The Court Registry handles deposits of:
- Funds for a minor awarded in a District Court case. The Court Registry will hold this money in trust until the minor turns 18 or upon further order of the court
- Invested funds earn interest while uninvested funds do not
- Tendered funds from lawsuits, interplead funds, and disputed funds
- Personal property in dispute under order of the court
- Excess Proceeds
Please know we only process registry funds for district cases. Direct any registry questions about cases filed in county court to the County Clerk. Their office number is 512-854-9188.
On This Page
Investment of Funds
Rules from Local Government Code (Ch. 117) and the county’s depository determine when we can move funds into interest-bearing accounts, per court order. If the interest earned on an account is $10 or more, we will send a 1099-INT form on or before January 31 each year.
Requirements:
- A signed and file stamped order directing the clerk’s office to place the funds in an interest-bearing account. The exact amount to be deposited and invested should be noted in the order
- Custodial Account Information
- Completed W-9 Form for the minor. The form should only be signed by the parent/legal guardian or the Guardian Ad Litem
- Copy of the minor’s social security or ITIN card
Uninvested Funds
A minor’s custodial account generally refers to an account at the county depository that the clerk manages under a fiduciary capacity for a minor, a person under the age of 18, as per court order.
Requirements:
- A signed and file stamped order directing the clerk’s office to deposit the funds in the court registry. The exact amount to be deposited should be noted in the order
- Custodial Account Information
Placing Funds in the Court Registry
Funds can be placed into the court registry once the above mentioned requirements have been satisfied.
- Checks are made payable to Travis County District Clerk
- Include the case number on the check
- Provide an email or address where a receipt can be sent
- The funds and required documentation can be mailed to:
Travis County District Clerk
ATTN: Finance-Court Registry
P.O. Box 679003
Austin, Texas 78767
Change of Address
To update an address with the Court Registry, submit a brief letter including:
- Your case number
- Your new address
- Your signature
- A copy of your Texas Driver’s License or Identification Card reflecting your new address
Then, email to [email protected] or mail to:
Velva Price, Travis County District Clerk
ATTN: Court Registry
P.O. Box 679003
Austin, Texas 78767
All information provided will be kept confidential and not viewable in court case information.
Withdrawing Funds
Generally, if you recently turned 18 and are the beneficiary of funds in the registry, you can initiate the withdrawal process of the funds. Our office can provide an example of an Order to Withdraw Funds and answer general questions or you can hire a private attorney for assistance.
If you would like to have our office prepare the order, please reach out to the clerk’s office at (512) 854-5224. Keep in mind this is only needed if the final judgment does not contain specific language to release the funds when the child turns 18. Contact the Clerk’s office to find out if you’ll need any supplementary orders.
The Finance Office also requires the following information for all minor disbursements:
- Original or certified copy of the birth certificate
- Social Security Card
- Unexpired government ID/license or passport (school ID’s cannot be accepted)
- Affidavit of Payment
Once the court has signed an order, it must be filed with the Clerk’s office. After that, we will disburse the money in approximately 3-4 weeks. This is all incumbent on how much of the required information (listed above) we receive.
Administrative Fees
Travis County takes on accounting and administrative expenses for maintaining these accounts. To compensate for these incurred expenses, some fees may be withheld upon withdrawal. These are:
- 5% of total withdrawn not to exceed $50 on uninvested funds in the Registry account. (Local Government Code 117.055)
- 10% of total interest earned in any interest bearing account. (Local Government Code 117.054)
Unclaimed Funds
Any unclaimed funds by individuals 21 or older are escheated to the comptroller or the Treasurer’s office. Funds that are $100 or over will be given to the State Comptroller while sums below $100 will be forwarded to the Travis County Treasurer’s Office.
Funds that are minor-awarded, or interpleaded, that are escheated to the State may be claimed from the State Comptroller’s Unclaimed Property Division. Tendered or other types of funds may require more action from court to establish the ownership of the funds. For more information, please contact:
Comptroller of Public Accounts
Unclaimed Property Division Research and Correspondence Section
P.O. Box 12046
Austin, Texas 78711
Phone: (800) 321-2274
Excess Proceeds – Tax Sales
If property is sold in a tax foreclosure sale in Travis County and there are proceeds from the sale above the overall tax obligation, this overpayment is referred to as “excess proceeds” and is deposited with the Finance Division. Upon receipt of excess proceeds greater than $25, a certified letter is sent to the former owner within 31 days.
If no claimant establishes entitlement to the proceeds within two years after the sale of the property, the clerk’s office shall distribute the funds to each taxing unit that participated in the sale of the property (Property Tax Code 34.021).
In order to release excess proceeds, we must have a signed court order to process. The order needs to include:
- Payor’s name
- Payor’s address
- The amount of excess proceeds on deposit to be released
You may obtain an order to release excess proceeds by hiring an attorney or visiting a law library to obtain information on how to prepare an order and petition the court of record. The Travis County Law Library is located at:
Civil and Family Court Facility
1700 Guadalupe Street
2nd Floor
Austin, TX 78701 (Map)
To request a listing of excess proceeds being held in the registry, please email [email protected] (subject to applicable fees).
