Court records in Grayson County, Texas, are maintained by the county clerk and the district clerk and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's offices. GraysonCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Grayson County. You can also search records through the Grayson County Clerk's official records portal, visit the clerk's office in person at the Grayson County Courthouse in Sherman, or use state-level resources such as the Texas Judicial Branch website.
Grayson Court System Overview
Grayson County is part of the 15th and 59th Judicial Districts in Texas. The county seat is Sherman, where the Grayson County Courthouse serves as the hub for district and county court proceedings. Grayson County has multiple district courts, county courts-at-law, and a constitutional county court. The district courts handle felony criminal matters and higher-value civil disputes, while the county courts-at-law hear misdemeanors, lesser civil cases, and probate matters. Justice of the peace courts operate within designated precincts to handle small claims, evictions, and minor criminal offenses.
Courts Serving Grayson
Grayson County residents are served by several state and federal courts:
State District Courts
County Courts-at-Law
Justice of the Peace Courts
Grayson County has multiple justice of the peace precincts. Contact the Grayson County website for precinct-specific addresses and phone numbers.
Federal Courts
Grayson County falls within the Eastern District of Texas for federal cases. The nearest federal courthouse with jurisdiction is in Sherman.
Federal bankruptcy matters are handled by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
Municipal Courts
- Sherman Municipal Court – 405 N. Rusk St., Sherman, TX 75090
- Denison Municipal Court – 300 W. Main St., Denison, TX 75020
What Types of Cases Grayson Courts Hear
Courts in Grayson County handle a wide range of case types across criminal, civil, and family matters:
- Criminal: Felonies, misdemeanors, traffic violations, DWI offenses
- Civil: Lawsuits above and below the district court threshold, small claims, evictions, debt disputes
- Family law: Divorce, child custody, child support, protective orders, paternity, adoption, termination of parental rights
- Probate: Wills, estates, guardianships, mental health commitments
- Juvenile: Delinquency proceedings, child protective cases
The sections below explain which court handles each category in more detail.
District Court Cases in Grayson
The 15th, 59th, and 336th District Courts in Grayson County hear felony criminal cases, civil lawsuits where the amount in controversy exceeds the county court-at-law jurisdictional limit, divorce and family law matters, and juvenile cases. Criminal felony cases typically reach the district court after indictment by a grand jury. Civil cases are filed directly with the district clerk. District judges are elected and cases are assigned according to the local administrative plan. Appeals from county courts-at-law and post-conviction proceedings such as writs of habeas corpus are also handled at the district level. Attorneys may file cases electronically through eFileTexas.
Magistrate Court Cases in Grayson
In Texas, the term "magistrate" refers to a function rather than a separate court. Judges at all levels—district, county, and justice of the peace—may act as magistrates for purposes such as issuing arrest warrants and conducting initial appearances. In Grayson County, the county courts-at-law handle:
- Class A and Class B misdemeanors
- Civil cases with amounts in controversy up to $250,000 (the statutory limit for Texas county courts-at-law)
- Probate matters
- Appeals from justice of the peace courts
Justice of the peace courts hear small claims up to $20,000, evictions, traffic violations, and Class C misdemeanors. DWI arraignments and felony examining trials may be conducted by any judge acting in a magistrate capacity.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Grayson
Family Law
Divorce, custody, child support, paternity, protective orders, and termination of parental rights cases are filed in the district courts. The district clerk maintains records for these cases. Certified copies of divorce decrees are available only from the district clerk's office.
Probate
Probate cases—including decedent estates, guardianships, and mental health matters—are generally heard in the county courts-at-law in Grayson County. The county clerk maintains probate records. Guardianship cases may involve court investigators and are subject to ongoing judicial oversight.
Juvenile
Juvenile cases, including delinquency and child protective proceedings, are heard in a designated district court. Juvenile records are confidential under Texas Family Code and are not available to the general public. Contact the Grayson County Juvenile Services office through the county website for more information.
How Cases Move Through the Grayson Court System
- Filing / Initiation: Criminal cases begin with an arrest or complaint; civil cases start with a petition filed with the appropriate clerk. Texas requires e-filing for most civil cases through eFileTexas.
- Assignment to Judge: Cases are assigned to a specific court based on the local administrative plan and case type.
- Initial Hearing: Criminal defendants appear for arraignment, where charges are read and bail is addressed. Civil cases receive an initial scheduling order or conference.
- Pre-Trial Phase: In criminal cases, this includes discovery, plea negotiations, and pre-trial motions. In civil cases, parties exchange discovery and may file dispositive motions.
- Trial or Resolution: Cases may resolve through plea agreements, jury or bench trials, settlements, or default judgments.
- Post-Judgment: Criminal cases proceed to sentencing. Civil judgments may be appealed or enforced. Appeals from district courts go to the Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas or the Second Court of Appeals in Fort Worth, depending on the case.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Grayson
Court administration in Grayson County is overseen by the local administrative district judge, who coordinates case assignments and court operations among the district courts. Each court may also have a court coordinator who manages the docket and scheduling.
- Local rules: Local rules for Grayson County district courts are established by the administrative judge and are available through the Texas Judicial Branch website or by contacting the district clerk's office.
- Public access: Under the Texas Public Information Act and Texas Rules of Judicial Administration, most court records are open to the public. Exceptions include sealed records, juvenile files, adoption records, and certain mental health proceedings. Sensitive personal information in court filings may be redacted.
- Attending hearings: Hearings are generally open to the public. Some courts in Grayson County may allow remote appearances by video or telephone—contact the specific court coordinator to confirm availability.
- County Clerk contact: Deana Patterson, Grayson County Clerk, 100 W. Houston St., Ste. 17, Sherman, TX 75090.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Grayson
- Official records search: The Grayson County Clerk's online records portal provides access to real property records and other official documents. Online deed records date from 1915 to the present; older records are available at the clerk's office.
- Deed record search instructions: The county provides a step-by-step guide for searching deed records online.
- Real property recording: Information on filing fees and recording requirements is available on the Grayson County Clerk's real property page.
- Vital records: Marriage licenses are issued by the county clerk. Certified copies of birth and death records can be ordered through the Texas DSHS vital records application. The local vital records office listing confirms which Grayson County offices handle specific record types.
- E-filing: Civil and criminal case filings in Grayson County courts are processed through eFileTexas.
- Vehicle title and registration: The Grayson County Tax Office handles vehicle titles, registration renewals, and related services.
- Property tax information: The Texas property tax transparency portal explains how local governments set property tax rates.
- Federal bankruptcy records: Search federal bankruptcy filings through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Texas using the PACER system.
- Texas sex offender registry: Search the Texas Department of Public Safety sex offender database at Texas DPS Sex Offender Registry.
- Texas inmate search: Look up individuals in Texas Department of Criminal Justice custody through the TDCJ Offender Search.
- Court self-help resources: The Texas Courts website offers forms, guides, and self-help information for individuals representing themselves.