Midland County Public Records /Midland County Court Records

Midland County Court Records

What Is Midland County Court Records

Court records in Midland County, Texas, are official documents generated and maintained by the county's judicial system throughout the lifecycle of a legal proceeding. These records encompass a broad range of materials, including case files, docket sheets, pleadings, motions, orders, judgments, transcripts of proceedings, exhibits admitted into evidence, and sentencing records in criminal matters. Each document type serves a distinct evidentiary or administrative function within the court system.

Court records are distinct from other categories of public records maintained at the county level. Property records, for example, are held by the Midland County Appraisal District and the County Clerk's real property division. Vital records—such as birth and death certificates—are administered separately through the Texas Department of State Health Services and the County Clerk's vital statistics unit. Court records, by contrast, originate exclusively from judicial proceedings and are custodied by the clerk of the court in which the case was filed.

The following courts in Midland County generate and maintain official court records:

District Courts – Handle felony criminal cases, major civil disputes, family law matters, and juvenile cases
County Courts at Law – Handle Class A and B misdemeanors, civil cases up to $200,000, probate, and mental health matters
Justice of the Peace Courts – Handle Class C misdemeanors, small claims, and eviction proceedings
Municipal Court – Handles Class C misdemeanor offenses occurring within the City of Midland
Probate Court – Handles wills, estates, guardianships, and mental health commitments

Under Texas Government Code § 552.001, public information is broadly defined to include any information collected, assembled, or maintained by or for a governmental body. Court records fall within this framework and are subject to applicable access provisions under Texas law.

Are Court Records Public In Midland County

Court records in Midland County are generally accessible to members of the public under Texas law. The Texas Public Information Act, codified at Texas Government Code § 552.001 et seq., establishes a presumption of openness for government records, including those maintained by county courts. Additionally, the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure affirm the public's right to access filed court documents.

The following categories of records are generally available for public inspection:

Most civil case files, including petitions, answers, and supporting documents
Criminal case files following the filing of formal charges
Final judgments and court orders
Docket sheets and hearing schedules
Probate filings, including wills admitted to record and letters testamentary

Federal court records maintained by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas are governed separately under federal law, specifically the Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 1996 and the federal judiciary's PACER system, rather than Texas state statutes.

Certain records are exempt from public disclosure under Texas law. These include juvenile records, sealed case files, mental health commitment records, and documents protected by court order. The Texas Supreme Court has issued administrative rules governing access to electronic court records, which courts across the state, including those in Midland County, are required to follow.

How To Find Court Records in Midland County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Midland County court records through several official channels. The process varies depending on the court in which the case was filed and the format in which records are sought.

In-Person Access:

Visit the Midland County District Clerk's Office for district court records, located at 500 N. Loraine St., Midland, TX 79701. Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Visit the Midland County Clerk's Office for county court, probate, and misdemeanor records at the same courthouse address.
Requestors should provide the case number, party name, or approximate filing date to facilitate retrieval.
Certified copies are available for a statutory fee per page as set by the Texas Government Code.

By Mail:

Written requests may be submitted to the District Clerk or County Clerk by mail. Requests should include the case number or party name, the type of record sought, and a self-addressed stamped envelope or prepayment for copy fees.

Online:

The Midland County District Clerk maintains an online case search portal accessible through the county's official website.
The Texas Judicial Branch's public portal provides access to certain statewide case information.

Third-Party Requests:

Attorneys of record and authorized representatives may request records directly through the clerk's electronic filing system.

How To Look Up Court Records in Midland County Online?

Several official online portals currently provide access to Midland County court records, depending on the court type and case category.

Midland County District Clerk Online Portal: The District Clerk's office provides a public case search tool on the Midland County website. Users may search by party name, case number, or attorney name. The portal includes civil, family, and felony criminal case information filed in the district courts.

Texas Judicial Branch Case Search: The Texas Judicial Branch maintains a statewide case management portal that includes docket information for participating courts. Users may search by county, court type, and party name.

