Search Kenedy County Public Records

Kenedy County public records are held at the courthouse in Sarita, one of the least-populated county seats in Texas, located in the South Texas brush country between Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande Valley. Despite its small size, Kenedy County maintains the same records systems as other Texas counties, including land records, court case files, marriage records, and vital records. State portals provide limited online access, and most requests go directly to county offices by mail or in person. This guide explains where to find and request Kenedy County public records.

Kenedy County Clerk

The Kenedy County Clerk in Sarita is responsible for recording all real property instruments filed in the county. Because much of Kenedy County consists of large ranch land, property records tend to involve large acreage tracts, oil and gas leases, and related instruments. Deeds, liens, easements, and mineral interests are all indexed in the clerk's office. Name searches cost $5.00 per name. Copies are $1.00 per page and certified copies add $5.00.

Marriage licenses for Kenedy County are issued and recorded by the County Clerk in Sarita. Certified copies of local marriage records can be requested in person or by mail with prepayment. Due to the county's small size, it is worth calling ahead to confirm office hours and staffing before visiting.

For certified birth and death records, contact the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Unit at dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics. Birth certificates are $23 and death certificates are $21. Older vital records from Kenedy County that predate the state system may be in the county clerk's files.

District Court Records

The Kenedy County District Clerk handles records for the 105th Judicial District Court. This court is a multi-county district that also serves Kleberg, Nueces, and Willacy counties. Felony criminal cases, civil suits above the county court limit, and family law matters including divorce and custody are within this court's jurisdiction. Certified copies of court orders and case files are available from the District Clerk in Sarita.

The re:SearchTX portal provides free online access to the statewide case index. You can search by name or case number and see basic case data. For actual documents, contact the Kenedy County District Clerk directly. Cases filed electronically through eFileTexas.gov appear in the portal after processing.

Note: Federal cases involving Kenedy County fall under the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Search federal civil, criminal, and bankruptcy filings through PACER.

Public Information Act

Kenedy County government bodies are subject to the Texas Public Information Act. You can request records from the county, local school districts, and other public entities. Submit a written request to the agency holding the documents. No reason is needed. The agency has 10 business days to respond.

Standard copy fees are $0.10 per page for paper documents. If an agency claims an exemption, it must seek a ruling from the Texas Attorney General before withholding anything. Given the county's small size and limited staff, it is a good idea to call ahead about your request so they can prepare.

Criminal History and Additional Sources

Statewide criminal history searches covering Kenedy County cases are available through the Texas DPS Crime Records Service. Name-based searches pull arrest and disposition data across all Texas counties. For certified copies of specific Kenedy County court filings, contact the District Clerk in Sarita.

Historical records for the county may be available through the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Business entity and UCC records are maintained by the Texas Secretary of State.

The Texas Secretary of State maintains statewide UCC and business records, which may be relevant for ranch and commercial land transactions in Kenedy County.

Business and UCC filings for entities operating in Kenedy County are searchable through the Secretary of State's online database.

Cities in Kenedy County

Sarita is the only community in Kenedy County and serves as the county seat. It is one of the smallest county seats in the state. All county records are maintained at the Sarita courthouse.

No city in Kenedy County meets the population threshold for a dedicated records page. All record requests for the county are handled through the offices in Sarita.

Nearby Counties

Kenedy County is in deep South Texas, southeast of Laredo between the coast and the Rio Grande plains.