Search Hays Court Records

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Hays County Court Records

Hays County court records are legal documentation made for case information and proceedings within the county. They contribute to the Texas court system and give interested persons insight into previous case histories and how the criminal justice system works. They also serve as a repository of future references for case rulings and judgments. A court record is created immediately a case is filed, no matter the charge that is filed against the individual.

Court records typically detail proceedings of all court cases within the county, including the criminal, civil, and probate courts. The District Courts and County Courts at Law serve as the trial-level courts in Hays County. Court records are then handled by the Hays County District Clerk and the County Clerk. The district court clerk handles felony criminal cases and family and civil cases, while the county clerk handles misdemeanours, probate, and civil cases.

The Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code Chapter 552) and the Texas Rules of Court dictate how court records are maintained. This means that as long as they are not legally restricted, a person can conduct a search for them along with other court cases. and can be made up of other public records, including vital records, arrest records, and federal case files.

Are Hays County Court Records Public?

Yes. Under the Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code Chapter 552), Hays County court records are government records, so they are public records unless otherwise restricted by law. To protect the privacy of ongoing cases or the privacy of individuals, certain information may be redacted from a court record. This includes records of juveniles, expunged records, sealed records, and adoption records. Examples of cases that are open to the public include civil cases, criminal cases, probate cases, and family court records. Public records can be accessed from the record custodian in person or online through their case search portal.

What Information is Available in Hays County Court Records?

Hays County court records include documents and information filed throughout the case as it proceeded through the criminal justice system. Typical contents of court records include

  • the case information (case number, filing date)
  • name and description of the arrestee
  • arrest information (arrest log, previous criminal history)
  • Booking information
  • description of charges
  • docket entries
  • judgements
  • exhibits, and evidence
  • affidavit
  • bond information (amount, date)
  • Warrant information

Hays County Court Records Search

There are several ways of performing a Hays County records search, including online, in person, by mail, and by phone.

  • Online Access: The Hays County Courts Records Inquiry is a local records search tool through which individuals can retrieve basic case records. It gives access to court records, including criminal Case Records, Civil, Family & Probate Case Records, court Calendar (docket), and jail records. The re: SearchTX serves as a statewide repository for all court records in Texas. It allows a search by case numbers, party names, and docket entries. Access is available for Civil, criminal, and family law records, but restricted for Juvenile and adoption cases.
  • In-Person Access: As the District Clerk’s Office and County Clerk’s Courts Division serve as the custodians of court records, individuals can visit these offices in person to conduct a court records search. Public terminals are available at the court, and admin staff can also help to locate the records and provide certified copies at a fee if requested. In-person searches are most effective for older records, as some of them are yet to be digitised.
  • Mail and Phone Requests: A written mail request, including the case number or party name, can be sent out to the custodians in a self-addressed and stamped envelope to make a court record request. Applicable fees for copying or certifying the record can be paid by check or money order along with the request. Phone requests allow individuals to confirm the availability of a record or the fees, but do not give access to actual copies of the record. The mailing addresses are as follows:
    Hays County District Clerk

Hays County Government Centre

Suite 2211

712 S. Stagecoach Trail

San Marcos, TX 78666

Fees for Court Records in Hays County

To conduct a court record search, the county publishes the applicable fee structure for phone and in-person requests. It costs $1.00 for the first 10 pages, $0.10 for subsequent electronic copies, $1.00 a page for certified copies, and $5.00 to get an embossed seal on the record. While a basic docket search is free at the public terminals provided at the courthouse, it costs $5 each to perform a specific name search, and it takes 5 business days to receive results. Online access to court records through re: SearchTX attracts fees per page instead of online subscriptions, and the final fee is determined by the volume of documents retrieved.

As the official recorder, the county clerk also provides access to vital records at a separate fee structure from court records. It costs $23 for each copy of a birth certificate, $21 for death certificates (plus $4 for additional copies), and $21 for a certified copy of a marriage record. A price quote for court records can be requested by phone or email at distclerk@hayscountytx.gov, and payment can be made by credit card through the county’s certified payment platform. Individuals are required to pay for the search in advance before it can be completed.

Hays County Courthouse Locations

Hays County Courthouse Locations and their contact information are listed as follows:

Hays County Government Centre

712 S Stagecoach Trail,

San Marcos, TX 78666

Phone: (512) 393-7700

Case Types: The District Court handles felony criminal, civil, and family law. The County Courts at Law handle misdemeanours, probate, guardianship, juvenile, and traffic appeals.

Hays County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2 (Buda)

500 Jack C Hays Trail,

Buda, TX 78610

Phone: (512) 295-2462

Case Types: Handles traffic violations, small claims, evictions, and Class C misdemeanours.

Hays County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2 Office (Kyle)

5458 FM 2770,

Kyle, TX 78640

Phone: (512) 268-5316

Case Types: Handles small claims, traffic, and minor criminal matters.

Hays County Historic Courthouse

111 E San Antonio Street

San Marcos, TX 78666

Phone: (512) 393-7779

Case Types: Handles admin functions only

Criminal Records Access in Hays County

Individuals can conduct an online search for local criminal records using the Hays County Courts Records Inquiry tool. The criminal case search tool allows a search by party information, date of birth, date filed, and case status. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), through its Crime Records Service, gives individuals access to conduct statewide criminal history checks. It does this through fingerprint-based background checks and the state’s Computerised Criminal History (CCH) system that records arrests, prosecutions, and case status across all Texas Counties.

To conduct in-person searches, individuals can visit the courthouses or the clerk’s office and use the public terminals available. The Hays County District Clerk’s Office gives access to felony cases, while the courts division of the county clerk’s office gives access to misdemeanours. It is important to visit the right office, as Hays County has two official record custodians for court records.

Hays County Probate Records

Hays County probate records are legal documents that record how estates are distributed or how guardians and trusts are administered according to the wishes of a decedent. Probate records include wills, estate administration, guardianship, and conservatorships. Probate records commonly include wills, estate records or administration records, conservatorships, and guardianships.

Through their records inquiry tool, Hays County provides a Civil, Family & Probate Case Records search tool through which they provide access to local probate records. A search of the database can be completed using party information, case status, and date filed. The state public search tool, re: SearchTX, gives online access to recent probate filings, but they are not usually the most up-to-date records.

Hays County Family Court Records

Hays County Family Court Records document legal proceedings concerning adoption, divorce, child support, and other family-related matters. The County Clerk Courts Division maintains these records and makes them available online through the Civil, Family & Probate Case Records portal. Statewide family records are also available through re: SearchTX, but cases like adoption and information on minors are not publicly available. To request a certified copy of family records, individuals have to contact the record custodian in person or send a mail request and pay the applicable fees for the service.

Federal Court Records in Hays County

There is no federal courthouse in Hays County. Federal cases are transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, either in Austin or San Antonio. The U.S. District Court Clerk is the custodian of federal court cases all over Texas. To access federal court records, interested individuals can visit the district court clerk’s office in person or use the state’s federal online database PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). To complete a search on PACER, individuals are required to register on the platform and pay per page retrieved for their search.


Hays County Court