Cameron County, Texas: CPS Courts, Court Records, DFPS Offices and Free Legal Help

This page is for families in Cameron County, Texas, including Brownsville, Harlingen and San Benito. It gives you official local contacts for CPS cases: the courts, the clerk who keeps court records, the DFPS offices, free or low-cost legal help, and help in Spanish. This is legal information, not legal advice.

The short answer

Cameron County lists eight of its nine district courts at the Cameron County Courthouse, 974 E. Harrison St., Brownsville. The ninth, the 484th, lists a San Benito location Cameron County, Texas, District Courts. The District Clerk supports those courts and keeps their records, and its office is on the 3rd floor of the courthouse's Judicial Building Cameron County, Texas, District Clerk. DFPS (the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Texas DFPS, Contact Us, the state agency whose programs include Child Protective Services Texas DFPS, Office of Consumer Affairs) lists Cameron County in its Region 11 Texas DFPS, Counties in DFPS Regions and Districts. It lists offices at 1000 W. Price Rd. in Brownsville, (956) 546-5591, and 801 N. 13th, Ste. 19 in Harlingen, (956) 423-3100 Texas DFPS, Region 11 Office Locations.

Courts in Cameron County

Cameron County's website lists nine district courts: the 103rd, 107th, 138th, 197th, 357th, 404th, 444th, 445th and 484th Cameron County, Texas, District Courts. The District Clerk's cases include divorces, adoptions and child support cases Cameron County, Texas, District Clerk.

Not sure which court has your case? Call the District Clerk at (956) 544-0838 and have your case number ready. If you don't have a case number and ask the clerk to search, there is a $5 fee Cameron County, Texas, District Clerk. You can also look up a civil case summary for free with the clerk's online Case Public Access Link, by case number, party or attorney Cameron County, Texas, District Clerk.

Where the courts are (as the county publishes them):

• 103rd District Court: Cameron County Courthouse, 974 E. Harrison St., Judicial Building Third Floor, Brownsville, Texas 78520 Cameron County, Texas, District Courts.
• 107th District Court: 974 E. Harrison St., Judicial Building Third Floor. Phone: (956) 544-0845 Cameron County, Texas, District Courts.
• 138th District Court: 974 E. Harrison St., Judicial Building Third Floor. Phone: (956) 544-0877 Cameron County, Texas, District Courts.
• 197th District Court: 974 E. Harrison St., Judicial Building Third Floor. Phone: (956) 574-8150 Cameron County, Texas, District Courts.
• 357th District Court: 974 E. Harrison St., Judicial Building, First Floor. Phone: (956) 548-9522 Cameron County, Texas, District Courts.
• 404th District Court: 974 E. Harrison St., Judicial Building Third Floor. Phone: (956) 544-0837 Cameron County, Texas, District Courts.
• 444th District Court: 974 E. Harrison St., Judicial Building, First Floor. Phone: (956) 547-7034 Cameron County, Texas, District Courts.
• 445th District Court: 974 E. Harrison St., Judicial Building Second Floor. Phone: (956) 547-7070 Cameron County, Texas, District Courts.
• 484th District Court: the county's listing gives a San Benito location, 2310 US-77 BUS, San Benito, TX 78586. Phone: (956) 247-8149 Cameron County, Texas, District Courts.

Getting court records

The District Clerk keeps the court papers for the district courts. It is the registrar, recorder and custodian of all documents in criminal and civil cases Cameron County, Texas, District Clerk. A clerk is the office that files court papers and keeps the official record of each case.

Cameron County District Clerk

• Address: Cameron County Courthouse, Judicial Building, 3rd Floor, 974 E. Harrison St., Brownsville, Texas 78520 Cameron County, Texas, District Clerk.
• Civil Department: (956) 544-0838. Juvenile Department: (956) 247-8146. Child Support Department: (956) 544-0840 Cameron County, Texas, District Clerk. The clerk's contact list also names a Child Support/CPS Division Cameron County, Texas, District Clerk.
• How to get copies: You can get a copy of any part of your case in person, by mail or by email. If you ask in person, you get your copies the same day, unless the file is in storage. Then it takes at least 24 hours Cameron County, Texas, District Clerk. To request copies, the clerk lists [email protected] and (956) 574-8130 Cameron County, Texas, District Clerk.
• The clerk's office cannot help you prepare your court papers Cameron County, Texas, District Clerk. If you represent yourself, you are expected to know and follow the law and court rules just as a lawyer would Cameron County, Texas, District Clerk.

