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Ten counties in Texas have established Statutory Probate Courts - Bexar, Collin, Dallas, Denton, El Paso, Galveston, Harris, Hidalgo, Tarrant, and Travis. Some of these counties have more than one Probate Court; there are 18 Statutory Probate Courts total in Texas.
That does not mean that only 18 courts in the state hear probate cases! In counties without Probate Courts, probate matters (such as wills, estates, and guardianships) may be heard in District Courts, County Constitutional Courts and/or County Courts at Law. In some counties, a County Court at Law may be referred to as a "County and Probate Court," but unless it is in one of the counties listed above, it is not officially a Probate Court.
To find out more information about the Statutory Probate Courts in the counties named above, and for online court resources, visit the Texas Courts Guide related link.
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The primary trial court in Texas?
There are a number of trial courts in the Texas court system. The primary trial courts are District Courts, County Courts, Justice Courts, and Municipal Courts. The jurisdiction of each type of court varies from county to county. District Courts are the courts of general jurisdiction in the Texas court system, and they may hear any civil or criminal case. Generally, District Courts hear cases beyond the jurisdiction of other courts, such as felony crimes, civil cases for large sums of money, contested probate cases, and family cases, such as divorce. Every county has at least one District Court, and some have several. Some smaller counties share District Courts. County Courts may be of three different kinds - County Courts at Law, Constitutional County Courts, and Statutory Probate Courts. County Courts at Law hear misdemeanor criminal cases and civil cases for under $100,000. Constitutional County Courts are also known as County Commissioners' Courts, and may have limited judicial functions in counties that also have County Courts at Law. Statutory Probate Courts, in the counties where they exist, have jurisdiction over most probate matters. Justice Courts and Municipal Courts have limited jurisdiction over minor criminal offenses and minor civil cases, depending on the county. For more information on the Texas court system, and to see which courts exist in a particular county and how to find out more information about a county's courts, visit the Texas Courts Guide related link.
How many federal district courts in Texas?
According to the Texas Office of Court Administration, there are 455 state District Courts in Texas. (This does not include Federal District Courts, which are part of a separate court system.) Some larger counties have more than one District Court, and some smaller counties share a District Court. All Texas counties are served by at least one District Court. District Courts are the courts of general jurisdiction in the Texas court system, and they may hear any civil or criminal case. Generally, District Courts hear cases beyond the jurisdiction of other courts, such as felony crimes, civil cases for large sums of money, contested probate cases, and family cases, such as divorce. These districts are not organized geographically, so the only way to know which district represents a particular county (or counties), is to have a directory. Visit the Texas Courts Guide related link for a directory of Texas Courts by county, as well as online court resources.
How many court systems does Texas have?
It is a convoluted systems with two different approaches both Civil and Criminal. Perhaps that is why corporations like ENRON loved the system. It might be the best state for an attorney to practice in if they are worth their salt.
What are Texas District Courts?
District Courts are the courts of general jurisdiction in the Texas court system, and they may hear any civil or criminal case. Generally, District Courts hear cases beyond the jurisdiction of other courts, such as felony crimes, civil cases for large sums of money, contested probate cases, and family cases, such as divorce. Every county has at least one District Court, and some have several. Some smaller counties share District Courts. District Courts are numbered, so you may see a District Court identified as, for example, Bexar County District Court, or Bexar County 131st District Court. In counties with more than one District Court, this numbering system helps to differentiate between courts. Other trial courts in the Texas state court system include County Courts, Justice of the Peace Courts, and Municipal Courts. What cases each of these types of courts hears varies county to county. For more information on the Texas state court system, a directory of courts in Texas, and online court resources, visit the Texas Courts Guide related link.
How many counties in the state of Texas?
Texas has 254 counties. The complete list can be found in the related links section below.
Is Commissioners' Court the judicial and executive body of a county in Texas?
Whether a Commissioner's Court has judicial duties in addition to its executive duties depends on the particular county. Each county in Texas has a Commissioner's Court that serves as the executive body of the county. The Commissioner's Court is headed by a County Judge, who is the chief executive of a county. Additionally, in counties without County Courts at Law, Commissioners' Courts (also known as Constitutional County Courts) have far-reaching judicial duties, including original jurisdiction in civil actions between $200 and $10,000, some misdemeanors, probate matters, and juvenile matters, and appeals from Justice and Municipal courts. In counties with one or more County Court at Law, the Commissioner's Court may retain some judicial jurisdiction, but in practicality, the bulk of its judicial duties are transferred to the County Courts at Law. Within a county there are also often District Courts, Justice Courts, and Municipal Courts, each with their own judicial jurisdiction. For a directory of Texas Courts organized by county, see the Texas Courts Guide related link. For a description of how jurisdiction is broken down between different courts in a particular county, see the Texas Trial Court Jurisdiction By County related link.
What is the lowest level court in a Texas county?
Municipal Courts and Justice Courts are the lowest level courts in any given county. Which of these courts is considered the "lowest" varies county to county. Some smaller counties may not have municipal courts (such as Borden and Mills counties), and some counties may not have Justice Courts (such as Dallas County), so it is hard to say that one is lower than the other. Generally, though, Municipal Courts and Justice Courts hear the lowest level of civil cases (such as small claims) and minor criminal matters, such as misdemeanor offenses and municipal ordinance violations, and felony preliminary hearings. the precise jurisdiction of a particular Municipal or Justice court depends greatly on the particular county, as each county divides jurisdiction between its various courts. For a directory of trial courts in Texas by county, and a general description of the general jurisdiction of each type of court, visit the Texas Courts Guide related link.
What is the total number of counties in Texas?
There are 254 Texas Counties.
What US state has the most counties?
Georgia, it has 159 counties
What are the two types of county courts?
In Texas there are Constitutional County Courts, which were created by the Texas Constitution and County Courts at Law, which were created by statute. There is a Constitutional County Court (CCC) in every Texas county. CCCs have executive duties in governing the county and may also have judicial duties, depending on the county. County Courts at Law (CCAL) do not exist in every county. Some counties have one or more CCALs to remove the judicial burden from the CCCs. Both types of county courts may have similar judicial jurisdiction, but it depends on the county. For more information on Constitutional County Courts, County Courts at Law, and the Texas state trial court system, as well as a directory of Texas courts, visit the Texas Courts Guide related link.
How many probate courts are in Texas?
According to the Texas Office of Court Administration, there are 917 Municipal Courts in the state with a total of 1,500 judges. Municipal Courts generally have limited jurisdiction over minor criminal offenses and minor civil cases, but exact jurisdiction depends on the particular county. In towns without municipal courts, the county or precinct's Justice of the Peace usually handles matters that would otherwise be handled by a municipal court. For a directory of trial courts in Texas, including municipal courts, and online court resources, visit the Texas Courts Guide related link.
Which state has 254 counties?
Texas has 254 counties.
