(a) A county civil court at law in Harris County has jurisdiction over all civil matters and causes, original and appellate, prescribed by law for county courts, but does not have the jurisdiction of a probate court. A county civil court at law has jurisdiction in appeals of civil cases from justice courts in Harris County.
(b) Repealed by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 746, Sec. 70, eff. Oct. 1, 1991.

Terms Used In Texas Government Code 25.1032

  • Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
  • Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
  • Court reporter: A person who makes a word-for-word record of what is said in court and produces a transcript of the proceedings upon request.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Justice: when applied to a magistrate, means justice of the peace. See Texas Government Code 312.011
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.
  • Probate: Proving a will
  • Property: means real and personal property. See Texas Government Code 311.005
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.

(c) A county civil court at law has exclusive jurisdiction in Harris County of eminent domain proceedings, both statutory and inverse, if the amount in controversy in a statutory proceeding does not exceed the amount provided by § 25.0003(c) in civil cases. Notwithstanding § 21.013, Property Code, a party initiating a condemnation proceeding in Harris County may file a petition with the district clerk when the amount in controversy exceeds the amount provided by § 25.0003(c). The amount in controversy is the amount of the bona fide offer made by the entity with eminent domain authority to acquire the property from the property owner voluntarily.
(d) In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, a county civil court at law has jurisdiction to:
(1) decide the issue of title to real or personal property;
(2) hear a suit to recover damages for slander or defamation of character;
(3) hear a suit for the enforcement of a lien on real property;
(4) hear a suit for the forfeiture of a corporate charter;
(5) hear a suit for the trial of the right to property valued at $200 or more that has been levied on under a writ of execution, sequestration, or attachment; and
(6) hear a suit for the recovery of real property.
(e) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(41), eff. January 1, 2012.
(f) The judge of a county civil court at law shall be paid an annual salary that is not less than the total annual salary received by a judge of a probate court in the county.
(g) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(41), eff. January 1, 2012.
(h) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(41), eff. January 1, 2012.
(i) The official court reporter of a county civil court at law is entitled to receive the same salary as a reporter of a district court in the county.
(j) The county clerk shall keep separate dockets for each of the county civil courts at law. The county clerk shall tax the official court reporter‘s fee as costs in civil actions in a county civil court at law in the same manner as the fee is taxed in civil cases in the district courts.
(k) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(41), eff. January 1, 2012.
(l) Sections 25.0006(b) and 25.0008 do not apply to a county civil court at law in Harris County.

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