Gaines County Court Records Search

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    Gaines County sits in the oil-rich plains of West Texas, with Seminole as the county seat. The county's courts handle everything from felony prosecutions and civil disputes to probate filings and minor traffic offenses. Records from these proceedings — pleadings, judgments, orders, affidavits, and case filings — are kept by designated court clerks and are generally open to the public under Texas law, with certain statutory exceptions.

    Finding court case information in Gaines County usually involves a visit to a clerk's office, an online case search, or a written records request. TexasStateCourts.us offers a statewide resource for locating publicly available case information across Texas counties, including Gaines. For county-specific records, start with the District Clerk and County Clerk offices in Seminole.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Gaines County?

    The District Clerk and the County Clerk are the two offices that hold Gaines County court records. Which one you need depends on the type of case and the court where it was filed.

    Gaines County District Clerk
    Address: 101 S. Main Street, Room 311, Seminole, TX 79360
    Phone: (432) 758-4013
    Fax: (432) 955-1013
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

    Gaines County Clerk
    Address: 101 South Main Street, Room 206, Seminole, TX 79360
    Phone: (432) 758-4003
    Fax: (432) 955-1003
    Toll-Free: (866) 652-0111
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

    You have several options for accessing court records:

    • Visit in person — Both clerk offices are open during regular business hours. Bring identifying details about the case — the names of the parties, the case number, or the approximate filing date — to help staff locate the record quickly.
    • Submit a written open records request — The county's Open Records Request form is available on the official Gaines County website and can be submitted to the appropriate clerk's office.
    • Search online via re:SearchTX — The Texas Office of Court Administration runs re:SearchTX, a statewide case search platform that covers civil cases from district, county, and justice of the peace courts across all 254 Texas counties, including Gaines.
    • Mail requests — Written requests sent to either clerk's office should include the case name or number, your identification, and prepayment for copy fees where applicable.

    If you need records from a justice of the peace or municipal court, contact that specific court directly — those records are not centralized within the District or County Clerk systems.

    Are Court Records Public in Gaines County?

    Most court records filed in Gaines County are open to public inspection. Access is governed primarily by court rules, common law, and specific Texas statutes rather than the Texas Public Information Act (Chapter 552, Government Code), which covers governmental administrative records rather than court case files. Rule 12 of the Texas Rules of Judicial Administration specifically governs access to judicial administrative records, establishing both a public access framework and a defined appeal process for those denied access.

    You can inspect or copy court records without explaining your reason for the request. Standard copy fees apply — typically $1 per page for paper copies, plus a $5 certification fee per document when a certified copy is needed.

    That said, not every court record is publicly available. Categories that are routinely restricted or sealed include:

    • Adoption records — sealed by statute to protect the identities of the parties involved
    • Juvenile case files — protected under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code
    • Guardianship records — may carry confidentiality protections depending on the nature of the proceeding
    • Family law cases involving child abuse or custody — portions of these files may be sealed or redacted
    • Mental health commitment records — confidential under the Texas Health and Safety Code
    • Sealed records — any record placed under seal by judicial order is inaccessible without a court order lifting the seal

    If you are denied access to a judicial record, you may appeal that denial through the Administrative Director of the Texas Office of Court Administration under Rule 12 procedures.

    Gaines County Criminal Court Records

    Criminal cases in Gaines County are divided between courts based on the severity of the offense. The 106th District Court, presided over by Judge Reed Filley (P.O. Box 1268, Lamesa, TX 79331; Phone: (806) 872-3740; Fax: (806) 872-7810), handles felony criminal cases. The 106th is a multi-county court serving Dawson, Gaines, Garza, and other counties in West Texas. The Gaines County Constitutional County Court handles Class A and Class B misdemeanors, while justice of the peace and municipal courts take Class C misdemeanor matters.

    All felony case records filed in the 106th District Court are maintained by the District Clerk's office in Room 311 of the Gaines County Courthouse. The District Court Calendar is available on the county website, and the District Clerk Appointments and Fees page provides monthly docket schedules going back several years. The County Court docket is also publicly accessible and lists arraignment dockets at 9:00 a.m. and pre-trial dockets at 2:00 p.m.

    For arrest-related information, contact the Gaines County Sheriff's Office:

    Gaines County Sheriff's Office
    Address: Gaines County Law Enforcement Center, 305 E Avenue A, Seminole, Texas 79360
    24-Hour Dispatch: (432) 758-9871
    Administrative Office: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
    Fax: (432) 955-1010
    Crime Line/Tips: (432) 758-4025

    You can check the custody status of individuals held at the Gaines County Jail through VINELink, the statewide offender notification system. Arrest records are kept by law enforcement agencies rather than court clerks and are subject to separate public access rules.

    One important restriction: under Texas law, expunged criminal records and records covered by orders of nondisclosure are not available to the public. Individuals who successfully complete deferred adjudication or meet other statutory criteria may petition the court for nondisclosure.

