Court records in Starr County, Texas, are maintained by the District Clerk and County Clerk, and can be accessed in several ways. StarrCourt.us can help find publicly available information about the county's court records. Additionally, official online portals, including the Starr County Official Records Search System, the District Clerk's Office, and the County Clerk's Office, provide additional access points to documents and case materials.
Starr Court System Overview
Starr County belongs to the 229th Judicial District of Texas. District Judge Baldemar Garza presides over the 229th District Court, which exclusively serves Starr County. In addition to the District Court, the County Court operates in the county, where cases are heard by the County Judge. Justice of the Peace courts and municipal courts handle minor civil claims, traffic violations, and lower-level misdemeanors. Appeals from the Starr County District Court are directed to the Fourth Court of Appeals in San Antonio.
Starr County Courthouse
Hours of operation: generally Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (it's recommended to confirm before visiting).
Courts Serving Starr
Below is a list of courts serving the residents of Starr County.
229th District Court
Starr County Court
Justice of the Peace Courts
Several Justice of the Peace precincts operate in the county, handling small civil claims, evictions, and traffic violations. Contact information for specific precincts can be found on the official Starr County website.
Municipal Courts
Municipal courts in the cities of Rio Grande City, Roma, and other localities in the county handle city ordinance violations and Class C traffic offenses. Among the county's law enforcement agencies are the Starr County Sheriff's Office and police departments, including the Escobares Police Department.
Federal Jurisdiction
Starr County is part of the Southern District of Texas (U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas), McAllen Division. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas.
What Types of Cases Starr Courts Hear
The county courts hear a wide range of cases. Here are the main categories:
- Felonies — District Court
- Misdemeanors — County Court and Justice of the Peace Court
- Traffic violations — Justice of the Peace Court, Municipal Court
- Civil claims of various scales — from small claims to large
- Family law: divorce, custody, child support, paternity
- Probate, guardianship, conservatorship
- Juvenile matters
- Child protective cases
- Adoption
More details on each category are in the following sections.
District Court Cases in Starr
The 229th District Court handles the county's most serious cases. This includes all felony criminal cases after preliminary hearings and transfer from lower courts. Civil claims where the dispute amount exceeds the County Court's jurisdictional limit (typically over $200,000) also fall under the District Court's jurisdiction.
Additionally, the court handles divorce, child custody, termination of parental rights, and probate disputes requiring district jurisdiction. Appeals from the County Court and Justice of the Peace Court also come here. Judge Baldemar Garza assigns cases according to the court's calendar. District Court case documents are maintained by the District Clerk, located in Room 304 of the courthouse.
Magistrate Court Cases in Starr
In Texas, the term "magistrate" refers to a judge conducting initial hearings — setting bail, preliminary hearings in criminal cases, and issuing warrants. Justices of the Peace and the County Judge serve as magistrates in Starr County.
The County Court hears Class A and B misdemeanors, civil cases with dispute amounts from $200.01 to $200,000, and appeals from the Justice of the Peace Court. The Justice Court has jurisdiction over small civil claims up to $20,000, eviction cases, and Class C violations (fines without imprisonment). Small claims are part of the Justice Court's jurisdiction with a limit of $20,000. DUI/DWI cases as Class B misdemeanors start with a magistrate hearing and then move to the County Court.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Starr
Family Law
Divorce, custody, child support, protective orders, and paternity cases are primarily heard by the 229th District Court. The District Clerk maintains divorce records; according to DSHS, the Starr County District Clerk's Office is the local source for divorce records. State-level verification of marriage and divorce records can be ordered online through Texas DSHS.
Probate
Probate — the process of administering estates — is typically under the jurisdiction of the County Court in Starr County. This includes wills, estate administration, guardianship of incapacitated persons, and conservatorship cases. Applications are filed through the County Clerk.
Juvenile Matters
Juvenile cases are confidential under Texas law. The District Court has jurisdiction over juvenile matters, including child protective services (CPS) cases. Access to these records is strictly limited.
How Cases Move Through the Starr Court System
- Case Initiation: a criminal complaint, civil lawsuit, or petition is filed with the appropriate court. Attorneys are required to file documents electronically via eFileTexas.gov.
- Judge Assignment: the case is assigned to a specific judge based on type and jurisdiction.
- Initial Hearings: in criminal cases — arraignment (charge presentation and bail setting); in civil cases — scheduling conference.
- Pre-Trial Phase: motions, discovery, plea negotiations in criminal cases, or mediation in civil cases.
- Trial or Resolution: the case concludes with a verdict, plea agreement, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment: sentencing, appeal filing to the Fourth Court of Appeals, or judgment enforcement.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Starr
The administrative district judge of the 229th Judicial District is responsible for the overall management of the county's courts. Local court rules establish procedural requirements, including filing deadlines and courtroom conduct rules. Information on rules and procedures can be obtained from the District Clerk's Office or the Texas Judicial Branch website.
Under the Texas Public Information Act and Texas Supreme Court rules on court record access, most court documents are public. However, exceptions include:
- Juvenile cases — confidential
- Sealed and expunged records — inaccessible
- Some family cases may have restricted access
Hearings are generally open to the public. To inquire about remote participation in a hearing, contact the clerk's office directly at (956) 716-4800 ext. 8482.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Starr
- Starr County Official Records Search: the Starr County Records Search Portal allows searching for property records and other official documents filed with the County Clerk.
- Texas Court Records Guide: the Texas State Law Library offers a free guide with links to Re:SearchTX and other court case databases from multiple counties.
- Starr County Clerk: the office of Clerk Humberto Gonzalez records property documents, marriage licenses, and other public records. Requests for copies can be made in person or by mail.
- Order Vital Records: state-level birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates can be ordered online through OVRA. General information is provided by the Texas Vital Records Portal.
- Marriage and Divorce Indexes: DSHS publishes indexes of marriage license applications and divorce decrees for statewide searching.
- Criminal History Check: the Texas DPS Crime Records Division allows name-based searches through an online system.
- TDCJ Inmate Search: information on inmates in state correctional facilities can be found through the TDCJ Inmate Search System or advanced search by name or number.
- Starr County Sheriff's Office: the office of Sheriff Rene Fuentes is located at 102 E. 6th Street, Rio Grande City, TX 78582, phone: (956) 487-5571.
- Tax Information: the Texas Comptroller's Directory contains links to the Starr County Appraisal District and Tax Assessor-Collector.
For more information on county court records, visit StarrCourt.us.