Hays County Court Records Search | Criminal and Civil Cases

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Hays County, Texas · Criminal, civil, family, probate and hearing-date lookup

Find the Right Hays County Case Before You Call the Clerk

Hays County uses one public case-search portal, but the record itself may belong to the District Clerk, County Clerk or a Justice Court. That distinction matters. A felony or divorce case does not follow the same records route as a misdemeanor, probate matter or small-claims case.

Start with the official Tyler Cloud search. Use a cause number when you have one; otherwise search the party name and date of birth, confirm the case type and court, and then contact the clerk that actually maintains the file if you need a document or certified copy.

Search official Hays County cases Find the correct clerk Order court copies
Full party name Date of birth for criminal cases Cause number if known Approximate filing year Case type
STAGECOACH CASE SORTER ROUTING FILE
CORRECT CLERK + CASE
RECORD LOCATED
CAUSE
COURT + CLERK MATCHED
Do not assume “Hays County court records” means one clerk. District Court files and County Court at Law files are maintained by different offices. Justice Court matters are a third route. Choosing the wrong office is one of the easiest ways to waste a trip or records request.
Online search

Use the county-linked Tyler Cloud Public Access portal.

Felony records

Start with the Hays County District Clerk.

Misdemeanors

County Clerk Courts Division handles County Court at Law files.

Free name lookup

Publicly available online District Court name searches are free.

Government Center

Major clerk and court offices are at 712 S. Stagecoach Trail.

Start here

Which Hays County office owns the case?

FELONY District Clerk

Use this route for felony criminal cases filed in Hays County District Courts.

District Clerk details
MISDEMEANOR County Clerk Courts Division

Class A and B misdemeanor cases in the County Courts at Law are maintained by the County Clerk.

County Clerk details
DIVORCE / FAMILY District Clerk

Divorce and District Court family matters are not maintained by the County Clerk.

Search family cases
PROBATE / GUARDIANSHIP County Clerk

County Clerk Courts Division maintains probate, guardianship, mental-health and related County Court files.

Probate record steps
SMALL CLAIM / EVICTION Justice of the Peace

Justice Courts handle small claims, evictions and fine-only criminal matters within their jurisdiction.

Justice Court routing
HEARING DATE Search the case first

Verify the cause number, court and newest setting before calling a court coordinator.

Find the hearing date
Simple rule: felony + district civil + divorce/family → District Clerk; County Court misdemeanor + county civil + probate/guardianship → County Clerk; small claims + evictions + fine-only JP matters → Justice Court.

Go directly to the court-record task

Criminal court records

Felony and misdemeanor records take different routes

Felony case

Record holder: Hays County District Clerk

  • Search the Criminal Case Records area.
  • Save the cause number and assigned District Court.
  • Read the case summary and disposition information.
  • Contact the District Clerk for official copies.

District Clerk: 512-393-7660

Class A or B misdemeanor

Record holder: Hays County Clerk Courts Division

  • Search Criminal Case Records.
  • Confirm the County Court at Law number.
  • Use the cause number for document or payment questions.
  • Call the County Courts at Law for hearing questions.

County Clerk: 512-393-7330
Court hearing help: 512-393-7625

Do not use the jail as your court-calendar source. The Hays County jail itself states that it does not assign or track court dates. For a felony, use the District Clerk; for a misdemeanor, use the County Clerk and County Court at Law.

