When you file a new civil case in Texas and add service of process to the same order, InfoTrack's automated citation request tool asks the clerk for the citation, gets it back, and sends it to your process server. You don't have to chase the clerk or upload the citation yourself to start service. (You may also hear this called automated citation retrieval.)
This feature is in Beta. It's available in selected Texas courts. We add courts one at a time, after confirming how each clerk issues and returns citations.
Before you start
You can use the automated tool when:
It's a new civil case in a Texas court that supports the tool. Family, probate, and other case types use the standard workflow.
Service of process is in the same order as the filing.
You have a service address for each defendant you want served. The address is required. We fill it in from your petition when we can, so check it.
Before you submit:
Don't add your own request for issuance of citation. We add ours so the clerk links the citation to your order, and two requests on one filing can get it returned for correction. Keep your civil case information sheet and any other required documents.
Add the court's citation fees under Additional court services and fees. Some courts won't issue a citation without them.
How to turn it on
Start a new case filing and upload your petition as usual.
Select Add service of process and choose your process server.
Choose Use InfoTrack's automated citation request tool (beta). In some courts it's already selected. You'll see the court we detected and a short list of what you do and what we do.
Confirm the service address for each party you want served.
Remove any request for issuance you added.
Review Additional court services and fees and add the court's citation fees.
Review your order and submit.
Some courts need a little extra information before we can retrieve citations. If yours does, the filing form will ask for it.
What happens after you submit
You submit. Our request for issuance goes in with your petition.
The clerk accepts the filing and issues the citation. The clerk issues a citation for each defendant you're serving. Some clerks put several defendants on one document.
We get the citation, attach it to your service order, and send it to your process server. There's no review and release step. Your order moves on its own.
While you wait, your order details page shows Awaiting citations and how many parties are still waiting. The count goes down as citations arrive.
How long it takes depends on the clerk. During the Beta, citations have come back anywhere from the same day to about two weeks after filing. Courts that mail citations can take longer.
Citation fees
InfoTrack doesn't charge extra for automated citation requests. It's included in your filing and service fee. The court's own fees are separate, and some courts won't issue a citation without them.
Fee | What it is | What to add |
Issue citation | The clerk's fee to issue a citation. District clerks usually charge $8.00 per defendant. Many justice courts don't charge one. Check the court's fee list. | One Issue citation fee for each defendant |
Copy fees | Some courts charge for copies of the petition that go with the citation, for example $1.00 per page. | The copy fee the court lists |
Add whichever fees the court requires under Additional court services and fees before you submit.
Check your fees before you submit. If a required fee is missing, the clerk may not issue that defendant's citation, or your filing may be returned for correction.
If the clerk sends the citation to you
Some clerks email citations only to the attorney of record, and sometimes a clerk sends one to you instead of us. If a citation lands in your inbox, forward it or upload it. Your service order waits until we have it.
Forward it to citations@infotrack.com, with your InfoTrack order number as the subject line.
Or upload it:
Open the order details page.
On the Awaiting citations card, select Upload citation(s).
Check the parties the citation is for. One PDF can cover more than one party. Parties that already have a citation are checked and grayed out.
Add the PDF and select Confirm upload.
Uploads must be PDFs, up to 10 files at a time. Once a party's citation is in, we attach it to your service order and send it to your process server.
Courts that mail citations or hold them for pickup
A few Texas courts don't email citations. They mail them or hold them for pickup at the clerk's office. You don't need to do anything different. We still request the citation and get it to your process server. Expect it to take longer than in courts that email.
Handling citations yourself instead
On the filing form, choose I'll request and upload the citations myself. You request the citation from the clerk, upload it to your order, and review and release your service order as usual.
Choose this if you want to check each citation before service goes out, or if your court doesn't support the automated tool yet.
Common questions
Do I still need to file a request for issuance of citation?
No. When you use the automated tool, we prepare the request and file it with your petition. Leave yours out, since two requests on one filing can get it returned for correction. Keep your civil case information sheet.
Does the automated citation request tool cost extra? No. It's included in your filing and service fee. You still pay the court's own fees, like the Issue citation fee, where the court charges them.
Can I check the citation before it goes to my process server? Not on the automated path. The citation goes to your process server as soon as we attach it. You can see it on your order details page any time. If you spot a problem with a citation, message our support team right away with your order number. To check each citation first, choose I'll request and upload the citations myself when you file.
Do I still choose my process server? Yes. You choose your server when you add service of process, the same as any order. We handle the paperwork between filing and serving.
Why don't I see the automated citation option? It only appears on a new civil case, with service of process in the same order, in a court that supports the tool. We're adding courts one at a time.
Can I use it on an existing case, like an amended petition that adds a defendant? Not yet. The automated tool works on new case filings. For an existing case, request the citation from the clerk yourself.
How long does it take to get the citation? It depends on the clerk. During the Beta, citations have come back anywhere from the same day to about two weeks after filing. Courts that mail citations can take longer.
My order still says Awaiting citations. What should I do?
Check your inbox. If the clerk emailed the citation to you, forward it to citations@infotrack.com with your order number as the subject line, or upload it on the order details page.
Check that an Issue citation fee was added for each defendant, if the court charges one.
Still waiting after two weeks? Message our support team with your order number.
Does this work if I order through Clio, MyCase, or another integration? Yes. It works the same way however you place the order.
Need help?
Message our support team from the chat in InfoTrack and include your InfoTrack order number. We'll track down the citation with you.