Williamson County Texas Court Records — Complete Search Guide 2026
How to search criminal, civil, family, and probate court records in Williamson County using official government portals. Every link verified. Every step tested on the actual system.
Updated April 2026 · Georgetown, TX · All court types covered
| Williamson County Court Records — At a Glance | |
|---|---|
| Official Judicial Records Portal | judicialrecords.wilco.org |
| County Seat | Georgetown, Texas |
| Justice Center Address | 405 Martin Luther King Street, Georgetown, TX 78626 |
| District Clerk | Lisa David · (512) 943-1212 |
| County Clerk | Nancy E. Rister · (512) 943-1515 |
| District Courts | 26th, 277th, 368th, 395th, 425th Judicial District Courts |
| County Courts at Law | County Court at Law #1, #2, #3, #4 |
| Records Available Online | Criminal, civil, family, probate case records — searchable by name, case number, or date filed |
| Open Records Requests | Attn: Diane Flores · 405 MLK St, Box 7, Georgetown TX 78626 · (512) 943-1158 |
| General County Phone | (512) 943-1100 |
| E-Filing | Mandatory for all attorneys since 2018 via eFileTexas.gov |
What Williamson County Court Records Include and Why You Might Need Them
Court records in Williamson County are the official documentation of everything that happens during judicial proceedings — from the moment a case is filed through final judgment, sentencing, or dismissal. Under the Texas Public Information Act (Government Code Chapter 552), these records are presumed public and accessible to anyone unless a specific statutory exception applies.
The reason most people search these records falls into one of a few categories: checking the status of a pending criminal or civil case, verifying whether charges against someone were dropped or resulted in a conviction, pulling records for a background check on a potential tenant or business partner (for personal use — not employment, which requires FCRA compliance through DPS), tracking upcoming hearing dates, or finding the attorney of record on a case. The records include defendant names, dates of birth, charges, arrest dates, the full timeline of court hearings, attorney names, judge assignments, bond information, and case disposition.
Two separate clerk offices manage court records in Williamson County, and knowing which one to contact saves you time and wasted calls:
📂 District Clerk — Lisa David
Maintains records for all District Court proceedings: felony criminal cases, civil cases over $200, divorce and family law, juvenile matters, and land disputes.
(512) 943-1212 · PO Box 24, Georgetown TX 78626
📂 County Clerk — Nancy E. Rister
Maintains records for County Courts at Law: misdemeanors, civil cases $200–$250,000, probate, guardianship, mental health. Also handles deeds, marriage licenses, birth/death certificates.
(512) 943-1515 · 405 MLK St, Georgetown TX 78626
How to Search Williamson County Court Records Online — Step by Step
Williamson County runs its public court records through an online portal powered by Tyler Technologies (Odyssey system). This is the same system used in-person at the Justice Center — you are searching the exact same database the clerks access at the front desk.
1 Go to the official Williamson County Judicial Records portal: judicialrecords.wilco.org — This is the only official URL. Do not use third-party sites that charge fees or require registration for information that is free from the county directly.
2 Select the court you want to search from the menu. Options include: County Clerk (misdemeanors, probate), District Clerk (felonies, civil, family), County Court at Law #1 through #4, and the five District Courts (26th, 277th, 368th, 395th, 425th). If you are not sure which court, select “All Courts” or search the District Clerk section first — it covers the broadest range of serious cases.
3 Choose how to search. The system supports multiple search methods: by party name (last name required, first name optional), by case number (if you have it), by date filed, or by attorney name. For name searches, enter at least the last name — partial first names work with the wildcard feature.
4 Use the Soundex and Wildcard tools for tricky names. The Soundex checkbox finds names that sound similar — searching “Smith” returns “Smythe” too. The Wildcard feature uses an asterisk (*) at the end of a partial name — “Gonzale*” returns both “Gonzales” and “Gonzalez.” You cannot use both at the same time. These two tools are the most useful features on the entire portal and most people never use them.
