Beaumont has three main courthouses, and which one you need depends on the kind of case. State civil and criminal matters, divorce, probate, and felonies are handled at the Jefferson County Courthouse at 1149 Pearl Street. City tickets and other fine-only offenses go to the Beaumont Municipal Court at 700 Orleans Street. Federal cases are heard at the Jack Brooks Federal Building and United States Courthouse at 300 Willow Street. Justice of the Peace courts, which handle small claims and evictions, sit in multiple precincts across Jefferson County, with two locations inside the Pearl Street complex.
Which Beaumont Court Handles Your Case
Start with the type of matter. A traffic ticket or city ordinance violation issued inside Beaumont goes to Municipal Court. A small claim up to $20,000 or an eviction goes to the Justice of the Peace court for the precinct where the dispute arose or the property sits. A misdemeanor that could put you in jail, a civil suit between $500 and $250,000, or an appeal from Municipal or JP court goes to a County Court at Law. A felony, a divorce, a child custody case, a protective order, or a land title dispute goes to a District Court. Probate, will contests, and guardianships go to the Constitutional County Court. Federal criminal charges, bankruptcy, patent disputes, and diversity cases over $75,000 go to the federal courthouse.
Jefferson County Courthouse at 1149 Pearl Street
This is the main state courthouse in Beaumont and the seat of both the District Courts and the County Courts at Law. The District Courts have original jurisdiction over civil lawsuits where more than $500 is at stake and over all felony criminal prosecutions.1State of Texas. Texas Government Code 24.007 – Jurisdiction They also hold exclusive authority over divorce and child custody, protective orders under the Texas Family Code, and land title disputes.
The County Courts at Law handle civil disputes where the amount in controversy is more than $500 but no more than $250,000, excluding interest, punitive damages, and attorney’s fees.2Texas Public Law. Texas Government Code 25.0003 – Jurisdiction On the criminal side, they handle Class A and Class B misdemeanors. They also serve as the first level of appeal from Justice of the Peace and Municipal Court decisions.
Probate matters, including will contests, estate administration, and guardianship proceedings, go through the Constitutional County Court.3Jefferson County. Probate County Court of Jefferson County Probate filings are handled by the County Clerk’s office at 1085 Pearl Street, reachable at (409) 835-8475. Civil and felony filings go through the District Clerk at (409) 835-8580.
Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.4Jefferson County Clerk. Jefferson County Clerk’s Office
Beaumont Municipal Court at 700 Orleans Street
Municipal Court processes Class C misdemeanor violations of state law and city ordinances that occur within Beaumont city limits.5City of Beaumont. Beaumont Municipal Court These are fine-only offenses punishable by up to $500, with no jail time.6State of Texas. Texas Penal Code 12.23 – Class C Misdemeanor Traffic tickets, code violations, and noise complaints are the usual reasons people end up here.
Marriage and divorce matters cannot be handled at Municipal Court. Those cases go to the Jefferson County Courthouse at 1149 Pearl Street.5City of Beaumont. Beaumont Municipal Court
Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The main number is (409) 980-7200.
Justice of the Peace Courts
Jefferson County operates Justice of the Peace courts across several precincts. Two sit inside the courthouse complex at 1085 Pearl Street (Precinct 1, Place 1 and Place 2). Others are in south Beaumont, on Viterbo Road, and at 525 Lakeshore Drive in Port Arthur. The precinct where you file depends on where the dispute arose or where the property is located.
These courts hear civil matters where the amount in controversy does not exceed $20,000, which is the small claims track.7State of Texas. Texas Government Code 27.031 – Jurisdiction Corporations may represent themselves without a lawyer here. Eviction suits also belong in JP court, filed in the precinct where the rental property sits.8State of Texas. Texas Property Code 24.004 – Jurisdiction and Dismissal JP courts share jurisdiction over Class C misdemeanors with Municipal Court.
Three things JP courts cannot handle: defamation suits, cases involving land title, and divorces.7State of Texas. Texas Government Code 27.031 – Jurisdiction
Jack Brooks Federal Building and United States Courthouse
Federal cases for the Beaumont Division of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas are heard at 300 Willow Street, Suite 104.9United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas. Clerk’s Office That covers federal criminal charges, civil suits between citizens of different states where more than $75,000 is at stake, bankruptcy, patent disputes, and claims against the federal government.
The Clerk’s office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, except on federal holidays. Free parking is on the west side of the building, with overflow to the south.10United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas. Beaumont Division
Records and E-Filing
The District Clerk publishes civil case indexes online by year, with sealed and juvenile cases excluded.11District Clerk Jefferson County TX. Civil Indexes For in-person record searches on civil or felony files, call the District Clerk at (409) 835-8580. For probate records, contact the County Clerk at (409) 835-8475.12Jefferson County Clerk. Probate – Request a Search of Records
Texas requires attorneys to file electronically in most civil cases through approved providers, with eFileTexas being the state’s free platform. Self-represented litigants are generally exempt from mandatory e-filing, but individual courts may still require it under their local rules. Call the specific court before showing up with paper.
Before You Go
Every courthouse in Beaumont requires security screening, and weapons are prohibited at all locations. The federal building is the strictest: no cell phones, cameras, laptops, or gaming devices inside at all, and you’ll need a photo ID to clear security.10United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas. Beaumont Division Leave electronics in your car.
Parking at the federal courthouse is free on the west and south sides. Downtown parking near the Jefferson County Courthouse and Municipal Court is tighter, with metered street spaces and nearby public garages. All courthouses are closed weekends.