What to look for in the criminal case

Cause number
Defendant name
Case type
Filing date
Assigned court
Charge or offense entry
Bond information when shown
Disposition date when shown
Current case status
Newest hearing or docket activity
Civil, divorce and family cases

Search the civil file, then verify which clerk owns it

Select Civil, Family and Probate Case Records Use the same Hays County Tyler Cloud portal.
Search a party name or cause number A cause number is best when you already have a petition, citation, notice or prior order.
Check the case type “Civil” alone does not tell you which clerk maintains the case.
Use the District Clerk for District Court civil cases The District Clerk maintains the records of Hays County District Courts.
Use the District Clerk for divorce and family matters Hays County’s County Clerk page specifically directs divorce and family matters to the District Clerk.
Use the County Clerk for County Court at Law civil cases The County Clerk Courts Division maintains civil cases filed in the County Courts at Law.
Hays County pages publish different jurisdiction descriptions for some civil matters. Rather than relying on an amount-in-controversy rule from a general web page, use the case type and assigned court shown in the actual record to identify the correct clerk.
Probate and guardianship

Use the County Clerk for probate and guardianship files

Records maintained
  • Probated estates
  • Guardianships
  • Mental-health matters
  • Wills filed with the court
  • Wills accepted for safekeeping
  • Related County Court documents
Search route
  1. Open Tyler Cloud.
  2. Select Civil, Family and Probate.
  3. Search the decedent, ward or case name.
  4. Use the cause number when known.
  5. Contact County Clerk Courts Division for document questions.
Juvenile records are different. The County Clerk’s Courts Division also handles juvenile case records, but public access is restricted. A person seeking their own juvenile record should follow the Clerk’s identification and request procedure rather than expecting the file to appear as a normal public case.
Justice of the Peace cases

Some Hays County cases are not District or County Court files

Fine-only criminal cases

Justice Courts hear misdemeanor matters punishable by fine only when jurisdiction is placed there.

Small claims

Hays County Justice Courts function as small-claims courts for eligible civil matters within Justice Court jurisdiction.

Evictions

Landlord eviction actions are filed through the appropriate Justice of the Peace rather than the District Clerk.

Find the correct Hays County Justice Court Read the county eviction process
A municipal ticket from San Marcos, Kyle, Buda or another city may belong to that city’s municipal court rather than a Hays County Justice Court. Read the court name printed on the citation before making a payment.
Search-result decoder

What the court-search fields tell you

Read the result before requesting documents
Field
What it helps identify
What to verify next
Cause number
One specific court case.
Use it for copy requests, payments and clerk calls.
Party / defendant
The person or entity attached to the case.
Compare DOB or other identifiers in criminal cases.
Case type
Criminal, civil, family, probate or another category.
Use it to determine the proper clerk.
Filing date
When the case was filed with the court.
Do not confuse it with the incident, arrest or contract date.
Case summary
A concise view of the court record.
Order the actual filed document when wording matters.
Court
The court currently assigned to the case.
Use the court number when checking a hearing.
Disposition date
A date associated with resolution of a criminal matter when displayed.
Read the judgment, dismissal or other disposition document.
Bond company
Bond-company information associated with an applicable criminal case.
Do not treat this as the final case result.
Best practice: use the online result to identify the case; use the filed document or certified copy when the exact legal wording matters.
No-result troubleshooting

Why a Hays County court case may not appear

The spelling is different Try a former surname, middle name, suffix, business name or shorter search.
You are searching the wrong case category A probate file will not be found by staying in a criminal-only search.
You have the cause number but are still searching by defendant Change the Search By field to Case Number.
The case is newly filed A recently accepted filing may not appear immediately in every public view.
The matter belongs to Justice or Municipal Court Small claims, evictions, fine-only matters and city tickets may use a different court.
The record is restricted Juvenile, sealed, confidential and certain protected records are not ordinary public-search results.
The case is older Ask the proper clerk about archival or manual search options when the online index is incomplete.
The party is not the case style you expected Search another named party or use the known cause number from a citation, order or prior document.
Copy-ready missing-case call
I am trying to locate a Hays County [criminal/civil/family/probate] case involving [full name], approximately filed in [year]. I do not see it under the current public search. The possible cause number is [number], and the possible court is [court]. Can you confirm whether your office maintains this case and whether I should request a manual search or copy?
Court calendar and hearings

Verify the hearing date from the case—not from an old notice

Search the cause number Open the newest court record before relying on a previously mailed setting.
Confirm the assigned court A hearing question is easier to answer when you have the court number and cause number.
Check the hearing-date or calendar area Hays County links the Tyler Cloud system as its current court-record and hearing-date search.
Call the court only when the online setting is unclear County Courts at Law hearing questions can be directed to 512-393-7625.