5 Click the case number to view full details. The results screen shows a list of matching cases. Click the case number hyperlink on the left side to open the complete case record — charges, hearing timeline, attorney assignments, judge, bond status, and disposition. A red “W” icon next to any case number means there is an active warrant on that case.
6 Download or print what you need. Most case details can be printed directly from your browser. Some documents are stored as .tif image files — you need a TIF viewer to open these (Windows Photos or any image viewer works). For certified copies, you must contact the clerk’s office directly.
What You Will Find in a Williamson County Court Record
When you open a case record, here is exactly what information is available and what each field tells you.
Field | What It Shows | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
Defendant Name & DOB | Full legal name and date of birth | Confirms you have the right person — common names require DOB verification |
Case Number | Unique identifier for this specific case | Required for all clerk requests, certified copies, and attorney filings |
Charges | Specific penal code sections and offense descriptions | Shows exactly what the person was charged with — not necessarily convicted of |
Filing Date | When the DA formally filed charges | Different from arrest date — DA may file days or weeks after arrest |
Hearing Timeline | Complete chronology of every court appearance | Shows continuances, plea hearings, trial dates, and sentencing |
Judge | Assigned judge for the case | Useful for attorneys researching judicial tendencies |
Attorney of Record | Defense attorney and prosecutor names | Confirms legal representation and who to contact |
Bond Information | Bond amount, type, and conditions | Shows if the person is currently out on bond or in custody |
Disposition | Final outcome — guilty, not guilty, dismissed, deferred | The most important field — tells you how the case ended |
Active Warrant (red W icon) | Outstanding warrant on this case | Indicates a bench warrant — person may have missed court or violated terms |
Williamson County Court System — Which Court Handles Which Cases
Williamson County operates multiple levels of courts, each with specific jurisdiction. Knowing which court handles your type of case tells you which clerk to contact and which portal section to search.
Court | What It Handles | Dollar/Severity Range |
|---|---|---|
District Courts (26th, 277th, 368th, 395th, 425th) | Felony criminal, divorce, family law, civil over $200, juvenile, election contests, land disputes | Felonies · Civil $200+ |
County Courts at Law (#1, #2, #3, #4) | Misdemeanors, civil $200–$250,000, probate, guardianship, mental health, appeals from JP courts | Misdemeanors · Civil $200–$250K |
Justice of the Peace Courts | Small claims, minor misdemeanors, evictions, truancy, peace bonds | Civil up to $20,000 |
Municipal Courts (Georgetown, Round Rock, Cedar Park, etc.) | City ordinance violations, traffic tickets, minor misdemeanors within city limits | Fine-only offenses |
Veterans Treatment Court | Veterans and active military charged with misdemeanors or felonies who have mental health or substance issues | 12+ month program · Record erasure on completion |
Mental Health Court | Defendants with mental health conditions, substance abuse, or developmental disabilities | Felony mental health docket available |
Fees for Copies and Record Requests
Online searching is free. Fees only apply when you need physical or certified copies. Here is the current schedule for both clerk offices:
District Clerk Fees
Certified copies: $1/page + $5 certification fee
Non-certified copies: $1/page
Record search fee: $5
County Clerk Fees
Certified copies: $5 per document
Non-certified copies: $1/page
Record search fee: $5
Marriage certificate: $7
Birth certificate: $23
Death certificate: $21 first copy, $4 each additional
All credit card transactions include a $2 convenience fee. For in-person requests, visit the Williamson County Justice Center at 405 Martin Luther King Street, Georgetown, TX 78626 during business hours (Monday–Friday, 8 AM – 5 PM).