Court records are different from DFPS's own case records. To ask DFPS for its records, see How to Get Your CPS Case Records in Texas.

DFPS in Cameron County

DFPS lists Cameron County in DFPS Region 11 Texas DFPS, Counties in DFPS Regions and Districts. The Region 11 headquarters is at 2520 South I Road, Edinburg, TX 78539 Texas DFPS, Region 11.

DFPS's office list shows two locations in Cameron County Texas DFPS, Region 11 Office Locations:

• 1000 W. Price Rd., Brownsville, Texas 78520. Phone: (956) 546-5591. Programs listed: APS, CPI, CPS and MS Texas DFPS, Region 11 Office Locations.
• 801 N. 13th, Ste. 19, Harlingen, Texas 78550. Phone: (956) 423-3100. Programs listed: APS, CCI, CPI and CPS Texas DFPS, Region 11 Office Locations.

In DFPS's list, APS means Adult Protective Services, CCI means Child Care Investigations, CPI means Child Protective Investigations, CPS means Child Protective Services and MS means Management Services Texas DFPS, Region 11 Office Locations.

If you have a question or complaint about your own case, DFPS says to contact its Office of Consumer Affairs Texas DFPS, Questions and Complaints. Its contact details are under "Statewide numbers" below.

Free and low-cost legal help

TexasLawHelp.org lists four free legal aid groups for Cameron County under Child Protective Services (CPS) TexasLawHelp.org, Legal Help Directory (Cameron County, Child Protective Services):

• Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) gives free civil legal services to residents of 68 Southwest Texas counties TexasLawHelp.org, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. TexasLawHelp.org lists CPS among its areas of work and Cameron among the counties linked to it TexasLawHelp.org, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. Its central toll-free line is (833) 329-8752, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. TexasLawHelp.org, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. TRLA also lists (956) 996-8752, open weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Offices.
• Help before there is a court case: TRLA has a special project for parents involved with DFPS before a court petition is filed Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Family. It helps in stages where parents don't get a court-appointed lawyer, including investigations, voluntary services and challenges to investigation findings Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Family. If you are involved with CPS and don't have a court-appointed lawyer, you can call (956) 996-8752 to complete an intake any weekday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Family.
• For other family law problems, TRLA's intake hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays only, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Family. TRLA cannot represent everyone who qualifies, and many people get only referral information Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Family.
• TRLA lists offices at 1206 E. Van Buren St., Brownsville, TX 78520 Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Offices and 308 E. Harrison Ave., Harlingen, TX 78550 Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Offices.
• Texas Foster Youth Justice Project gives free legal help to current and former foster youth in Texas. Phone: (877) 313-3688 TexasLawHelp.org, Legal Help Directory (Cameron County, Child Protective Services).
• Texas Free Legal Answers lets Texans with low or modest incomes work online with a volunteer lawyer for free TexasLawHelp.org, Legal Help Directory (Cameron County, Child Protective Services).
• Texas Legal Services Center (TLSC) offers legal education, advocacy, advice and representation to underserved Texans TexasLawHelp.org, Legal Help Directory (Cameron County, Child Protective Services).

The District Clerk's self-help page also points to Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid as a nonprofit that gives free legal services to low-income residents of 68 Southwest Texas counties Cameron County, Texas, District Clerk.

Free legal information by phone: The Texas Legal Services Center Family Helpline gives free legal information and education about CPS issues TexasLawHelp.org, Child Protective Services (CPS). TexasLawHelp.org lists its number as 844-888-6565 TexasLawHelp.org, I want help and information on dealing with Child Protective Services.

Can the court give you a lawyer? In some CPS cases, yes. If DFPS sues to end your parental rights or to be named your child's conservator (the person or agency the court gives legal custody), the court must appoint a lawyer for a parent who is indigent (can't afford a lawyer) and who opposes the case Tex. Fam. Code §107.013(a). If you don't have a lawyer the first time you appear in court in that kind of case, the court must tell you about your right to a lawyer and, if you are indigent and oppose the case, your right to a court-appointed one Tex. Fam. Code §107.013(a-1). Learn more in Your Right to a Lawyer in a Texas CPS Case.

