Gaines County Court Records

Gaines County court records cover civil, criminal, family, and probate cases filed in this Permian Basin county. The District Clerk and County Clerk maintain public records at the courthouse in Seminole. With about 21,000 residents, Gaines County is part of the 106th Judicial District. All court filings from district court, county court, and justice of the peace courts are processed through the Seminole courthouse. The county court system here covers felony cases, civil lawsuits above the county threshold, family law, misdemeanors, and probate. Online search is available at gaines.tx.publicsearch.us and through the statewide re:SearchTX portal. In-person requests can be made at the courthouse in Seminole during regular business hours.

Gaines County District Clerk

The Gaines County District Clerk handles felony criminal cases, civil suits above the county court threshold, and all family law matters filed in the 106th Judicial District. Divorce, custody, child support, and civil lawsuits are all maintained by this office. The District Clerk keeps the official dockets and case files for all district court proceedings in Gaines County. The District Clerk's office is at the Gaines County Courthouse, 101 South Main Street, Seminole, TX 79360. Phone: (432) 758-4003. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You can search for records by party name or case number. Plain copies cost $1 per page, and certified copies carry an additional certification fee. Call ahead to confirm fees before visiting. Online searches are available through re:SearchTX, the Texas Judicial Branch's statewide portal. It indexes e-filed cases from Gaines County courts. You can search by name or cause number at no cost. Recent filings are most likely to appear in the system. The screenshot below shows the TexasFile portal for Gaines County, which provides access to official county clerk public record filings including deeds and liens.

TexasFile indexes Gaines County public filings from the County Clerk's office in Seminole.

Gaines County Clerk

The Gaines County Clerk handles misdemeanor criminal records, probate filings, real property records, and official public documents. Deed records, liens, marriage licenses, and assumed name certificates are all filed with this office. The County Clerk also maintains records from Justice of the Peace courts and County Court proceedings. These are separate from the District Clerk's files. The County Clerk's office is at the Gaines County Courthouse, 101 South Main Street in Seminole. For property and deed searches, TexasFile offers an online index of many Gaines County Clerk filings. The re:SearchTX system also covers court-related e-filed records. Probate matters in Gaines County are handled by the County Court. Wills, estate administration, and guardianship filings are all maintained with the County Clerk. To request probate records, contact the office with the deceased person's name and an approximate date of death. Staff can locate the case and provide copies.

How to Search Gaines County Court Records

Start with re:SearchTX for free online searches of e-filed cases in Gaines County. Enter the party name or cause number. You will see basic case details, docket entries, and sometimes filed documents for recent cases. For older cases, the online system may not have a full record. To request records in person, visit the Gaines County Courthouse at 101 South Main Street in Seminole. Bring the party name or case number. Staff will locate the file. Plain copies are $1 per page. Certified copies cost more. Mail requests are also accepted. Send a written request with case details and a check or money order to cover estimated copy fees.

TexasFile covers property and county clerk records. The Texas Judicial Branch website has court directories and contact information for all Texas courts.

Types of Court Records in Gaines County

Gaines County court records include several types based on which court handled the matter. The District Court covers felony criminal charges, civil suits above the county threshold, and family law cases. The County Court at Law handles misdemeanor criminal cases, probate, and lower-value civil matters. Justice of the Peace courts handle small claims, Class C misdemeanors, and evictions. Criminal records include charge documents, indictments, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and probation records. Civil records include petitions, motions, judgments, and court orders. Family law records cover divorce decrees, custody and conservatorship orders, child support rulings, and modifications. Probate records include wills, inventories, and guardian appointment orders.

Records are public under Texas Supreme Court Rule 12. Exceptions include juvenile cases, adoption records, sealed files, and expunged matters. Call the clerk's office at (432) 758-4003 if you are not sure whether a specific record is available for public access.

Gaines County Court Records Online Portal

The Gaines County District Clerk operates a public records search portal at gaines.tx.publicsearch.us. The portal shown below is the main online tool for finding court records in Gaines County without making a trip to the courthouse in 106th. 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 106th directly.

Use the portal above to run a name or cause number search before visiting 106th. 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 Gaines County District Clerk's office in 106th. 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 for Gaines County Residents

Legal aid in this region is available through West Texas Legal Services or similar organizations. The State Bar of Texas can help you find legal aid in Gaines County by calling (800) 252-9690 or visiting texasbar.com. For free self-help guides and court forms, visit TexasLawHelp.org. The Texas State Law Library offers legal research tools that are available online to any Texas resident. If you cannot afford court fees, ask the clerk for the Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs form. This is governed by Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145. If the court approves your request, filing fees and copy costs may be waived. Forms are also available at txcourts.gov.

Statewide Court Resources

The re:SearchTX portal covers e-filed cases across Texas, including Gaines County. It is free and maintained by the Texas Judicial Branch. The Texas Judicial Branch site has court directories, forms, and local rules for all Texas courts. eFileTexas is the official state e-filing portal for attorneys and self-represented parties.

Cities in Gaines County

Gaines County is a Permian Basin county with Seminole as the county seat. No city in Gaines County currently meets the 100,000-population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Communities in Gaines County include Seminole and Loop. All district court and county court matters are handled at the Gaines County Courthouse in Seminole.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Gaines County. Each maintains its own court records.