Texas Government Code Title 2, Chapter 26 - Constitutional County Courts

SUBCHAPTER A GENERAL PROVISIONS

• Texas Section 26.001 - Bond
  (a) Before entering the duties of the office, the county judge must execute a bond that: (1) is payable to the treasurer of the county;...
• Texas Section 26.002 - Terms
  (a) By order entered on its records, the commissioners court may fix the number of court terms, may set the times at which the terms...
• Texas Section 26.003 - Adjournment Of Court By Sheriff Or Constable
  If the county judge fails to appear at the time appointed for holding court and a visiting judge is not appointed, the sheriff shall adjourn...
• Texas Section 26.004 - Minutes Of Court
  (a) Each morning, the minutes of the proceedings of the preceding day shall be read in open court. On the last day of the session,...
• Texas Section 26.005 - Seal
  (a) Each county court shall be provided with a seal that has a star with five points engraved in the center. The seal must also...
• Texas Section 26.006 - Salary Supplement From State For Certain County Judges
  (a) A county judge is entitled to an annual salary supplement from the state in an amount equal to 18 percent of the annual compensation...
• Texas Section 26.007 - State Contribution
  (a) Beginning on the first day of the state fiscal year, the state shall annually compensate each county that collects the additional fees and costs...
• Texas Section 26.008 - Excess Contributions
  (a) At the end of each state fiscal year the comptroller shall determine the amounts deposited in the judicial fund under Section 51.703 and the...
• Texas Section 26.009 - Location Of Proceedings Following Certain Disasters
  (a) In this section, "first tier coastal county" and "second tier coastal county" have the meanings assigned by Section 2210.003, Insurance Code. (b) Notwithstanding any...

SUBCHAPTER B APPOINTMENT OF VISITING JUDGE

• Texas Section 26.010 - Appointment Of Counsel In Certain Appeals
  (a) On a written application of any party to an eviction suit, the county court or county court at law in which an appeal of...
• Texas Section 26.011 - Assignment Of Visiting Judge
  If a county judge is absent, incapacitated, or disqualified in a civil or criminal case, the presiding judge shall appoint a visiting judge to hear...
• Texas Section 26.012 - Assignment Of Visiting Judge For Probate, Guardianship, And Mental Health Matters
  If the county judge is absent, incapacitated, recused, or disqualified to act in a probate, guardianship, or mental health matter, a visiting judge shall be...
• Texas Section 26.015 - Visiting Judge To Take Oath
  In addition to any oath previously taken, a person appointed as a visiting judge of a constitutional county court, including a person who is a...
• Texas Section 26.016 - Record
  When a visiting judge is appointed, the clerk shall enter in the minutes as a part of the proceedings in the cause a record that...

SUBCHAPTER C APPOINTMENT OF VISITING JUDGES IN CERTAIN COUNTIES

• Texas Section 26.017 - Appointment Of Acting County Judge
  (a) Upon the suspension of a constitutional county judge by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct under Section 1-a, Article V, Texas Constitution, the commissioners...
• Texas Section 26.021 - Application Of Subchapter
  This subchapter applies only to a county in which: (1) there is no statutory county court at law or statutory probate court; and (2) all...
• Texas Section 26.022 - Appointment For Particular Matters
  (a) The county judge for good cause may at any time appoint a visiting judge with respect to any pending civil or criminal matter. (b)...
• Texas Section 26.023 - Appointment For Absence Of Judge
  (a) The county judge may appoint a retired judge or a constitutional county judge from another county as a visiting judge when the county judge...
• Texas Section 26.024 - Appointment To Share Bench
  (a) The county judge may appoint a retired judge or a constitutional county judge from another county as a visiting judge to share the bench...
• Texas Section 26.026 - Compensation Of Visiting Judge
  A visiting judge appointed under this subchapter is entitled to compensation from the commissioners court for each day the judge sits as visiting judge at...
• Texas Section 26.027 - No Administrative Powers
  A visiting judge appointed under this subchapter does not have the powers of the county judge as a member and presiding officer of the commissioners...

