**Public Notice: Hours Change**

TUESDAY'S open office hours have changed to 8:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.

JP #1
REGARDING OFFICE HOURS/SCHEDULE/STAFFING

Justice of the Peace Pct #1 office will be open Monday and Wednesday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. for regular business, Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. . 

Payments for citations can be received by Money Order or by Debit/Credit cards. You may also pay online at http://www.govrec.com. NO CASH payments will be taken at the window. 

Civil forms (ie: Eviction, Small Claims & Debt Claims) may be found and printed from our website at www.co.midland.tx.us.  You may file it at our office or it can be mailed to our address along with the filing fee (money orders only, NO checks) to JP #1 Attn: Civil, 400 S. Main St, Midland, TX 79701.  

Cases Handled

The Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, court handles both Civil and Criminal cases.

Civil Cases include:

• Debt Claim Cases
• Eviction Cases
• Repair and Remedy Cases
• Small Claims
• You may now search for a civil case on a defendant filed in all JP courts: https://www.govrec.com/home/midlandcotx
• https://texaslawhelp.org/ is a free and liable legal information that you may use for any legal help.
• Jurisdiction

  _{A. No Jurisdiction if Suit is Filed in Wrong Precinct An eviction suit must be filed in the precinct where the property is located. Property Code § 24.0041. If an eviction suit is filed in the wrong precinct, the court should dismiss the case. Rule 510.6(c); Property Code § 24.004. The case should be dismissed without prejudice for lack of jurisdiction so that the plaintiff may re-file the case in a court that has jurisdiction. Once dismissed, the plaintiff will not be entitled to a refund of the filing fee but will be refunded any service fees paid if the case is dismissed before service is attempted. Rule 510.6(c). A court may not simply “transfer” the case to the correct precinct. Can the Court Give Information About Where the Property is Located? Giving information on where a property is located does not constitute legal advice but is instead factual information that is public. If a person wishes to file an eviction case asks if they are in the right precinct, the court personnel may assist them in determining whether the property falls within the precinct’s boundary. Some counties have a directory that allows an address to be entered and then states which precinct that address is located; court personnel may assist the person in using such a directory. A court can and should have information publicly available stating that eviction cases must be filed in the proper precinct.}

  _{B. No Jurisdiction to Resolve Title Issues A justice court does not have jurisdiction to resolve issues regarding title to real property (determining who owns the property). Government Code § 27.031(b)(4); Property Code § 24.004(c); Rule 510.6(f).}

• _{You can contact the Elections Office to inquire which Precinct an address is located in: (432) 688-4890}

Criminal Cases include:

• All Class C Misdemeanors
• Criminal/Traffic Citations

Scan the QR code below to be taken to the site to pay your citations.