Gonzales County Court Records Search
TexasStateCourts.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports. All searches conducted on TexasStateCourts.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.
Gonzales County, Texas, sits in the south-central part of the state with Gonzales city as its county seat — a county well known for its place in Texas history. Its court system processes thousands of cases each year, covering criminal prosecutions, civil disputes, family law proceedings, and probate matters. The records generated by these proceedings — charges, orders, judgments, and final dispositions — are part of the public record under Texas law. Beyond court records, other government files such as property instruments, vital records, and law enforcement documents are held by separate county offices, each with its own procedures and fees.
If you're researching Gonzales County court activity, TexasStateCourts.us can help you understand how Texas's court system is organized and identify the right court and clerk for a particular record type. You can search cases through the Texas courts' statewide online portal, through the County Clerk's self-service system, or in person at the courthouse. The sections below explain which office holds which records, what copies cost, and how to submit a request.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Gonzales County?
Gonzales County operates multiple courts, each with its own clerk and records. Finding the right record starts with figuring out which court handled the case.
Step 1 — Identify the court type:
- Felony criminal and major civil cases → District Clerk's office
- Misdemeanor criminal, probate, and civil cases under county court jurisdiction → County Clerk's office
- Small claims and Class C misdemeanors → Justice of the Peace Court
- City ordinance violations and Class C offenses within city limits → Gonzales Municipal Court
Step 2 — Search online or contact the clerk:
The main statewide online tool is re:SearchTX, operated by the Texas Office of Court Administration. You can search by party name, case number, or attorney across participating Texas courts. Keep in mind that not all historical or lower court records appear in the statewide system, so you may need to contact the clerk directly for older files or Justice of the Peace cases.
For property records, vital records indexes, and County Clerk-maintained records, the Gonzales County Clerk Self-Service portal provides online index access for Official Public Records, birth records, and death records. You can search by name and date range, and copies ordered through the portal are fulfilled by mail.
Step 3 — Request copies:
If you need certified copies or complete case files, contact the appropriate clerk's office directly, provide identifying information such as party names and approximate filing dates, and pay the applicable fees.
Are Court Records Public in Gonzales County?
Texas law treats most court records as open to public inspection. The main framework for administrative judicial records is Texas Rules of Judicial Administration, Rule 12, which requires that judicial records — other than those specifically excepted — be available for inspection and copying during regular business hours. Rule 12 covers administrative records maintained by courts and judges; access to individual case records follows common law presumptions of openness reinforced by court rules and local practices.
Certain categories of records are withheld or restricted:
- Juvenile court adjudications — sealed and not available to the general public
- Adoption records — confidential under Texas Family Code provisions
- Internal court deliberations — not subject to public inspection
- Litigation or settlement records involving judges — typically restricted
- Records concerning investigations of a person's character or conduct — may be withheld
- Vital records — birth records are restricted for 75 years under Tex. Health & Safety Code § 191.051; death records are restricted for 25 years
For most civil, criminal, probate, and family law case records, the default is public access. Sensitive personal data — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers — may be redacted from publicly accessible documents under standard court practice.
The Texas Public Information Act (Government Code Chapter 552) covers access to executive branch government records but does not directly apply to court case records. Rule 12 is the equivalent framework for the judicial branch.
Gonzales County Criminal Court Records
Criminal jurisdiction in Gonzales County is divided based on the severity of the offense.
Felony cases — including all Level 1 through State Jail Felony offenses — are prosecuted in the District Courts. Gonzales County is served by two district courts with overlapping jurisdiction across Guadalupe, Gonzales, Lavaca, and Colorado counties: the 25th District Court and the 2nd 25th District Court. District Clerk Janice Sutton maintains all felony case filings for Gonzales County.