SUBCHAPTER D JURISDICTION AND POWERS

• Texas Section 26.028 - Attorney Recommendations
  The county judge shall consider the recommendations of attorneys of the court as to the implementation of this subchapter and the accomplishment of its purposes....
• Texas Section 26.041 - General Jurisdiction; Changes
  A county court has the jurisdiction conferred by this subchapter and other law. Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 480, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985....
• Texas Section 26.042 - Civil Jurisdiction; Juvenile Jurisdiction
  (a) A county court has concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in civil cases in which the matter in controversy exceeds $200 in value but...
• Texas Section 26.043 - Civil Matters In Which County Court Is Without Jurisdiction
  A county court does not have jurisdiction in: (1) a suit to recover damages for slander or defamation of character; (2) a suit for the...
• Texas Section 26.044 - Certiorari Jurisdiction
  A county court has jurisdiction in cases brought from justice court by certiorari. Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 480, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985.
• Texas Section 26.045 - Original Criminal Jurisdiction
  (a) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a county court has exclusive original jurisdiction of misdemeanors other than misdemeanors involving official misconduct and cases in...
• Texas Section 26.046 - Appellate Criminal Jurisdiction
  A county court has appellate jurisdiction in criminal cases of which justice courts and other inferior courts have original jurisdiction. Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch....
• Texas Section 26.047 - Habeas Corpus
  (a) A county court may issue a writ of habeas corpus in any case in which the constitution has not conferred the power on the...
• Texas Section 26.048 - Motions Against Court Officers
  A county court may hear and determine any motion against the sheriff or another officer of the court for failure to pay money collected under...
• Texas Section 26.049 - Appointment Of Counsel
  The county judge may appoint counsel to represent a party who makes an affidavit that he is too poor to employ counsel. Acts 1985, 69th...
• Texas Section 26.050 - Powers Of Law And Equity
  Subject to the limitations stated in this chapter and in the constitution, a county court may hear and determine any cause in law or equity...
• Texas Section 26.051 - Writ Power
  A county judge, in either term time or vacation, may grant writs of mandamus, injunction, sequestration, attachment, garnishment, certiorari, and supersedeas and all other writs...

