Find Court Records in Frio County

Frio County court records cover civil, criminal, family, and probate cases filed in this South Texas county. The District Clerk and County Clerk maintain public records at the courthouse in Pearsall. With about 20,000 residents, Frio County is part of the 218th Judicial District. Court filings from district court, county court, and justice of the peace courts are all processed through the Pearsall courthouse. Cases in Frio County go through the district court for felony charges, civil lawsuits, and family matters, and through the county court for misdemeanor cases and probate. The county portal at frio.tx.publicsearch.us gives free online access to case information. For certified copies or full document access, contact the District Clerk in Pearsall.

Frio County District Clerk

The Frio County District Clerk manages felony criminal cases, civil suits above the county court limit, and all family law matters in the 218th Judicial District. Divorce filings, custody cases, child support orders, and related matters all go through the District Clerk's office. All dockets and case files for district court proceedings in Frio County are maintained here. The District Clerk's office is at the Frio County Courthouse, 500 East San Antonio Street, Pearsall, TX 78061. Phone: (830) 334-2214. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Bring the party name or case number when you visit. Plain copies of court records cost $1 per page. Certified copies carry an additional fee. Call ahead to confirm current rates. For online searches, use re:SearchTX, the Texas Judicial Branch's statewide case portal. It covers e-filed cases from Frio County courts. Search by name or cause number at no cost. Older cases filed before e-filing was required may not appear online. In those cases, you need to contact the clerk's office directly. The screenshot below shows the TexasFile portal for Frio County, which provides access to county clerk public record filings. TexasFile indexes Frio County public records including deed filings and liens recorded with the County Clerk.

Frio County Clerk

The Frio County Clerk keeps misdemeanor criminal records, probate filings, real property documents, and other official records. Deed records, liens, marriage licenses, and assumed name filings are all maintained here. The County Clerk also holds records from Justice of the Peace courts and the County Court. These records are distinct from the District Clerk's case files. The County Clerk's office is at the same courthouse, 500 East San Antonio Street in Pearsall. Phone: (830) 334-2214. For property and deed searches online, TexasFile indexes many Frio County Clerk filings. The re:SearchTX system covers court-related e-filed records for the county. Probate cases in Frio County go through the County Court. Wills, estate inventories, and guardianship matters are all on file with the County Clerk. Contact the office with the name of the deceased and an approximate year, and staff can locate the probate file and provide copies.

Searching Frio County Court Records

Online searches start with re:SearchTX. This free state portal covers e-filed cases in Frio County. Enter a party name or case number to find basic case details and docket entries. Recent cases are most likely to appear. For older filings, you may need to contact the courthouse directly. To request records in person, go to the Frio County Courthouse at 500 East San Antonio Street in Pearsall. Staff can search by party name or case number and provide copies. Mail requests are also accepted. Send a written request to the District Clerk with the case details and an estimated payment. The office will send copies once they process the request.

The Texas Judicial Branch website has court directories and contact information for all Texas courts, including those in Frio County.

Types of Court Records in Frio County

Frio County court records fall into categories based on the court that handled the case. The District Court covers felony criminal charges, civil cases above the county threshold, and all family law matters. The County Court at Law handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil suits below the district court limit, and probate matters. Justice of the Peace courts deal with small claims, Class C misdemeanors, and evictions. Criminal records in Frio County include charge documents, indictments, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and probation terms. Civil records include petitions, answers, motions, and judgments. Family law files cover divorce petitions, property settlements, custody orders, support rulings, and modifications. Probate records include wills, inventories, and guardian appointments.

Most records are public under Texas Supreme Court Rule 12. Sealed records, juvenile cases, adoption files, and expunged matters are restricted. If you are not sure whether a specific record is available, call the clerk's office at (830) 334-2214 before visiting the courthouse in Pearsall.

Frio County Court Records Online Portal

The Frio County District Clerk operates a public records search portal at frio.tx.publicsearch.us. The portal shown below is the main online tool for finding court records in Frio County without making a trip to the courthouse in 218th. You can search by party name or cause number and get back case type, filing date, party names, and docket history at no cost. The system covers all records maintained by the District Clerk, including felony criminal cases, civil suits, and family law filings. For records that predate the online system or that require actual document images, you will need to contact the clerk's office in 218th directly.

Use the portal above to run a name or cause number search before visiting 218th. If the case you need does not appear in the local portal, try the statewide re:SearchTX system, which covers all 254 Texas counties and is maintained by the Texas Judicial Branch. For certified copies, plain copies, or documents not available online, contact the Frio County District Clerk's office in 218th. Bring a photo ID and the cause number if you have it. Mail requests are also accepted if you include a check or money order for the estimated copy fee along with the case details.

Legal Help in Frio County

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to low-income residents in South Texas, including Frio County. Call (956) 996-8752 or visit trla.org to apply. They handle family law, housing, and other civil matters at no cost for qualifying applicants. Their coverage area includes most of the South Texas region. The State Bar of Texas lawyer referral service is at (800) 252-9690. You can search for local attorneys at texasbar.com. TexasLawHelp.org provides free self-help guides, court forms, and step-by-step instructions for common Texas legal tasks. The Texas State Law Library has legal research resources available online. Fee waivers are available for those who cannot afford court costs. Ask the clerk for the Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs form under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145. The court reviews the request. If approved, filing fees and copy fees may be waived.

Statewide Court Resources

Use re:SearchTX for free case searches across Texas courts, including Frio County. The Texas Judicial Branch site has court directories, forms, and rules for every Texas court. eFileTexas is the state's e-filing system for attorneys and self-represented parties.

Cities in Frio County

Frio County is a South Texas county with Pearsall as its county seat. No city in Frio County currently meets the 100,000-population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Communities in Frio County include Pearsall, Dilley, and Bigfoot. All district court and county court matters are processed at the Frio County Courthouse in Pearsall.

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Frio County. Each has its own clerk's office and court records.