Tarrant County Courts at Law
Tarrant County
Overview
Guide Overview
County Courts at Law hear civil cases where the amount in controversy is $500-$25,000, nonjury family law cases, eminent domain cases, title to property issues, slander and defamation cases, lien enforcement cases, and appeals of:
-
Final rulings and decisions of the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission,
-
Tarrant County Justice of the Peace and Municipal Courts, and
-
State Office of Administrative Hearings concerning Administrative License Revocations.
The Tarrant County Courts at Law are governed under Texas Government Code 25.0003 and 25.2222.
All misdemeanor cases are heard in the County Criminal Courts at Law and all probate cases are heard in the Probate Courts.
This guide contains information on all Tarrant County Civil Courts at Law.
Research Tips
Read our articles on Zoom and how to use it to prepare for your hearing. You should also read the following documents uploaded by the County Clerk:
Common questions about Tarrant County
The Tarrant County Civil County Courts are in the Tarrant County Old Courthouse at 100 West Weatherford Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76196.
Phone: (817) 884-1101
Hours of Operation: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Visit the Tarrant County Court Records Search available on the County Clerk’s webpage. Be sure to select the “All CCL Courts” location under the “Select a location” drop down menu.
If you want to get a copy of documents from your case, call (817) 884-1069.
You can read How to E-File to learn about E-Filing.
You can also read more about E-Filing on the County Clerk's webpage including rules, standards, and answers to frequently asked questions. You can also call (817) 884-1101.
For filing a new case, read the New Filings Case Types Instructional Guide.
If you are filing into a current case, read the Subsequent E-Filing Instructional Guide.
All parties need to read the Sensitive Information Notice.
You can find the Court Calendar for all Civil County Courts on the Tarrant County Online Case System. Once you are in the online case system, follow these steps:
-
Select “All CCL Courts” in the drop-down menu.
-
Click on “Court Calendar.”
-
Then, select “Search by Judicial Officer” in the drop-down menu.
-
Select your judge in the drop-down menu under “Judicial Officer.”
-
Enter the date or dates you wish to search and then click “Search.”
-
Use the drop-down menu in the upper left corner of the screen to sort by “Date and Time,” “Plaintiff Name,” Defendant Name,” or “Case Number.”
You can find information on fee schedules, frequently used forms, policies and procedures, and answers to frequently asked questions on the County Courts at Law section of the County Court’s website.
Instructions & Forms
Instructions & Forms
Honorable Don Pierson
Tarrant County Old Courthouse
100 West Weatherford Street
Room 490
Fort Worth, Texas 76196
Phone: (817) 884-1457
This information is current as of March 3, 2023.
Checklist Steps
| Is this court doing virtual hearings? | What platform are they using? | Are there any exceptions? |
| Unknown. | Zoom. | Contact the court for information. |
You can visit County Court at Law No. 1’s webpage for the most up-to-date information.
All documents you want to file with the court must be filed with the Court Clerk’s Office through e-filing, in person, fax, or by mail. Contact the County Clerk’s Office with any questions at (817) 884-1101 or wm-countyclerk@tarrantcounty.com.
All motions must include a Certificate of Conference stating you made an effort to resolve the motion with all other parties and lawyers before filing.
County Court No. 1 does not typically hear applications for occupational driver’s licenses. If your case is in this court, contact the bailiff or court coordinator for information on how to comply with their requirements.
Read County Court at Law No. 1’s Policies and Procedures and the Tarrant County Local Rules of Court for more details.
Contact the court coordinator to schedule a hearing in this court. Also, read County Court at Law No. 1’s Trial and Pre-Trial Procedures for more details.
For appeals from the Justice Courts, read the Appeals from Justice Court section on the court’s website.
All practice and procedure, rules of evidence, and all other matters related to the conduct of trials and hearings in the county court at law involving family law cases must follow the local rules of the district courts.
Yes. Depending on the complexity of the matter, the court will use its discretion to permit virtual hearings.
Court staff will contact you after the hearing is set with instructions for the hearing, including how evidence is submitted and presented to the court.
No. All jury trials are being conducted in person only.
Possibly. Contact the court if you have concerns. The court will decide whether to allow virtual testimony upon request.
If you have any questions concerning a virtual hearing, contact the Court Coordinator Tracey Wood at (817) 884-2761 or TLWood@TarrantCounty.com.
Honorable Jennifer Rymell
Tarrant County Old Courthouse
100 West Weatherford Street
Room 240A
Fort Worth, Texas 76196
Phone: (817) 884-2762
Fax: (817) 884-1393
This information is current as of March 3, 2023.
Checklist Steps
| Is this court doing virtual hearings? | What platform are they using? | Are there any exceptions? |
| Unknown. | Zoom. | Contact the court for information. |
You can visit County Court at Law No. 2’s webpage for the most up-to-date information.
All documents you want to file with the court must be filed with the Court Clerk’s Office through e-filing, in person, fax, or by mail. Contact the County Clerk’s Office with any questions at (817) 884-1101 or wm-countyclerk@tarrantcounty.com.
All motions must include a Certificate of Conference stating you made an effort to resolve the motion with all other parties and lawyers before filing.