SUBCHAPTER E PROVISIONS RELATING TO PARTICULAR COUNTIES

• Texas Section 26.052 - Probate And Mental Health Code Cases
  (a) In a county in which the county court and any county court created by statute have jurisdiction in both probate matters and proceedings under...
• Texas Section 26.103 - Angelina County
  (a) The terms of the County Court of Angelina County begin on the second Mondays in January, April, July, and October and may continue for...
• Texas Section 26.104 - Aransas County
  The County Court of Aransas County has no probate, juvenile, civil, or criminal jurisdiction. Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 688, Sec. 2, eff....
• Texas Section 26.106 - Armstrong County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Armstrong County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.107 - Atascosa County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Atascosa County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.109 - Bailey County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Bailey County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.111 - Bastrop County
  (a) If the county judge is licensed to practice law in this state, the County Court of Bastrop County has jurisdiction concurrent with the County...
• Texas Section 26.112 - Baylor County
  The County Court of Baylor County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court and the general criminal jurisdiction of a county court but has...
• Texas Section 26.113 - Bee County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Bee County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.115 - Bexar County
  The County Court of Bexar County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court and of a juvenile court as provided by Section 26.042(b) but...
• Texas Section 26.116 - Blanco County
  (a) In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Blanco County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all...
• Texas Section 26.119 - Bowie County
  The County Court of Bowie County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court and juvenile jurisdiction as provided by Section 26.042(b) but has no...
• Texas Section 26.122 - Brewster County
  (a) The terms of the County Court of Brewster County begin on the third Mondays in February, May, August, and November and continue until the...
• Texas Section 26.126 - Burleson County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Burleson County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.131 - Cameron County
  The County Court of Cameron County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court but has no other civil or criminal jurisdiction. Acts 1985, 69th...
• Texas Section 26.134 - Cass County
  The County Court of Cass County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court but has no other civil or criminal jurisdiction except juvenile jurisdiction...
• Texas Section 26.135 - Castro County
  (a) The terms of the County Court of Castro County begin on the fourth Mondays in February, May, August, and November and continue until the...
• Texas Section 26.140 - Cochran County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Cochran County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.143 - Collin County
  The County Court of Collin County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court but has no other civil or criminal jurisdiction. Acts 1985, 69th...
• Texas Section 26.144 - Collingsworth County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Collingsworth County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.145 - Colorado County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Colorado County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.146 - Comal County
  The County Court of Comal County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court and juvenile jurisdiction as provided by Section 26.042(b) but has no...
• Texas Section 26.149 - Cooke County
  (a) The County Court of Cooke County does not have probate, guardianship, mental health, juvenile, civil, criminal, or appellate jurisdiction. (b) The judge of the...
• Texas Section 26.151 - Cottle County
  The County Court of Cottle County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court and the general criminal jurisdiction of a county court but has...
• Texas Section 26.154 - Crosby County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Crosby County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.157 - Dallas County
  The County Court of Dallas County has no appellate criminal jurisdiction. Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 480, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985.
• Texas Section 26.158 - Dawson County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Dawson County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.159 - Deaf Smith County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Deaf Smith County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all...
• Texas Section 26.161 - Denton County
  The County Court of Denton County has no probate, juvenile, civil, or criminal jurisdiction. Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 148, Sec. 2.23(a), eff....
• Texas Section 26.163 - Dickens County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Dickens County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.164 - Dimmit County
  (a) The terms of the County Court of Dimmit County begin on the second Mondays in January, April, July, and October and may continue for...
• Texas Section 26.167 - Eastland County
  The County Court of Eastland County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court but has no other civil jurisdiction except juvenile jurisdiction as provided...
• Texas Section 26.169 - Edwards County
  (a) In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Edwards County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all...
• Texas Section 26.171 - El Paso County
  The County Court of El Paso County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court and juvenile jurisdiction as provided by Section 26.042(b) but has...
• Texas Section 26.173 - Falls County
  The County Court of Falls County has: (1) the general jurisdiction of a probate court; (2) juvenile jurisdiction as provided by Section 26.042(b); and (3)...
• Texas Section 26.175 - Fayette County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Fayette County has the following jurisdiction concurrent with the district court if the...
• Texas Section 26.176 - Fisher County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Fisher County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.180 - Franklin County
  (a) The terms of the County Court of Franklin County begin on the second Mondays in January, April, July, and October and continue until the...
• Texas Section 26.183 - Gaines County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Gaines County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.185 - Garza County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Garza County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.186 - Gillespie County
  (a) In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Gillespie County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all...
• Texas Section 26.188 - Goliad County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Goliad County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.189 - Gonzales County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Gonzales County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.191 - Grayson County
  The County Court of Grayson County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court and juvenile jurisdiction as provided by Section 26.042(b) but has no...
• Texas Section 26.192 - Gregg County
  (a) The terms of the County Court of Gregg County begin on the second Mondays in January, April, July, and October and continue until the...
• Texas Section 26.200 - Hardin County
  (a) The terms of the County Court of Hardin County continue until the court has disposed of its business. (b) The commissioners court may change...
• Texas Section 26.204 - Haskell County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Haskell County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.206 - Hemphill County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Hemphill County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.208 - Hidalgo County
  The County Court of Hidalgo County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court but has no other civil or criminal jurisdiction. Acts 1985, 69th...
• Texas Section 26.209 - Hill County
  (a) The County Court of Hill County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court and has concurrent original and appellate jurisdiction with the 66th...
• Texas Section 26.210 - Hockley County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Hockley County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.218 - Irion County
  (a) In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Irion County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all...
• Texas Section 26.223 - Jefferson County
  (a) If the county judge is licensed to practice law in this state, the County Court of Jefferson County has jurisdiction concurrent with the County...
• Texas Section 26.226 - Johnson County
  The County Court of Johnson County has: (1) the general jurisdiction of a probate court; (2) juvenile jurisdiction as provided by Section 26.042(b); and (3)...
• Texas Section 26.227 - Jones County
