Starr County Court Records

Starr County court records are the official recordings of the proceedings and the resulting action taken by the court. These records help attorneys study past cases for reference and to help make decisions in present cases. They are also helpful to the general public in acquiring information regarding cases so that the judiciary's transparency is maintained. Starr County court records are sometimes used for background checks or research to furnish information on legal trends and fluctuations.

Most of the common details in Starr County court records relate to case information, which involves case number, case type, and filing date, while party information concerns plaintiffs, defendants, and their representatives. The records also summarize the court proceedings, including hearing dates of motions, orders, and judgment dates. Documents like pleadings, exhibits, and transcripts are also included in court records.

Are Court Records Public in Starr County?

Yes. According to the Texas Rules of Judicial Administration Rule 12, Starr County court records are open to the public. This means that all court records, whether from civil, criminal, probate, or family law cases, are freely open for perusal to the general public.

However, not all types of access to court records come without certain restrictions and limitations:

• Juvenile records: Documents concerning juveniles from the court are usually sealed to ensure the children's identity is not revealed for privacy reasons. Such records are not available to the public.
• Adoption cases: Adoption records concern privacy matters of both adopted and adoptive families and thus are not accessible to the general public without court intervention.
• Mental health proceedings: The case records concerning mental health are usually kept secret because of the sensitive nature of the information to protect the privacy of medical and mental health cases of individuals.
• Records sealed or expunged: If the court directs that the record be either expunged or sealed, it is considered a public access block.
• Public Records Redaction: Many times, personal information, including Social Security numbers or financial and medical information, needs to be eliminated from public records so as not to violate someone's privacy or break the law in some other way.

Starr County Court Records Search

A general search of the court records in Starr County can be done through various avenues. These methods are described below:

• In-Person Requests: Inquirers can make their requests in person at the courthouse clerk's office. In this regard, requestors have the added advantage of receiving immediate assistance and access to court records and having the opportunity to ask questions and further clarify specific details about their request.
• Third-Party Services: Several third-party sites allow access to the court records specific to Starr County. Such systems generally collate information from several sources into one easily accessible location.

Starr County Courts

Starr County features several types of courts, each with specific jurisdiction and responsibilities. The addresses of these courts are listed below.

381st District Court
401 North Britton Avenue
Rio Grande City, TX 78582
Phone: (956) 716-4800

229th District Court
401 Britton Avenue
Room 304
Rio Grande City, TX 78582,
Phone: (956) 716-4800

Starr County Court at Law
401 Britton Avenue
Room 305
Rio Grande City, TX 78582
Phone: (956) 716-4800

Justice of the Peace Courts
Precinct 1
4192 U.S. Highway 83
Rio Grande City, TX 78582
Phone: (956) 317-1610

Precinct 2
1705 North Athens Street
Roma, TX 78584
Phone: (956) 849-1253

Precinct 3
530 Gabriela Street
Rio Grande City, TX 78582
Phone: (956) 487-7049

Precinct 4
401 North Britton Avenue
Room 403
Rio Grande City, TX 78582
Phone: (956) 716-4800 ext. 8244

Precinct 5
8938 North FM 755
Santa Elena, TX 78591
Phone: (956) 481-3210

Precinct 6
6165 FM 1430 Road
Rio Grande City, TX 78582
Phone: (956) 487-7180

Precinct 7
78 Salineno Road
Roma, TX 78584
Phone: (956) 848-5717

Precinct 8
5095 Old Escobares Highway 83
Roma, TX 78584
Phone: (956) 849-7450

Municipal Courts
Rio Grande City Municipal Court
404 East Main Street
Rio Grande City, TX 78582
Phone: (956) 487-8889

Roma Municipal Courts
1101 North Grant Street
Roma, TX 78584
Phone: (956) 849-1915

Starr County Criminal Records

Starr County criminal records are kept by separate law enforcement departments: the Starr County Sheriff's Office and the different police departments in each town, such as the Rio Grande City Police Department, Roma Police Department, and Escobares Police Department. These records provide comprehensive information about a person's criminal history, including Starr County arrest records, charges, convictions, and other court dispositions that must be recorded about criminal violations.

Criminal records in Starr County are under public access availability; however, most of these are controlled by state and federal laws. A few of these records are restricted or sealed, especially juvenile-based or sensitive ones. Public members can ask for arrest, warrant, and criminal case records, depending on the type and applicability of the information.

Major sources for getting Starr County criminal records include the following:

The Starr County Sheriff's Office: One of the primary resources for accessing criminal records is the sheriff's office. Inquirers may request these records in person, by sending a written request through the mail, or by phoning the record custodian.

Local Police Departments: In Starr County, each police department—the Rio Grande City Police Department, Roma Police Department, and Escobares Police Department—retains records to itself. A person can query them directly in person, by telephone, or by sending a written request to the respective department.

Background Check Services: If additional criminal record information is required, requesters can use third-party background check services, which compile public records from an extensive range of jurisdictions, including Starr County.