Visiting the Williamson County Justice Center in Person
If you need certified copies, want to file documents, or prefer to search records in person, the Justice Center in Georgetown is where both the District Clerk and County Clerk offices are located.
| Williamson County Justice Center | |
|---|---|
| Address | 405 Martin Luther King Street, Georgetown, TX 78626 |
| Hours | Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| District Clerk | Lisa David · (512) 943-1212 |
| County Clerk | Nancy E. Rister · (512) 943-1515 |
| Open Records | Diane Flores · (512) 943-1158 |
| Mailing (District Clerk) | PO Box 24, Georgetown TX 78626 |
| E-Filing (Attorneys) | eFileTexas.gov · Processed within 24–48 hours |
How to Submit an Open Records Request
For records not available through the online portal — or when you need official documentation for legal, business, or personal purposes — you can submit a formal Open Records Request under the Texas Public Information Act.
1 Identify which department holds the records — Court records go to the District Clerk or County Clerk. Law enforcement records go to the Williamson County Sheriff. Other government records go to the relevant county department.
2 Submit a written request. Be as specific as possible about what you need — case numbers, names, date ranges. Under Texas Government Code § 552.222, the county can ask for clarification if your request is vague, but they cannot ask why you want the records.
3 Send to: Open Records Request · 405 MLK Street, Box 7 · Attn: Diane Flores · Georgetown, TX 78626 · Phone: (512) 943-1158
4 Response timeline: Under the TPIA, the county must respond within 10 business days. Fees may apply for copying and certification. You will be notified of any costs before processing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Williamson County court records free to search online?
Yes. Searching the online portal at judicialrecords.wilco.org is completely free. You only pay fees when you need certified copies ($1/page + $5 certification at the District Clerk, $5/document at the County Clerk) or when submitting formal open records requests.
How do I find a criminal case in Williamson County?
Go to judicialrecords.wilco.org. Select the District Clerk section for felonies or County Clerk for misdemeanors. Search by the defendant’s last name (required) and optional first name. Use the Soundex checkbox for similar-sounding names or the wildcard (*) for partial spellings. Click the case number to see full details including charges, hearings, attorney, and disposition.
What does the red “W” icon mean next to a case number?
The red “W” icon indicates an active warrant on that case. This typically means the defendant missed a court date (resulting in a bench warrant) or violated the terms of bond or probation. If you see this on your own case, contact your attorney or the court immediately — an active warrant means you can be arrested at any time.
Which clerk do I contact for divorce records?
Divorce records are maintained by the District Clerk (Lisa David) because divorce cases are heard in District Court. Contact at (512) 943-1212 or search online at judicialrecords.wilco.org under the District Clerk section. Marriage records, on the other hand, are maintained by the County Clerk.
Can I get a certified copy of a court record online?
No. Certified copies must be obtained in person at the Justice Center (405 MLK St, Georgetown TX 78626) or by mail request to the appropriate clerk’s office. Online records are for informational viewing only. Bring a valid photo ID and the case number for fastest processing.
How do I check if I have a warrant in Williamson County?
Search your name at judicialrecords.wilco.org — a red “W” icon next to any case means an active warrant. You can also call the Williamson County Sheriff at (512) 943-6378 and ask for warrant status. If you have a warrant, contact an attorney before going to the courthouse — an attorney can often arrange a controlled surrender with a pre-set bond, avoiding a standard arrest and booking process.
What courts operate in Williamson County?
Five District Courts (26th, 277th, 368th, 395th, 425th) handle felonies, divorce, and major civil cases. Four County Courts at Law handle misdemeanors, probate, and civil cases $200–$250K. Justice of the Peace courts handle small claims and evictions. Municipal courts in Georgetown, Round Rock, Cedar Park, and other cities handle traffic and ordinance violations. Specialized dockets include Veterans Treatment Court and Mental Health Court.
Are court records public in Texas?
Yes. Under the Texas Public Information Act (Government Code Chapter 552), court records are presumed public and accessible to anyone. Exceptions include sealed records, juvenile cases, some family law matters involving minors, and records containing sensitive personal information as defined by § 552.147. The Texas judiciary operates under a presumption of openness established by Rule 12 of the Texas Rules of Judicial Administration.