County Courts at Law criminal docket pattern

Useful scheduling information currently published by Hays County
Docket
Published timing
Important detail
Arraignment
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings
County Court at Law criminal hearings are held in person.
Pro se
Tuesday afternoons
Verify the actual case setting before appearing.
Attorney
Tuesday afternoons and Thursday mornings/afternoons
The individual case docket controls.
Jail docket
Thursday at 1:30 p.m.
Inmates are transported to the Government Center.
These are general County Court at Law docket patterns, not a promise that one individual case is set on that day. Always verify the actual cause number and newest setting.
Record searches and certified copies

Order the document instead of guessing from the case summary

District Clerk search and copy fees

Current District Clerk charges published by Hays County
Service
Current published charge
How it works
Online name search
Free
Search publicly available civil and criminal case information yourself.
Staff record search
$5 per name
Covers civil and criminal searches for the past 10 years; allow five business days.
Electronic copies
$1 first 10 pages; $0.10/page after
For documents filed in a specific District Court case.
Certified copies
$1 per page
Add the certification/seal charge below.
Embossed seal
$5
Added when an embossed certification is required.
Find the cause number first A specific case number reduces search work and identity mistakes.
Identify the exact document Ask for the judgment, dismissal, order, petition, indictment, information or another named document instead of “everything.”
Contact the District Clerk for a quote Payment for staff searches and copies is required in advance.
Pay after receiving the quote The District Clerk uses Certified Payments with Bureau Code 5779509.
Choose email results or a mailed search certificate Tell the Clerk which format is required for your purpose.
Provide your mailing information for copies The Clerk asks copy-request customers to include their name and address.
The District Clerk states that record-search results can be emailed or a search certificate can be mailed after payment confirmation. Copies or certified copies are mailed after the office receives confirmation of payment.
District Clerk search and copy instructions Review District Clerk miscellaneous fees

County Clerk court documents

For misdemeanor, County Court civil, probate and guardianship documents, contact the County Clerk Courts Division. Hays County directs users to the Courts Division for document, form and payment questions rather than publishing one universal copy price for every County Clerk court record.
Copy-ready court-document request
I am requesting a [plain/certified] copy of [document name] in Hays County cause number [number], styled [case name]. The case was filed approximately [date/year] in [court if known]. Please confirm the total copy and certification charge, available delivery method and payment instructions before processing.
Fines, fees and case payments

Use the cause number before submitting money

District Court / felony payment

Hays County states that felony District Court payments are accepted through the District Clerk.

  • Case number is required.
  • Cash is accepted in person.
  • Money order or cashier’s check is accepted.
  • Visa or MasterCard can be used through Certified Payments.
  • District Clerk Bureau Code: 5779509.

County Clerk court payment

  • Cash, money order and cashier’s check are listed options.
  • Online Certified Payments is available.
  • Main court-payment Bureau Code: 6230101.
  • The case number must be included.
  • Hays County lists an additional 3% fee for Certified Payments.

The County Clerk notes that case suffixes help identify payment type: CR criminal, P probate, C civil.

Do not pay from a search-engine result or unsolicited message. Open the official case first, confirm the cause number and verify that the payment is being applied to the correct court and balance.
Hays County Compliance / Collections
712 S. Stagecoach Trail, Suite 1094
San Marcos, TX 78666
Phone: 512-393-2872
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Filing documents

Searching a case and filing into a case are different tasks

Public Access

Use Tyler Cloud to locate and review public case information.

You do not file a pleading simply by finding the case there.

eFileTexas

Electronic filing is the separate system used to submit eligible court documents.

