Milam County Court Records

To initiate a criminal or civil case proceeding in Milam County, plaintiffs and prosecutors must file complaints, charges, or any other preliminary document required to kickstart a court action. These initial filings, documents submitted to the clerk throughout the proceeding, dockets created by the court, judgments, orders, and other generated paperwork are part of Milam County court records.

These records are usually obtained or inspected for the following reasons:

• Criminal background checks
• Law enforcement investigations
• Precedent research
• Genealogy research through probate, family, and guardianship records
• Financial assessments
• Tracking ongoing lawsuits
• Property ownership confirmation

Finding case information and filings is the same process as accessing other Texas court records, since individuals can use offline and online options provided by county and city courts.

Are Court Records Public in Milam County?

Yes. While the Texas judiciary is not subject to the Texas Public Information Act (PIA), common law and supreme court rules mandate court clerks to provide access to records generated during criminal and civil cases in the county.

Notwithstanding, some federal laws, state statutes (like the PIA), and court rules prohibit the disclosure of certain court records. These restricted case details and documents include Milam County arrest records that are part of juvenile proceedings, child-related matters (like adoptions, child support, and parental rights cases), medical records, identities and addresses of protected witnesses, jury information, expunged Milam County criminal records, and sensitive financial information.

In some cases, requests for protected records will be denied. However, when significant portions of the requested record are public information, court clerks will redact the protected parts. For example, names of confidential witnesses will not be disclosed in public court documents.

Milam County Court Records Search

A Milam court records search is the process of finding specific case details or ordering copies of case filings through the office of the records custodian. The County Clerk is responsible for dispensing records that emanate from the County Court, while the District Clerk provides access to filings and information created during cases heard in the District Court. Individuals can also approach the local justices of the peace and municipal courts for case records produced by these courts.

Milam County Courts

Individuals can refer to the following information to visit or contact courts within Milam County:

District Court
Milam County Courthouse
102 South Fannin Avenue
2nd Floor
Cameron, TX, 76520
Phone: (254) 697-7010
Fax: (254) 697-7012

County Court
Milam County Courthouse
102 South Fannin Avenue
1st Floor
Cameron, TX, 76520
Phone: (254) 697-7000
Fax: (254) 697-7002

Justice of the Peace Precinct 1
Blake Building
204 North Central Avenue
Suite A
Cameron, TX 76520
Phone: (254) 697-7004

Justice of the Peace Precinct 2
Blake Building
204 North Central Avenue
Suite B
Cameron, TX 76520
Phone: (254) 697-7008

Justice of the Peace Precinct 3
Milam County One Stop Center
313 North Main
Rockdale, TX 76567
Phone: (512) 446-5214
Fax: (512) 446-3098

Justice of the Peace Precinct 4
123 South Main
P.O. Box 337
Thorndale, TX 76577
Phone: (512) 898-5252
Fax: (512) 898-5424

Rockdale Municipal Court
505 West Cameron Avenue
Rockdale, TX 76567
Phone: (512) 446-0812
Fax: (512) 446-6258

Cameron Municipal Court
605 West 4th Street
Suite A
Cameron, TX 76520
Phone: (254) 697-2372
Fax: (254) 605-0602

Thorndale Municipal Court
105 North Main Street
P.O. Box 308
Thorndale, TX 76577
Phone: (512) 898-5503

Buckholts Municipal Court
113 West Main Street
Buckholts, TX 76518
Phone: (254) 593-3111

Milano Municipal Court
Milano, TX 76556
P.O. Box 52
Phone: (979) 224-0227

Milam County Criminal and Civil Records

The first step in finding court records is identifying the court with jurisdiction over the specific case that produced the documents or information sought by the searcher. To locate Milam criminal records, one must determine whether the case is a felony or misdemeanor. For civil cases (lawsuits initiated to solve disputes between two parties), the amount involved determines the custodian that must be approached. The following are record custodians for various courts and the type of records they dispense:

• Milam County Clerk

As mentioned, the county clerk maintains records that originate from county court cases. Per TX Gov't Code § 26.041, these cases include Class A and B misdemeanors, civil cases above $200 but not more than $5,000, juvenile matters, probate proceedings, and most appeals from justice and municipal courts.

The County Clerk's website features links to its published docket information and case search portal, where people can view various court case details. Interested parties can also contact the clerk's office using information from its site for inquiries concerning physical copies of court documents.

