Medina County, Texas Court Records
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Medina County, Texas maintains official court records across its district court, county court at law, justice courts, and municipal courts. These records document the full arc of judicial proceedings — civil disputes, criminal prosecutions, family matters, and probate administration — and typically include case party information, document numbers, significant court dates, motions, orders, and exhibits. The Medina County District Clerk and the County Clerk share responsibility for maintaining these records depending on the type of case involved.
Court records in Texas can be searched through a combination of official clerk offices, public access terminals at the courthouse, dedicated online portals, and statewide judicial tools. TexasStateCourts.us can help users navigate publicly available court case information across Texas, including records from Medina County courts. Most records are accessible in person during business hours, and a growing number are available through online case search systems at no cost.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Medina County?
Where you start depends on which court handled the case. District court records are maintained by the District Clerk, while county court at law, probate, and most civil records fall under the County Clerk.
Primary Online Search Tools
- Medina County Case Records Search Portal — The county's official public access case records portal, powered by Tyler Technologies, lets the public search criminal case records, civil and family case records, probate filings, and the court calendar at no charge. You can filter searches by court, case type, party name, or case number.
- Texas Judicial Branch Case Search — The Texas Judicial Branch maintains a statewide searchable database covering Medina County cases adjudicated at the district and appellate levels.
- iDocket — The District Clerk also references iDocket.com as an additional resource for searching district court case records and viewing case images.
- Official Records Search — For deed and instrument records maintained by the County Clerk, the Medina County Official Records Search provides online index and full-text searches of recorded documents.
In-Person Requests
Both the District Clerk and County Clerk accept in-person record requests during regular office hours. Bring identifying information about the case — at minimum the party's full name, case number if you have it, and the approximate filing date.
Record Search by Clerk or Deputy
Under Texas Government Code 51.318, if a County Clerk or deputy conducts a records search on your behalf, a fee of $5.00 per name per 10-year period searched applies.
Are Court Records Public in Medina County?
Texas law establishes a strong presumption in favor of public access to government records. The Texas Public Information Act, codified at Texas Government Code Chapter 552, entitles any person — not just Texas residents — to request records held by public governmental bodies, including court offices. That right of access is not unlimited, however.
The following categories of court records are generally exempt from public disclosure in Medina County:
- Judicial work products and deliberative drafts used by court officials in a decision-making capacity
- Internal court deliberations on administrative matters
- Documents exempted from disclosure under state or federal statutes
- Records revealing personal identifying information about crime victims, minors, or witnesses
- Personnel files of court-appointed or elected officials
- Settlement delegation communications and related confidential documents
When a record contains both public and restricted information, clerks may redact the confidential portions and release the rest. If you believe a record has been improperly withheld, you can seek a ruling from the Texas Attorney General's Office.
Medina County Criminal Court Records
Criminal proceedings in Medina County are handled primarily by the 38th District Court and the Medina County Court at Law, each maintaining separate dockets based on the severity of the offense.
Medina County 38th District Court
Address: 1100 16th Street, Suite 209, Hondo, TX 78861
Phone: (830) 741-6070
Fax: (830) 741-6015
Medina County Court at Law
Address: 1300 Avenue M, Room 248, Hondo, TX 78861
Phone: (830) 741-6060
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed for lunch 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.)
The District Clerk's Office manages criminal filings originating from the 38th District Court, while the County Court at Law handles misdemeanor criminal matters. Criminal case records from 1990 to the present are searchable through the District Clerk's public access portal, which includes case status, hearing dates, and docket entries.
District Clerk's Office
Address: Courthouse Annex, 1300 Avenue M, Room 201, Hondo, TX 78861
Phone: (830) 741-6070
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Arrest Records and Criminal History
Arrest records in Medina County are maintained by the Medina County Sheriff's Office. You can submit a records request using the Sheriff's Office Public Records Request Form available on the Sheriff's website.
Medina County Sheriff's Office
Address: 801 Avenue Y, Hondo, TX 78861
Administrative Phone: (830) 741-6150
Communications: (830) 741-6153
Fax: (830) 741-6156
For broader statewide criminal background information, requests may be directed to the Texas Department of Public Safety, which maintains the state's criminal history repository.
Medina County Civil Court Records
Civil court records in Medina County cover a wide range of disputes — contract claims, property disagreements, foreclosures, liens, and general civil litigation. These records are distributed across several courts depending on the dollar amount and nature of the claim.
