Hidalgo County is in the U.S. State of Texas and has its county seat in the City of Edinburg. It has 870,781 residents, making it the ninth-most populous county in Texas. The county also has the second-largest Hispanic county-wide population in the state.

Courts in Hidalgo County

Legal matters in Hidalgo County are brought before the trial-level courts with jurisdiction over different cases. The county has 13 District Courts that are authorized to hear different court cases. These courts have original jurisdiction over felony criminal matters, divorces, title-to-land disputes, contested elections, and civil matters that involve damages of $200 or more.

Hidalgo County is also home to 10 County Courts-at-Law, which handle various civil and criminal cases. These courts have jurisdiction over civil cases in amounts disputed between $500 and $200,000, eminent domain cases, and some family law cases. Class A or B misdemeanor criminal offense cases are also heard in the County Court. Lastly, the County Courts handle appeals from the Justice of the Peace County and Municipal Courts in the county.

The Probate Court in Hidalgo County is a statutory Probate Court that hears cases concerning decedents’ wills, appointing decedents’ heirs without wills, guardianships, and mental health commitments.

The eight Justice of the Peace Courts in Hidalgo County hear Class C misdemeanor criminal cases, such as traffic infractions. These courts also handle small claims cases, truancy cases, issuance of arrest and search warrants, and birth and death certificates.

Additionally, Hidalgo County has Municipal Courts located in different cities in the county. These courts hold original and exclusive jurisdiction over city ordinance violations. Moreover, they share jurisdiction with Justice of the Peace Courts in Class C misdemeanor criminal cases where the punishment, upon conviction, is fines in small amounts. Municipal judges have the authority to issue search and arrest warrants.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Hidalgo County

Interested persons can find public court records in Hidalgo County online or at the County Clerk's Office, including traffic, criminal, and marriage records. Likewise, the county’s District Courts and Municipal Courts have designated Clerks who maintain their public court records and provide them for inspection. Upon receiving requests in person at their offices or via mail, the County Clerk and Court Clerks may provide copies of public court records.

Types of Public Court Records in Hidalgo County

In Hidalgo County, anyone can obtain the following types of public court records:

• Criminal Court records
• Civil Court records
• Juvenile Court records
• Probate Court records
• Family Court records

Confidential Court Records in Hidalgo County

Per Texas laws, confidential court records In Hidalgo County are not available to the general public. A party to a case can also request the court to seal a record, making it private. Unlike open court records, the general public cannot access confidential records.

Confidential court records in Hidalgo County include the following:

• Medical reports
• Juvenile records
• Case files with personal financial information, including bank account numbers and credit card numbers
• Court documents with Social Security numbers, tax identification numbers, or similar government-issued personal ID numbers
• Mental health reports

Juvenile Delinquency in Hidalgo, TX

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Hidalgo 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 1464 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Hidalgo County. Of that total, 88% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 1291 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Hidalgo County, TX

https://texas.gov/

County Seat:	Edinburg
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1852
Total Square Miles:	1,583
2019 Population:	860,661
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	100 N Closner Blvd County Courthouse Edinburg , TX 78539-3523 https://www.hidalgocounty.us/

Hidalgo County, TX Courts