Bandera County Court Records Search
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Bandera County, tucked into the Texas Hill Country, runs a court system that spans several judicial levels — from a state district court handling serious felony cases all the way down to municipal and justice of the peace courts that deal with local matters. Records from these courts cover the full spectrum of legal activity: felony proceedings, civil disputes, family law cases, probate filings, and minor offenses. Attorneys, researchers, journalists, and ordinary citizens all rely on these documents when preparing cases, conducting background checks, or simply exercising their right to access government information.
Searching court records in Texas typically takes a combination of in-person visits, online case search tools, and direct contact with records offices. TexasStateCourts.us is a useful starting point for locating publicly available case information statewide, including tools that connect to Bandera County court resources. For verified record information, the most reliable sources remain the official clerk offices, public access terminals at the courthouse, and court-maintained online databases.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Bandera County?
Two offices hold the bulk of Bandera County court records: the District Clerk and the County Clerk. Each is responsible for a different set of case types, so figuring out which office you need is the first step.
Bandera County District Clerk
Address: 3360 State Hwy 173 N, Bandera, Texas 78003
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2688, Bandera, Texas 78003
Phone: (830) 796-4606
Fax: (830) 796-8499
Jury Trial Status: (830) 796-4682
Email: districtclerk@banderacounty.org
Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m., weekends, and holidays)
Bandera County Clerk
Address: 500 Main Street, Bandera, Texas 78003
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 823, Bandera, Texas 78003
Phone: (830) 796-3332
Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
There are three main ways to search court records in Bandera County:
- Public access terminals — Free self-service terminals are available in the reception areas of both the District Clerk and County Clerk offices during regular business hours. You'll need basic case information — such as a party name — to pull up results.
- Online case search via iDocket — The county's Records Search page connects to iDocket.com, where registered users can search civil and criminal case information for Bandera County. Name searches are free and return party names, cause numbers, case types, filing dates, bond company information, and disposition details where available.
- In-person requests — Staff at either clerk's office can help you locate specific records. For older or more complex files, visiting in person during business hours is often the most efficient route.
If you need justice of the peace or municipal court records, contact those courts directly — their records are not centralized within the District or County Clerk systems.
Are Court Records Public in Bandera County?
Texas law strongly favors open access to government records. The Texas Public Information Act (TPIA), codified in Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code, establishes broad public access rights to government-held information. Court records are primarily governed by court rules, statutory authority, and common law rather than the TPIA itself — but the underlying principle of openness applies across both frameworks.
Under these rules, you can inspect and copy court documents without stating a reason. If access to a record is denied, you have the right to challenge that denial.
Some records are withheld from public access to protect privacy, safety, and legal rights. Categories generally excluded from public disclosure include:
- Sealed records — cases or documents placed under court seal by judicial order
- Expunged records — criminal records ordered expunged under the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure
- Juvenile records — records involving defendants under the age of 17, protected under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code
- Confidential personal data — home addresses, Social Security numbers, financial account details, and similar identifying information are routinely redacted from public copies under Texas Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 21c
- Attorney-client communications — privileged communications are not subject to disclosure
- Certain victim information — in family violence, sexual assault, and trafficking cases, victim identifying information is protected by statute
If you believe a denial of record access was improper, you can appeal through the Texas Attorney General's Open Government division.
Bandera County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Bandera County are handled at different court levels depending on how serious the offense is. The 198th Judicial District Court handles felony criminal cases — including offenses under Penal Code Chapters 12, 19, 20, and 22 — as a court of general jurisdiction serving both Bandera and Kerr Counties. The constitutional County Court takes Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases, while justice of the peace courts and the municipal court handle Class C misdemeanors, including traffic violations and minor city ordinance violations.
All felony case records filed in the 198th District Court are maintained by the District Clerk's office at the Bandera County Justice Center. A Standing Discovery Control Order governs felony discovery procedures in that court, and the court's Rules of Courtroom Conduct and Decorum apply to all proceedings.
Criminal court costs assessed upon conviction in the 198th District Court are as follows:
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| State Consolidated Court Cost (Felony) | $185.00 |
| Local Consolidated Court Cost (Felony) | $105.00 |
| Base Felony Court Costs | $290.00 |
| State Consolidated Court Cost (Misdemeanor) | $147.00 |
| Local Consolidated Court Cost (Misdemeanor) | $123.00 |
| Base Misdemeanor Court Costs | $270.00 |
| Time Payment Fee (after 31st day payment owed) | $15.00 |
Mandatory fines may be added for certain offenses, including child abuse prevention ($100), DWI traffic ($100), EMS and trauma facility fines for intoxication offenses ($100), and family violence fines ($50).
Arrest records are held by law enforcement agencies, not the courts. Contact the Bandera County Sheriff's Office for arrest-related information:
- Administrative office: (830) 796-4323
- 24/7 dispatch: (830) 796-3771
- Jail: (830) 796-7759
- Address: 3360 State Hwy. 173 North, P.O. Box 607, Bandera, Texas 78003
For Class C misdemeanor matters filed by the City of Bandera, the Municipal Court at 511 Main Street, Bandera, Texas 78003, Phone: (830) 796-3456, handles cases brought by the city's marshal's department, animal control, and code compliance offices.
