Government Code § 51.303

Sec. 51.303. DUTIES AND POWERS. (a) The clerk of a district court has custody of and shall carefully maintain and arrange the records relating to or lawfully deposited in the clerk's office. (b) The clerk of a district court shall: (1) record the acts and proceedings of the court; (2) enter all judgments of the court under the direction of the judge; (3) record all executions issued and the returns on the executions; and (4) accept an application for a protective order filed under Chapter 82, Family Code. (c) The district clerk shall keep an index of the parties to all suits filed in the court. The index must list the parties alphabetically using their full names and must be cross-referenced to the other parties to the suit. In addition, a reference must be made opposite each name to the minutes on which is entered the judgment in the case. (d) Paper records must include a reference opposite each name to the minutes on which is entered the judgment in the case. (e) The clerk of a district court may: (1) take the depositions of witnesses; and (2) perform other duties imposed on the clerk by law. (f) A case with an electronic record must be searchable by each party's full name, the case number, and the date on which the record was made. Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 480, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 354, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 31, 1987; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1248, Sec. 35, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 641, Sec. 1.05, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 1024, Sec. 20, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by: Acts 2025, 89th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 7 (H.B. 16), Sec. 7.08, eff. December 4, 2025.