Hale County
Hale County was established in 1876, having been sectioned off from Bexar County. Its county seat and largest city is Plainview. This city is named for the vast treeless plain surrounding the post office that was established within its borders. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, Hale County has 32,522 inhabitants.
Residents of Hale County are served by District Courts, the Constitutional County Court, Justice Courts, and Municipal Courts. The District Courts handle felony cases, land disputes, election issues, divorce cases, and civil matters exceeding $200. The Constitutional County Court addresses domestic violence cases, misdemeanors with sentences under one year, and civil cases with claims ranging from $200 to $10,000. The Justice of the Peace Courts handles minor civil cases, small claims, and misdemeanors. Finally, the Municipal Courts hear cases related to violations of city ordinances and certain traffic law cases. They are located in Abernathy, Hale Center, Petersburg, and Plainview.
Public court records are official written records of case proceedings in Hale County and their outcomes. These documents contain information such as case summaries, names of the parties involved, legal motions, evidence presented, and the court's final judgment or orders. Per the Texas Public Information Act, the public has the right to access and inspect these records. The Hale County Clerk of Courts is the official responsible for overseeing the maintenance and management of these records. Examples of public records include:
- Criminal records
- Civil records
- Probate records
- Family records
Interested persons can obtain these records by visiting the Clerk's Office at the Hale County Courthouse, located at:
500 Broadway
Room 140
Plainview, TX 79072
Phone: (806) 291-5261
Obtaining court records at the Hale County Clerk's Office costs differing charges depending on the type of document requested and its format. Physical copies of court records cost $0.25 per page while certified copies cost an additional $25.
