Gillespie County Court Records

Criminal prosecutions and civil lawsuits produce documents, information, and other materials that make up the Gillespie court records. Clerks of presiding courts maintain these records, which are part of the broader Texas court records and include the following:

• Complaints
• Warrants
• Motions
• Orders
• Subpoenas
• Summonses
• Evidence
• Dockets
• Charges
• Sentences

Lawyers, landlords, law enforcement, and other members of the public look up court records to track cases, research legal trends, conduct background checks, and find precedents, among other reasons. Judges and other court personnel also rely on court records for adjudicative and administrative functions.

Are Court Records Public in Gillespie County?

Yes. Supreme Court rules and common law allow the public to access Gillespie County court records. Court clerks are mandated to provide resources and clear procedures for inspecting and copying court documents and related data.

However, certain records are prohibited from public disclosure by state laws, like the Texas Public Information Act, federal statutes, and court rules. These protections prevent the disclosure of sensitive information that may lead to gross violations of individual privacy, expose patented intellectual property, or put criminal investigations at risk. Examples of protected court records include social security numbers, medical records, sealed and expunged Gillespie criminal records, child support documents, and juvenile case records.

Court clerks may redact sensitive portions of a court record (when it contains public and private information) to facilitate access to members of the public. However, when the entire record is confidential by law or court order, access may only be furnished to specific entities, such as the case parties and law enforcement. Law enforcement agencies may review Gillespie arrest records and other criminal data sealed by the court for investigation purposes.

Gillespie County Court Records Search

Various offices maintain and dispense court records generated in Gillespie County, including the district clerk (for District Court cases), county clerk (County Court at Law and County Court cases), justices of the peace, and municipal court clerks. These custodians offer various methods for viewing and copying records, such as online searches, in-person inspections, and mail-in requests.

Gillespie County Courts

The following are the addresses and contact details of the courts operating in Gillespie County:

Gillespie County District Court
101 West Main Street
Mail Unit 3
Room 204
Fredericksburg, TX 78624-3700
Phone: (830) 997-6517
Fax: (830) 992-2613

Gillespie County Court at Law
101 West Main Street
Mail Unit 1
Room B-105
Fredericksburg, TX 78624-3700
Phone: (830) 307-3766
Fax: (830) 307-3783

Gillespie County Justice of the Peace Courts

Justice of the Peace (Precinct 1)
125 West Main Street
Lower Level Office
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
Phone: (830) 307-6193
Fax: (830) 990-1115

Justice of the Peace (Precinct 2)
125 West Main Street
Suite 140
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
Phone: (830) 307-3737 Ext. 2
Fax: (830) 997-1540

Justice of the Peace (Precinct 3)
125 West Main Street
Suite 140
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
Phone: (830) 307-3737 Ext. 2
Fax: (830) 997-1540

Justice of the Peace (Precinct 4)
125 West Main Street
Suite 140
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
Phone: (830) 307-3737 Ext. 4
Fax: (830) 997-1540

Municipal Courts in Gillespie County

Fredericksburg Municipal Court
103 Industrial Loop
Suite 1000
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
Phone: (830) 997-9935
Fax: (888) 269-0249

Gillespie County Criminal and Civil Records

Gillespie County criminal records include information about cases where individuals were prosecuted for allegedly violating Texas laws. Civil cases, on the other hand, are initiated by plaintiffs seeking financial damages or other relief from defendants.

People seeking such records should determine the type of case and the court where it was filed or handled. These details will allow requesters to discover which clerk's office to approach. The Gillespie County court record custodians and the records they maintain are listed below:

• District Clerk: The Gillespie County District Clerk keeps records of cases handled by the local district court. These cases include civil matters where the contested amount exceeds $500, election disputes, title disputes, dissolution of marriages, and felonies.
• County Clerk: The county clerk is the custodian of the County Court of Law records. These records emanate from class A and B misdemeanors, civil cases worth above $200 but not exceeding $20,000, guardianship and probate matters, and class C misdemeanor appeals from lower courts. The clerk allows individuals to inspect documents and order copies on-site. Requesters can contact the office regarding copy requests and certification options.

