Val Verde County Criminal Court Records
Val Verde County criminal court records are filed with the District Clerk in Del Rio, Texas, and cover felony cases heard in the 63rd Judicial District Court. The county clerk handles misdemeanor filings for the county court. You can look up Val Verde County criminal cases through the free re:SearchTX portal, visit the clerk's office at 400 Pecan Street, or submit a written records request by mail.
Val Verde County Overview
Val Verde County District Clerk
The Val Verde County District Clerk at 400 Pecan Street in Del Rio is the official records keeper for felony criminal cases in the county. The 63rd Judicial District Court covers Val Verde County and hears all felony matters. The district clerk files and maintains all case documents from the indictment through sentencing, including any post-conviction filings.
Val Verde County sits along the Texas-Mexico border, and the courts in Del Rio handle a substantial caseload that includes federal border-related matters handled by separate federal courts. The district clerk at this office handles state court filings only. For records requests, staff can search by name or cause number. Walk-in visitors should bring a photo ID. Mail requests should include the full name, approximate case year, and a money order for copy fees. Expunction petitions under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55 are filed with the district clerk.
| Office | Val Verde County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 400 Pecan Street Del Rio, TX 78840 |
| Phone | (830) 774-7515 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
How to Search Val Verde County Criminal Records
The re:SearchTX portal is free and covers Val Verde County district court felony records and many county court misdemeanor cases. Run by the Texas Office of Court Administration, it lets you search by name or cause number without creating an account. Results show the court, charge, filing date, and status.
The Texas Judicial Branch operates the re:SearchTX case lookup at research.txcourts.gov and covers state court cases across Texas including Val Verde County.
Note that federal criminal cases, including many immigration-related prosecutions filed in the Del Rio Division of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, are not part of the state re:SearchTX system. Those records are held by the federal court clerk and are accessible through the federal PACER system.
For state-level criminal history, the Texas DPS Criminal History Search costs $3 per name-based search. The FAST fingerprint program offers a more definitive result. In-person searches are available at the district clerk's office at 400 Pecan Street in Del Rio during regular hours.
Val Verde County Misdemeanor Records
Class A and B misdemeanor cases in Val Verde County are filed with the Val Verde County Clerk, a separate office from the District Clerk. The county court handles these cases, which include charges such as DWI, assault, and theft in lower dollar ranges. Contact the county clerk office in Del Rio for copies of misdemeanor case records.
Class C misdemeanors are handled at justice of the peace courts and city municipal courts in Val Verde County. Those records are not kept by the district clerk or county clerk. If the case you need involves a Class C offense such as a traffic citation, contact the relevant JP court or municipal court. The Val Verde County Clerk can help identify which court handled a case if you are not sure.
Val Verde County Arrest Records
The Val Verde County Sheriff's Office creates booking records when someone is arrested in the county. These records include the name, charges at booking, date, and identifying details. An arrest record is not the same as a criminal conviction. It shows what was alleged at the time of booking and does not reflect the outcome of any court case.
Contact the Val Verde County Sheriff's Office for questions about recent arrests or current jail population. For people in state custody, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice offender search is a free online tool. The Texas sex offender registry from the Texas DPS lets you search registered offenders by county or zip code at no cost.
What Val Verde County Criminal Records Contain
Criminal case files in Val Verde County document every stage of a case. The file begins with the indictment or information and grows as the case proceeds through the courts. Most contents are public under Texas Government Code Chapter 552, the Public Information Act.
Common items in a Val Verde County criminal case file:
- Indictment or information with the formal charges
- Arrest and booking records
- Bond orders and conditions of release
- Pre-trial motions from both sides
- Judge's orders and rulings
- Plea documents if applicable
- Final judgment and sentence
- Probation terms if ordered by the court
Expunged records, sealed files, and juvenile records are not public. Records expunged under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55 are removed from public access entirely. Ask the clerk whether a specific record is restricted before making a formal request.
Fees and Access in Val Verde County
Copies from the Val Verde County District Clerk are $1 per page for plain copies. Certified copies carry a certification fee on top, typically around $5. Pay by cash or check in person. Mail requests need a money order along with a written description of the record, the full name, and an approximate case year.
The re:SearchTX portal is free and requires no registration. The Texas DPS name-based search costs $3. Court forms are free at txcourts.gov. Call the district clerk at (830) 774-7515 to confirm current fees before mailing a request.
Lone Star Legal Aid covers South and Southwest Texas and provides free legal help to eligible low-income residents. TexasLawHelp.org has guides on expunctions and record access. The Texas Bar Find-A-Lawyer directory helps you locate a licensed attorney in Val Verde County.
Cities in Val Verde County
Del Rio is the county seat and the primary city in Val Verde County. It is the main population center and the location of all the county courts. Del Rio has a population of roughly 35,000, which falls below the threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.
All state criminal court cases in Val Verde County are processed through the courts in Del Rio. The district clerk and county clerk offices on Pecan Street handle records for the entire county.
Nearby Counties
Val Verde County is in Southwest Texas on the Rio Grande. Neighboring counties all maintain separate court systems. For records from adjacent areas, check with Edwards County, Kinney County, Maverick County, Sutton County, or Terrell County.