Find Criminal Court Records in Upshur County

Upshur County criminal court records are maintained by the District Clerk in Gilmer, Texas, and cover felony cases tried in the 115th Judicial District Court. The county clerk handles misdemeanor filings from county court. You can search Upshur County criminal records online through re:SearchTX, request copies in person at the Gilmer courthouse, or submit a mail request to the clerk's office.

Upshur County District Clerk

The Upshur County District Clerk at 100 W. Tyler Street in Gilmer is the official records keeper for felony criminal cases in the county. The 115th Judicial District Court covers Upshur County, and the district clerk files and maintains all documents from charging through sentencing. If you need a certified copy of a felony record, you work directly with the district clerk's office.

Staff can search by defendant name or cause number. Walk-in visitors should bring a photo ID and the name or case number they are searching. For mail requests, include a full name, approximate case year, your contact information, and a money order for copy fees. The clerk can confirm whether a record exists before you send payment. Post-conviction filings such as expunction petitions under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55 are also filed with this office.

How to Search Upshur County Criminal Records

Start with the free re:SearchTX portal. This statewide system from the Texas Office of Court Administration covers Upshur County district court records and many county court cases. Enter a full name, partial name, or cause number to get case details including the charge, filing date, and current status. No account is needed.

The Texas Judicial Branch hosts the re:SearchTX case lookup at research.txcourts.gov, and it is updated regularly with new case activity from Upshur County courts.

For older records not yet in the portal, contact the Upshur County District Clerk at (903) 843-2361. The clerk can search archived records and provide copies for a fee.

For a statewide criminal history check outside the courts, the Texas DPS Criminal History Search runs $3 per name-based search. If you need a definitive result tied to a specific person, the FAST fingerprint program provides that. In-person searches at the Gilmer courthouse are available during regular business hours.

Upshur County Misdemeanor Records

Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases in Upshur County are heard in the county court and filed with the Upshur County Clerk. This is a separate office from the District Clerk. Common examples of Class A and B charges include DWI, assault, and theft within certain dollar ranges. To get copies of misdemeanor case records, contact the county clerk's office at the Upshur County Courthouse in Gilmer.

Class C misdemeanors are handled at the justice of the peace courts and city municipal courts. Those records are not kept by the district clerk or county clerk. If you need a Class C record such as a traffic ticket or minor violation, contact the JP precinct or city court that handled the case. The Upshur County Clerk can help identify the right court if you are not sure where the case was filed.

Upshur County Arrest Records

Arrest records in Upshur County originate with the Upshur County Sheriff's Office. When someone is booked into the county jail, an arrest record is created that documents the charges at booking, date, and identifying information. That record is separate from any court case. An arrest record does not tell you how the case ended, only that someone was booked on a particular charge.

Contact the Upshur County Sheriff's Office for recent arrest information or to ask about current jail population. For state prison records, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice offender search is free online and covers all TDCJ facilities. The Texas sex offender registry is maintained by the Texas DPS and lists registered offenders by county, city, or zip code at no cost.

What Upshur County Criminal Records Contain

Criminal case files in Upshur County include documents from the start of a case to its close. The file starts with the charging document and adds pages as proceedings move forward. Most contents are available to the public under Texas Government Code Chapter 552.

Common documents in an Upshur County criminal case file:

• Indictment or information (formal charges)
• Arrest and booking records
• Bond conditions and orders
• Pre-trial motions by both sides
• Judge's rulings and orders
• Plea agreement if entered
• Final judgment and sentence
• Any probation conditions
• Post-conviction filings if applicable

Expunged records, sealed files, and juvenile records are not public. Records expunged under Chapter 55 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure are removed from public access entirely. If you think a record may be restricted, ask the clerk before submitting a formal request and paying copy fees.

Fees and Access in Upshur County

Copy fees at the Upshur County District Clerk office are $1 per page for plain copies. Certified copies add a certification fee, usually around $5, on top of the per-page cost. Pay by cash or check in person. Mail requests need a money order along with a written request that includes the full name and an approximate case year.

The re:SearchTX portal is free and requires no registration. The Texas DPS name-based search costs $3. Standard court forms are available free at txcourts.gov. Call the district clerk at (903) 843-2361 to verify current fees before mailing a request.

Legal help for Upshur County residents is available through Lone Star Legal Aid, which covers East Texas and assists low-income clients with civil legal issues including criminal record matters. TexasLawHelp.org has free self-help guides on expunctions and nondisclosures. For private legal counsel, use the Texas Bar Find-A-Lawyer directory.

Cities in Upshur County

Gilmer is the county seat of Upshur County. Other communities in the county include Big Sandy, Ore City, and Gladewater (which extends into Gregg County). None of these cities meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site.

All felony cases in Upshur County go through the district court in Gilmer. Misdemeanor cases are heard in the county court. Both offices are located at the Upshur County Courthouse on W. Tyler Street.

Nearby Counties

Upshur County is in the Piney Woods of East Texas and borders several counties with their own court systems. If you need records from a neighboring area, check with Camp County, Gregg County, Harrison County, Morris County, Panola County, Rusk County, Smith County, or Wood County.