Gonzales County District Clerk
Address: 414 St. Joseph Street, Suite 300, Gonzales, TX 78629
Phone: (830) 672-2326
Fax: (830) 672-9313
Email: jsutton@co.gonzales.tx.us
Class A and Class B misdemeanors are handled by the County Court, with records maintained by the County Clerk. Class C misdemeanors and traffic offenses fall under the Justice of the Peace Courts and, for city-related offenses, the Gonzales Municipal Court.
Justice of the Peace Courts:
| Court | Address | Phone | Fax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Precinct 1 | 414 St. Joseph St., Ste. 202, Gonzales, TX 78629 | (830) 672-3734 | (830) 672-5296 |
| Precinct 3 | 1812 E. U.S. Hwy 90, Waelder, TX 78959 | (830) 788-7762 | (830) 788-7650 |
| Precinct 4 | 603 East Central, Nixon, TX 78140 | (830) 582-1292 | (830) 582-1142 |
Gonzales Municipal Court
Address: 820 St. Joseph Street, Gonzales, TX 78629
Phone: (830) 672-2815 | Fax: (830) 672-2813
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (excluding holidays)
Court sessions: 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 2:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers
Criminal case records held by the District Clerk include charging instruments (indictments and informations), docket entries, plea agreements, trial transcripts, sentencing orders, and final judgments. Plain copies cost $1.00 per page; certified copies are $5.00 per document.
For arrest-related information, the Gonzales County Sheriff's Office is the right contact. The Sheriff maintains the county jail and handles detention records.
Gonzales County Sheriff's Office
Address: 1713 Sarah DeWitt Drive, Gonzales, TX 78629
Phone: (830) 672-6524 | Fax: (830) 672-2517
Jail Booking/Bond/Inmate Status: (830) 672-6362
The Gonzales County Jail information page provides details on inmate funds, visitation rules, and visitation schedules. It's worth noting the distinction: the Sheriff's Office holds arrest records, while the clerk's offices retain the associated court case filings and dispositions.
Gonzales County Civil Court Records
Civil disputes in Gonzales County are assigned to a court based on the amount in controversy and the nature of the claim.
- District Courts — original jurisdiction over civil matters involving $200 or more, title to land, election contests, and other matters not assigned to a lower court
- County Court — civil matters within the court's jurisdictional range
- Justice of the Peace Courts — civil claims up to $20,000, including small claims cases, under Texas Government Code § 27.031
Justice Court small claims cases allow individuals and businesses to file monetary claims without necessarily hiring an attorney. Filing fees at Justice of the Peace courts generally total $54.00 for small claims filings under applicable fee statutes; service fees are assessed separately depending on the method of service used.
For civil cases filed in the District Court, records are maintained by the District Clerk. The County Clerk maintains civil filings at the County Court level. The 2024 Gonzales County Clerk Civil Court fee schedule sets a $350.00 filing fee for civil suits and petitions for writs of garnishment. Counter-claims, cross-actions, and interventions carry an $80.00 filing fee. Citation issuance is $8.00 per citation, and service by sheriff or constable costs $100.00 per citation.
Copies of civil case records follow the general fee schedule: $1.00 per page for plain copies and $5.00 per document for certified copies. Online civil case information for district court cases can be searched through re:SearchTX.
Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and recorded instruments affecting real property in Gonzales County — are maintained by the County Clerk under Tex. Loc. Gov't Code § 192.001. These records are searchable and available for online index access and copy requests through the County Clerk Self-Service portal. Recording fees for public documents begin at $25.00 for the first page and $4.00 for each additional page. Effective December 4, 2025, under SB 16 and Local Government Code § 191.010(b), in-person document filing at the County Clerk's office requires the presenter to show valid photo identification.
Property owners can also enroll in the County Clerk's free Fraud Notify service, which sends an automated email alert whenever a document is recorded using the subscriber's name — a useful tool for detecting unauthorized conveyances or fraudulent liens.
Gonzales County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Texas — including divorce, child custody, child support, and protective orders — fall within the original jurisdiction of the District Courts. Both the 25th and 2nd 25th District Courts handle divorce and family cases in Gonzales County, and the District Clerk maintains all filings related to those proceedings.
