Court records in Kendall County, Texas, are maintained by the County Clerk and District Clerk and are accessible through online tools, official court portals, and directly at the clerk's office. KendallTXCourt.us is a convenient resource for finding publicly available information about county court records. Additionally, you can use the official Kendall County records search portal, contact the clerk's office, or refer to Texas state resources.
Kendall Court System Overview
Kendall County is part of the 216th Judicial District of Texas. The 216th District Court exclusively serves Kendall County. In addition to the District Court, the county has a County Court at Law, a Constitutional County Court, and Justice of the Peace Courts. The Kendall County Courthouse is located in Boerne, the county seat.
The structure of the Texas court system provides for the distribution of jurisdiction between District Courts, which handle serious criminal and civil cases, and County Courts, which deal with less severe offenses, civil claims with lower amounts, and probate matters. General information about the state's judicial branch can be found on the Texas Judicial Branch website.
Courts Serving Kendall
216th District Court
Kendall County Court at Law
Kendall County Constitutional County Court
Justice of the Peace Court, Precinct 1
Justice of the Peace Court, Precinct 2
Federal Jurisdiction: Kendall County falls under the Western District of Texas. The federal court is located in San Antonio.
City of Boerne Municipal Court
What Types of Cases Kendall Courts Hear
Kendall County courts hear a wide range of cases. Here are the main categories:
- Felonies
- Misdemeanors
- Traffic violations
- Civil claims of various levels
- Small claims
- Family law: divorce, custody, child support
- Probate and guardianship
- Juvenile cases
- Child protection cases
- Adoptions
Each type of case has its jurisdiction—District Court, County Court, or Justice of the Peace Court.
District Court Cases in Kendall
The 216th District Court handles serious criminal cases (felonies), civil cases with claims over $200,000, as well as family law matters including divorce and custody. Criminal cases are brought to the District Court after a grand jury indictment. The District Court judge presides over all hearings and trials. Cases are scheduled according to the court calendar. The District Court also hears appeals from lower courts and post-trial motions in criminal cases.
Magistrate Court Cases in Kendall
In Kendall County, the County Court at Law and Justice of the Peace Courts perform magistrate functions. The County Court at Law has jurisdiction over misdemeanors, civil cases with claims from $200 to $200,000, and appeals from Justice of the Peace Courts. Justice of the Peace Courts handle civil cases with claims up to $20,000 (including small claims up to $20,000), traffic violations, eviction cases, and issue arrest warrants. Preliminary hearings in felony cases are also conducted at the magistrate level. Judges may specialize in specific case categories due to heavy caseloads.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Kendall
Family Law. Divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, protective orders, and termination of parental rights cases are heard by the 216th District Court. To file a case, contact the District Clerk's office.
Probate Matters. The Constitutional County Court and County Court at Law have jurisdiction over probate, guardianship, and trust administration cases. The County Clerk accepts the relevant applications.
Juvenile Matters. Cases under the Juvenile Justice Code are heard in the District Court. Juvenile case records are confidential under Texas law. For information, contact the county's juvenile probation department.
How Cases Move Through the Kendall Court System
- Case Initiation. A criminal case begins with the filing of a complaint or indictment; a civil case starts with filing a petition with the clerk's office.
- Judge Assignment. The case is assigned to the appropriate judge based on type and jurisdiction.
- Initial Hearings. In criminal cases—arraignment (charges are read and bail is set). In civil cases—a scheduling conference.
- Pre-Trial Phase. Filing motions, discovery, plea bargaining in criminal cases, or mediation in civil cases.
- Trial or Resolution. The case concludes with a jury verdict, plea agreement, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Trial Stage. Sentencing, filing an appeal, enforcing the court's decision.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Kendall
Court administration in Kendall County is managed by the 216th District Court judge in conjunction with the court administrator. Local rules of the judicial district govern procedural matters—they can be found through the Texas Judicial Branch website or requested directly from the court office.
Under the Texas Public Information Act, most court records are public. Exceptions include juvenile cases, sealed records, and some family law cases. Anyone can attend open court sessions in person. Some hearings may be held remotely—check with the court office.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Kendall
- Official County Records Search. The Official Kendall County Records Search Portal allows searching for property records and other official county documents.
- State Court Records Guide. The Texas State Law Library Court Records Guide explains how to find records from various courts, as there is no single statewide database.
- Criminal Records. The Crime Records Division of the Texas Department of Public Safety provides access to criminal history checks by name.
- Inmate Search. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice offers online search for information on inmates in state correctional facilities.
- Sex Offender Registry. The Texas Sex Offender Registration Program provides public notification about registered offenders.
- Marriage and Divorce Records. The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Unit maintains public indexes of marriages since 1966 and divorces since 1968.
- Vital Records. Birth and death certificates can be ordered through the Vital Statistics Section of the Department of State Health Services.
- Property Taxes. Information on property appraisal and taxation in the county can be found through the Comptroller's Directory for Kendall County or the Texas Property Tax Directory.
- Forms and Self-Help Resources. Contact the court clerk's office or visit KendallTXCourt.us for more information on available resources.