Hays County links eFileTexas and self-help e-filing guidance from its court pages.

Open eFileTexas Open e-filing self-help Open re:SearchTX
A public docket entry is not proof that a document was correctly filed. If a deadline matters, retain the filing confirmation and acceptance notice generated by the filing system.
In-person court research

Know the suite before entering the Government Center

District Clerk
Hays County Government Center
712 S. Stagecoach Trail
Suite 2211
San Marcos, TX 78666

Phone: 512-393-7660

Lobby: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Phone/email office availability: 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

County Clerk
712 S. Stagecoach Trail
Suite 2008
San Marcos, TX 78666

Phone: 512-393-7330

Monday–Friday
8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

County Courts at Law
712 S. Stagecoach Trail
Suite 2292
San Marcos, TX 78666

Phone: 512-393-7625
Fax: 512-393-7633

District Court Administration
712 S. Stagecoach Trail
Suite 3240
San Marcos, TX 78666

Phone: 512-393-7700

Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Public search terminals

The District Clerk provides public-use search terminals in its reception area during normal business hours.

Bring the party name, cause number and approximate year so the visit does not begin with a broad search.

Security

Visitors to the Government Center should expect courthouse security screening.

Keep unnecessary items out of your bag and allow extra time when you have a hearing or filing deadline.

Office announcements and closures can change. Check the current County Clerk or District Clerk page on the day of an in-person visit rather than relying only on saved hours.
Restricted and unavailable records

A missing document does not always mean the case does not exist

Juvenile case

Juvenile records are not handled as ordinary public court files. The County Clerk has a specific identity-based request route.

Sealed or nondisclosed record

A court order or Texas confidentiality rule may restrict what appears to an ordinary public user.

Sensitive family or probate document

Some case information may be indexed while the document itself remains unavailable to general public users.

If the portal shows the case but not the document, ask the proper clerk whether the document is public, available by copy request, viewable only at the courthouse or legally restricted.
Court record vs open-record request

Do not use a Public Information Act request for a normal court copy

You need a court filing

Use the District Clerk or County Clerk.

Examples: judgment, petition, indictment, information, dismissal, order, probate filing or certified disposition.

You need a county administrative record

A Hays County Public Information Act request may be appropriate for an existing county record that is not a normal court case filing.

The Public Information Act does not require the county to create new information or perform legal research for the requester.

Open Hays County Open Records
Contacts and location

Hays County court-record contacts in San Marcos

District Clerk
712 S. Stagecoach Trail
Suite 2211
San Marcos, TX 78666

512-393-7660

County Clerk
712 S. Stagecoach Trail
Suite 2008
San Marcos, TX 78666

512-393-7330

County Courts at Law
712 S. Stagecoach Trail
Suite 2292
San Marcos, TX 78666

512-393-7625

District Court
712 S. Stagecoach Trail
Suite 3240
San Marcos, TX 78666

512-393-7700

Compliance / Collections
712 S. Stagecoach Trail
Suite 1094
San Marcos, TX 78666

512-393-2872

Hays County Main Number
712 S. Stagecoach Trail
San Marcos, TX 78666

512-393-7779

Map to the Hays County Government Center

Local time-saver: several offices are inside the same Government Center but on different floors and in different suites. Save the suite number with the cause number before you leave home.
Useful Hays County shortcuts

Small details that make the search much easier

Cause number beats a common name

Switch the portal to Case Number when you have it. This is especially useful for common surnames.

Check the court before calling

The assigned court usually tells you whether District Clerk, County Clerk or Justice Court is the right next stop.

Use DOB carefully

Birth date is useful for separating criminal defendants with similar names but should not be published unnecessarily.

Ask for one document

A judgment or dismissal may answer your question faster and more cheaply than requesting the entire file.

Keep the payment receipt

Record-search and copy fees are paid in advance. Keep the cause number and payment confirmation together.

