Jim Wells County Public Records

Jim Wells County public records are kept at the county courthouse in Alice and through several Texas state databases. This South Texas county seat serves as a regional hub between Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande Valley. If you need a property deed, court case file, marriage record, or a copy of a vital record, the right office depends on what you are looking for. This guide explains where each record type lives, how to request it, and where you can search online before making a trip to Alice.

Jim Wells County Clerk

The Jim Wells County Clerk office sits inside the county courthouse in Alice. This office is the primary keeper of real property records for the county. Every deed, deed of trust, lien, release, and easement recorded in Jim Wells County is indexed here and available for public inspection. A name search costs $5.00 per name and helps you pull up all instruments tied to a specific person or entity.

Marriage licenses are both issued and recorded through the County Clerk. Certified copies of Jim Wells County marriage records cost $1.00 per page for the copy plus $5.00 for the certificate. Plain copies run $1.00 per page. Mail-in requests are accepted if you include a self-addressed stamped envelope and prepayment.

Birth and death certificates are handled by the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Unit at dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics. A certified birth certificate costs $23 and a death certificate costs $21. Some older vital records from Jim Wells County may also be in the clerk's files, so it is worth calling ahead if you need something historic.

District Clerk and Court Records

The Jim Wells County District Clerk maintains records for the 79th Judicial District Court. This court covers felony criminal cases, civil suits over $10,000, and family law matters such as divorce and child custody. If you need a divorce decree, a property judgment, or a certified copy from a felony case, the District Clerk in Alice is your starting point.

The free re:SearchTX portal lets you look up case index data statewide. Search by name or case number to get basic details. The portal covers cases filed electronically through eFileTexas.gov, and new filings usually appear within a short time after submission. Actual documents require a direct request to the clerk.

Federal cases involving Jim Wells County residents fall under the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Use PACER to search federal civil and criminal filings, including bankruptcy records.

Note: The Justice of the Peace courts in Jim Wells County handle Class C misdemeanor cases, small claims, and evictions. Those records are kept at the JP court level and are not in the District Clerk's system.

Public Information Act Requests

Under the Texas Public Information Act, you have the right to request records from any Jim Wells County government body. This covers the county offices in Alice, the City of Alice itself, local school districts, and other public agencies. Submit a written request to the agency that holds what you need. No reason is required. The agency must respond within 10 business days.

Standard copying fees under the PIA are $0.10 per page. The Texas Attorney General's Open Government division provides guidance on what is public and what is not. If a Jim Wells County agency claims an exemption, the agency must ask for an AG opinion before withholding anything. You can file a complaint with the AG if the agency fails to comply.

Criminal History and Vital Records

Statewide criminal history checks run through the Texas DPS Crime Records Service. These name-based searches pull arrest records and court dispositions across all Texas counties, including Jim Wells. For a certified copy of a local conviction or court order, contact the Jim Wells District Clerk directly.

Historical records for the county may be accessible through the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. If you need business entity filings or UCC records tied to Jim Wells County transactions, those are maintained by the Texas Secretary of State.

The Texas Office of Court Administration publishes information about how Texas courts are organized and how records are maintained across the state's judicial districts.

Knowing which court handled a case in Jim Wells County helps you go directly to the right clerk rather than searching through multiple offices.

Cities in Jim Wells County

Alice is the county seat and the largest city in Jim Wells County. Other communities include Orange Grove, Premont, and Agua Dulce. All county records are filed at the Alice courthouse regardless of where in the county the event took place.

No city in Jim Wells County meets the population threshold for a dedicated records page. Residents across the county use the same clerk offices in Alice for property, court, and vital record requests.

Nearby Counties

Jim Wells County sits in South Texas between the coast and the Rio Grande plains. Neighboring counties may hold records for property or legal matters that cross county lines.