Kent County Court Records
Kent County court records are kept at the courthouse in Jayton, the county seat of this sparsely populated West Texas county. With fewer than 800 residents, Kent County handles a small number of civil, criminal, and family court cases each year. Records are public under Texas law and can be accessed at the courthouse or through state online systems. Cases in Kent 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 kent.tx.publicsearch.us gives free online access to case information. For certified copies or full document access, contact the District Clerk in Jayton.
Kent County Overview
Kent County District Clerk
The Kent County District Clerk handles district court cases in the 237th Judicial District, a multi-county district in West Texas. Given the very small population, the county sees few filings each year. The courthouse is in Jayton, TX 79528. Phone: (806) 237-3881. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Call ahead to confirm court session dates since the district judge may not be in Jayton every week. Kent County is deep West Texas ranch country. Most court matters here involve property disputes, family law cases, and minor criminal matters. The same public access rules that apply across Texas govern Kent County records. You can search the case index online through re:SearchTX or request records at the courthouse during regular hours.
The screenshot below shows the re:SearchTX portal at research.txcourts.gov, the statewide tool for finding Kent County court records online.
re:SearchTX covers e-filed cases from Kent County and courts across Texas at no cost.
| Office | Kent County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | Kent County Courthouse, Jayton, TX 79528 |
| Phone | (806) 237-3881 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Judicial District | 237th |
Kent County Clerk
The Kent County Clerk maintains misdemeanor records, probate files, deeds, and other official public records. Property records for Kent County can be searched through TexasFile at texasfile.com. For certified copies or probate records, contact the County Clerk at the Jayton courthouse.
Searching Kent County Court Records Online
re:SearchTX at research.txcourts.gov is the best starting point for Kent County court records. The Texas Judicial Branch at txcourts.gov has court rules and contact information for the 237th Judicial District. eFileTexas at efiletexas.gov handles e-filing for attorneys in Texas courts including Kent County.
Types of Court Records in Kent County
Kent County court records cover district court cases (felony criminal, civil over $200,000, family law), county court cases (misdemeanors, probate), and Justice of the Peace cases (small claims, Class C misdemeanors). Given the small population, case volume is low. Most records are public under Texas Supreme Court Rule 12. Restricted records include juvenile files, adoption records, sealed cases, and expunged records.
Fees for Kent County Court Records
Plain copies cost $1 per page. Certified copies carry additional fees. Call (806) 237-3881 for current rates. Online searches through re:SearchTX are free. Fee waivers are available under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145.
County Clerk Records in Kent County
The Kent County County Clerk handles a separate set of records from the District Clerk. While the District Clerk focuses on district court cases, the County Clerk is responsible for misdemeanor criminal cases, probate filings, and all official public instruments. These include deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded documents that affect property or legal status in the county. Probate records in Kent County cover estate administration, guardianship proceedings, and mental health cases. When someone passes away with a will, or when a court needs to appoint a guardian, those cases go through the County Clerk. Probate filings are public unless sealed by the court, and you can usually find them through the same online portal used for other county clerk records.
Misdemeanor criminal cases in Kent County are handled at the county court level. These are less serious criminal charges than felonies but still produce a court record. County court at law records include Class A and B misdemeanor cases. If you are looking for a minor criminal case that did not go to district court, check with the County Clerk in Jayton. The County Clerk also records official instruments like deeds and liens. These are not court cases but are still public records that can affect property ownership. You can search these records through TexasFile, which indexes county clerk recordings from across Texas. Keep in mind these differ from court case records in how they are filed and where they appear in search results.
Kent County Court Records Online Portal
The Kent County District Clerk operates a public records search portal at kent.tx.publicsearch.us. The portal shown below is the main online tool for finding court records in Kent County without making a trip to the courthouse in 237th. 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 237th directly.
Use the portal above to run a name or cause number search before visiting 237th. 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 Kent County District Clerk's office in 237th. 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 Kent County
The State Bar of Texas at (800) 252-9690 or texasbar.com can help you find an attorney in West Texas. TexasLawHelp at texaslawhelp.org has free guides and forms. The Texas State Law Library at sll.texas.gov provides online legal research tools.
Cities in Kent County
Kent County's only community is Jayton, the county seat. No cities in Kent County meet the population threshold for a separate city page. All court matters are handled at the Jayton courthouse.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Kent County in West Texas.