Common Questions About McLennan County Court Records
How do I search McLennan County district court records?
Use the District Clerk Case Index Search. The county says it covers criminal and civil cases from 2001 forward, plus some converted legacy data from the early 1980s. Public docket sheets are free, but only index information is online. For the actual document, view it in office or order a copy. For more detail, see court records.
How do I get copies from the District Clerk?
For civil and family copies, provide the cause number and document names if known. If the cause number is unknown, include a $5 search fee. Copies are $1 per page, certified or not. Requests can come in by mail, fax, phone, or in person. Archived files before 2000 may be in County Archives and are pulled between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. The full fee and request rules are on the District Clerk page.
Who keeps misdemeanor records?
The County Clerk keeps misdemeanor criminal court records for county-level courts. The page on the county site says thousands of misdemeanor cases are disposed at the county level each year. The clerk files cases, processes documents, and collects costs and fines. Felony cases go to the District Clerk. For arrest detail, see arrest records.
Who keeps felony records?
Felony criminal records are district court records held by the District Clerk. McLennan County's 19th and 54th District Courts handle felony matters, and the 54th tries only felony criminal cases. The County Clerk misdemeanor page directs felony questions to the District Clerk at 254-757-5054. The district court page covers the trial-court layout.
How do I search official public records like deeds?
Use the County Clerk Tyler Self-Service portal and choose Official Public Record Search and Copies. Search by either name, grantor, grantee, recording date range, document number, book or page, and document type. The county says OPR documents from January 1996 forward are online, with selected older deed, deed of trust, and mechanics lien volumes from 1968 and 1969 to 1995. See County Clerk for more.
Are property surveys recorded by the County Clerk?
Usually no. The County Clerk's site states that property surveys are not recordable documents in Texas and are not typically maintained at the county level. The office only holds a survey if it was recorded as an exhibit to another document, which is rare.
How do I search marriage records?
Use the County Clerk Tyler Self-Service Marriage Record Search. Search by either party name and a marriage date range. Formal marriage records from April 1, 1878 forward and informal marriage index information from May 1, 1996 forward are available electronically. Informal marriage results contain index information only and no images. For more, see marriage and divorce records.
What are McLennan County marriage license requirements?
Both applicants must appear in person, be at least 18 unless a court order applies, provide accepted ID, know and provide their Social Security Numbers, wait 72 hours after issuance, and use the license within 90 days. If either applicant divorced less than 30 days ago, a certified decree waiving the 30-day wait is required. A Twogether in Texas certificate reduces the fee.
Where are divorce records?
Divorce is a district court family matter, so records sit with the District Clerk, not the County Clerk marriage office. Use the District Clerk Case Index for docket and index information, and request copies through the Civil Division. If you do not know the cause number, include a $5 search fee. See marriage and divorce records.
Which court handles probate?
The County Clerk maintains probate and guardianship case files for the probate court. Probate Court Services at 501 Washington Avenue, Suite 215 runs the County Judge probate and guardianship docket. The County Clerk probate department is at 215 N 5th Street, Room 201, phone 254-757-5186. For more, see probate records.
How do I find a current inmate?
Use the Sheriff's links to the Current Inmate Listing PDF or the online Mugshots app. The Sheriff page says the inmate listing is updated once an hour. The mugshot app lets users search by name, CID, book-in date, race, ethnicity, sex, height, weight, age, hair, eyes, bond type, booking number, warrant, bail, fine, offense, and case agency. For more, see inmate records.
What does the mugshot or inmate profile show?
The public JSON shows image filename, name, CID, arrest ID, race, ethnicity, sex, height, weight, book-in date, demographics, hair, eyes, age, and arrest offenses. Offense details include book-in date, booking number, warrant, bond type, bail, offense description, fine, and case agency. The roster does not show housing, date of birth, release date, or next court date.
Does McLennan County publish released inmates?
No separate official released-inmates list was found in the captured Sheriff page. To verify release, check the hourly current inmate listing, search the mugshot app, call the jail or Sheriff's Records, and use VINELink for notifications. If a person was transferred to TDCJ or federal custody, use TDCJ or BOP locators. See released inmates.