Bandera County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Bandera County is split between the 198th District Court and the constitutional County Court, depending on the dollar amount in dispute and the nature of the case. The District Court takes civil matters involving larger monetary claims, title-to-land disputes, and other complex civil litigation. The County Court handles civil matters within its statutory jurisdictional range.
All civil case filings in the District Court carry the following fee structure:
| Fee Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Local Consolidated Fee | $213.00 |
| State Consolidated Fee | $137.00 |
| Total Civil and Family Filing Fee | $350.00 |
| Sheriff-Bailiff Fee (new cases) | $15.00 |
| Total with Bailiff Fee | $365.00 |
If you're filing within an existing civil or family case — such as a counterclaim, intervention, motion for new trial, or appeal — the total fee is $80.00. Adoptions, foreign judgment filings, occupational driver's license petitions, protective order applications, and UIFSA cases carry a total fee of $375.00.
Additional miscellaneous fees apply for individual services:
- Search fee to locate a cause number: $5.00
- Certificate and seal: $5.00
- Certified copy on paper: $1.00 per page
- Abstract of judgment: $8.00
- Court registry administration expense: 5% on funds not earning interest
The District Clerk requires mandatory e-filing for most civil cases. A Mandatory eFile Notice is available on the county website with full details on this requirement.
For small claims matters, contact the justice of the peace court in the relevant precinct. Bandera County's four JP courts are located as follows:
JP Precinct 1
1302 Cedar Street, P.O. Box 3216, Bandera, Texas 78003
Phone: (830) 796-3812 | Fax: (830) 796-3814
JP Precinct 2
Lakehills Courthouse Annex, 9155 FM 1283, Lakehills, Texas 78063
Phone: (830) 751-3535 | Fax: (830) 751-2142
JP Precinct 3
161 East Parker Street, P.O. Box 1557, Medina, Texas 78055
Phone: (830) 589-7758 | Fax: (830) 589-2209
JP Precinct 4
1300 Cedar Street, P.O. Box 1043, Bandera, Texas 78003
Phone: (830) 796-3593 | Fax: (830) 796-8169
Bandera County Family Court Records
Family law matters — divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, and protective orders — fall under the jurisdiction of the 198th District Court in Bandera County. The District Clerk's office at 3360 State Hwy 173 N maintains all family case records filed at the district level. You can search those records through the public terminals at the courthouse or through iDocket.com.
Certified copies of divorce decrees can be obtained from the District Clerk's office. The Texas Department of State Health Services also maintains statewide marriage and divorce indexes — marriages from 1966 to present and divorces from 1968 to present. These indexes include the file number, party names and ages, event date, and county of record, which makes them useful for confirmation purposes. They don't replace certified court copies, but they can help narrow down where to look.
Marriage licenses are issued and recorded by the Bandera County Clerk at 500 Main Street. Call (830) 796-3332 or stop by during office hours to inquire about marriage license records.
Family court records involving minor children — especially in custody, child support, and termination of parental rights cases — may be partially or fully sealed under the Texas Family Code. Certain identifying information about children is routinely redacted from public copies of court documents. Domestic violence protective orders are handled by the District Court, and under Texas Family Code § 81.003, the filing fee is not charged to the petitioner.
Birth and death records are separate from court records but are often needed alongside family law filings. Certified copies of birth certificates may be requested from the Bandera County Clerk using the Application for Birth Certificate form; the fee is $23 per certified copy. Certified death certificates require the Application for Death Certificate; the first copy costs $21, and each additional copy costs $4. Mail both types of applications to Bandera County Clerk, Tandie Mansfield, P.O. Box 823, Bandera, Texas 78003. Under § 552.115 of the Texas Government Code, birth records are confidential for 75 years from the date of birth, and death records are restricted for 25 years from the date of death.
Bandera County Probate Court Records
The Bandera County Constitutional County Court holds original jurisdiction over probate matters, covering the administration of decedents' estates, the probating of wills, guardianship proceedings, and conservatorships. The County Clerk is the official records custodian for all probate filings in the County Court.
To search probate records, visit the County Clerk's office at 500 Main Street during regular business hours (Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) and use the public access terminal in the reception area. The online Records Search portal — which links to iDocket — also covers county court case information, including probate filings.
Filing fees for adverse probate actions break down as follows:
| Fee Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Clerk of the Court Account | $40.00 |
| Court-Initiated Guardianship Fund | $20.00 |
| Public Probate Administrator Fund | $10.00 |
| County Records Management and Preservation | $5.00 |
| Local Consolidated Fee (Probate) | $75.00 |
| State Consolidated Fee | $45.00 |
| Adverse Probate Actions Total | $120.00 |
To request copies of probate documents, call the County Clerk directly at (830) 796-3332 or visit in person. Official public records maintained by the County Clerk — including deed and land records — can also be searched through Texas Land Records, which indexes Bandera County real property records from January 1856 to the present. For property assessment records, the Bandera Central Appraisal District maintains a Property Search tool for related inquiries.