---
title: "Choose a Court and Case"
description: "Start a new case or find an existing one, then choose filing codes and additional court services."
slug: "efile-court-and-case"
category: "E-Filing"
product: "efile"
audience: "filers"
status: "published"
last_reviewed: "2026-10-28"
owner: "Referlex support"
nav_title: "Choose a Court and Case"
nav_group: "Starting a Filing"
order: 64
---
# Choose a Court and Case

## Start a New Case

Choose the new-case path when you are initiating a proceeding rather than adding a document to an existing cause.

1. Search for and select the exact court. A county may have several clerk offices, district courts, county courts, or justice courts.
2. Choose the **Case Category** returned for that court.
3. Choose the **Case Type** within that category.
4. Choose the **Filing Code** that describes your filing.
5. Continue through the court's filing options and required prompts.

Each selection determines the next set of choices. Changing the court can invalidate a category, code, payment choice, or service that was available elsewhere. Wait for the current court's choices to load and check the displayed selection before continuing.

A category is a broad grouping; a case type describes the proceeding; a filing code describes the particular item you are filing. They are not interchangeable. If an appropriate choice is missing, confirm the court and ask the clerk about its configuration. Do not choose an unrelated code simply to advance.

Referlex does not assign a new case's cause number in the draft. Watch the accepted record for the number returned through court processing.

## File Into an Existing Case

Choose the existing-case path, select the court to search, and enter the cause number. The search also offers person and business/organization criteria where supported; person search requires both first and last name.

Review the returned case before selecting it. Check the caption, parties, cause number, and actual court location. The court returned for a case can be more specific than the clerk office you searched. The returned number can also be normalized differently from what you typed. The confirmed case determines where the filing goes.

Then choose a subsequent filing code available for that case. Do not start a new case merely because an existing-case lookup is slow or unsuccessful.

## When an Existing Case Is Not Found

A genuine “no cases found” response and an unavailable CMS are different outcomes. Check the selected court and number first. Preserve punctuation and leading zeros when comparing against the court record, and use the returned case details to confirm a match.

When the court supports a **non-indexed case** path, Referlex can offer a way to file into an existing paper case that has not yet been indexed in eFileTexas. You supply the existing cause number plus the category, case type, and parties the clerk needs. This remains an existing-case filing. Use it only when it accurately describes the case and the option is offered; it is not a general workaround for a failed lookup.

## Choose Filing Options and Additional Services

Court options depend on the court and filing code. Referlex displays the available options and any extra information they require. Some selections can require a quantity or amount, and court-required options may already be selected.

Examples include copies, issuance of a citation or writ, jury fees, and mail or constable service. The actual list and prices come from the selected court. Review each selected service, enter its requested quantity or amount, and remove anything you did not intend to request. A service without a displayed price is not necessarily free.

Selecting a service is a request in the filing package. It does not by itself establish that a citation was issued or that physical service occurred. Check the court's instructions for any additional information, documents, or arrangements it requires.