Hidalgo County Court Records

Hidalgo County court records are materials submitted to or generated by court clerks during legal proceedings. They include petitions, indictments, pleadings, motions, transcripts, orders, verdicts, etc. Court records are usually in paper and electronic forms, as well as in audio and videotape recordings.

Members of the public may obtain public court records for various reasons, such as to satisfy personal curiosity or to track the status of a high-profile case. Besides these reasons, courts maintain case records because they aid judicial analysis and research. Students, attorneys, judges, and scholars can reference these documents when interpreting case law and understanding legal principles.

Are Court Records Public in Hidalgo County?

Yes. According to the Texas Public Information Act, all Hidalgo County court records are public information. Hence, court record custodians must facilitate public access to records in a reasonable time and manner. However, despite this provision, certain court case records are exempt from public disclosure (Rule 12 of the Rules of Judicial Administration). These include:

• Court records for cases involving minors, such as juvenile dependency, delinquency, and abuse.
• Records of mental health proceedings.
• Documents that contain a person’s social security number and/or similar sensitive details.
• Records related to child custody or adoption.
• Records that contain sensitive business information, such as proprietary information or trade secrets.
• Records whose disclosure puts a person’s life or property at risk.

Hidalgo County Court Records Search

Interested parties can search, inspect, and obtain copies of Hidalgo County court records at the following locations:

• The office of the clerk of the court where a case was filed
• Electronic case record search portals maintained by courts
• Third-party public record search sites.

Hidalgo County Court Records Search by Name

Various court record search resources are searchable by name. To find records using this method, a searcher must possess the full name of a case party. They can then visit the courthouse where the case was filed and submit a record request application to the court clerk’s office. Application forms are usually available at the court location or downloadable from court websites.

The application must contain the name of a record party, along with any other specifics that might aid in the identification and retrieval of the needed record. Furthermore, requesters must pay a nominal fee for record duplication (depending on the number of pages and the copy type, which could be plain or certified). Alternatively, the name-based court record search can be done remotely if the court maintains an online repository. It is also possible to lookup case records at public terminals located at the courthouse.

Hidalgo County Courts

The Hidalgo court system comprises various courts, each serving different purposes and jurisdictions. Cases are filed in courts depending on factors such as the amount of money involved, the jurisdiction where the involved parties reside, and the nature of the legal issue. The main types of courts in Hidalgo County are district courts, county courts-at-law, justices of the peace courts, municipal courts, and probate courts.

Hidalgo County District Courts
100 North Closner Boulevard
Edinburg, TX 78539
Phone: (956) 318-2200

Hidalgo County Courts at Law
100 North Closner Boulevard
Edinburg, TX 78539
Phone: (956) 318-2100
Toll-free: (888) 318-2811

Hidalgo County Probate Court
100 North Closner
Second Floor
Edinburg, TX 78539
Phone: (956) 318-2385

Hidalgo County Magistrate Court
701 El Cibolo Road
Edinburg, TX 78541
Phone: (956) 292-7180

Hidalgo County Child Protection Court
100 North Closner
Edinburg, TX 78539
Phone: (956) 318-2671
Fax: (956) 329-2825

Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, Place 1
1902 Joe Stephens Avenue
Suite 30
Weslaco, TX 78596
Phone: (956) 447-3995

Hidalgo County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2, Place 1
300 West Hall Acres
Suite F
Pharr, TX 78577
Phone: (956) 784-3540

Hidalgo County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3, Place 1
730 North Breyfogle
Suite C
Mission, TX 78574
Phone: (956) 519-8422

Hidalgo County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, Place 1
1212 South 25th Avenue
Suite A
Edinburg, TX 78542
Phone: (956) 380-4473

Hidalgo County Justice of the Peace Precinct 5, Place 1
708 East Edinburg Avenue
Suite B
Elsa, TX 78543
Phone: (956) 292-7015

Hidalgo County Court Case Search

The Hidalgo County Clerk’s Office maintains records for all cases adjudicated in various courts across the county. While individual courts typically maintain records of proceedings they handle, the county clerk is the official entity for court case searches. Searches can be performed in person at the clerk’s office, online, or via mail.