Divorce records include the original petition, temporary orders, property settlement agreements, and the final decree of divorce. Basic case information is searchable through re:SearchTX. Most divorce proceedings are generally public, though certain sensitive details — particularly those involving minor children — may be restricted or require a court order for access.
Marriage licenses are processed by the Gonzales County Clerk. The standard marriage license fee is $81.00. A reduced fee of $21.00 applies when applicants present a premarital counseling certificate. An informal (common-law) marriage declaration costs $46.00. Certified copies of a marriage certificate are $6.00 per copy; plain copies cost $1.00 per page.
To request a certified copy of a marriage record, you must submit the Certified Copy of Marriage Certificate Application in person at the County Clerk's office with a valid government-issued photo ID.
Gonzales County Clerk
Address: 427 Saint George Street, Suite 200, Gonzales, TX 78629
Phone: (830) 672-2801 | Fax: (830) 672-2636
Child custody determinations and support orders are part of the district court case file held by the District Clerk. Protective orders, once issued, are accessible through the District Clerk, though information that could reveal the location of a protected person may be withheld.
Birth records — often needed in family proceedings to establish identity and parentage — are maintained by the County Clerk for births occurring in Gonzales County. Birth certificates cost $23.00 per copy. Because birth records are restricted for 75 years from creation under Texas law, access is limited to immediate family members, legal representatives, and persons with a demonstrated legal interest. The Birth Certificate Application is available on the County Clerk's website and can be submitted in person or by mail.
Death records are similarly maintained by the County Clerk and are restricted for 25 years from the date of creation. The fee is $21.00 for the first certified copy and $4.00 for each additional copy of the same record requested at the same time. The Death Certificate Application is available online.
Gonzales County Probate Court Records
Probate jurisdiction in Gonzales County rests with the County Court, presided over by the County Judge. The County Clerk maintains all probate filings, including wills offered for probate, applications for letters testamentary or administration, inventories of estate assets, annual and final accountings, and guardianship proceedings.
The County Clerk's overview of the probate process defines probate as the legal process for determining how a person's property and debts are handled after death. Probate records are generally public, though certain sensitive financial details or matters involving minors may carry limited access protections.
2024 Gonzales County Probate Fee Schedule:
| Application Type | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Probate of Will / Letters Testamentary | $360.00 |
| Letters of Administration | $360.00 |
| Temporary Administration | $360.00 |
| Probate of Will as Muniment of Title | $360.00 |
| Application to Determine Heirship (No Administration) | $360.00 |
| Application to Determine Heirship + Letters of Administration | $360.00 |
| Small Estate | $360.00 |
| Permanent Guardianship | $360.00 |
| Temporary Guardianship | $360.00 |
| All Other Probate (safe deposit box, foreign will, etc.) | $360.00 |
| Counter-Claim / Cross Action / Intervention / Contest | $120.00 |
| Annual Accounting | $27.00 |
| Final Accounting | $27.00 |
| Creditor's Claim | $10.00 |
| Letters of Administration/Appointment/Testamentary (each) | $2.00 |
Additional charges apply for citations ($8.00 each), posting of citation by sheriff ($10.00), personal service by sheriff or constable ($100.00), and certified mail service ($100.00 plus postage). Each proposed order costs $2.00, and each administered oath costs $2.00.
Wills for safekeeping may be deposited with the County Clerk under Texas Estates Code § 252.001(b) for a $5.00 deposit fee. A deposited will is held securely and released only to the testator during their lifetime, or to the appropriate court or authorized parties after the testator's death.
To obtain probate records, visit the County Clerk's office at 427 Saint George Street, Suite 200, Gonzales, TX 78629. Plain copies cost $1.00 per page and certified copies are $5.00 each. The County Clerk's Self-Service portal also allows index searches for probate filings, though complete document images may require an in-person or mail request. The County Clerk can be reached at (830) 672-2801.