Check the new portal

Use the current Tyler Cloud link from Hays County instead of relying on an older Odyssey bookmark.

10 Hays County questions

Hays County court-record search FAQs

How do I search Hays County court records online?

Use the Hays County Tyler Cloud Public Access portal. Choose Criminal Case Records for criminal cases or Civil, Family and Probate Case Records for civil, divorce, family, probate and guardianship matters. Start with the person’s name and date of birth, or change the Search By option to Case Number when you already know the cause number.

Which office keeps Hays County felony court records?

Felony and other District Court case records are maintained by the Hays County District Clerk. The District Clerk is located at the Hays County Government Center, 712 South Stagecoach Trail, Suite 2211, San Marcos, Texas 78666. The office phone number is 512-393-7660.

Where do I find Hays County misdemeanor court records?

Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases handled by the Hays County Courts at Law are maintained through the County Clerk’s Courts Division. Use the Criminal Case Records option in the county’s Tyler Cloud search and contact the County Clerk at 512-393-7330 when a misdemeanor record or document is not available online.

How do I search Hays County civil court cases?

Open the county’s Tyler Cloud Public Access portal and select Civil, Family and Probate Case Records. Search by party name and other available identifiers or change the search type to Case Number. District Court civil and family records are maintained by the District Clerk, while County Court at Law civil, probate and guardianship records are maintained by the County Clerk.

Can I search Hays County court records by case number?

Yes. Hays County’s Courts Division instructs users to change the Search By field from Defendant to Case Number when the cause number is known. A case-number search is usually more precise than a name-only search and helps avoid mixing together people with similar names.

How much does a Hays County District Clerk record search cost?

Online name searches of publicly available District Court information are free. If the District Clerk’s staff conducts a civil or criminal search covering the past 10 years, the current fee is $5 per name searched and the office asks users to allow five business days for results.

How much are Hays County District Court copies and certified copies?

The District Clerk currently lists electronic copies at $1 for the first 10 pages and $0.10 per page after that. Certified copies cost $1 per page, with an additional $5 fee for the embossed seal. Payment is required in advance.

How do I find a Hays County court date or hearing date?

Start with the Hays County Tyler Cloud court-record and hearing-date search. Confirm the cause number, court and newest setting. For County Courts at Law hearing questions, call 512-393-7625. For felony case records or District Court information, contact the District Clerk or the assigned District Court.

Why can I not find a Hays County case online?

The case may be filed under a different spelling, the date range may be too narrow, the case may belong to a different court system, the filing may be new, or access may be restricted because the record is juvenile, sealed, confidential or otherwise protected. Try the case number, broaden the name search and contact the correct clerk when necessary.

Are divorce, probate and Justice Court cases handled by the same Hays County clerk?

No. Divorce and other District Court family matters are maintained by the District Clerk. Probate and guardianship cases in the County Courts are maintained by the County Clerk. Evictions, small claims and fine-only misdemeanor matters handled by a Justice of the Peace follow the appropriate Hays County Justice Court rather than the District Clerk.

Official resources

Primary Hays County sources for this page

Court search and clerks
Copies, dockets and payments
Self-help and other courts
Accuracy and legal-use notice

Texas-arrest.org is an independent informational resource. It is not the Hays County District Clerk, Hays County Clerk, Hays County Courts at Law, District Court, Justice Court, Criminal District Attorney or a law firm.

Court assignments, hearing dates, fees, office hours, payment systems and public-access rules can change. Reopen the current official case and verify the clerk before making a payment, travelling to court, filing a document or relying on a deadline.

Public court information is not a substitute for the actual filed document. When exact legal wording matters, obtain the appropriate pleading, order, judgment, dismissal or certified copy.

Last official-source review: August 18, 2026. The current Hays County website, District Clerk, County Clerk Courts Division, County Courts at Law, Justice of the Peace, Compliance / Collections, Law Library and Indigent Defense resources were reviewed for this page.

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