Texas has several different trial and appellate courts that can handle civil cases (lawsuits about money, property, contracts, injuries, family matters, and similar non-criminal disputes). Which court your case belongs in depends mainly on:
- What type of case it is (for example, eviction, debt collection, injury, property dispute)
- How much is at stake (the “amount in controversy”)
- Whether you are starting a case or appealing one
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The Ladder: Trial courts vs. Appellate courts
Think of Texas courts like a ladder:
- Trial courts are where a lawsuit usually starts. Witnesses testify, evidence is presented, and the judge (and sometimes a jury) decides what happened and what the result should be.
- Appellate courts review what the trial court did. They usually do not hear new testimony. Instead, they decide whether the trial court made a legal error that matters.
Most civil cases start in one of these Texas trial courts:
- Justice Courts (Justice of the Peace Courts)
- County-level courts (including Constitutional County Courts and, in some places, County Courts at Law)
- District Courts
Appeals typically go to:
- A Texas Court of Appeals (intermediate appellate court)
- The Supreme Court of Texas (the highest court for civil cases)
1) Justice Courts (Justice of the Peace Courts)
Justice Courts are often the most accessible and informal Texas trial courts for civil disputes.
Common types of cases
Justice Courts commonly handle:
- Small-dollar money disputes (often called “small claims” style cases)
- Evictions (landlord–tenant cases about possession of a property)
- Certain debt collection matters
How they differ from other courts
- Lower dollar limits: These courts typically handle cases up to a set maximum amount in controversy.
- Less formal procedures: Compared to higher courts, Justice Court procedures are generally designed to be simpler.
- Records and appeals: Justice Courts traditionally have more limited formal records than higher courts, which can affect how appeals work.
When people often end up here
You may be in Justice Court if you are:
- A tenant facing an eviction
- A landlord seeking to regain possession
- A person or business trying to collect a relatively small debt
- Someone being sued for a smaller amount of money
2) Constitutional County Courts (often called “County Courts”)
Each Texas county has a Constitutional County Court. In civil matters, these courts sit between Justice Courts and District Courts.
Common types of cases
Depending on the county and the subject matter, County Courts may handle:
- Mid-range civil disputes where the amount in controversy falls within the county court’s limits
- Certain matters involving probate or other county-level proceedings (often with special rules)
How they differ from Justice Courts
- Higher dollar limits than Justice Court (in many situations)
- More formal procedure than Justice Court
- May be better suited for cases that need more court management (motions, discovery, etc.)
A practical tip
Texas also has County Courts at Law in many counties. They are created by statute and can share or expand on county-court civil jurisdiction. If you are unsure which county-level court applies, check the case caption, the county’s court listings, or your citation/petition.
3) District Courts
District Courts are Texas’s main general-jurisdiction trial courts. This means they can hear many types of civil cases, including higher-stakes disputes.
Common types of cases
District Courts often handle:
- Higher-dollar civil lawsuits
- Complex business disputes
- Serious personal injury cases
- Disputes involving title to real property
- Many cases where the law assigns the matter specifically to district court
How they differ from county-level courts
- District Courts generally handle bigger and more complex cases.
- They typically have broader authority to hear civil disputes that do not fit within lower courts’ limits.
What to expect
District-court cases often involve more formal steps, such as:
- Written discovery (requests for documents, interrogatories)
- Motion practice (requests for the judge to rule on legal issues)
- Evidentiary hearings
- Jury trials (in many cases, either side can request a jury)
4) Courts of Appeals (Intermediate Appellate Courts)
Texas has multiple Courts of Appeals located in different regions of the state. These courts usually hear appeals from:
- Justice Courts (in certain appeal paths)
- County-level courts
- District Courts
What an appeal is (and is not)
An appeal is not a “do-over” of the trial.
Instead, Courts of Appeals typically focus on questions like:
- Did the trial court apply the correct law?
- Was evidence admitted or excluded improperly?
- Did the trial court follow required procedures?
- Was the final judgment legally supported by what happened in the trial court?
What the court looks at
Appellate judges usually review:
- The written record (clerk’s record)
- The transcript of hearings and trial (reporter’s record), if one exists
- Written legal arguments (“briefs”) from each side
The court then issues a written decision that may affirm, reverse, modify, or send the case back to the trial court.
5) Supreme Court of Texas (the highest civil court)
The Supreme Court of Texas is the highest court for civil cases in Texas.
What it does
In most situations, the Supreme Court:
- Reviews selected decisions from the Courts of Appeals
- Focuses on issues that affect Texas law broadly (for example, resolving conflicts between appellate courts or addressing major legal questions)
Important distinction
Texas has two high courts:
- Supreme Court of Texas (generally civil cases)
- Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (criminal cases)
So, if your case is a civil lawsuit, the “top” court is typically the Supreme Court of Texas.
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