Record requests can be made by filling out the specific form that applies to the desired record and submitting it to the county clerk's office by mail or in person. Applicable fees per page of documents are $1 for plain copies and $5 for certified copies. Such requests must contain the names of parties to the case, requester information, and the requester’s preferred method of receiving the files (mail, pickup, or email). All mail requests and inquiries should be sent to:

Hidalgo County Clerk's Office
P.O. Box 58
Edinburg, Texas 78540

For in-person record inquiries and searches, contact the county clerk at

100 North Closner Street
Edinburg, TX 78539
Phone: (956) 318-2100
Toll Free: (888) 318-2811
Fax: (956) 318-2105

Remote case record searches can be performed online for a wide range of matters via the Hidalgo County Records Inquiry website. This website is searchable by case number, attorney name, and a case party’s full name. Information obtainable from this search usually includes defendant information, case types, case status, charges, case number, citation number, etc.

Hidalgo County District Court Records

Hidalgo County has a total of 13 district courts. District courts in the county are courts of general jurisdiction, meaning that they handle both criminal and civil cases, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Contract disputes
• Juvenile cases
• Capital murder cases
• Theft cases
• Burglary cases
• Personal injury litigations
• Divorce cases
• Robbery cases
• Manslaughter and assaults
• Sexual assault cases involving adults and juveniles

To obtain records for a court case filed at any of the Hidalgo County district courts, visit the District Court Clerk's Office or the specific courthouse handling the case. While record inspections at these courts are typically free, a record seeker must pay a nominal fee to cover the costs of any printouts or duplications necessitated by their search. Record researchers should contact the court before their visit for any applicable information or instructions.

Record seekers can also find all case records (both closed and opened) online when they search the Hidalgo County Records Inquiry webpage. This platform is searchable by case number, party name, citation number, and attorney name. An individual may filter the search results using a case’s filing date.

Hidalgo County Criminal Records

Hidalgo County criminal records are official documents maintained by law enforcement agencies to keep track of criminal activities committed in the county. They are classified as Hidalgo County public records, meaning they are available to any interested member of the public. However, expunged or sealed cases are non-public and, as such, are only available to authorized parties.

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) maintains a repository of information for all criminal records documented within the state. While most criminal records are not available to third parties, Texas law provides that conviction records are public information. Interested individuals may utilize the DPS Criminal History Conviction Name Search portal to access criminal records for free.

A criminal record search is an essential part of criminal background checks and may furnish a searcher with information such as the record subject’s full name, date of birth, physical description, booking information, Hidalgo County Arrest Records, etc.

Hidalgo County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Hidalgo County criminal court case records comprise all official documentation related to criminal litigation in the county. They contain important information about criminal cases, including transcripts of legal proceedings, case verdicts, and details of the charges.

A Hidalgo County criminal court case lookup can be performed online or in person at the clerk's office in the court where the case was filed. Check the appropriate court’s website for visitation guidelines and requirements, as well as contact information for further inquiries not provided on the site.

For an online search, visit the Criminal Case Records webpage. On this page, record seekers may search for records using a case number, a citation number, the name of the defendant, and the name of any attorney involved in the case. Searchers may specify a case’s filing date range to aid the search.

Get Hidalgo County Civil Court Records

Hidalgo County civil court records contain information about civil cases handled in any of the courts within the county’s judicial system. These records are available for inspection by members of the public at the office of the clerk of the courthouse where the case was adjudicated. To find records using this method, an individual must submit the name of a party, a case number, or other relevant details that may aid the search.

For remote access, civil, family, and probate case records are available online, courtesy of the Hidalgo County Government. This website can be used to perform a county-wide search for all courts located within the county. Record seekers may conduct searches using several parameters, such as the case number, the name of a party named in the case, and the attorney's name.

Hidalgo County Family Court Records

Hidalgo County family court cases fall under the jurisdiction of the county courts-at-law and district courts. The clerks of these courts are the official custodians of family court records. Municipal courts and Justices of the Peace courts only have limited jurisdiction over certain family law matters.

For remote access to records, visit the Hidalgo County Records Inquiry webpage. Record searches on this site are free. Interested parties may also contact the office of the clerk of the court that heard a particular family case to inquire about the applicable fees, information required, and procedures for accessing family records. If the court permits in-person record searches at the courthouse, requesters can submit a case’s details, such as parties’ names and case numbers, at the clerk’s office to find records.

