Atascosa County
Atascosa County, which was created in 1856 from Bezar County, is located in South Texas. It was named for the Atascosa River by the Texas Legislature and is home to nearly 52,000 people. Jourdanton is the county seat.
The trial court system in Atascosa County comprises several courts, including a district court, a constitutional county court, a county court of law, justice courts, and municipal courts. The Atascosa County District Court exercises original jurisdiction over cases involving criminal felonies, land titles, election disputes, divorce, and civil claims for money or damages amounting to $200 and above. The Constitutional County Court is a limited jurisdiction court with original jurisdiction over cases relating to serious minor offenses, such as Class A and Class B criminal misdemeanors. It also oversees the Atascosa County government administration through a County Commissioners Court.
Atascosa County Court at Law is a county-based statutory court that supports the District Court. Its civil jurisdiction is less than that of the District Court but higher than that of the Justice courts. It handles civil claims between $500 and $100,000 and workers' compensation cases along with misdemeanor cases (especially non-incarceration-based misdemeanors). In addition, it shares jurisdiction with the District Court over certain misdemeanor cases and hears appeals from the Justice Courts and Municipal Courts.
The Justice Courts in Atascosa County, which are also known as Justice of the Peace Courts, have original jurisdiction over less serious minor offenses, such as Class C misdemeanors. They also hear minor civil cases, oversee small claims suits, and issue search and arrest warrants.
Atascosa County's Municipal Courts exercise original and exclusive jurisdiction over cases of city ordinance violations, including fire safety, zoning, and public health ordinance violations.
Court records in Atascosa County refer to different forms of information relating to court trial activities. They typically exist in several formats, such as paper, electronic files, microfilms, photographs, and audio/video recordings. Court records usually contain documents such as docket sheets, indexes, calendars, and disposition sheets. Typical court records that exist in Atascosa County include:
- Civil records
- Criminal records
- Family Court records
- Juvenile records
The Atascosa County District Clerk is responsible for court records administration and maintenance. Apart from confidential court records, individuals can access public court records, per the Texas Open Records Policy. Requesters can use the state-supported online search portal, re:Search TX, to search for Atascosa County court records. Also, walk-in visits to the District Clerk's Office - or the clerks of other courthouses where case filings occurred - can be made to view or copy court records. In addition, record seekers can also access Atascosa County's court dockets online.
