About the Galveston County District Clerk's Office
John D. Kinard serves as the Galveston County District Clerk. His office describes more than three decades of justice-system experience as a police officer, attorney, FBI agent, and district clerk, with an accounting degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and a law degree from SMU. He has been a member of the State Bar of Texas since 1982 and belongs to the Galveston County Bar. The office is the designated custodian of all records relating to or lawfully deposited in the clerk's office, including pleadings and papers that are part of civil or criminal causes in the courts it serves.
The District Clerk frames its work around access, service, and innovation. The office keeps a Galveston office in the Justice Center and a second office in League City for mainland residents. Use the card below for the main Galveston location.
Galveston County District Clerk
Clerk: John D. Kinard
600 59th Street, Room 4001
Galveston, TX 77551
(409) 766-2424
DCWEB@co.galveston.tx.us
Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
District Clerk League City Office
174 Calder Road
League City, TX 77573
(281) 316-8729
Jury line: (409) 766-2319
Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
What the District Clerk Does in Galveston County
The District Clerk is more than a filing office. It is the custodian of court pleadings and papers in the civil and criminal causes served by the district courts, and it keeps those records indexed and secure. The office also runs jury services, which is a large job in Galveston County. The work touches nearly every district court case, from the first filing to the final judgment, so the clerk's accuracy matters to litigants and the public alike.
- Files and indexes district court pleadings and papers.
- Collects filing fees and court costs.
- Issues citations and other process for service.
- Manages jury summons and jury service.
- Holds and disburses funds awarded to minors.
- Provides passport acceptance services to the public.
The office reports welcoming more than 200,000 jurors a year and raising the juror response rate from 30% to 75% with a modern jury-management system. It also digitized more than 100 years of historic immigration records for free public access, a distinctive Galveston County archive tied to the island's port history. FY25 passport revenue ran about $450,000.
District Clerk vs County Clerk in Galveston County
Texas counties split clerk duties between two offices, and Galveston County is no exception. The District Clerk and the County Clerk are not the same, and sending a request to the wrong one wastes time. The simple rule is that the District Clerk holds district court files, while the County Clerk holds county court, probate, marriage, and property records.
| District Clerk | County Clerk | |
|---|---|---|
| Courts Served | District courts | County courts at law, Probate Court |
| Case Types | Felony, large civil, family, juvenile | Misdemeanor, smaller civil, probate |
| Other Records | Jury service, minor funds | Marriage, real property, assumed names |
| Leader | John D. Kinard | Dwight D. Sullivan |
For records the County Clerk keeps, see the Galveston County Clerk page, which covers its own forms and fees.
Searching District Clerk Records Online
Most district court records are searchable online through the county's Tyler Odyssey portal. The District Clerk reports putting most court records online and expanding access through scanning and e-filing. Smart Search pulls case records, and Search Hearings pulls docket dates, both free to the public with a reCAPTCHA check.
Online access has limits, though. Not every document image is available without a visit or a copy request, and some records are sealed or restricted. The county also warns that Tyler's public-access software support ends after December 31, 2025, so the portal's look may change. When the online file is incomplete, the certified-copy process at the counter or by mail fills the gap. Full search steps are on the Galveston County court records page.
How to Request a Certified Copy
A certified copy is the official version of a court document, stamped by the clerk for use in legal matters. A non-certified copy is fine for reference. The District Clerk uses a Request for Copies of Documents form, which you can submit in person or by mail.
- Identify the case number, the case style, and the document you need.
- Complete the District Clerk Request for Copies of Documents form.
- Choose certified or non-certified copies and the number of copies.
- Select pickup or mail; for mail, include a self-addressed stamped envelope with proper postage.
- Submit with payment, noting the office does not accept personal checks over $50.
The form notes that postage usually runs one stamp for every five pages, which helps when you mail a multi-page request.
You need a certified copy for most legal uses, such as filing in another case, proving a judgment, or an appeal. A non-certified copy is enough for personal review. The District Clerk can also produce exemplified copies, an extra level of certification used when a document must be recognized in another court. Pick the copy type that matches your purpose, since a certified copy costs more than a plain one.
District Clerk Copy Request Form Fields
The copy request form asks for enough detail to pull the right document and arrange payment and delivery. The table lists the main fields from the form.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Case Number | Yes | The court's file number for the case |
| Case Style | Yes | The names of the parties |
| Name of Document | Yes | Describe the document to be copied |
| Copy Type | Yes | Certified or non-certified |
| Number of Copies | Yes | Total copies requested |
| Method of Payment | Yes | Cash, credit card, or check; no personal check over $50 |
| Delivery | Yes | Picked up or mailed with return postage |
| Requester Contact | Yes | Name, firm, phone, and mailing address if mailed |
Galveston County District Clerk Fees
Copy and certification charges follow the county's clerk fee rates, while civil and family filing fees follow the District Clerk's 2026 civil and family schedule. The documented copy and search rates are below; confirm a specific filing fee against the current schedule.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Plain copy per page | $1.00 |
| Certified copy | $5.00 + $1.00 per page |
| Records search fee | $5.00 |
| Criminal history check | $10.00 |
| Civil and family filing | Per the 2026 District Clerk schedule |
Note: the records email is for general record inquiries only and does not accept filings, notices, or hearing requests.
Common District Clerk Forms
The District Clerk posts several forms on the county site for copies and attorney filings. The two below come up most often.
- Request for Copies of Documents - orders certified or non-certified copies by pickup or mail.
- Attorney Vacation Schedule Request - lets attorneys file vacation weeks with the clerk.
Always check the official county site for the current version of any form before submitting. The District Clerk page also links record-search help and advanced search filtering guides, which walk through attorney bar and name searches in the Odyssey portal. Those guides are useful before a complex search rather than a counter visit.
E-Filing and Mail Filings
Attorneys must e-file civil, family, and probate cases in Galveston County through an OCA-certified e-filing provider, commonly eFileTexas. Pro se litigants, who represent themselves, may still hand-file documents at the counter under the county's e-filing notice. So the filing method depends on whether you have a lawyer.
For records questions, the District Clerk lists a records email, but it is for general inquiries only. It cannot accept filings, notices, or hearing requests, and clerk staff cannot give legal advice. Use the email for record and procedure questions and the e-filing system or counter for actual filings.
The League City office matters for mainland residents. Galveston County stretches from the island to the mainland, so a person in League City, Friendswood, or Dickinson can use that office rather than driving to the island for many clerk services. Check which services each office offers before you go, since some functions stay at the main Galveston location. The League City office also keeps longer counter hours, opening earlier and closing later than the Galveston office, which can help a working filer.