Get Starr County Civil Court Records

Starr County civil court records usually involve:

• Divorce or family law-related issues.
• Contract disputes.
• Accidents.
• Landlord-tenant disputes.
• Probate and estate issues.
• Small claims cases.
• Disputes over property or real estate.

The Starr County District Clerk's Office maintains district court records, including civil matters. At the same time, it manages records for probate cases, certain family law issues, and other civil disputes under its jurisdiction. Individuals can contact either the District Clerk's office or the County Clerk's office for any civil court records.

For those seeking in-person access, the Starr County District Clerk is located at

401 North Britton Avenue
Rio Grande City, TX 78582

The County Clerk's Office can be found at

401 North Britton Avenue
Room 201
Rio Grande City, Texas 78582

Requesters must have specific information such as the case number, names of involved parties, or the filing date to expedite the search process at the offices.

Individuals can also call the District Clerk at (956) 716-4800 ext. 8482 or the County Clerk at (956) 716-4800 ext. 8032 for more information. Those requesting records by mail should write a formal request including the relevant details (such as case number and desired documents) and send it to the District Clerk's address.

Individuals should note that they must add any applicable fees, depending on the nature of the request, number of pages, or certified copies.

Starr County Marriage Records

Starr County marriage records are public documents kept by the Starr County Clerk. These are available upon demand to anyone who may require them, showing marriages from when such events began being recorded in the county.

A copy of a Starr County marriage certificate can be obtained upon visiting the Starr County Clerk's office and submitting the "Application for Marriage Certificate form" to said office in person or via mail.

When making a mail request, including a check or money order to cover any applicable fees is important. This request should be sent to the same address as the office location.

There is typically a fee for obtaining certified copies of marriage records.

Starr County Divorce Records

Starr County divorce records are Starr County public records and can be requested by individuals who are parties to the divorce or by those with a legitimate interest in the record. Typical contents of the record include the divorce decree and all related documents (motions and orders filed in the proceedings).

Starr County divorce records can be requested from the Starr County District Clerk's Office in person or by mail. Anyone requesting records by mail is encouraged to include vital information such as a list of parties' names, the date of divorce, and the case number, if known.

Applicants for these records are usually asked to present identification to prove their eligibility status. Some charge a minimal fee for issuing a duplicate copy of the divorce record.

Starr County Birth and Death Records

Starr County birth and death records are available for legal, personal, and research needs. Interested parties can obtain these records from the Starr County Clerk's Office.

In addition, to get a Starr County birth certificate, an individual must provide a valid form of identification and an application form. Death records are also available in a similar way. However, these records are not entirely open for access. Birth records are only available upon request from the subject of the record or immediate family and legal representatives of the subject in question. On the other hand, death records are public documents, even though certified copies may only be issued to close family or legally authorized individuals. Other restrictions may apply, such as proof of relationship. Usually, a record order costs $23 for Starr County birth certificates and $20 for Starr County death certificates, plus $4 for each additional copy ordered.

Starr County's vital records go far beyond mere documentation. For instance, birth certificates may be required for driver's licenses, passports, school enrollments, etc. Death certificates are required to probate estates, life insurance, and other legal issues following a death. People also employ these records to trace their ancestry and compile family trees. Social service agencies may also request birth and death records in the course of their work related to family welfare, adoption, and other types of community support.

Starr County Probate Court Records

Starr County probate courts play a major role in administering the estates of the deceased and guardianship of minors and incapacitated adults. The county's probate courts hear different kinds of cases that involve essential issues such as the probate of wills, estate administrations, guardianships, adoptions, and mental health commitments.

Starr County probate court records can be retrieved from the Starr County Clerk's Office, where all records regarding probate cases in its custody are housed. Records may be requested in person, by telephone, or by written request. Moreover, it is highly recommended that a requester identifies the names of parties, case numbers, and types of records applied to expedite locating the record.

Individuals must also be ready to pay for it when given copies of said records, the cost of which could increase with the number of pages or types of documents requested.

Starr County Property Records

Starr County property records can be made available online and in person via the Starr County Appraisal District (CAD) and the Clerk of Starr County. The CAD has a website that provides the public with an avenue to search property records by owner name, property address, or property ID. In this regard, finding any record without physically visiting an office is easy. Also, people can search for property records using the Starr County Official Record Search Portal.

On the other hand, requesters can personally appear at the Starr County Clerk's Office or the Starr County Appraisal District office. The address of the CAD office is as shown below:

100 North FM 3167
Suite 300
Rio Grande City, TX 78582
Phone: (956) 487-5613

Starr County property records usually contain information commonly used for research or legal purposes. They usually cover ownership information, legal descriptions, property valuation, taxation information, and physical characteristics such as building size and permits.

Other information that may be contained in the records includes:

• Historical sales data.
• Details on mortgages or liens.
• Zoning class and land use ordinances apply to the property.

Starr County Court Records Online

Texascourtrecords.us and other third-party online tools allow users to find court documents remotely. These aggregate sites provide very convenient services and feature advanced filters allowing data to be searched across multiple jurisdictions more efficiently.

Third-party websites have their limitations regarding access to court records. Users are often charged to get some of the documents; however, the information they provide may not be up-to-date or complete.