  The County Court of Jones County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court and juvenile jurisdiction as provided by Section 26.042(b) but has no...
• Texas Section 26.228 - Karnes County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Karnes County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.232 - Kent County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Kent County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.233 - Kerr County
  (a) The terms of the County Court of Kerr County continue for three weeks or until the court has disposed of its business. (b) The...
• Texas Section 26.234 - Kimble County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Kimble County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.235 - King County
  The County Court of King County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court and the general criminal jurisdiction of a county court but has...
• Texas Section 26.238 - Knox County
  The County Court of Knox County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court and the general criminal jurisdiction of a county court but has...
• Texas Section 26.240 - Lamb County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Lamb County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.241 - Lampasas County
  (a) The terms of the County Court of Lampasas County begin on the second Mondays in January, April, July, and October and continue until the...
• Texas Section 26.244 - Lee County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Lee County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.252 - Lubbock County
  The County Court of Lubbock County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court and juvenile jurisdiction as provided by Section 26.042(b) but has no...
• Texas Section 26.253 - Lynn County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Lynn County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.256 - Mcmullen County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of McMullen County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.258 - Marion County
  The County Court of Marion County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court, general criminal jurisdiction, and juvenile jurisdiction as provided by Section 26.042(b)...
• Texas Section 26.260 - Mason County
  The County Court of Mason County has: (1) the general jurisdiction of a probate court; (2) juvenile jurisdiction as provided by Section 26.042(b); and (3)...
• Texas Section 26.261 - Matagorda County
  (a) The terms of the County Court of Matagorda County begin on the third Mondays in February, May, August, and November and continue until the...
• Texas Section 26.264 - Menard County
  (a) In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Menard County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all...
• Texas Section 26.267 - Mills County
  The County Court of Mills County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court, general criminal jurisdiction, and juvenile jurisdiction as provided by Section 26.042(b),...
• Texas Section 26.268 - Mitchell County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Mitchell County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.272 - Morris County
  The County Court of Morris County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court, general criminal jurisdiction, and juvenile jurisdiction as provided by Section 26.042(b)...
• Texas Section 26.274 - Nacogdoches County
  The County Court of Nacogdoches County has no probate, criminal, or civil jurisdiction except juvenile jurisdiction as provided by Section 26.042(b). Acts 1985, 69th Leg.,...
• Texas Section 26.275 - Navarro County
  The County Court of Navarro County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court, general criminal jurisdiction, and juvenile jurisdiction as provided by Section 26.042(b)...
• Texas Section 26.278 - Nueces County
  The County Court of Nueces County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court but has no other civil or criminal jurisdiction. Acts 1985, 69th...
• Texas Section 26.280 - Oldham County
  (a) The terms of the County Court of Oldham County begin on the fourth Mondays in February, May, August, and November and continue until the...
• Texas Section 26.285 - Parmer County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Parmer County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.291 - Randall County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Randall County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.292 - Reagan County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Reagan County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.294 - Red River County
  (a) The County Court of Red River County has: (1) the general jurisdiction of a probate court; (2) jurisdiction to enter orders providing for the...
• Texas Section 26.295 - Reeves County
  The County Court of Reeves County has juvenile jurisdiction as provided by Section 26.042(b) but has no other probate, criminal, or civil jurisdiction. Acts 1985,...
• Texas Section 26.298 - Robertson County
  The County Court of Robertson County has: (1) the general jurisdiction of a probate court; (2) juvenile jurisdiction as provided by Section 26.042(b); and (3)...
• Texas Section 26.302 - Sabine County
  (a) The County Court of Sabine County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court, general criminal jurisdiction, and juvenile jurisdiction as provided by Section...
• Texas Section 26.303 - San Augustine County
  The County Court of San Augustine County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court, general criminal jurisdiction, and juvenile jurisdiction as provided by Section...
• Texas Section 26.307 - Schleicher County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Schleicher County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.308 - Scurry County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Scurry County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.309 - Shackelford County
  The County Court of Shackelford County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court and juvenile jurisdiction as provided by Section 26.042(b) but has no...
• Texas Section 26.314 - Starr County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Starr County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.315 - Stephens County
  The County Court of Stephens County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court and juvenile jurisdiction as provided by Section 26.042(b) but has no...
• Texas Section 26.316 - Sterling County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Sterling County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.317 - Stonewall County
  (a) In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Stonewall County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all...
• Texas Section 26.320 - Tarrant County
  The County Court of Tarrant County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court and juvenile jurisdiction as provided by Section 26.042(b) but has no...
• Texas Section 26.321 - Taylor County
  The County Court of Taylor County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court and juvenile jurisdiction as provided by Section 26.042(b) but has no...
• Texas Section 26.323 - Terry County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Terry County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.327 - Travis County
  The County Court of Travis County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court but has no other civil or criminal jurisdiction. Acts 1985, 69th...
• Texas Section 26.328 - Trinity County
  (a) The terms of the County Court of Trinity County begin on the first Mondays in January, April, July, and October and may continue for...
• Texas Section 26.330 - Upshur County
  (a) The County Court of Upshur County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court and has concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in all...
• Texas Section 26.336 - Walker County
  The County Court of Walker County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court and juvenile jurisdiction as provided by Section 26.042(b) but has no...
• Texas Section 26.337 - Waller County
  The County Court of Waller County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court but has no other civil or criminal jurisdiction. Acts 1985, 69th...
• Texas Section 26.339 - Washington County
  The County Court of Washington County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court but has no other civil or criminal jurisdiction. Acts 1985, 69th...
• Texas Section 26.340 - Webb County
  The County Court of Webb County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court and juvenile jurisdiction as provided by Section 26.042(b) but has no...
• Texas Section 26.342 - Wheeler County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Wheeler County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.343 - Wichita County
  (a) The County Court of Wichita County has general criminal jurisdiction, the general jurisdiction of a probate court, and juvenile jurisdiction as provided by Section...
• Texas Section 26.351 - Yoakum County
  In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, the County Court of Yoakum County has original concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in all civil...
• Texas Section 26.353 - Zapata County
  (a) The terms of the County Court of Zapata County begin on the third Mondays in February, May, September, and November and continue for three...

Last modified: September 28, 2016