To find Cass County Texas court dockets, you need to contact the right office for your case type: the District Clerk handles dockets for the 5th Judicial District Court and the County Court at Law, the County Clerk handles probate, and Justice of the Peace courts keep their own dockets for traffic tickets and small claims. Both main clerk offices are in Linden, and each offers some online access alongside in-person records.
Which Office Holds Your Docket
Most people lose time here. The County Clerk’s office explicitly does not handle felony cases, divorces, child support cases, County Court at Law cases, traffic tickets, or property taxes.1Cass County. Cass County Clerk Call them about a criminal docket and they will send you elsewhere.
The District Clerk serves as the clerk for both the 5th Judicial District Court and the Cass County Court at Law in non-probate matters.2State of Texas. Texas Government Code 25.0362 – Cass County Court at Law Provisions That covers felony dockets, misdemeanor dockets, family law, and civil litigation. The County Clerk does handle probate, including contested probates that are ultimately heard by the County Court at Law judge.1Cass County. Cass County Clerk
Justice of the Peace courts keep their own dockets separately. Traffic citations, Class C misdemeanors, and small claims disputes up to $20,000 go through the JP court for the precinct where the case was filed.3Texas State Law Library. Small Claims Cases – General Information Each precinct operates independently. Precinct 4, for example, is at 603B S. Louise St. in Atlanta, Texas.4Cass County, Texas. Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace
Looking Up Dockets Online
District Clerk Docket Schedules
The Cass County District Clerk’s website publishes docket schedules for both the 5th District Court criminal dockets and the County Court at Law criminal dockets.5Cass County, Texas. District Clerk The pages show upcoming hearing dates, including drug court sessions, civil non-jury settings, and CPS hearings. For specifics beyond the published calendar, you will likely need to call or visit the office.
County Clerk Online Records
The County Clerk offers an online search portal for the records within its jurisdiction, including probate indices and official public records such as deeds and liens.1Cass County. Cass County Clerk Records not available on the website require an in-person visit.
re:SearchTX for Statewide Access
Texas also runs a statewide court records platform called re:SearchTX, covering all 254 counties. The system lets you search case information, view upcoming hearings, and read court documents. Attorneys, their staff, and parties to a case can track cases and receive real-time alerts when new activity is filed.6Texas Judicial Branch. re:SearchTX Access requires a free eFileTexas account. If you need to monitor a case over time rather than check a single hearing date, this is usually more practical than visiting individual clerk websites.
In-Person Contact Information
For district court and County Court at Law dockets, visit the Cass County District Clerk at 604 Highway 8 North, Linden, Texas 75563. Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.7Cass County Texas. District Clerk Note the midday closure for lunch.
For probate records and official public records, contact the Cass County Clerk at (903) 756-5071.1Cass County. Cass County Clerk The office is not required by law to perform record searches on your behalf other than federal tax lien searches, so plan to run your own search either online or on site.
For traffic, Class C misdemeanor, and small claims cases, contact the Justice of the Peace court in the precinct where the case was filed. Hours and procedures vary by precinct.
Reading a Cass County Docket
Once you find the right docket, a few standard fields will tell you what you need. The case style identifies the parties: “State of Texas v. Smith” in a criminal matter, “Jones v. Williams” in a civil one. Every case also carries a cause number, the unique identifier used to track all filings and court actions. Have the cause number ready before you call a clerk’s office.
The hearing type tells you what the court appearance is for. An arraignment is where formal charges are presented and a plea is entered. A motion hearing addresses a specific legal request from one side, like a request to suppress evidence or compel discovery. A trial setting establishes when the case will go to final resolution. The assigned judge is listed for each matter.
A disposition column records the outcome of a completed hearing or the final resolution of the case. Common dispositions include continuances, dismissals, guilty pleas, and judgments. A case marked “disposed” is closed because the charges or claims have been resolved, whether by verdict, plea, dismissal, or settlement; no further hearings are scheduled. An “active” status means proceedings are still ongoing.
Dockets Are Not Case Files
A docket is a summary log, not the complete record. It shows the date and a brief description of every document filed and every action taken, but it does not contain the documents themselves.8GW Law Library. Court Dockets, Records, and Rules Treat it as a table of contents for the case.
The case file is the full collection of documents: the original petition or indictment, written motions, evidence exhibits, orders, and final judgments. Getting those underlying documents requires a separate request to the clerk’s office that maintains the file. Court records are generally public in Texas, but certain sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and juvenile records is redacted or sealed before release.
Copy Fees
Viewing docket information online or in person is free. Copies carry fees set by state law. For records held by the County Clerk, plain copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee per document.9Cass County, Texas. Cass County Clerk Fee Schedule The District Clerk’s office may use a separate fee schedule for district court and County Court at Law records, so confirm fees before requesting a large set of documents.