Uvalde County Public Records /Uvalde County Court Records

Uvalde County Court Records

How To Find Court Records in Uvalde County in 2026

Members of the public seeking court records in Uvalde County may access publicly available case information through UvaldeRecords.us, which aggregates data drawn from official government sources. Court records maintained by Uvalde County offices may include information related to civil litigation, criminal proceedings, family law matters, probate filings, traffic citations, and other judicial actions processed through the county's court system. The availability, completeness, and currency of any record depends on the originating court, the case type, and applicable state law governing public access.

Members of the public may search for court records through the following methods:

Clerk of Court or court records office — The Uvalde County District Clerk maintains official records for the 38th Judicial District Court. Requesters may appear in person, provide a case number or party name, and request access to the case file or docket. The County Clerk maintains records for county court matters.
Courthouse public access terminals — Public terminals located within the Uvalde County Courthouse allow members of the public to search case indexes and view docket entries without charge during regular business hours.
Online court search — Some case information is accessible through official online portals. The Texas Judicial Branch maintains statewide resources that may direct users to available electronic records.
State-level judicial search tools — The Texas State Law Library provides a court records research guide that identifies search tools available for trial and appellate courts across the state.
Written or mail requests — Members of the public may submit written requests to the appropriate clerk's office. Requests should include the full name of a party, approximate filing date, and case number if known. Fees for copies apply.

Uvalde County District Clerk (38th Judicial District)
100 N. Getty Street
Uvalde, TX 78801
Phone: (830) 278-6614
District Clerk – Uvalde County

Uvalde County Clerk
100 N. Getty Street
Uvalde, TX 78801
Phone: (830) 278-3918
County Clerk – Uvalde County

Are Court Records Public in Uvalde County

Court records in Uvalde County are public records under current Texas law. The Texas Public Information Act, codified at Tex. Gov't Code § 552.001, establishes that government records are presumptively open to the public unless a specific exception applies. In the judicial context, the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure further govern access to court files and dockets.

Records that are public under current law include:

Docket entries and case indexes
Party names (plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent)
Scheduled hearing dates and continuances
Filed pleadings, motions, and responses
Court orders and final judgments
Sentencing entries and probation terms in criminal matters
Probate inventories and orders where not sealed

Records that may be confidential, sealed, or restricted include:

Juvenile delinquency and CHINS records, which are protected under Tex. Fam. Code § 58.007
Adoption records and related proceedings
Mental health commitment records
Sealed filings ordered by the court
Expunged or nondisclosure records
Protected personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth in certain filings

Members of the public may inspect non-restricted records at the courthouse during business hours. Online access, where available, may present a narrower subset of case information than what is available through in-person inspection.

What Are Court Records in Uvalde County?

Court records are the official documentary record of judicial proceedings created and maintained by the clerk of the court from the time a case is filed through its final disposition and any subsequent appeal. In practical terms, a court record encompasses every document submitted to or generated by the court in connection with a specific case.

The distinction between a docket and a full case file is significant. A docket is a chronological index of all filings and proceedings in a case — it lists events, dates, and actions but does not reproduce the full text of documents. A full case file contains the actual pleadings, motions, exhibits, orders, and judgments filed in the matter.

Civil court records document disputes between private parties or between a party and a government entity, including contract claims, property disputes, and family law matters. Criminal court records document the prosecution of offenses by the State of Texas against an individual, from charging instrument through verdict and sentencing.

Filed pleadings are the initial documents that define the claims and defenses in a case. Final judgments are the court's conclusive rulings that resolve the matter. Both are part of the official record, though some exhibits and attachments may be restricted.

Trial court records are maintained by the clerk of the originating court — the District Clerk for district court matters and the County Clerk for county court matters. Appellate records are transmitted to the appropriate court of appeals and maintained separately. The Texas State Law Library's guide to criminal court records provides additional detail on how records are organized across court levels.

Records are created at the moment of filing and updated continuously as the case progresses through hearings, rulings, and post-judgment proceedings.

What's Included in a Uvalde County Court Record?

A court record in Uvalde County may contain the following information, subject to applicable public-access rules and the nature of the case:

Case identification: Case number, court name and division, and filing date
Party information: Full names of plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, and counsel of record
Case classification: Case type (civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic) and current status
Docket entries: A chronological log of all filings, hearings, rulings, and procedural events
Hearing information: Scheduled and past hearing dates, continuances, and minute entries
Filed documents: Complaints, petitions, answers, motions, responses, notices, affidavits, and supporting exhibits where not restricted
Court orders and judgments: Temporary orders, final judgments, decrees, writs, and appellate decisions
Outcome information: Dismissals, verdicts, pleas, convictions, sentencing entries, custody rulings, probate orders, and similar dispositions
Financial and administrative data: Filing fees, assessed court costs, fines, restitution amounts, and bond information where publicly reflected in the record

The following categories of information are excluded or restricted from public access in whole or in part:

Sealed filings and orders
Expunged records and orders of nondisclosure
Juvenile case files
Adoption records
Protected personal identifiers
Certain mental health and civil commitment records
Confidential exhibits designated by court order

Types of Courts in Uvalde County

Uvalde County is served by several courts operating under the Texas Judicial Branch at different jurisdictional levels. Each court maintains its own official records through the appropriate clerk's office.