    Gaines County Civil Court Records

    Civil litigation in Gaines County falls under the 106th District Court for larger claims and complex matters, and the Constitutional County Court for cases within its statutory dollar-amount range. Justice of the peace courts handle small claims cases. The District Clerk maintains civil case filings for the district court, and the County Clerk handles civil matters at the county court level.

    Civil filing fees for the 106th District Court were revised in January 2024. The District Clerk's civil fees and court costs schedule is available on the county website. The County Clerk's fee schedule, also updated as of January 2024, covers filings at the county court level.

    Standard copy and certification fees for civil records are as follows:

    ServiceFee
    Paper copy (per page)$1.00
    Certification per document$5.00
    Marriage certificate$21.00

    To request certified copies of civil court documents, the County Clerk's office provides a Request for Certified Copies instruction document. Credit card payments are accepted through Bureau Code 9891713 at CertifiedPayments.net.

    For broader case searching, re:SearchTX includes civil case data from Gaines County district and county courts, letting you search by party name or case number at no cost. If you need additional legal guidance, texascourthelp.gov is the state's self-help legal resource maintained by the Texas courts.

    Justice of the Peace Courts in Gaines County:

    JP Precinct 1
    Address: 101 South Main Street, Room 311, Seminole, Texas 79360
    Phone: (432) 758-4015 | Fax: (432) 955-1027

    JP Precinct 2
    Address: 311 Hills Street, Seagraves, Texas 79359
    Phone: (806) 546-2666

    Seagraves Municipal Court
    Address: 205 Corners Avenue, Seagraves, Texas 79359
    Phone: (806) 387-3437
    Website: Seagraves Municipal Court

    Seminole Municipal Court
    Address: City Hall, 302 South Main Street, Seminole, Texas 79360
    Phone: (432) 758-8800
    Website: Seminole Municipal Court

    Gaines County Family Court Records

    The 106th District Court handles all family law matters in Gaines County — divorce proceedings, child custody determinations, child support orders, adoptions, termination of parental rights, and domestic violence protective orders. The District Clerk's office in Room 311 of the courthouse maintains all family case files originating in the district court.

    If you need a copy of a divorce decree, contact the District Clerk and provide the names of the parties and the approximate filing date. Standard copy fees apply, and certified copies carry a $5 certification fee per document. Courts may seal sensitive information within divorce files — particularly those involving minor children, child support details, or domestic violence allegations — so not every document in a family law file may be accessible to the general public.

    Marriage licenses are issued and recorded by the Gaines County Clerk. Applications can be submitted in person at Room 206 of the courthouse or completed online through the county's Online Marriage License Application portal. The fee for a marriage certificate is $21.

    Birth and death records are also maintained by the County Clerk and are frequently needed in family law proceedings. Under Texas Government Code § 552.115, birth records are confidential for 75 years from the date of birth, and death records remain restricted for 25 years following the date of death. During those periods, only the person named on the record, immediate family members, legal guardians, or authorized representatives may obtain certified copies. To request a birth or death certificate, complete the Birth/Death Certificate Application and submit it with a valid photo ID to the County Clerk's office. Birth certificates cost $23; death certificates cost $21 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy requested at the same time. Submitting false information on these applications is a felony offense under Texas Health & Safety Code § 195.003.

    If you need appointment of counsel in a criminal or family matter, submit the Request for Appointment of Counsel Form — which must be notarized — to the Court Coordinator, P.O. Box 847, Seminole, TX 79360, or deliver it in person to Room 204 of the courthouse.

    Gaines County Probate Court Records

    Probate proceedings in Gaines County — estate administration, will probating, guardianships, and conservatorships — are overseen by the Gaines County Constitutional County Court. The County Clerk at Room 206 of the courthouse maintains all probate case records.

    To search for a probate record, visit the County Clerk's office in person during business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) and provide the decedent's name or estate case number. Staff will locate the file and make non-confidential documents available for inspection or copying. Certified copies carry the standard $5 per-document fee, plus $1 per page for paper copies.

    Most probate filings are public records, but guardianship case files may contain confidential information and could be subject to court-ordered restrictions. If you believe you have a legal right to a restricted probate record, consult with an attorney or submit a written request explaining the basis for access.

    For deed records, liens, and other property-related instruments commonly associated with estate matters, the County Clerk also maintains a searchable index of official public records. Electronic recording is available through eRecording.com using toll-free support at (866) 652-0111 or by emailing erecording@cscglobal.com. Property valuation and ownership records are maintained separately by the Gaines County Appraisal District at 302 S.E. Ave B, Seminole, Texas 79360, Phone: (432) 758-3263, which provides an online property search tool on its website. Appeals of district court decisions in Gaines County are heard by the 11th Court of Appeals, which serves the region.