Bell County Court Records
Court records are documents filed with or generated by the court during a case. They are typically maintained by trial court clerks and serve as an authoritative source of information on court actions and decisions in a case.
Court records in Bell County are broadly classified as either civil or criminal, but they also include specialized subcategories, such as probate and family court records. Moreover, court records may reference or incorporate other public records-like vital records and arrest information-or connect to federal court records, such as when a federal case references a state conviction.
Are Bell County Court Records Public?
Yes. Bell County court records are public, but not under the Texas Public Information Act. The Public Information Act governs information collected and maintained by non-judicial entities (executive and legislative branches). Access to judicial records is instead governed by court rules and other statutory laws. Although court records are generally public, certain records are not disclosable to the public. These include
- Juvenile court records
- Cases involving adult or child protective services
- Adoption records
- Medical records
- Expunged records
What Information is Available in Bell County Court Records?
The information available in a Bell County court record depends on the nature of the underlying case. For example, criminal court records usually include information about the defendant’s arrest, a detail not typically found in civil cases. However, the following information is commonly found in all court records.
- Identities of all parties to the case
- Case numbers
- Docket sheets
- Exhibits
- Orders and judgments
Bell County Court Records Search
Bell County court records can be searched and accessed through the following means.
Online Access
The Bell County judiciary offers a single official Case Search Portal that provides online county-wide access to court records, excluding municipal court records. The portal also enables users to search for specific court hearings. The portal can be searched using a name, case number, and court location. Online access through the portal is free; however, some records may not be available online and may require in-person or mail requests.
In-Person Access
Bell County court records can be accessed in person at the respective courthouses. To access a court record in person, individuals will have to visit the Clerk of Court’s Office where the record is located. This office may belong to the District Clerk, County Court at Law Clerk, a Justice of the Peace Clerk, or a Municipal Court Clerk. Requesters may provide a name or case number for the search; however, name searches may incur an additional fee, in addition to standard copy fees.
Mail and Phone Requests
Individuals in Bell County may request court records by writing down the request and mailing it to the appropriate custodian. The District Clerk and County Clerk provide several forms to make such requests easier. These include
- The District Clerk’s Copy Request Form
- The County Clerk’s Misdemeanor Record Search Form
- The County Clerk’s Probate Record Search Form
- The County Clerk’s Juvenile Record Search Form
Due to their confidential nature, juvenile records in Bell County cannot be requested through the standard procedure. The juvenile search form should be emailed to CCJUV@bellcounty.texas.gov, not to the clerk’s email address. There is no specific timeline for fulfilling the request due to the approval process needed. The District Clerk Copy Request Form can also be emailed to dc.copyrequest@bellcounty.texas.gov.
Fees for Court Records in Bell County
When planning to visit the court or mail a request for copies of a court record in Bell County, individuals should keep in mind that fees apply for such requests. The fees usually depend on the type of court record, type of search, volume, and whether certification is needed. The fee schedule is as follows.
- Search fee (for name searches): $5 per name
- Plain copies: $1 per page
- Electronic copies: $1 per page for the initial 10 pages and 10 cents for each subsequent page thereafter
- Certified copies: $5 per document for District Court records, and $1 per document for County Clerk records
Mail-in requests may incur additional fees. For vital records maintained by the County Clerk, individuals may obtain a birth certificate for $23 per copy, a marriage certificate for $3 per copy, and a death certificate for $21 for the first copy and $4 for each other copy ordered in the same request.
Bell County Courthouse Locations
Bell County has several trial courts handling various types of cases. These courts include the District Courts (27th, 146th, 169th, 264th, 426th, and 478th), the County Courts (Court at Law 1, 2, and 3), Justice of the Peace Courts (Precincts 1, 2, 3 (Place 1 and Place 2), and 4 (Place 1 and Place 2), and several Municipal Courts. Below are the addresses of the courthouses.
