Hays County was founded in 1848 in central Texas. More than 240,000 persons reside in the county. The county has a total land area of 676 square miles, and its seat of government is the City of San Marcos.

Courts in Hays County

Hays County has 4 District Courts. These courts have original jurisdiction over civil lawsuits and criminal trials beyond lower trial courts. Felony trials are within the exclusive jurisdiction of Hays County District Courts. However, the court may preside over certain misdemeanor criminal proceedings. Civil cases resolved at the District Courts include family law cases, election litigations, land disputes, slander, and defamation cases.

The Constitutional County Court at Hays County typically handles Class A and B misdemeanor trials. It can also resolve juvenile matters, probate cases, and general civil claims involving between $200 and $10,000 financial disagreements. Misdemeanor trials that do not involve jail sentences are exclusive to the County Courts at Law in Hays County. County residents may approach the County Courts at Law to resolve divorce cases, child custody, minor guardianship issues, and all financial disputes between $500 and $100,000 settlements.

There are 7 Justice of Peace Courts in Hays County. Each of these trial courts has criminal and civil divisions. Justice Court judges typically preside over felony-related pretrial hearings, traffic misdemeanors, foreclosure cases, and issuance of bad checks. The Municipal Courts In Hays County exercise exclusive jurisdiction over criminal proceedings involving ordinance violations. In certain instances, Municipal Courts handle felony-related preliminary hearings and dog ownership issues.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Hays County

Court clerks maintain and distribute public court records in Hays County. These public records often include case dockets, transcripts, case filings, court judgments, evidence, witness lists, jury lists, exhibits, motions, complaints, and verdicts. Requesters can call, mail, email, or visit the District Court Clerk in Hays County to obtain court records created in any of the District Courts. They can also view these records online via the Courts Records Inquiry portal. Note that court records created and maintained at Hays County Courts at Law are obtainable from the Hays County Clerk. Also, providing details such as case numbers or involved parties’ names may help to narrow the search and find court records faster. Court records not available at the County Clerk or District Clerk’s offices may be accessible by visiting the courts where the cases were filed.

Types of Public Court Records in Hays County

The following Hays County court records are accessible to the public:

• Criminal records
• Civil case records
• Family court records
• Traffic court records
• Small claims court records
• Probate records
• Land records

Confidential Court Records in Hays County

According to the Texas Public Information Act, confidential records are not accessible online to the public. Individuals whose names appear on the court documents may obtain them by visiting the courts with their valid government-issued IDs. Some examples of confidential court records in Hays County include the following:

• Juvenile records
• Financial documentation like bank statements and tax returns
• Medical records
• Victim and witness protection records
• Domestic violence records
• Confidential informant records
• Sealed search warrants
• Child custody and protection records
• Records of ongoing investigations.

Juvenile Delinquency in Hays, TX

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Hays County, juvenile delinquency offenses are on the rise. There are many reasons for the inflation in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Texas often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of charges, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 439 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Hays County. Of that total, 96% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 420 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Hays County, are focusing on family counseling and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Hays County juvenile delinquency tallies will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Hays County, TX

https://texas.gov/

County Seat:	San Marcos
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1848
Total Square Miles:	680
2019 Population:	214,485
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	111 E San Antonio St County Courthouse San Marcos , TX 78666-5534 http://www.co.hays.tx.us/

Hays County, TX Courts