Criminal Section

The Criminal Section of the County Clerk's office is responsible for keeping records of the County Court at Law, where all Class A and Class B misdemeanors are filed. Appeals from the Justice Courts or from the City Municipal Courts for Class C misdemeanors are also filed in the County Clerk’s office.

Payments

The County Clerk accepts full or partial payment for fines and court costs.  Refer to your payment schedule for the due date, your case number, and amount due.

Civil Section

The Civil Section of the County Clerk’s office is responsible for the filing of civil actions filed against one or more parties. The County Clerk manual states that a civil case can be defined as a personal action instituted to compel payment or the performance of some other act. All civil cases filed in the County Clerk’s Office will be heard in the County Court at Law, which has jurisdiction over cases where the amount in controversy is greater than $200 but less than $250,000.

Probate Department

The County Clerk also has a Probate Department. This is where applicants file petitions to probate wills or guardianships. The County Court has jurisdiction in Hood County for uncontested probates. Wills can also be held for safekeeping in the Clerk’s office for a $5 fee. These wills are not open to public inspection and require a judge’s order to be released for probate.

For More Information

The County Clerk's Office is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. For more information on obtaining copies of documents filed with the county clerk, please call (817) 579-3222.