e-filing was required. It can be useful when you are not sure which county filed a case. TexasFile covers county clerk records including deeds and property filings for Franklin County. For statewide legal research, the Texas State Law Library has court records research guides and links to online tools. The library is open to the public both in person in Austin and through its online resources. If you need help understanding what records exist or how to request them, the library's guides are a solid starting point.

Types of Court Records in Franklin County

Franklin County court records fall into several categories based on the court that handled the case. The District Court manages the most serious cases. That includes felony criminal charges, civil suits above the county threshold, and all family law matters such as divorce and custody. The 8th Judicial District covers Franklin County, and all district court filings go through the courthouse in Mount Vernon. The County Court at Law handles civil cases below the district court threshold, Class A and B misdemeanor criminal cases, and probate matters. Justice of the Peace courts handle small claims, Class C misdemeanors, and eviction cases. Each court keeps its own docket and case files, though all are housed at or near the Franklin County Courthouse.

Common records you may need include divorce decrees, custody and support orders, civil judgments, deed records, lien filings, and criminal case dispositions. Family law records are often the most requested. These include the original petition, any temporary orders, the final decree of divorce, and any modification orders filed after the original case closed. Records are generally public under Texas Supreme Court Rule 12. Sealed records, juvenile cases, and expunged matters are not available. If you need to verify whether a criminal record has been expunged, you will need to contact the clerk's office directly, since expunged cases do not appear in the public system.

Franklin County Court Records Online Portal

The Franklin County District Clerk operates a public records search portal at franklin.tx.publicsearch.us. The portal shown below is the main online tool for finding court records in Franklin County without making a trip to the courthouse in 8th. You can search by party name or cause number and get back case type, filing date, party names, and docket history at no cost. The system covers all records maintained by the District Clerk, including felony criminal cases, civil suits, and family law filings. For records that predate the online system or that require actual document images, you will need to contact the clerk's office in 8th directly.

Use the portal above to run a name or cause number search before visiting 8th. If the case you need does not appear in the local portal, try the statewide re:SearchTX system, which covers all 254 Texas counties and is maintained by the Texas Judicial Branch. For certified copies, plain copies, or documents not available online, contact the Franklin County District Clerk's office in 8th. Bring a photo ID and the cause number if you have it. Mail requests are also accepted if you include a check or money order for the estimated copy fee along with the case details.

Legal Help in Franklin County

Legal aid services for Franklin County residents are available through Lone Star Legal Aid, which covers East Texas. Their main number is (800) 733-8394, and you can apply online at lonestarlegal.org. They handle civil legal matters for people with low incomes, including family law, housing, and consumer issues. There is no cost for qualifying applicants. The State Bar of Texas runs a lawyer referral service at (800) 252-9690. You can also search for attorneys by county and practice area at texasbar.com. For self-help resources, TexasLawHelp.org provides free court forms, guides, and step-by-step instructions for common legal tasks in Texas courts. The Texas State Law Library also offers research support and law books available online. If you need to file a case in Franklin County and cannot afford the fees, you may qualify for a fee waiver under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145. Ask the clerk's office for the Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs form. The court reviews the request and may waive filing and copy fees for qualified individuals.

Statewide Court Record Resources

Several state-level tools can help you find Franklin County court records or related information. The re:SearchTX portal is the official statewide e-filing and case search system run by the Texas Judicial Branch. It covers courts across the state, including Franklin County. Searches are free. You can look up cases by party name, cause number, or attorney bar number. The Texas Judicial Branch website at txcourts.gov has court directories, rules, forms, and statistics for all Texas courts. If you need to find contact information for a specific judge or court, this is a good place to start. The site also has court calendars and local rules for district courts.

eFileTexas is the state's official e-filing portal. Attorneys use it to file documents in Texas courts electronically. If you are a self-represented litigant, you can also e-file in many Texas courts through this system. It covers most courts in the state, including those in Franklin County.

Cities in Franklin County

Franklin County is a smaller East Texas county with Mount Vernon as the county seat. No city in Franklin County currently meets the 100,000-population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Communities in Franklin County include Mount Vernon, Winnsboro (partially), and several smaller towns. All district court and county court cases in the county are handled at the Franklin County Courthouse in Mount Vernon.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Franklin County. Each has its own clerk's office and court system.