Belton County Justice Center (District Courts, Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, and the County Courts at Law)
1201 Huey Road
Belton, Texas 76513
27th District Court Phone: (254) 933-5261
146th District Court Phone: (254) 933-6737
169th District Court Phone: (254) 933-5265
264th District Court Phone: (254) 933-5245
426th District Court Phone: (254) 933-5246
478th District Court Phone: (254) 933-5706
Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1 Phone: (254) 933-5183
County Court at Law 1 Phone: (254) 933-6757
County Court at Law 2 Phone: (254) 933-5125
County Court at Law 3 Phone: (254) 933-5791
Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2
11057 Event Drive
Salado, Texas 76571
Phone: (254) 933-5398
Fax: (254) 933-5208
Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, Place 1 and Place 2
Bell County Temple Annex
205 East Central Avenue
Temple, Texas 76501
Place 1 phone: (254) 770-6822
Place 2 phone: (254) 770-6831
Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4, Place 1 and Place 2
Bell County Killeen Annex
301 Priest Drive
Killeen, Texas 76541
Place 1 phone: (254) 634-5882
Place 2 phone: (254) 634-7612
Belton Municipal Court
Post Office Box 120
Belton, Texas 76513
Phone: (254) 933-5838
Fax: (254) 933-5859
Killeen Municipal Court
200 East Avenue D
Suite 1
Killeen, Texas 76541
Phone: (254) 501-7850
Fax: (254) 501-7889
Temple Municipal Court
401 North 3rd Street
Temple, Texas 76501-3162
Phone: (254) 298-5687
Fax: (254) 773-4301
Harker Heights Municipal Court
305 Millers Crossing
Harker Heights, Texas 76548-5666
Phone: (254) 953-5620
Fax: (254) 953-5624
Little River-Academy Municipal Court
102 North Evans Street
Little River, Texas 76554-0521
Phone: (254) 982-4248
Fax: (254) 360-0010
Rogers Municipal Court
2 West Mesquite Avenue
Rogers, Texas 76569
Phone: (254) 642-3312
Fax: (254) 642-3102
Troy Municipal Court
201 East Main Street
Troy, Texas 76579-0389
Phone: (254) 938-2505
Fax: (254) 938-2258
Criminal Records Access in Bell County
Criminal records in Bell County can be accessed either through law enforcement or the court, depending on the specific record being sought. State-level access is available through the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), while the court maintains criminal case records. Additionally, certain criminal records are in the custody of local police agencies.
Individuals can access a public criminal history record from the Texas DPS using the Criminal History Conviction Name Search system. Fingerprint-based searches are also available, but the records obtainable through this search are not open to the public.
For criminal case records, inquirers may visit the Clerk of Court’s Office where the case was filed to obtain a copy. Alternatively, a search can be performed on the Bell County Case Search Portal, provided the desired record is not confidential.
Bell County Probate Records
Bell County probate records document the administration of a person’s financial affairs and estate after their death. The Bell County Clerk manages these records and provides estate records, wills, and records on guardianship/conservatorship proceedings. The exact content of a probate court file usually depends on the peculiarities of a case.
Probate records are presumed public in Bell County in line with state law and court rules. However, certain records and information are withheld from the public, especially those that involve children.
Some probate records, particularly recent non-confidential filings (from October 1989 to present), may be accessed online through the Bell County Case Search Portal. Researchers may search the portal by name or case number. Older and sensitive records, however, may not be visible on the portal. In such cases, individuals may visit the County Clerk’s Office or complete and mail the Probate Records Search Form to the office.
Bell County Family Court Records
Family court records in Bell County include information on proceedings involving domestic relationships and related issues. These family law matters are overseen by the District Courts and include divorce, adoption, parental rights, parent-children matters, spousal support, and protective orders.
Bell County family court records are public records, but they are subject to stricter restrictions than regular court records due to the sensitive nature of the cases. Individuals can obtain a family court record from the District Clerk’s Office or look for the record on the Bell County Case Search Portal.
Federal Court Records in Bell County
Federal court records in Bell County are not maintained by the District or County Clerk because they involve federal law matters. Instead, they are managed by the federal judiciary, specifically the Western District of Texas, Waco Division.
There are two primary ways to access federal court records from Bell County: in person at the federal courthouse or online through PACER. In-person requests can be made at the U.S District Clerk’s Office located in the federal courthouse in McLennan County. The alternative is to search for the record using PACER. Users of the portal should note that search fees apply.
