Art. 55A.252 FILING CERTAIN PETITIONS IN JUSTICE OR MUNICIPAL COURT

If you were arrested for something that only carries a fine as punishment (like certain minor offenses), and you qualify to have your arrest records cleared, you have a simpler path available. Instead of going through a higher-level court, you can file your request in a justice court or municipal court that handles these types of cases.

You can file this request in one of two places: the county where you were actually arrested, or the county where the alleged offense took place. These might be the same place, but they don't have to be. This gives you some flexibility in choosing where to file your paperwork.

This type of filing is called "ex parte," which means you don't need the other side (like the state) to be present when you first file it. This process is meant to make clearing your record easier for minor, fine-only offenses, since these cases are generally less complicated than more serious criminal charges.