Palo Pinto County Felony Records
Palo Pinto County felony records are maintained by the District Clerk in Palo Pinto, Texas, covering all criminal cases heard in the county district court. This page explains how to search and obtain those records.
Palo Pinto County Overview
Palo Pinto County District Clerk
The Palo Pinto County District Clerk is the official custodian of all felony case records in the county. The office is located at the Palo Pinto County Courthouse in Palo Pinto, Texas. Staff can search for cases by name or cause number, retrieve copies of court documents, and certify records on request. The District Clerk files and indexes all felony indictments, motions, orders, and judgments from the district court.
Palo Pinto County is in North Central Texas, west of Fort Worth and Dallas. The county seat, also named Palo Pinto, is a small community. The larger commercial center in the county is Mineral Wells, which has a significantly larger population. Felony cases from across the county are handled by the district court and recorded by the clerk in Palo Pinto.
Copy fees are $1 per page for plain copies and $5 per document for certified copies. A name search fee may apply for manual searches. The office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours. For mail requests, include the defendant's name, case year, cause number if available, and payment made out to Palo Pinto County.
The Palo Pinto County official website provides contact information for county offices.
Use the county site to find office hours, phone numbers, and links to department pages.
29th District Court Felony Cases
The 29th District Court serves Palo Pinto County and handles all felony criminal cases filed in the county. This court has jurisdiction over the full range of Texas felony offenses, from state jail felonies through capital crimes. All documents from these proceedings are filed and indexed by the District Clerk in Palo Pinto.
Texas felony classes under the Penal Code: capital (death or life), first-degree (5 to 99 years or life), second-degree (2 to 20 years), third-degree (2 to 10 years), state jail (180 days to 2 years). Each level carries different sentencing ranges and different facility types for serving a sentence. The district court determines the appropriate sentence after conviction.
The 29th District Court also handles civil and family law matters for Palo Pinto County. For felony records specifically, the court docket is managed in the county's case system and is accessible through the statewide re:SearchTX portal. Hearing schedules and case events are visible online for most recent and current cases.
Searching Palo Pinto County Felony Records Online
The re:SearchTX portal is the best free online tool for Palo Pinto County felony records. This statewide system covers all 254 Texas counties. Search by defendant name, cause number, or attorney. Results show case type, parties, filing date, docket entries, and current status. Basic data is free; some document images may require a registered account.
For in-person searches, visit the District Clerk's office in Palo Pinto. Public terminals may be available at the courthouse. Staff can also run name searches for cases not yet in the online system. Older records from before digital filing may require manual searches of paper indexes, which can take additional time.
The Texas DPS Crime Records Service offers statewide criminal history searches for $3 per name. This covers records from all Texas counties. For official background check purposes, fingerprint-based searches are more accurate and may be required in certain settings.
Note: For time-sensitive needs, verify case information directly with the District Clerk. Online portals may not always reflect the most current case activity.
Palo Pinto County Sheriff and Arrest Records
The Palo Pinto County Sheriff's Office handles arrests and manages the county jail. The Mineral Wells Police Department handles arrests within the city. Felony arrest records from both agencies are submitted to the Texas DPS criminal history database. Most arrest records are public under the Texas Public Information Act.
To request arrest records, submit a written public information request to the relevant agency. Under Government Code Chapter 552, the agency has 10 business days to respond. Records related to active investigations may be withheld temporarily with written notice of the legal basis.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice offender search covers all state prison inmates. Palo Pinto County convictions resulting in state prison sentences appear here. Search by name or TDCJ number to find facility, sentence, and release date data.
Expunctions and Nondisclosure in Palo Pinto County
Under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55, a person may petition to expunge a felony arrest record when the case was dismissed, resulted in acquittal, or was not prosecuted within the limitations period. All agencies must permanently destroy the records after expunction. Petitions are filed in the 29th District Court in Palo Pinto County.
Nondisclosure orders are an option for some deferred adjudication cases. This seals the record from public view but not from government access. Serious offenses are excluded from eligibility by statute. Official petition forms are available at txcourts.gov and free guidance is at texaslawhelp.org.
Statewide Resources
The Texas Sex Offender Registry is searchable by county, zip code, or name. Registered offenders with Palo Pinto County addresses appear here. The registry is free and maintained by the Texas DPS.
The Texas Attorney General Open Government page covers public information rights. The Open Government Hotline is (877) OPEN-TEX. All county agencies must comply with the Texas Public Information Act.
The Texas Judicial Branch website has official court forms, rules, and guidance. TexasCourtHelp.org provides plain-language help for navigating Texas criminal court procedures.
Nearby Counties
Palo Pinto County is in North Central Texas. Felony records for neighboring counties are available through their county pages.