The Texas Conviction Database is a publicly available database maintained by the Texas Department of Public Safety (the "Department" or the “DPS"). The Conviction Database consists of public information extracted from the DPS Computerized Criminal History System. The Conviction Database contains records of “convictions” and “deferred adjudications” for Class B misdemeanor or greater offenses committed in Texas that have been reported to the DPS. But, in the past, the Conviction Database has been found to also, in some instances, contain “convictions” or “deferred adjudication” records for Class C misdemeanor offenses, if information on the offense has been reported to the Department. It is important for Texas residents or individuals arrested in Texas to understand that “convictions” or “deferred adjudications” are[…]

It is important to recognize that under Texas law a “final conviction” will generally remain on your criminal record for life. Many people mistakenly believe that a Class C misdemeanor citation in Texas, such as a “Possession of Alcohol by a Minor” citation (or an “MIP violation”), will not result in a “conviction” on their record if a plea of “no contest” is entered when paying the ticket. I cannot stress what I am about to say enough. Do not enter a plea of “no contest” and simply pay the fine because the municipal or justice court will find you “guilty,” and a “final conviction” will entered on your record! In Texas, all convictions, including “convictions” for Class C misdemeanor[…]

If a debt collector has sued you, you (or your attorney) must first file an answer to the debt collection lawsuit to prevent the debt collector from obtaining a default judgment against you. Simply put, a “default judgment” means the debt collector wins its case by “default” and the court enters a judgment in favor of the plaintiff. For a debt collection lawsuit in a justice court in Texas, the deadline to file an answer is by the end of the 14th day after the date you were served with the citation and the petition. You must file your written answer with the justice court and serve a copy of your answer on the plaintiff. Because of this short deadline[…]