Courts Handling Civil Matters
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Medina County Constitutional Court | 1100 16th Street, #109, Hondo, TX 78861 | (830) 741-6040 |
| Medina County Court at Law | 1300 Ave M, Rm 248, Hondo, TX 78861 | (830) 741-6060 |
| JP Precinct 1 (Small Claims) | 1100 16th Street, Room 202, Hondo, TX 78861 | (830) 741-6050 |
| JP Precinct 2 | 8366 FM 471 South, #107, Castroville, TX 78009 | (830) 931-4010 |
| JP Precinct 3 | 1100 16th Street, #103, Hondo, TX 78861 | (830) 741-6030 |
| JP Precinct 4 | 317 Highway 132 North, Devine, TX 78016 | (830) 665-8020 |
Small Claims Court
Small claims cases are filed with the Justice of the Peace courts. Texas law allows small claims filings for disputes involving $20,000 or less. The Justice of the Peace courts page offers procedural guides for filing small claims and eviction cases.
Requesting Civil Records
Civil case records can be searched online through the county's public access case records portal by selecting Civil, Family & Probate Case Records. In-person requests at the District Clerk's or County Clerk's office are also available. Copy fees collected by the County Clerk are:
- Plain (uncertified) copies: $1.00 per page
- Certified copies: $5.00 certification fee plus $1.00 per page
County Clerk's Office
Address: Medina County Courthouse, 1100 16th Street, Hondo, TX 78861
Phone: (830) 741-6000
Fax: (830) 741-6015
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Medina County Family Court Records
Family law matters — including divorce, child custody, child support, adoptions, and protective orders — are heard in the Medina County Court at Law and the 38th District Court. These proceedings generate records that are largely accessible to the public, though documents involving minors or victim identifying information may be restricted or redacted.
Divorce Records
Divorce proceedings in Medina County are filed with the district court, and the District Clerk manages those records. The public access portal allows online searches of dissolution of marriage cases from 1990 to the present. In-person requests may be made at the District Clerk's Office at 1300 Avenue M, Room 201, Hondo, TX 78861, during regular hours.
The Medina County Court at Law requires that all divorce proceedings use a Final Decree of Divorce prepared by a licensed attorney or the most current standardized form from TexasLawHelp.org. The court does not accept affidavits to prove up a divorce.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses are issued and recorded by the Medina County Clerk. To obtain a certified copy of a marriage record:
- Download and complete the marriage records application form.
- Include a $21.00 fee for a certified copy. Mail-in payments must be money orders or checks made payable to the Medina County Clerk.
- Submit the form and payment by mail or in person to:
Medina County Clerk's Office
1100 16th Street, Hondo, TX 78861
Phone: (830) 741-6000
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death certificates are maintained by the Medina County Clerk's Office at a separate vital records address:
Medina County Clerk's Office Vital Records
Attn: Birth/Death Certificate
1300 Avenue M, Room 163, Hondo, TX 78861
To request a birth certificate, submit the birth certificate application form along with a notarized copy of valid identification and a $23.00 money order payable to the Medina County Clerk. Birth records are restricted to the record subject, immediate family members, and legal guardians.
To request a death certificate, submit the same application form for death records with a notarized ID copy and a $21.00 money order. Death certificates are commonly needed for estate settlement and asset recovery proceedings.
Both types of requests may be submitted in person or by mail.
Child Custody and Support
Child custody and support matters in Medina County are handled through the district and county courts at law. Parties with questions about child support orders can contact the District Clerk's Office at (830) 741-6070 or the County Court at Law coordinator at (830) 741-6060.
Medina County Probate Court Records
Probate proceedings in Medina County — including estate administration, will validation, name changes, and guardianships — fall under the jurisdiction of the Medina County Clerk's Office, which maintains all records associated with these cases.
How to Access Probate Records
Probate records may be accessed through the following methods:
- Online: Use the Medina County Case Records Search portal and select Civil, Family & Probate Case Records to search by party name or case number. The County Clerk's Office also offers an online records search through the Official Records Search portal for recorded instruments.
- In Person: Visit the Medina County Courthouse during business hours and submit a request at the County Clerk's window. Staff can locate and print probate case documents for the applicable copy fee.
- By Mail: Submit a written request describing the case and the documents needed, along with payment, to:
Medina County Clerk's Office
1100 16th Street, Hondo, TX 78861
Phone: (830) 741-6000
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The County Clerk also handles e-filing for probate and guardianship cases. Attorneys and self-represented parties interested in electronic filing should contact the Clerk's Office directly to be set up in the system.
Copy fees for probate records follow the same schedule as other County Clerk records: $1.00 per page for plain copies and $5.00 plus $1.00 per page for certified copies. A $5.00 per name fee applies when the Clerk or a deputy conducts a records search on your behalf, per Texas Government Code 51.318.