Search Johnson County Court Records
Johnson County court records are maintained by the District Clerk and County Clerk in Cleburne, Texas. The county sits south of Fort Worth in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area and has a population of around 170,000. Civil, criminal, family, and probate cases are filed here, and most records are open to the public under Texas law. You can search cases online or visit the courthouse in Cleburne for copies and in-person research. The 18th Judicial District Court serves the area, handling felony charges, civil suits, and family law matters. Most records can be searched online through the county portal at johnson.tx.publicsearch.us or through the statewide re:SearchTX system. Certified copies and documents not available online require a direct request to the clerk's office.
Johnson County Overview
Johnson County District Clerk
The Johnson County District Clerk oversees all district court filings in the 18th Judicial District. The office handles felony criminal cases, civil suits over $200,000, and all family law matters including divorce, custody, and child support. The courthouse is at 204 South Buffalo Street, Cleburne, TX 76031. Phone: (817) 556-6830. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Johnson County has grown rapidly as part of the DFW metro's southern expansion. Mansfield, which sits on the border with Tarrant County, is a qualifying city that partly falls within Johnson County. Court filings for Mansfield residents in Johnson County go through the Cleburne courthouse. The District Clerk's office manages the case index and provides access to public records on request.
To search Johnson County court records online, start with re:SearchTX at research.txcourts.gov. This statewide system covers e-filed cases from the 18th District and County Courts in Johnson County. You can search by party name or case number without creating an account. Results show case type, filing date, parties, and a list of docket entries. The screenshot below shows the Johnson County Clerk records available through TexasFile, which provides free public access to deed and property records filed in Johnson County. TexasFile lets you search Johnson County Clerk filings including deeds, liens, and assumed name certificates by name or document type.
| Office | Johnson County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 204 South Buffalo Street, Cleburne, TX 76031 |
| Phone | (817) 556-6830 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Judicial District | 18th |
Johnson County Clerk
The Johnson County Clerk maintains misdemeanor criminal cases, probate records, property records, marriage licenses, and other official public filings. The County Clerk's office is also at the courthouse in Cleburne. For deed and property records, you can search Johnson County filings through TexasFile at texasfile.com for free online access. Probate matters in Johnson County, including wills and estate administration, are handled by the County Court. The County Clerk maintains the probate file index. If you need to find a will or track the status of an estate, the County Clerk's office is the right place to start. You can also request copies of marriage licenses and DBA (assumed name) filings through the same office.
Online Access to Johnson County Court Records
re:SearchTX at research.txcourts.gov is the main online tool for Johnson County court records. The Texas Judicial Branch operates this platform and it covers e-filed cases from courts across the state. For Johnson County, you can find district court and county court filings by searching party names or cause numbers. The Texas Judicial Branch site at txcourts.gov provides local rules for the 18th Judicial District, court forms, and contact information. If you plan to file or respond to a case in Johnson County, check the local rules first. eFileTexas at efiletexas.gov is the required e-filing platform for attorneys in Texas courts, including those in Johnson County.
The screenshot below shows the re:SearchTX portal at research.txcourts.gov, which covers Johnson County along with hundreds of other Texas courts. re:SearchTX is the best free online tool for finding Johnson County court records, especially for cases filed electronically in recent years.
Types of Court Records in Johnson County
Johnson County court records include several categories. District court records cover felony criminal cases, civil suits over $200,000, and family law matters. County court records include misdemeanors, civil cases up to $200,000, and probate. Justice of the Peace courts handle small claims and Class C misdemeanors. Criminal records include charging documents, indictments, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and probation terms. Civil records include original petitions, motions, and final judgments. Family law files cover divorce decrees, custody orders, child support orders, and modifications. Probate files cover wills, estate inventories, and guardian appointments. Most records are open under Texas Supreme Court Rule 12. Exceptions include juvenile records, adoption files, expunged cases, and sealed court orders. If you are searching for an expunged record, it will not appear in the public systems. Call the clerk's office if you have questions about whether a specific file is available for public review.
Fees for Johnson County Court Records
Plain copies of court records cost $1 per page in Johnson County. Certified copies carry an additional certification fee. Exact amounts depend on the document type and number of pages. Call the District Clerk at (817) 556-6830 to confirm current rates before your visit. Online searches through re:SearchTX are free. Basic case information is available at no cost. Fee waivers are available for qualifying individuals under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145. Forms are at the courthouse or at txcourts.gov.
Johnson County Court Records Online Portal
The Johnson County District Clerk operates a public records search portal at johnson.tx.publicsearch.us. The portal shown below is the main online tool for finding court records in Johnson County without making a trip to the courthouse in 18th. 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 18th directly.
Use the portal above to run a name or cause number search before visiting 18th. 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 Johnson County District Clerk's office in 18th. 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 Johnson County
Lone Star Legal Aid serves Johnson County and provides civil legal help to people with low incomes. Visit lonestarlegal.org or call (800) 733-8394. The State Bar of Texas lawyer referral service is at (800) 252-9690 or texasbar.com. TexasLawHelp at texaslawhelp.org has free self-help guides and forms for common legal issues in Texas courts.
Cities in Johnson County
Johnson County includes Cleburne, Burleson, Joshua, Alvarado, and parts of Mansfield. District court cases for all these communities go through the Johnson County courthouse in Cleburne.
Other communities in Johnson County include Burleson, Joshua, Alvarado, and Keene. Court filings for these areas are handled at the Johnson County courthouse in Cleburne.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Johnson County in the DFW metro area. Each has its own courthouse and clerk's office.