Common Questions About Cameron County Court Records
Where do I search Cameron County court records?
Start with the record type. District court cases begin with the District Clerk and its links to the Tyler portal, re:SearchTX, the Kofile quick link, and iDocket. County Clerk records, such as official records, probate, county civil, misdemeanors, marriage, and vital records, begin with the County Clerk. For current jail custody, use the Sheriff's inmate list, not a court portal. The case type tells you which office to use. For the full search walkthrough, see the court records page.
Who is the Cameron County District Clerk?
Laura Perez-Reyes is the Cameron County District Clerk. The office is the registrar, recorder, and custodian of documents in district court civil and criminal cases. That covers personal injury, divorces, workers compensation, adoptions, and child support. The office is in the Judicial Building at 974 E. Harrison St., 3rd Floor, Brownsville, TX 78520. It has direct department phone lines for civil, criminal, records, jury, and appeals. Learn more on the District Clerk page.
Who is the Cameron County Clerk?
Sylvia Garza-Perez is the Cameron County Clerk. The office handles official public records, legal instruments, vital statistics, marriage licenses, county judicial records, probate, civil and criminal county court cases, commissioners court minutes, and branch services. The main office is at 835 E. Levee St., 3rd Floor, Brownsville, TX 78520. Recording legal instruments is the office's largest single duty. For services, branches, and fees, see the County Clerk page.
What is the difference between the District Clerk and County Clerk?
The District Clerk handles district court records such as felony, divorce, family, child support, adoption, and larger civil matters. The County Clerk handles official public records, marriage and vital records, probate, and county court at law civil and criminal cases. Choosing the wrong clerk is a common reason a search fails. If you want a deed or a marriage record, use the County Clerk. If you want a divorce decree or a felony file, use the District Clerk.
Are Cameron County inmate records online?
In part, yes. The Sheriff's Department posts an inmate list that updates every two hours. It is not comprehensive. It excludes federal prisoners and detainees, and it covers people held now and within certain last-seven-day categories. Visible columns are picture, booking date, defendant, booking number, SO number, and charges. The list does not show bond, age, or release date. For how to read and verify it, see the inmate records page.
Does the inmate list prove someone is guilty?
No. The county states all individuals shown are innocent until proven guilty in a court of proper jurisdiction. The charge is for reference only and is not an indication of guilt. The county also warns that the data changes often and may contain errors, so users should verify independently and should not rely on the site for legal action. For more context on booking and custody, see the inmate records page.
How do I get a copy of a civil or probate document?
Use the County Clerk Civil-Probate request form. It asks for requester information, the party or decedent name, the year, the cause number, the document types you want, the quantity and pages, delivery choices, and a signature. Fees include $1 per page for plain copies, $5 plus $1 per page for certified copies, and a $5 search fee. The form lists many document choices, from a single order to the entire file. See the County Clerk page for the form and steps.
How much is a certified Cameron County marriage record?
The County Clerk marriage request form lists certified marriage records at $21 per copy and verification of marriage only at $20. In-person debit or credit transactions add a $5.95 charge. Mail requests use a check or money order only and go to the County Clerk's Office, ATTN: Marriage License, P.O. Box 2178, Brownsville, TX 78522. No refunds are given. For the full process and forms, see the marriage and divorce records page.
Where are divorce records kept?
Divorce records are district court family records, handled by the District Clerk. The District Clerk page lists divorces among the case types filed in district court. You can search through the District Clerk portals or request copies through the Records Department at dcrecords@co.cameron.tx.us or (956) 574-8130. Some filings involving children, finances, or protective orders may be sealed or redacted. For details, see the marriage and divorce records page.
Where are probate records kept?
The County Clerk Probate Department files, records, and keeps probate records at 974 E. Harrison St., 2nd Floor, Brownsville, TX 78520. Case types include probate of a will, muniment of title, letters of administration, determination of heirship, small estate affidavits, and guardianships. A small estate affidavit applies only when there is no will, the estate is under $75,000, and no real estate is involved. See the probate records page for forms and fees.
Can I search old property records online?
Yes. The County Clerk links a current Official Records Search at cameron.tx.publicsearch.us and a historical portal for 1848 to 1912 records at kofilequicklinks.com. The current portal supports a search term, a date range, recorded-date filters, and a choice of index-only or full-text search. The index search is free, though document images may carry a fee. See the public records page for the full official records walkthrough.
Are juvenile records public?
Generally no. Juvenile records in Texas are restricted and are not treated like adult criminal records. Access is usually limited to the juvenile, parents or guardians, attorneys, certain agencies, and people with statutory authority or a court order. You cannot expect to find juvenile arrest or court records in a public criminal portal. Contact the clerk or an attorney for case-specific access. For adult criminal record basics, see the criminal records page.
Can an arrest be removed from a Texas record?
Possibly. Texas uses expunction and nondisclosure. Expunction under Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55 can remove qualifying arrests and cases. Nondisclosure under Government Code Chapter 411 limits public release for qualifying records, often after deferred adjudication. The Cameron County District Clerk lists an expunction contact at dcexpunctions@co.cameron.tx.us and (956) 544-0839. The County Clerk handles its own criminal expunction requests. For more, see the criminal records page.
Does Cameron County publish active warrants online?
The official sources reviewed did not reveal a comprehensive public active-warrant search portal. The Sheriff's home page links a Most Wanted page, but that is not a complete warrant database. To confirm a warrant, contact the issuing court, the Sheriff's Office, an attorney, or check official case records. Do not rely on a third-party site. For the types of warrants and how to resolve one, see the warrant records page.
How often is the inmate roster updated?
The county states the roster is updated every two hours. Because it changes often and errors can occur, the county warns users to verify information independently of the website. The roster is also not comprehensive, and it excludes federal prisoners and detainees. A booking may appear before a case is filed in court. For how booking and release work, see the inmate records page.
What court hears appeals from Cameron County?
The District Clerk directs appellate users to the Thirteenth Court of Appeals, based in Corpus Christi and Edinburg. Texas also has the Supreme Court of Texas for final civil review and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals for final criminal review. Federal appeals from the Southern District of Texas go to the Fifth Circuit. The District Clerk Appeals Department can be reached at (956) 550-1748. For the court structure, see the District Court page.
What does a Cameron County court docket show?
Posted dockets vary by court. The District Courts and County Courts at Law pages post civil, criminal, arraignment, and jail docket links by date. A docket usually gives the court, the date, the cause number, the party or defendant name, the hearing type, and sometimes an attorney or charge. A docket is not the full case file. For how to read one, see the court dockets page.
What if I miss a court date?
Missing court can lead to a warrant or capias, a bond forfeiture, added fees, a driver license hold in fine-only cases, or an adverse judgment. Contact the court right away, speak with your attorney, and confirm whether a warrant or a reset is pending. Do not rely on a third-party website to fix it. For warrant types and resolution steps, see the warrant records page.
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, criminal records, inmate records, warrant records, marriage and divorce, or probate.