Bandera County Court Records

Bandera County Court records are official case documents, such as judgments, warrants, subpoenas, and minutes, generated or maintained by the criminal and civil courts within the county. These records serve a variety of purposes. First, they are fundamental for upholding transparency and accountability within the judicial system, as they allow the public to review past and ongoing cases.

As part of the Texas court records, Bandera County court records also:

• Assist attorneys in preparing for trials and appeals
• Help researchers and students understand legal applications in real-life scenarios
• Serve as resources for policymakers when formulating relevant rules and regulations
• Aid reviews of judicial decisions
• Facilitate criminal background checks

Are Court Records Public in Bandera County?

Yes. Per the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA), codified in Chapter 552, Texas Government Code, the state generally grants the public access to government records. Court records are generally excluded from the TPIA; public access is provided under court rule, statutory law, and common law.

State regulations permit public inspection and copying of court documents without requiring a stated reason. Requesters also have the right to appeal denials of access to court documents if they believe the denial was erroneous.

However, some records are restricted from public access to prevent the release of sensitive or confidential information. Examples include:

• Sealed or expunged records
• Juvenile court records
• Sensitive personal information, like home addresses, social security numbers, and financial details
• Communications under attorney-client privilege

These limitations exist to strike a balance between public transparency and the protection of privacy, legal rights, and public safety.

Bandera County Court Records Search

Accessing Bandera County court records is possible through several means provided by government and private entities, such as:

• A physical search at a court clerk's office
• An online search using a court's uniform case management system
• An online search on third-party websites

Bandera County Courts

The Texas 198th Judicial District serves Bandera County as a trial court with original jurisdiction over many serious matters, including felony criminal cases, civil disputes involving large monetary claims, divorce, and custody. Bandera County is also home to a constitutional county court, four justice courts, and one municipal court.

The addresses of the local courts are listed thus:

Bandera County District Court
Bandera County Justice Center
3360 State Highway 173 North
Bandera, Texas 78003
Phone: (830) 796-4606
Fax: (830) 796-8499

Bandera County Constitutional Court
500 Main Street
P.O. Box 823
Bandera, Texas 78003
Phone: (830) 796-3593
Fax: (830) 796-8169

Bandera County Justice of the Peace – Precinct I
1302 Cedar Street
P.O. Box 3216
Bandera, Texas 78003
Phone: (830) 796-3812
Fax: (830) 796-3814

Bandera County Justice of the Peace – Precinct III
Lakehills Courthouse Annex
9155 FM 1283
Lakehills, Texas 78063
Phone: (830) 751-3535
Fax: (830) 751-2142

Bandera County Justice of the Peace – Precinct III
161 East Parker Street
P.O. Box 1557
Medina, Texas 78055
Phone: (830) 589-7758
Fax: (830) 589-2209

Bandera County Justice of the Peace Precinct IV
1300 Cedar Street
P.O. Box 1043
Bandera, Texas 78003
Phone: (830) 796-3593
Fax: (830) 796-8169

Bandera County Municipal Court
511 Main Street
P.O. Box 2279
Bandera, Texas 78003
Phone: (830) 796-3456
Fax: (830) 796-4247

Bandera County Criminal and Civil Records

Interested parties can approach the Clerk of the District Court of Bandera County for Bandera County criminal and civil court records created in the local District Court. In the same way, the Bandera County Clerk keeps records of civil and criminal case documents from the county court. Requesters have a few ways to access records that these offices maintain.

To look up case information, one may use public search terminals available at the District and County Clerk's Offices. These terminals offer free services but require basic case details (such as the parties' names) to find records. However, law enforcement agencies typically manage Bandera county arrest records. 

As another option, individuals can access the clerks' Records Search page, to obtain civil and criminal court case details. Individuals are expected to subscribe to the online platform and sign in using their credentials. The service is free of charge for name searches and displays the parties involved, case type, cause number, filing date, etc.

Records from municipal and justice of the peace courts in Bandera County can be accessed by contacting the clerks in charge of the specific courts. Contact details for a court clerk's office can be found on the respective court's website.

Bandera County Marriage Records

The Bandera County Clerk maintains many of the county's public records, including marriage licenses. Consequently, interested parties can conduct a marriage license search by querying the County Clerk through any of its official channels, which include in-person visits during regular business hours at:

500 Main Street
P.O. Box 823
Bandera, Texas 78003

Interested parties may also call the County Clerk's office at (830) 796-3332 to inquire about Bandera County marriage records.

Nonetheless, the Vital Statistics Department of the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) maintains public indexes of marriages finalized within the state from 1966 to the present. Information in these indexes includes:

• File number
• Name and ages of spouses
• Marriage date
• Place of marriage

Bandera County Divorce Records

Bandera County District Court handles divorce matters, which are recorded and disseminated by the Bandera District Court Clerk's Office. Consequently, individuals can query this clerk's office in person or access the clerk's online Record Search database.

Additionally, the Texas public divorce/annulment indexes are available to find information about divorces finalized from 1968 to date. These indices contain the following divorce information:

• File number
• Name and ages of both parties
• Number of children below 18 years old
• Date of dissolution of marriage
• The county where the decree is filed

Bandera County Birth Records

Per § 552.115 of the Texas Government Code, Bandera County birth records—vital for legal identity, social services, and other government or legal purposes—are confidential for 75 years from the date of birth. Within this time, only the person named on the record or immediate family members, guardians, or legal representatives may request a certified birth record.

Qualified individuals can request a certified copy of a Bandera County birth certificate by filling out an Application for Birth Certificate and submitting it via mail to:

Bandera County Clerk
Tandie Mansfield
P.O. Box 823
Bandera, Texas 78003
Phone: (830) 796-3332

Applicants must provide notarized proof of identification, proof of their relationship with the record subject, their contact details, and specific information about the sought-after record. Each certified copy costs $23.

Bandera County Death Records

Individuals often require Bandera County death records for numerous reasons, including settling estates, genealogical research, and health statistics. However, these records are only open for public inspection and copying 25 years after the subject's demise. Within the 25-year timeframe, individuals can only obtain these records if they are family members of the deceased or can show legal documentation demonstrating a direct and tangible interest in the death certificate.

The Bandera County Clerk's Office keeps the Bandera County death records. Qualified applicants can obtain certified copies of these records by completing an Application for Death Certificate and submitting it to the mailing address on the form. The first certified copy costs $21, while extra copies cost $4 each.

Bandera County Probate Court Records

The Bandera County Constitutional County Court holds original jurisdiction over probate matters, which include wills, estate administration, and guardianships. Individuals seeking probate court records in Bandera County can direct their searches to the County Clerk's Office.

The Bandera County Clerk's Office is open during office hours to members of the public for probate court record searches. Individuals can also utilize the clerks' Record Search portal for such inquiries.

Bandera County Property Records

Property records in Bandera County include all filed or generated documents that reveal information about a property's ownership, transactions, or encumbrances. These records include deeds, liens, mortgages, and conveyances.

Individuals can request Bandera property records by contacting/visiting the local County Clerk's Office or using the online land records portal on the clerk's official website.

Additionally, the Bandera Central Appraisal District maintains records related to property assessments. These property records can be accessed in person or online via the office's Property Search platform.

Bandera County Court Records Online

Apart from government sources, credible third-party websites like Texascourtrecords.us offer a convenient means of viewing Bandera court records. These sites aggregate court case information from multiple custodians into a centralized, searchable platform, thereby allowing members of the public to access various court records without visiting different government entities or websites. However, these private vendors usually charge for their services and cannot be used to obtain certified or legally binding official documents.