Individuals should note that the District Court and County Court at Law share jurisdiction in the following cases:

• Civil matters where the disputed amount is more than $500 but does not exceed $5,000
• Family law matters
• Juvenile law case proceedings

Be that as it may, the District Clerk is the exclusive keeper of family and juvenile law records.

The County Court at Law also has concurrent jurisdiction with Justices of the Peace in civil cases worth above $200 but no more than $20,000.

• Justice of the Peace: There are 4 Justice of the Peace precincts in Gillespie County, and they deal with civil cases, such as evictions, small claims, debt claims, and civil disagreements where the disputed amount is not more than $20,000. Justices of the Peace also adjudicate Class C misdemeanors and offenses under the Health and Safety, Penal, Alcohol and Beverage, Parks and Wildlife, and Traffic codes.

Individuals can view the Gillespie County Justice of the Peace Map to identify each court's territorial jurisdiction. That way, they can understand which precinct to contact regarding case records.

Finally, municipal courts share jurisdiction with the County Court at Law in cases of ordinance violations.

Moreover, members of the public looking for Gillespie County arrest records can approach law enforcement agencies, such as the Fredericksburg Police Department and the Gillespie County Sheriff’s Office.

Gillespie County Marriage Records

Gillespie County marriage records are legal documents used to legalize and verify marital unions within the county. Such paperwork includes marriage licenses issued by the County Clerk's office, marriage license application indexes, and verification letters. Individuals can contact the county clerk to order certified copies of marriage licenses for $7 per copy. A Gillespie County marriage certificate can be used for legal processes such as divorce, inheritance claims, joint tax filing, and insurance claims.

On the other hand, marriage verification letters, which can only be used to verify marriages (not for legal purposes), can be ordered from the Vital Statistics Section of the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).

Gillespie County Divorce Records

Divorce records emanate from dissolution of marriage cases initiated in the district court. Members of the public can use document request options provided by the District Clerk's office to obtain certified or plain copies of divorce proceedings. Interested parties can also request divorce verification letters from the Texas DSHS if they do not intend to use a divorce document for legal purposes.

Gillespie County Birth Records

Gillespie County birth records are issued to people born in the county. Individuals can order these documents from the County Clerk's office. However, only a party authorized by law (25 Texas Admin. Code §181.1) can request a Gillespie County birth certificate. Qualified applicants include the registrant, blood relatives by blood or adoption, spouses, legal guardians, and legal representatives. However, state and federal government agencies (including law enforcement) can also obtain birth records when there are genuine reasons.

Interested parties can fill out the county clerk's Application for Certified copy of Birth and Death Certificate, enclose a $23 fee (per copy) and a valid photo ID, and mail it to:

101 West Main Street
Unit 13
Cont Fredericksburg, TX 78624-3700

Individuals can also use mail-in, online, and in-person options provided by the Vital Statistics Section of the state's health department to order birth records.

Gillespie County Death Records

Death records, another type of Gillespie County vital records, document people's deaths in the county. The process outlined under the "birth records section" can be used to request and obtain certified copies of death documents from the county clerk's office. Interested parties can also order death records from the state's Vital Statistics Section.

Gillespie County Probate Court Records

Gillespie County probate court records are documents and other materials pertaining to the legal administration of a deceased person's estate in Gillespie County. The local County Court at Law handles probate cases, and the court clerk dispenses related records. Individuals can view or copy these records using the access methods provided by the office.

Gillespie County Property Records

The County Clerk's office primarily maintains Gillespie County property (land) records. Additionally, the County Tax Assessor-Collector dispenses property tax records.

Individuals can obtain real estate information from either of these offices to verify property ownership, challenge tax assessments, review transaction histories, and evaluate property liabilities, such as existing liens and outstanding taxes.

Gillespie County Court Records Online

Various private vendors, like Texascourtrecords.us, offer Gillespie County public records through central databases. Though not affiliated with courts and other government agencies, these services collate public records, including Gillespie court records, and offer them to the public. However, users are advised to verify purchased data with official custodians, since these sites do not guarantee information accuracy.