Read County Court at Law No. 2’s General Motion Practice for more details. For occupational driver’s licenses, read County Court No. 2’s Occupational License Procedures.
Motions are set for hearing every morning and occasionally on Friday afternoons. Depending on the type of motion and notice requirements under the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, hearings can be obtained in three to 45 days. Contact the court coordinator to schedule a hearing in this court. Read County Court at Law No. 2’s General Motion Practice for more details.
For occupational driver's licenses, you will be notified by the Court if a hearing is required.
All practice and procedure, rules of evidence, and all other matters related to the conduct of trials and hearings in the county court at law involving family law cases must follow the local rules of the district courts.
Yes. Depending on the complexity of the matter, the court will use its discretion to permit virtual hearings.
Court staff will contact you after the hearing is set with instructions for the hearing, including how evidence is submitted and presented to the court.
No. All jury trials are being conducted in person only.
Possibly. Contact the court if you have concerns. The court will decide whether to allow virtual testimony upon request.
If you have any questions concerning a virtual hearing, contact the Court Coordinator Adriana Aguirre at (817) 884-2762 or araguirre@tarrantcounty.com.
Honorable Mike Hrabal
Tarrant County Old Courthouse
100 West Weatherford Street
Room 290A
Fort Worth, Texas 76196
Phone: (817) 884-1914
Fax: (817) 884-2964
Watch County Court at Law No. 3’s court live stream on YouTube.
This information is current as of March 3, 2023.
Checklist Steps
| Is this court doing virtual hearings? | What platform are they using? | Are there any exceptions? |
| Yes. | Zoom. | All jury trials and hearings at party request are in person. |
You can visit County Court at Law No. 3’s webpage for the most up-to-date information. Read County Court No. 3’s Rules for Remote Hearings and Third Amended Rules for Remote Bench Trials for more information.
All documents you want to file with the court must be filed with the Court Clerk’s Office through e-filing, in person, or by mail. Contact the County Clerk’s Office with any questions at (817) 884-1101 or wm-countyclerk@tarrantcounty.com.
All motions must include a Certificate of Conference stating you made an effort to resolve the motion with all other parties and lawyers before filing.
Read County Court at Law No. 3’s Motion Practice for more details. For occupational driver’s licenses, read County Court No. 3’s Occupational License Procedures.
Contact the court coordinator to schedule a hearing in this court. Read County Court at Law No. 3’s Motion Practice for more details.
For occupational driver's licenses, you will be notified by the Court if a hearing is required. Hearings are required on all safety responsibility suspensions; all habitual violator suspensions; all alcohol related suspensions where the petitioner is under the age of 25; all self-represented litigant applications; and when requested by the District Attorney’s Office.
Yes. Depending on the complexity of the matter, the court will use its discretion to permit virtual hearings.
If you intend to offer any exhibits during a hearing, you must email them to all parties, the Court Reporter Shari Krieger at sjkrieger@tarrantcounty.com, and the judge no later than 4 p.m. the business day before the hearing.
The subject of the email should be the full cause number and “–Plaintiff Exhibits” (or cause number “–Defendant Exhibits”). The documents must be in PDF format. The Court cannot consider any exhibits not emailed in a timely manner. If you fail to follow this requirement the court reporter will be unable to maintain these documents in the record for any appellate review and the Court will be unable to consider them.
No. All jury trials are being conducted in person only.
Possibly. Contact the court if you have concerns. The court will decide whether to allow virtual testimony upon request.
If you have any questions concerning a virtual hearing, contact the Court Coordinator Mark Blake at (817) 884-1914 or MWBlake@tarrantcounty.com.
Articles
Articles in this guide
-
Civil Litigation in Texas: The Basics
This article explains the basics of civil lawsuits in Texas. -
Tips for the Courtroom
This article tells you general information on what to do and not to do in a courtroom. -
Appealing an Eviction
Steps to appeal an eviction in Texas. -
Texas Probate Passport: Wills, Estates, Power of Attorney, and Probate
Understand laws about what happens to your property after you die. -
Guardianship
This article explains guardianship—what it is, and the various rights and responsibilities related to it. -
Protective Order: Fact Sheet
This article tells you how to get a protective order and protective orders can do. -
Justice 101: The Client's Guide to Texas Civil Litigation
This article contains a link to a video that provides some background on the civil litigation system in Texas. -
What Court Staff Can and Cannot Do
Information on what type of services a court can offer. -
How to Set Aside a Default Judgment
This article explains how to ask the judge to set aside (cancel) a default judgment. -
Probating an Estate Without a Will
Not all of a deceased person's property and debt have to be distributed through court. -
Individual Rights and Navigating Court Proceedings During COVID-19
Learn how the court system and personal rights changed due to the pandemic and how to navigate them. -
Virtual Court
Some Texas courts will hold hearings by videoconference, usually using Zoom. -
Sensitive Data
This article provides information on protected sensitive data; data that appears in public records; and sealing records. -
How to E-File
This article provides an overview of e-filing as well as solutions to some common e-filing mistakes. -
How to Use Zoom
Access all available resources on how to use Zoom's video platform for virtual court hearings on your desktop or mobile phone.