Lawyer referral: TexasLawHelp.org lists the State Bar of Texas Lawyer Referral and Information Service at (800) 252-9690 for help finding a Texas lawyer to hire TexasLawHelp.org, Legal Help Directory (Cameron County, Child Protective Services).

Help in Spanish (Ayuda en español)

These official and legal-aid sources publish help in Spanish:

• TRLA: Its phone message is posted in Spanish: "Si usted necesita asistencia legal, llame al (956) 996-8752 o (833) 329-8752 gratuito," Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Offices. Its help page tells callers in English and Spanish to call (956) 996-8752 to apply for free legal help Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Get Help. TRLA's Spanish page (trla.org/ayuda) asks people with a family law problem to call on Tuesdays and Thursdays during hotline hours Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Ayuda (en español).
• TexasLawHelp.org en español: It has a Spanish-language CPS section TexasLawHelp.org en español, Servicios de protección infantil (CPS). Its Spanish CPS guide gives the Family Helpline number, 844-888-6565, for free legal information about DFPS matters TexasLawHelp.org en español, guía sobre los Servicios de protección infantil.
• DFPS en español: DFPS's Spanish page says to call the 24-hour line, 1-800-252-5400, to report suspected abuse or neglect Texas DFPS, En Español. It lists the Office of Consumer Affairs at 1-800-720-7777, a toll-free line Texas DFPS, En Español. DFPS also publishes its parents' guide to investigations in Spanish. It lists the Family Helpline at (844) 888-6565, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Texas DFPS, Guía para padres sobre las investigaciones de DFPS.

Statewide numbers

• Emergency: DFPS says to call 9-1-1 Texas DFPS, Contact Us.
• Texas Abuse/Neglect Hotline: 1-800-252-5400, or report online at www.txabusehotline.org. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week Texas DFPS, Hotlines.
• DFPS Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA): (800) 720-7777, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Texas DFPS, Office of Consumer Affairs. DFPS's hotline list gives the same hours in Central Time Texas DFPS, Hotlines. The OCA handles complaints about specific cases that involve DFPS program policy Texas DFPS, Office of Consumer Affairs. You can also use its online question and complaint form, or write to OCA/DFPS, PO Box 149030, MC: Y946, Austin TX 78714-9030 Texas DFPS, Office of Consumer Affairs.
• The OCA also does formal reviews when a CPS investigation concludes that a person abused or neglected a child. DFPS used to call this the OCR review process Texas DFPS, Office of Consumer Affairs. See How to Ask for an ARIF (Administrative Review of CPS Findings) in Texas and CPS Investigation Findings in Texas: Reason to Believe, Ruled Out and More.
• The OCA does not review what courts or law enforcement do or order Texas DFPS, Office of Consumer Affairs.
• Texas Parent Helpline: 1-833-680-0611. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Texas DFPS, Hotlines.
• DFPS Records Management Group (to ask for a DFPS record): 1-877-764-7230. Open 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday Texas DFPS, Hotlines.
• Family Helpline (Texas Legal Services Center): 844-888-6565, for free legal information and education about CPS and DFPS issues TexasLawHelp.org, Child Protective Services (CPS) TexasLawHelp.org, I want help and information on dealing with Child Protective Services.

Guides that apply in Cameron County

• The Texas CPS Investigation Process, Step by Step (Family Code §§261.301–261.302)
• Your Rights When Texas CPS Contacts You (Family Code §261.307)
• CPS Investigation Findings in Texas: Reason to Believe, Ruled Out and More
• Family-Based Safety Services (FBSS) in Texas: What Families Should Know
• Court-Ordered Services in Texas CPS Cases (Family Code §264.203)
• CPS Drug Testing in Texas: What DFPS Policy Says
• Your Right to a Lawyer in a Texas CPS Case
• How to Get Your CPS Case Records in Texas

Information verified against official sources on 2026-10-02. Call ahead; hours and locations can change.