What are jail visitation hours?
The Sheriff page states in-facility visitation runs Sunday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday noon to 8 p.m., with registration ending 4:30 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Monday. Each inmate is allowed two 30-minute visits. Visitors must be on the visitation list and have a Getting Out account. Remote visitation runs Tuesday through Saturday, 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Getting Out and Go Visit apps.
How do I mail an inmate?
Personal mail is digitally delivered through Getting Out tablets. Send personal mail to the facility name and state, inmate name and identifier, PO Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131. Include the sender's full name and physical address. Do not send attorney-client privileged mail, checks, money orders, packages, or parcels to the Phoenix address; those follow separate facility rules.
How do I post bond?
Review the Sheriff's Bonds page. It requires Instanter as the court date in certain bond submissions, a red-stamped Defendant Copy, original and copies presented together, the dollar amount, the correct court and town, and same-day notarization. Some Penal Code and Article 17.081 charges also require defendant and surety address, ID, and state of issuance on the bond.
Is there an active warrant search?
No official countywide active warrant search portal was found. Warrant numbers are visible in the Sheriff mugshot app for booked persons. JP and constable pages handle some traffic, Class C, and hot-check warrants. To clear a warrant, contact the issuing court, Sheriff's Office, constable, or an attorney. JP 1-2 says traffic-warrant inquiries in that office will not result in arrest there. See warrant records.
What are JP court filing fees?
The Justices of the Peace page lists basic fees of $54 for filing and $90 for service. The page tells users to contact the court clerk for case-specific fees. JP courts handle small claims, debt claims, evictions, repair and remedy, traffic and fine-only misdemeanors, truancy, magistrate functions, and other matters depending on the precinct. See traffic court records for traffic case detail.
Can clerks give legal advice?
No. Multiple County Clerk and JP pages state that clerks cannot give legal advice. The County Clerk refers users to Lone Star Legal Aid at 254-756-7944, the State Bar Lawyer Referral Service at 800-252-9690, Texas Law Help, and the Texas State Law Library. JP pages also refer self-represented litigants to Texas Justice Court Training Center resources.
How do I get a court-appointed criminal attorney?
Call the Indigent Defense Coordinator office at 254-759-7540 to schedule an appointment. The official page says the application process requires an in-person interview. The office is at 501 Washington Avenue, Suite 109, Waco, TX 76701, open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed noon to 1 p.m. The indigent defense plan is filed with the Texas Indigent Defense Commission.
The indigent defense plan page at mclennan.gov/279 links to the Texas Indigent Defense Commission local data for McLennan County.
Are juvenile records public?
Juvenile records are restricted under Texas Family Code Chapter 58 and related rules. McLennan County's 474th District Court is the designated juvenile court. Public case searches should not treat juvenile records like adult criminal or ordinary civil records. Access usually requires party or attorney status, agency authorization, or a court order.
How do expunction and nondisclosure differ?
Expunction under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55A removes or destroys qualifying arrest, court, and criminal-history records and sends orders to DPS, the Office of Court Administration, and the listed agencies. Nondisclosure under Government Code Chapter 411 limits public disclosure but leaves records available to criminal-justice and other authorized agencies. DPS legal staff cannot petition for individuals.
What if I need special assistance at the District Clerk?
Call 254-757-5054 or 254-757-5057. The District Clerk page says handicap access is through the alley entrance between the main courthouse and the annex, and visitors should call before entering because security procedures must be maintained. Spanish language services are available in the office.
How do I search federal cases from Waco or McLennan County?
Federal cases are heard in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Waco Division. Use PACER for official federal dockets and filings. The U.S. Courthouse is at 800 Franklin Avenue, Waco. Federal appeals go to the Fifth Circuit. Bankruptcy cases use the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas. CourtListener is a free legal-research alternative for opinions.
CourtListener at courtlistener.com is a free legal-research site with opinions and some RECAP docket content, though it is not the official PACER docket.
Still Have Questions?
For the right office, see the District Clerk or the 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.