Click a link below to view detailed information:

• Depositing Funds
• Check Acceptance Policy
• Change of Address
• Withdrawing Minor Funds
• Withdrawing Other Funds
• Escheated Funds
• Accounting Statements
• Forms
• Useful Phone Numbers

By order of the court, the registry can accept the following funds:

• Funds for a minor child to be held in trust until the child reaches the age of 18, or until further order of the court.
• Funds deposited that are currently in dispute by two or more parties
• Cash bonds posted with the Civil or Family courts
• Personal property

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THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE WILL ACCEPT CHECKS FROM THE FOLLOWING:

• Attorneys with a Texas State Bar Number Card. Attorneys who are licensed out of state must provide a copy of their bar card and a copy of their state-issued ID.
• Law firms
• Bondsmen licensed in the State of Texas
• Banks located in the United States
• Major insurance companies and major corporations
• Title companies located in the United States
• Any corporation or company with a Harris County address on the check
• Certified checks, money orders, cashier’s checks and traveler’s checks dated within 90 days are accepted
• Temporary checks are accepted from attorneys with a Texas State Bar Number Card or law firms

THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE WILL NOT ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING:

• Sight drafts of any nature
• Individuals who are on the insufficient check list or who have had a history of writing insufficient checks
• Payments drawn on out-of-country banks
• Payments that have been altered
• Post-dated payments
• Third party payments
• Checks that are not signed
• Checks with different numerical and literal amounts noted

A Director or their designee, the Chief Deputy or the District Clerk must approve anyone who does not meet the criteria listed above.

To be issued a receipt, send a self-addressed stamped envelope along with your deposit and a receipt will be mailed to you. Otherwise, the receipt will be sent to the case file.

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To update your address with the Court Registry, write a brief letter notifying our office of your new address and mail to:

THERESA CHANG, DISTRICT CLERK
ATTN: COURT REGISTRY
P.O. BOX 4651
HOUSTON, TX 77210-4651

You may also fax the letter to (713) 755-6072

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If you have funds in the Registry and will be turning 18, and wish to withdraw the funds, the Registry must have a signed court order to release the funds. An order can be prepared through our office or by an attorney. Please refer to the forms link below on instructions for withdrawing funds for more details.

Once a completed application to withdraw funds has been submitted to our office, we prepare the order and send it to court where a judge must sign it. The usual timeframe is approximately six to eight weeks, depending on the court's schedule.

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If you have funds in the Registry and wish to withdraw the funds, the Registry must have a signed court order to release the funds. An order can be prepared by hiring an attorney or by going to any law library to obtain information on how to prepare an order. The Harris County Law Library is located at 1019 Congress, 17th floor.

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Unclaimed funds are subject to escheatment to the state. You may claim your money from the State Comptroller's Unclaimed Property Division. Tendered money may require further court action to determine who may claim the funds. For further information and assistance you may contact the State Comptroller's Office:

COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS
UNCLAIMED PROPERTY DIVISION
RESEARCH AND CORRESPONDENCE SECTION
P.O. BOX 12019
AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711-2011
Phone: 1-800-654-3463
http://www.window.state.tx.us/up/

To request documentation for the Department of Health and Human Services stating that you do not have funds in the registry, you may contact us at (713) 755-7925 to request the letter to be mailed to you or directly to the Investigator at the Department of Health and Human Services.

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The current interest rate is a variable rate that changes daily. The interest rate share is calculated on a pro-rata share of the daily registry balance and interest earnings. The interest accrues on the accounts daily and is compounded monthly. Interest is posted to the accounts on a monthly basis. The forms 1099-INT stating interest earned information are mailed out on an annual basis on or before January 31 if the interest earned on the account is $10.00 or more.

A Form W-9 is a Certification of Taxpayer’s Tax Identification Number. An individual has a Social Security Number whereas a company or other entity has an Employer’s Identification Number. You may obtain a Form W-9 from area banking institutions, the Internal Revenue Service Office or from our office. You may also download a Form W-9 from the Forms section on this page. Once you have completed the Form W-9, you may fax it to us at (713) 755-6072 or mail it to:

THERESA CHANG, DISTRICT CLERK
ATTN: COURT REGISTRY SECTION
P.O. BOX 4651
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77210-4651

If a form W-9 is not on file, 30% of interest is withheld in accordance with Section 3406(a) of the Internal Revenue Service Code.

To receive a statement of funds deposited into the registry of the court, you may send a letter to our office with your request, along with a self-addressed stamped envelope. If you are requesting more than one statement, please be sure the envelope has enough postage. Include the child's name and cause number in the letter.

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• Instructions for Withdrawing Funds (Minor)
• Application To Withdraw Funds
• Motion To Withdraw Funds In The Registry
• Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number
• Form W-8, Certificate of Foreign Status
• Change of Address Form
• Wire Transfer Form

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