Common Questions About El Paso County Court Records
How do I search El Paso County court records?
Use the official county Records Search page and pick the tool that fits your record. Civil, family, and probate cases use one search, and criminal cases use another. Jail records, jail bond records, warrants, and marriage records each have a separate link. Search by case number when you can, or by name with a date of birth to narrow the list. For the full walkthrough and field tables, see El Paso County court records.
Are El Paso County court records free?
The public search forms are free to use. Viewing some results, ordering copies, or buying certified documents can cost money. Older records and full case copies may need an email request, an in-person visit, or a fee paid to the clerk who holds the file. The fee depends on the office and whether you need a plain or certified copy. See court records for what is online and what requires a request.
Which clerk has my record?
El Paso County splits its clerk duties. The District Clerk keeps district court files, which include felonies, larger civil suits, and divorce and family cases. The County Clerk keeps misdemeanor copies, probate-civil records, marriage licenses, vital records, and recorded documents. If you are not sure, start at the Records Search hub or email the office, since a request sent to the wrong clerk usually comes back empty.
How do I get copies of court records?
Request a copy from the clerk who holds the file. For district court records, the District Clerk directs requests to its office and can issue certified copies. Include the cause number, the party names, and whether you need a plain or certified copy. A certified copy is the official version a court or agency may require. See the District Clerk page for the steps and contact details.
How do I search for an inmate in El Paso County?
Use the county jail records search and look up a person by name or booking number. The county labels this tool as current jailings only, so it shows people in custody now rather than a full history. If a name does not appear, the person may have been released, transferred, or booked under a different spelling. See inmate records for the search fields and facility contacts.
How do I confirm someone was released from jail?
Search current jailings first, then call the facility to confirm. The Downtown Detention Facility inmate information line is 915-273-3770, and releasing is 915-273-3768. If the person was sent to state or federal custody, check the TDCJ or BOP locators. A custody-alert service can notify you of a status change. See released inmates for the state and federal tools.
How do I search for warrants?
Use the official county warrant search and enter a name. It covers warrants issued by the Sheriff's Office. Because a warrant can be an active law enforcement matter, confirm any result with the Sheriff, the clerk, or the court before you act. Sealed, juvenile, out-of-county, and federal warrants may not appear. See warrant records for the fields and how to resolve an outstanding warrant.
Where do I get a marriage license?
Marriage licenses are issued by the County Clerk Vitals Division. The main office is at 500 E. San Antonio, Suite 105, and the county also has annex locations and an online marriage application. Bring valid identification, and verify the current fee and the Texas waiting period before you go. See marriage and divorce records for the application fields and process.
Where are El Paso County divorce records?
Divorce is a family district court matter, not a County Clerk record. Search divorce cases through the civil, family, and probate case search, the same tool used for other civil cases. Some sensitive family, child, adoption, or protective-order details may be sealed or restricted. See marriage and divorce records for how to search and how to file for divorce.
Which court handles probate in El Paso County?
El Paso County has two statutory probate courts, Probate Court No. 1 and No. 2, each with an elected judge. They handle wills, estates, guardianships, and related matters, and the County Clerk Probate-Civil Division acts as their clerk. Probate cases are searched through the civil, family, and probate search. See probate records for the court contacts and how to file a will.
How do I clear a criminal record?
Texas uses two tools. Expunction can destroy or return qualifying records, and an order of nondisclosure can hide a record from most public searches without erasing it. Eligibility depends on the charge, the disposition, any waiting period, and later criminal history. Both are legal petitions, not a simple clerk request. See arrest records for the difference between sealed and expunged records.
Can I pay a traffic ticket online?
The county lets you pay many Class C citations online, but only open county Class C cases are available through the site. A city ticket goes to the City of El Paso Municipal Court instead. Juveniles under 17 must plead in open court, and drivers ages 17 through 24 with a moving violation must take a driver safety course. See traffic court records for how to pay or contest a ticket.
Is the municipal court the same as a county court?
No. The City of El Paso Municipal Court handles city Class C misdemeanors and parking citations within the city limits. County justice, county, and district courts are separate and handle different cases. The citation or notice you received names the court that has your case. See Justice of the Peace for how the lowest courts fit together.
Are courts subject to the Texas Public Information Act?
No. The Texas Judicial Branch states that courts and judicial agencies are not subject to the Texas Public Information Act or to federal FOIA. Court case records follow court rules, statutes, and sealing orders, while non-case judicial records follow a separate rule. Other county offices, like the sheriff, do answer open-records requests. See public records for the difference.
How do I find federal cases in El Paso?
Federal cases are not in the county portal. El Paso sits in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, and federal records are searched through PACER. Federal appeals go to the Fifth Circuit, and federal inmates are tracked by the Bureau of Prisons, separate from the county jail. See court records for more on federal and appellate access.
What is the difference between a warrant search and a criminal case search?
The warrant search looks for warrants issued by the Sheriff's Office using a name and date of birth. The criminal case search looks for filed court cases by case number, defendant, citation, attorney, or bar number. A person can have a case without an active warrant, and a warrant can exist for a failure to appear or a bond issue. Search both, and see arrest records if you are unsure.
What does "current jailings only" mean?
It means the county jail search is built to show people in county custody now, not a complete history of everyone ever booked. A name that does not appear may have been released, transferred to state or federal custody, bonded out, booked under a variant spelling, or not yet updated online. Treat the roster as a snapshot, and confirm a release by phone. See inmate records for how to use the roster.
How do I find a state prison or federal inmate?
County jail records cover local custody only. For state prison, use the Texas Department of Criminal Justice inmate search. For federal custody, use the Bureau of Prisons locator, which covers federal inmates from 1982 to the present. A person can move from the county jail to state prison after a conviction and sentence. See released inmates for the state and federal search tools.
Where can self-represented people get help?
El Paso County has free options. The Hon. Robert J. Galvan Law Library in the courthouse is open to the public for legal research, and the District Clerk supports e-filing for self-represented filers. Texas Court Help and TexasLawHelp offer forms and guides, and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid serves eligible low-income residents. See the District Clerk page for e-filing and self-help filing.
Still Have Questions?
For the right office, see the District Clerk or County Clerk. For broader access rules, see public records. For records by topic, browse court records, arrest records, inmate records, warrant records, marriage and divorce, or probate records.