Court records of San Patricio County, Texas, are maintained by the District Clerk and the County Clerk. To find public information about court cases, start with SanPatricioCourt.us — a resource that helps navigate public court records in this county. Additionally, you can use official portals, including the District Clerk's records department, the County Clerk's official records search portal, or contact the court office directly at the San Patricio County Courthouse.
San Patricio Court System Overview
San Patricio County is part of the 36th Judicial District of Texas. The District Court is located in the San Patricio County Courthouse in Sinton. Besides the District Court, the County Court at Law operates in the county, handling a significant portion of mid-level civil and criminal cases. Appeals from county courts go to the 13th Court of Appeals, which serves the Corpus Christi and Edinburg region and covers twenty counties. All cases are now filed through the eFile system.
Courts Serving San Patricio
Residents of the county are served by several courts of various levels of jurisdiction.
36th District Court
San Patricio County Court at Law
Information about County Court at Law cases can be found on the case search page.
Federal Court
San Patricio County falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Corpus Christi Division.
Municipal Courts
Individual cities within the county — including Sinton, Taft, Portland, Aransas Pass, Ingleside, and Gregory — have their own municipal courts that handle traffic violations and minor Class C misdemeanors. Contact information for a specific municipal court should be verified on the official website of the respective city.
What Types of Cases San Patricio Courts Hear
The county courts handle a wide range of cases. Here are the main categories:
- Felonies
- Misdemeanors and minor infractions (Class C)
- Civil lawsuits of various levels
- Small claims cases
- Family law: divorce, custody, child support
- Probate and guardianship/conservatorship cases
- Juvenile cases
- Child protective cases
- Adoption
- Traffic violations
District Court Cases in San Patricio
The District Court of the 36th Judicial District handles the most serious cases. This includes all felony criminal cases after preliminary hearings, civil lawsuits exceeding the jurisdictional limit of lower courts, and appeals from the County Court at Law. The court is presided over by an elected district judge. Cases are assigned according to the court's internal procedures; all new lawsuits are filed exclusively through the eFile system. The District Clerk maintains the register of all district court cases, including criminal, civil, and family matters. For record inquiries, call 361-364-9377 (option 2) or email dcinfo@sanpatriciocountytx.gov.
Magistrate Court Cases in San Patricio
The County Court at Law in San Patricio serves as a lower court. It handles Class A and B misdemeanors, preliminary hearings in felony cases, civil cases with claims ranging from $200 to $200,000 (according to Section 25 of the Texas Government Code), and small claims cases — the Justice Court handles civil claims up to $20,000. Class C traffic violations typically go to the Justice of the Peace Court or municipal court. The county sheriff ensures the delivery of defendants to hearings; information about detention status is available through VINELink on the sheriff's page.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in San Patricio
Family Law
Divorce, child custody determinations, child support, protective orders, paternity establishment, and termination of parental rights are all handled by the District Court. The District Clerk's records department provides electronic access to family cases through the re:SearchTX platform.
Probate Cases
Probate, guardianship, estate management, and trust matters are handled in the County Court at Law. Records are maintained by County Clerk Gracie Alaniz-Gonzales. Searches can be conducted through the official records search portal.
Juvenile Cases
Cases under the Juvenile Justice Code and child protective services (CPS) cases are handled by the District Court. Juvenile case records are confidential under Texas law and are not publicly accessible.
How Cases Move Through the San Patricio Court System
- Filing a case. A criminal case begins with an indictment or complaint; a civil case begins with a petition. All documents are filed through eFileTexas.gov.
- Assignment of a judge. A case is assigned to a specific judge according to the court's internal rules.
- First hearing. In criminal cases — arraignment; in civil cases — scheduling conference.
- Pre-trial phase. Filing motions, exchanging evidence (discovery), plea negotiations in criminal cases, or mediation in civil cases.
- Trial or resolution. The case concludes with a jury verdict, plea agreement, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-judgment. Sentencing, filing an appeal to the 13th Court of Appeals, or enforcing the court's decision.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in San Patricio
The administrative judge of the 36th Judicial District coordinates the work of the district courts. General rules of state court proceedings are available on the Texas Courts portal. Local court rules can be verified directly with the District Clerk's office.
According to the Texas Public Information Act, most court records are public. Exceptions apply to juvenile cases, sealed cases, and certain family cases with restricted access. To request public information in the county, there is a specific procedure.
Hearings are usually held in person at the courthouse. The county sheriff's office broadcasts some magistrate hearings online — check the availability of the Central Magistrate Stream on the sheriff's page.
Contact information for record inquiries:
Court Records and Related Court Resources in San Patricio
- Court case search. Civil and family cases of the District Clerk are available through the re:SearchTX platform. County Clerk records are available through the official public search portal.
- County Court at Law case search. Use the case search tool on the court's website.
- Record request. The District Clerk's office recommends calling in advance to verify the availability of the required document and save time on your visit.
- County Clerk's office. The County Clerk's office maintains records of property, lower-level civil cases, marriage licenses, and other official documents.
- Criminal history. Check a person's criminal history through the Criminal History Name Search of the Texas Department of Public Safety. Additional information is provided by the State Law Library guide.
- Inmate search. Information about individuals in state correctional facilities is provided by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
- Sex offender registry. The Texas Sex Offender Registration Program allows you to check if a person is registered in your area.
- Vital records. Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates can be ordered through the Texas Vital Records portal or DSHS Vital Statistics.
- Property taxes. Information about rates and tax payments is provided by the Tax Assessor/Collector's office of the county.
- Crime Stoppers. Report a crime anonymously through Texas Crime Stoppers.