District Clerk

Civil and Family Cases

The court house is a place for conducting important legal business.  The courts require appropriate attire and behavior.  Loud noise or conversation, profanity, or disruption will not be tolerated.

When you enter the Courthouse you will pass through a metal detector and anything you carry will pass through an x-ray machine.  Guns, knives and other weapons are strictly prohibited.

The District Clerk’s Office is located at 300 Courthouse Annex Waco, Texas 76701.  Entry to the Courthouse Annex is through the main courthouse at 501 Washington Avenue on the ground floor.

Filing and Service Fees                    Civil Filing with Fees

Civil Filings without Fees                  Filing Civil/Family Case Information after Hours

Fax Filing                                           Court Filing Fees

Civil Appeals, Change of Venue, Abstracts & Executions Information

Free Computers Access for the Public

Civil/Family Record Search               Civil Bonds

Civil District Clerk Operator              Requesting Copies by Mail

Requesting Information by Fax          Requesting Civil/Family Certified Copies

Frequently Requested Numbers         Location of McLennan County Court House

Location of IV-D Court Master          Check Acceptance Policy

Policies

Standing Order in Family Law Matters

Filing and Service Fees

Effective January 2006
This schedule of Filing and Service Fees for Civil and Family Cases separates the fees for filing of pleadings, issuance of citations, notices and writs, and the service of process. To determine the amount of cost, please calculate the total fee as follows:

Applicable Filing Fee + Process Fee or Issuance Fee + Service Fee = TOTAL FEE

Civil Filing & Service Fees, Family Filing & Service Fees
Local Rules for: Civil Courts

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Civil Filing with Fees

Civil pleadings, such as petition, cross-actions, counterclaim's, etc. may be filed in the Civil Intake Section, 300 Courthouse Annex Waco, Texas 76701. These type pleadings have fees to be receipted for at time of filing. Office hours are from 8:00a.m. To 5:00p.m. Monday through Friday.  Entry to the Courthouse Annex is through the main courthouse at 501 Washington Avenue on the ground floor.

Civil Filings without Fees

Civil pleadings, such as answers, amended petitions, etc. may be filed in the Civil Intake section, 300 Courthouse Annex Waco, Texas 76701. These type pleadings have "no fees" associated with their filing. Office hours are from 8:00a.m. To 5:00p.m. Monday through Friday.

Filing Civil/Family Case Information after Hours

You may file after hours by fax filing or e-filing. For fax filing the date of filing will be the date on the fax.  For e-filing the local rules for e-filing must be followed.

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Fax Filing

The District Clerk's Office is pleased to provide fax filing and offers you the following information so that you may take advantage of this service.

The Civil Intake fax number for fax-filing Civil Court Cases is 254-757-5060.

Pursuant to Texas Government Codes 51.803 and 51.807, the District Clerk’s Office is authorized to accept any document by fax that might be filed in a court action, except: returns of service on issuances, bonds, and signed orders or judgments. The fax filing fee for incoming faxes is $1.00 per page.  In addition to the fax filing fees you must also pay any filing fee associated with the document filed. Upon your request, the District Clerk’s Office will make copies of documents at a cost of $1.00 per page. This will be helpful when a copy of a document is required for citation.

Payment for fax filings may only be made with a credit card.  A $3.00 handling fee and 1.77% of the amount charged will be assessed for each credit card transaction. If you need further assistance on fax filing with the District Clerk’s Office, please contact (254) 757-5057 for Civil filing questions.

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Court Filing Fees

A complete listing of filing and service fees is available in the Civil Intake office located at 300 Courthouse Annex Waco, Texas 76701. To obtain a copy of a complete fee schedule click here.  If you claim that you are unable to pay court costs, you may file an affidavit of indigency and ask the Court to allow you not to pay court costs.  The District Clerk has the right to challenge your claim of indigency and in all likelihood will do so or will ask the other party to your lawsuit to pay the court costs.  Indigency only permits you to avoid paying court costs.  It does not entitle you to other free services such as copies or records searches. 

Civil Appeals, Change of Venue, Abstracts & Executions Information

 For detailed information regarding abstract or executions, call (254)757-5057. For faster more efficient service, have your cause number ready.

Free Computers Access for the Public

Two locations are available for free computer access to research public records at 300 Courthouse Annex Waco, Texas 76701 outside of the District Clerk’s Office or the County Clerk’s Office on the 2^nd Floor 215 North 5^th Street Waco, Texas 76701.

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Civil/Family Record Search

To obtain an accurate civil records search, specific names should be know as well as other important information, such as the year the case was filed, is the party a plaintiff or defendant in the case and the type of case filed. Contact (254)757-5057.

Civil Bonds

For information on filing civil bonds, please call (254)757-5057 and check the clerk’s bond policy.

Civil District Clerk Operator

Civil Inquires call (254)757-5057, Criminal Inquires call (254)757-5054

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Requesting Copies by Mail

When requesting copies by mail, please specify, on the envelope; if the request is for the Civil or Criminal section. If the request is for criminal information, please include the party's date of birth, the full name, and the case/cause number, if known. If the case/cause number is not known, please include $5.00 for a record search, and $1.00 more for the certificate. If the request is for civil/family information, please include the case/cause number and the document or documents you would like copies of. If the case/cause number is not known, please include and additional $5.00 for a record search. The mailing address is P.O. Box 2451 Waco, Texas 76703. Copies are $1.00 per page, certified or non-certified. We accept cash, cashier's checks, or money orders made payable to Karen Matkin, McLennan County District Clerk, and credit cards listed as follows: Visa, or Master Card. Please note: If payment is by credit card, the following information is needed to comply with your request: name, address, credit card type, credit card number, security number, expiration date, and statement allowing the District Clerk to charge your credit card for the transaction.

Requesting Information by Fax

Fax filing requests can be made at this time by credit card please fax request to (254)-757-5060, or for information call (254)-757-5057 or (254)-757-5054. Acceptable credit cards are as follows Visa or Master Card.

Requesting Civil/Family Certified Copies

If you wish to purchase copies of public records in person, you may do so between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 PM., Monday through Friday in the Civil Intake Section, 300 Courthouse Annex Waco, Texas 76701.

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Frequently Requested Numbers

Lone Star Legal Aid

The telephone number for the Lone Star Legal Aid is (254)-756-7944.

Lawyer Referral Service

The number for the Lawyer referral Service is 1-800-252-9690

McLennan County Dispute Resolution Center

The telephone number for the McLennan County Dispute Resolution Center is (254)752-0955.

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Location of McLennan County Court House

McLennan Civil Court House is located at 501 Washington Avenue, Waco, Texas 76701.  When you enter the courthouse prepare to go through a security check.  No knives or guns or other weapons are permitted in the courthouse.  LEAVE THESE ITEMS OUTSIDE!  

Location of IV-D Court Master

IV-D Court Master is located at 709 Washington Avenue, Waco, Texas 76701.

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Check Acceptance Policy

Out of state checks or temporary checks are not acceptable.  Individuals who previously have given worthless checks to the District Clerk’s Office are not permitted to pay by check.  Third party checks are not accepted.  All other checks are acceptable.

Policies

The District Clerk has various policies concerning office operations.  They will be posted on the website under specific topics and also with hyperlinks at this location.

         Bond Policy

         Business Records Affidavit Policy

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