County fee schedule · TX · FIPS 48201
Harris County, TX court filing fees
The cited source document appears to have moved, so we're re-confirming these figures against it. Until we do, they're the ones we last verified.
Texas sets court fees county by county, so a rate sheet from the next county over does not transfer. District Court civil filing in Harris County is $350, verified July 20, 2026.
District Court
Filing fee, new civil suit (no service)county rate
$350eff. January 1, 2026Cross-action / counterclaim (SB 41)county rate
$80eff. January 1, 2026Appeal from lower court (SB 1612)county rate
$35eff. January 1, 2026Application for garnishment (before or after judgment)county rate
$350eff. January 1, 2026Citation issuance (includes one copy)county rate
$8eff. January 1, 2026Plain paper copy, per pagecounty rate
$1eff. January 1, 2026Certified copy / raised sealcounty rate
$5eff. January 1, 2026State consolidated new-suit fee (SB 41)county rate
$137eff. January 1, 2026Law library feecounty rate
$35eff. January 1, 2026Records preservation fee (SB 41)county rate
$30eff. January 1, 2026Courthouse security fee (SB 41)county rate
$20eff. January 1, 2026Court facility fee (SB 41)county rate
$20eff. January 1, 2026County jury fee (SB 41)county rate
$10eff. January 1, 2026Appellate judicial fund feecounty rate
$5eff. January 1, 2026Language access fee (SB 41)county rate
$3eff. January 1, 2026Court reporter service fee (SB 41)county rate
$25eff. January 1, 2026Abstracting a judgmentcounty rate
$8eff. January 1, 2026
Source: Harris County District Clerk, Civil and Family Cases Filing and Service Fees, eff. 2026-01-01, verified July 20, 2026.
Filing logistics
- E-filing:
- mandatory for most civil filings
- Small-claims limit:
- $20,000
- Notes
- Attorney filings go through eFileTexas.gov; the District Clerk's civil intake counter is at 201 Caroline St., Suite 110, Houston.
The fee landscape in Harris County
We have not yet observed a fee change in Harris County since coverage began. That is a statement about our observation window, not a prediction. Each figure still carries its verification date of July 20, 2026.
Harris County is among Texas's highest-volume civil venues, which makes its schedule one of the most-consulted pages we maintain. The 17 line items above were last verified July 20, 2026.
Filing in Harris County means the e-filing system checks your fee before a human sees the pleading. The envelope either clears or bounces, and a bounce with a deadline running is the expensive kind.
Common questions
What is the civil filing fee in Harris County?
District Court civil filing in Harris County is $350, verified July 20, 2026. The full table above lists each fee with its effective date and issuing source.
Do different courts in Harris County charge different filing fees?
Yes. Each court type on this page carries its own line items, and the table separates them so the figure you advance matches the court you file in.
What does service of process cost in Harris County?
The service fees on file for Harris County appear in the table above with their sources. Private process servers set their own rates, so compare before you advance the officer fee.
How often do court fees change in Harris County?
Texas Local Government Code §118.131 lets every county reset civil process fees effective January 1, so Harris County's figures can move each new year. Every fee here carries the date we last verified it, and the change log records each movement we catch.
What happens if a filing arrives with the wrong fee?
Clerks reject it or hold it until the correct amount arrives, and on e-filed cases the rejection resets your place in line. Court fee schedules change, which is why each figure on this page shows its verification date rather than a promise that nothing has moved.
Where do these figures come from?
Each fee section cites its issuing authority and links the source document, and the page header shows the date we last verified against it: July 20, 2026 for this page. The fee the clerk charges controls. If you find a discrepancy, use the report link on the row and we will verify within 2 business days.
Is e-filing required in Harris County?
E-filing is mandatory for most civil filings in Harris County. The filing system collects the fee electronically, and an incorrect amount is a named rejection reason.
Working notes for filers
Verify before advancing fees
If you advance filing or service fees for clients, check the figure against this page's verification date of July 20, 2026 and the linked source before cutting the check. A schedule that moved since your rate sheet was printed is the classic rejection.
Rejection-proof the fee line
Incorrect fee amount is a named rejection reason in court e-filing systems. Match the fee to the exact case type and court, include mandatory add-ons, and keep the source document handy so a clerk question gets a same-day answer.
Re-check every January
Texas counties may reset civil process fees each January 1 under §118.131. Re-verify Harris County's figures at the turn of the year before advancing fees on the old schedule.
Multi-county practice hygiene
Keep one dated rate sheet per county you serve, not one blended sheet. Harris County's figures on this page are dated July 20, 2026. When a neighboring county's page shows a different verification date, treat the older one with more suspicion.
Working from a spreadsheet
If your route sheets or billing live in a spreadsheet, carry the verification date and source URL as columns next to each fee. A figure without its date is a liability six months later. The pro plan exports this page's data as CSV with both columns included.
Billing advanced fees back
When you advance a court fee for a client, invoice the exact figure with the court's name and the effective date. Disputes over pass-through costs disappear when the line item cites its schedule.
The maintained database: $39 a month covers every seat
Harris County County's fees, dated and cited, alongside every other county we cover. Put your counties on the book and we email you the day a fee moves, with the source document linked. $39 a month, unlimited seats, less than one rejected filing. 14-day trial, cancel anytime.
Start the 14-day trialSources
Fees are compiled from the cited official schedules and carry the date we last verified each source. The fee the clerk charges controls. ClerkFees is not affiliated with any court and does not provide legal advice.