38th Judicial District Court — The District Court is the general-jurisdiction trial court for Uvalde County. It hears felony criminal cases, civil matters exceeding the jurisdictional limits of lower courts, family law cases including divorce and child custody, and juvenile matters. The District Clerk maintains the official record for all district court proceedings.

Uvalde County Court at Law — The County Court at Law exercises jurisdiction over Class A and Class B misdemeanor criminal cases, civil matters within its statutory jurisdictional range, and probate proceedings. The County Clerk maintains records for county court matters.

Justice of the Peace Courts — Justice courts in Uvalde County handle Class C misdemeanor criminal cases, small claims civil matters, and eviction proceedings. Each justice court maintains its own records.

Municipal Court of the City of Uvalde — The Municipal Court of Uvalde is located on the second floor of City Hall and handles Class C misdemeanor offenses occurring within city limits, including traffic violations and city ordinance violations. The municipal court clerk maintains records for that court.

Municipal Court – City of Uvalde
300 W. Main Street, Second Floor
Uvalde, TX 78801
Municipal Court – City of Uvalde

Appellate matters from Uvalde County are reviewed by the Fourth Court of Appeals, based in San Antonio, Texas.

How to Search Uvalde County Court Records for Free?

Several methods for searching Uvalde County court records are available at no cost. In-person inspection of non-restricted case files and docket entries at the courthouse is free of charge during regular business hours. Public access terminals located within the Uvalde County Courthouse allow members of the public to search the case index and view docket information without payment.

The Texas State Law Library's court records guide identifies free online tools available for locating case information at the trial and appellate court levels. The Texas Judicial Branch website provides links to court-specific resources that may include free docket search functionality.

The following table summarizes access methods and associated costs:

Access Method	Cost
In-person docket inspection	Free
Courthouse public terminal search	Free
Online case index search (where available)	Free
Standard paper copies	Per-page fee (typically $1.00/page)
Certified copies of documents	Certification fee applies
Clerk research assistance	May incur research fee

Fees for copies and certified documents are governed by the Texas Government Code and the applicable clerk's fee schedule. Members of the public requesting copies should confirm current fees directly with the District Clerk or County Clerk at the time of the request.

How Long Does Uvalde County Keep Court Records?

The retention of court records in Uvalde County is governed by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission's records retention schedules for local government, which establish minimum retention periods by record type and court level. Retention periods vary based on case type, disposition, and the nature of the record.

Under current retention rules applicable to Texas trial courts:

Felony criminal case files are retained permanently or for extended periods given the severity of the offense and potential for post-conviction proceedings.
Misdemeanor criminal case files are subject to shorter retention schedules, though records of conviction are retained for significant periods.
Civil case files are retained based on the nature of the claim and the amount in controversy, with some categories retained permanently.
Probate records and guardianship files are retained permanently in many instances due to their ongoing legal significance.
Docket books and minute records are retained permanently as the official record of court proceedings.
Traffic and fine-only misdemeanor records may be subject to shorter retention schedules.

Paper files may be destroyed following imaging, microfilming, or transfer to archival storage, provided the retention schedule permits destruction and the record has been preserved in an approved alternative format. Destruction of a record is distinct from sealing or expungement: a sealed record continues to exist but is restricted from public access, while an expunged record is ordered destroyed or returned to the subject. Older records may exist in paper files, microfilm, or county archives. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission maintains guidance on local government records retention applicable to county courts.

How To Find a Court Docket in Uvalde County

A court docket is the official chronological index of all filings, hearings, rulings, and procedural events in a specific case. It differs from a full case file in that it records what happened and when, rather than reproducing the full text of filed documents. A docket entry may note that a motion was filed on a given date without including the motion itself.

Members of the public may locate a court docket in Uvalde County through the following methods:

In-person clerk request: The District Clerk and County Clerk maintain docket records for their respective courts. Members of the public may request a docket by providing the case number or the names of the parties. Staff can print or display the docket during regular business hours.
Courthouse public terminals: Public access terminals at the Uvalde County Courthouse allow users to search the case index and retrieve docket information for cases within the clerk's system.
Statewide judicial tools: The Texas Judicial Branch provides links to court-specific search tools. The Texas State Law Library's court records research guide identifies available online docket search resources by court type and jurisdiction.
Municipal court dockets: Docket information for cases before the Municipal Court of Uvalde is maintained by the municipal court clerk and may be accessed by contacting that office directly.

A court docket entry may contain the filing date, document type, party who filed, hearing date, presiding judge, and the court's ruling or action. A docket does not include the full text of sealed entries, confidential attachments, or restricted exhibits. Hearing calendars and daily court schedules may be posted separately at the courthouse or available through the clerk's office. The Texas Department of Public Safety's Crime Records Division maintains statewide criminal history records that supplement, but do not replace, court-level docket and case file information.