Texas Justice Courts

Justice Courts are the lowest-jurisdiction trial courts in Texas. Each county is divided into precincts, and each precinct elects a Justice of the Peace who presides over the Justice Court for that precinct.

Jurisdiction. Justice Courts hear small claims, evictions (forcible entry & detainer), Class C misdemeanors, civil cases up to $20,000, and certain landlord-tenant matters.

Relevance to process servers. Citations and other writs issued from a Justice Court must be served according to the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (Part V, Rules 500–510). Service of a Justice Court citation may be by any sheriff, constable, or person authorized by Rule 103.