Hidalgo Dissolution of Marriage Records

In Hidalgo County, dissolution of marriage records fall under the same category as divorce records. The difference between the two is whether or not the grounds for the divorce are the parties faulting each other. See the subsequent header for information on how to access records.

Hidalgo County Marriage and Divorce Records

Hidalgo County marriage and divorce records are court records related to the aforementioned matters. Documents that may come up during a marriage or divorce record search include marriage certificates, marriage licenses, summons, divorce decrees, alimony orders, child support orders, etc.

The Hidalgo County Clerk’s office is responsible for issuing marriage certificates and licenses for all marriages conducted in the county and also maintains a record of all such marriages. Hidalgo County district courts have jurisdiction over divorce matters and maintain all related records.

To access these records, visit the relevant record custodian. Contacting the office of the relevant record custodian before a visit can ease the record retrieval process.

A person typically needs the couple's full names, marriage date, location, and any other identifying information to search for marriage records at a clerk’s office. For divorce records, the court case number, date of divorce, and full name of parties are required.

Hidalgo Birth and Death Records

Birth and death records are generally classified as Hidalgo County vital records. As such, death and birth certificates issued in the county are subject to privacy laws. As such, they are only available to the record’s subject (for birth certificates), immediate family members, spouses, authorized entities, and other parties with legitimate reasons for seeking records.

The Texas Department of State Health Services allows interested individuals to access birth records and death records in their custody in person, online, and by mail. All requests by mail should be sent to:

Texas Vital Statistics
Department of State Health Services
P.O. Box 12040
Austin, TX 78711-2040

While certificates are not available to the public, requesting parties can obtain death verification or death verification documents. Record requesters must verify their identity by providing their social security number, proof of relationship to the record’s subject, and a state-issued ID.

To find the desired record, they typically have to provide information about the record’s subject, such as the first and last name, sex, and the first and last name of the parents. The applicable fee for a birth verification document is $22, while a death verification costs $20.

Hidalgo County Probate Court Records

The Hidalgo County Probate Court has jurisdiction over all matters of probate, including

• The declaration of heirs for deceased persons who died without a will
• The determination of guardianship for minors and incapacitated persons
• Lawsuits involving an estate of a ward or decedent

The clerk of the court is the custodian of all records related to cases filed at the court. Record seekers may use the county’s record inquiry webpage to find available probate court records or visit the clerk of court's office at:

Hidalgo County Probate Court

100 North Closner Street
Second Floor
Edinburg, TX 78539
Phone: (956) 318-2385

Hidalgo County Property Records

Hidalgo County property records are official documents about all real properties located within the county. The content of a property record varies with the document type and record custodian. Details found during a property record search typically include a legal description of the property, recording date, property address, tax information, names of grantor/grantee, etc.

While various agencies are responsible for generating property records, the Hidalgo County Clerk’s Office facilitates all property record searches. Individuals can search for property records online using the Official Records Search page provided by the county clerk. The platform is searchable by the name of a grantor or grantee. Persons can also search for property tax information online via the Property Tax Balance website.

Alternatively, record seekers may request records from the county clerk by submitting a public records request by mail. The costs per page of record documents are $1 (for plain copies) and $5 (for certified copies). Mail requests should be addressed to:

Hidalgo County Clerk's Office
100 North Closner Street
Edinburg, TX 78539
Main Office: (956) 318-2100
Toll-Free: (888) 318-2811
Fax: (956) 318-2105

Hidalgo County Court Records Online

Individuals can search online for Hidalgo County court records on official and third-party websites. Due to their multijurisdictional coverage, third-party websites like courtrecords.us are most helpful when a record seeker is not certain of the specific courthouse that adjudicated a case. Third-party record search databases typically gather information from various courts and other government sources.

To access records on these websites, a person needs to furnish the search with information about the case of interest, such as a party to the case or the case number. An advantage of these resources is that search results may include other records related to the searched name. Some are equipped with additional functionalities, such as filters and sorting parameters, for improved search results.

These websites are typically commercial and require a fee for a detailed report. Notwithstanding, record seekers may access basic case information for free. Fee payment methods vary with websites. For some websites, a one-time payment is required, while others charge on a subscription basis (usually monthly).