• District Clerk

The district clerk is the District Court’s records custodian. According to TX Gov't Code § 24.007, the District Court oversees civil cases where the amount in contention exceeds $500. It has exclusive jurisdiction over criminal felonies and the following civil matters:

• Slander and defamation
• Eminent domain land recovery
• Corporate charter forfeiture
• Divorce, state of escheat, land lien, and right to property (worth $500 and above) under a writ of execution, attachment, or sequestration.

The district court also handles appeals from the County Court and other courts in cases where the County Court does not have appellate jurisdiction.

One can use the case search system accessible from the District Clerk's website to view information about criminal and civil cases adjudicated by the district court. Individuals can also contact the clerk's office via its online contact form, in person, or by phone to inquire about viewing case files in person or obtaining court records.

• Justices of the peace

Justice Courts (Justice of the Peace Offices) have jurisdiction over civil cases not handled by the county and district courts where the amount in contention does not exceed $20,000. They also have jurisdiction over Class C misdemeanors, which are crimes punishable by $500 or less and without jail time. One can contact the justice of the peace court that handled a specific case to inquire about records. The Milam County precinct map can aid people in identifying the justice court with jurisdiction over specific geographic areas.

• Municipal Court Clerks

Clerks of Municipal Courts in cities within Milam County, such as Rockdale and Cameron, can provide records related to city ordinance, Class C misdemeanors, and civil matters involving dog owners that occur within city boundaries.

Interested parties should also take note of the following shared jurisdictions:

• The county and district courts share jurisdiction in civil cases worth more than $500 but not exceeding $5,000
• The justice court has concurrent jurisdiction with the county court in certain cases worth above $200 and up to $20,000

Finally, certain criminal information, such as Milam arrest records, can be obtained from local law enforcement agencies, including the Sheriff’s Office and city police departments.

Milam County Marriage Records

Milam County marriage records include marriage verification letters, marriage licenses (and certified copies) issued by the County Clerk, and indexes of marriage license applications. An interested party can contact the County Clerk to inquire about obtaining a copy of a marriage license if they need a Milam County marriage certificate for legal purposes, such as name changes and joint tax filings. The Texas Department of Health provides marriage verification letters (different from certified marriage license copies) issued from 1968 through its Vital Statistics Section.

Milam County Divorce Records

People who intend to collect or view records from divorce proceedings can follow the regular court records search process outlined earlier for District Court cases. If the person wants to obtain a divorce verification letter (cannot be used for legal processes), they can approach the Vital Statistics Section of the Texas DSHS.

Milam County Birth Records

Milam County birth records are issued upon people’s births within the county. They are categorized as vital records and are usually provided during inheritance claims processes and when proof of age, citizenship, or parenthood is required. Only the registrant (child), blood or adoptive relative, legal guardians, and legal representatives can apply for a Milam County birth certificate. Qualified requesters can fill out the application form and submit it to the clerk’s office alongside the required fee ($23 per copy) and accepted IDs.

Additionally, people can also obtain a birth certificate using methods provided by the Texas DSHS through the Vital Statistics Section.

Milam County Death Records

Documents prepared to create official accounts of people’s passing are called death records. These are also part of Milam County vital records and can be used during life insurance claims and probate proceedings. Like birth records, individuals can obtain death certificates through the office of the county clerk and the state’s vital statistics office.

Milam County Probate Court Records

Probate proceedings in the county, such as the administration of deceased people’s estates, conservatorships, guardianships, wills, and trusts, are handled by the county court. The resulting case files and other records are managed and dispensed by the county clerk. One can use the clerk’s case records search database (accessible from its website) or contact the office to ask about physical access to court documents.

Milam County Property Records

Property records are information and documents referenced during property appraisals, real estate sales, ownership verification, and assessment challenges. These records can be obtained from the following offices:

• County Clerk: Most property information, recorded documents, and estate information submitted during probate proceedings
• Tax Assessor/Collector: Tax-related records, including information prepared during property evaluations for tax levies

Milam County Court Records Online

People searching for Milam County public records can use third-party websites like Texascourtrecords.us. These sites offer search databases that contain records from various county courts and offices, which allows users to conduct searches from one place. Some searches are free, but most services these platforms offer attract specific fees. Individuals should also note that, unless otherwise stated, private websites do not represent government entities. Thus, these vendors cannot authenticate or verify the correctness of records published on their sites.