Court tiers in Harris County
Justice of the Peace (JP) Courts — small-claims jurisdiction up to $20,000 (Tex. Gov't Code § 27.031). Cases include small civil disputes, evictions, and minor criminal matters. Harris County has 16 JP precincts.
County Civil Courts at Law — jurisdiction up to $250,000 (Tex. Gov't Code § 25.0003). Harris County has four numbered County Civil Courts at Law handling intermediate-value civil disputes.
District Courts — general civil jurisdiction including disputes over $250,000 (Tex. Const. art. V § 8). Harris County has roughly 60+ district court benches across civil, family, juvenile, and criminal divisions.
Filing and e-filing
All represented parties must e-file (Tex. R. Civ. P. 21(f)) via the eFileTexas.gov portal. Pro-se parties may but are not required to e-file. Filing fees vary by case type and court level — typically $300+ for a district court civil filing.
Service of process
Personal service or substituted service per Tex. R. Civ. P. 106. Defendants have until the Monday following 20 days after service to file an answer (Tex. R. Civ. P. 99).
Discovery
Texas uses three discovery tracks under Tex. R. Civ. P. 190: Level 1 (Expedited, for cases ≤$250,000), Level 2 (default), Level 3 (court-tailored). Each level limits depositions, interrogatories, and discovery period.
Backlogs and timing
Harris County is the largest civil docket in Texas. Setting an initial trial date can take 12-18 months from filing. Discovery and motion practice can extend timelines further.
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