Eleventh Court of Appeals: Appellate records for cases originating in Midland County are accessible through the Eleventh Court of Appeals, which holds intermediate appellate jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases from twenty-eight Texas counties, including Midland. Case dockets and opinions are searchable through the court's official website.

Child Protection Court Dockets: Docket information for child protection matters in Midland County is available through the Child Protection Court of the Permian Basin, a specialized court operating under the Texas Judicial Branch.

Federal Bankruptcy Records: Bankruptcy cases involving Midland County residents are filed in the Western District of Texas. Records are accessible through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas via the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) system. PACER requires user registration and charges a per-page fee for document retrieval.

Search Steps for the District Clerk Portal:

Navigate to the Midland County official website and select the District Clerk's office page.
Select the public case search option.
Enter the party's last name, case number, or filing date range.
Review the case summary and select individual documents to view or print.

How To Search Midland County Court Records for Free?

Texas law guarantees members of the public the right to inspect court records at no charge during regular business hours. Under Texas Government Code § 552.228, a governmental body may not charge a fee for making public information available for inspection. Fees apply only when copies are requested.

The following options are currently available at no cost:

In-person inspection at the Midland County District Clerk's Office and County Clerk's Office during public counter hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.)
Online case summaries through the Midland County District Clerk's public portal, which provides basic case information, docket entries, and party names without charge
Texas Judicial Branch case search, which provides free access to docket-level information for participating courts
Child Protection Court dockets through the Texas Judicial Branch's online docket viewer, accessible at no cost

Fees are assessed for certified copies, exemplified copies, and physical document reproduction. The per-page copy fee is set by statute and is subject to periodic adjustment by the Texas Legislature.

What's Included in a Midland County Court Record?

The contents of a court record vary by case type, but generally include the following categories of documents:

Civil Case Records:

Original petition or complaint
Defendant's answer and counterclaims
Motions filed by either party
Court orders and rulings
Final judgment
Notices of appeal

Criminal Case Records:

Indictment or information
Arrest and booking information (where filed with the court)
Plea documents
Pre-trial motions and rulings
Trial transcripts
Sentencing orders and probation conditions
Warrant records

Family Law Records:

Divorce petitions and decrees
Child custody and support orders
Protective orders
Adoption records (subject to sealing provisions)

Probate Records:

Last will and testament (upon admission to probate)
Inventory and appraisement of estate assets
Letters testamentary or letters of administration
Guardianship orders

Traffic and Class C Misdemeanor Records:

Citation information
Plea and payment records
Deferred disposition agreements
Judgment of conviction or dismissal

How Long Does Midland County Keep Court Records?

Midland County courts retain records in accordance with retention schedules established by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) under the authority of the Texas Local Government Code. The applicable schedule for local government records is the Local Schedule TX, which mandates minimum retention periods for all county court records.

Current retention periods for principal record types include:

Felony criminal case files: Permanent retention
Misdemeanor criminal case files: 10 years minimum following case disposition
Civil case files (general): 10 years following final judgment
Family law case files: Permanent retention for cases involving children; 10 years for others
Probate records: Permanent retention
Justice of the Peace and Municipal Court records: 5 years for Class C misdemeanor cases; permanent for cases resulting in conviction
Court dockets and indexes: Permanent retention

Records designated for permanent retention may be transferred to microfilm or digital storage in accordance with TSLAC standards. Destruction of records prior to the expiration of the applicable retention period is prohibited under Texas law.

Types of Courts In Midland County

Midland County operates a multi-tiered court system consistent with the structure established by the Texas Constitution and the Texas Government Code. The hierarchy proceeds from municipal and justice courts at the base, through county and district courts, to the intermediate appellate court and ultimately the Texas Supreme Court or Court of Criminal Appeals.

Midland County District Courts

Midland County District Clerk's Office 500 N. Loraine St., Suite 201 Midland, TX 79701 (432) 688-1070 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Midland County District Clerk

Midland County is currently served by the 142nd, 318th, and 385th District Courts, each with jurisdiction over specific subject matter areas including felony criminal, civil, and family law cases.

Midland County Courts at Law

Midland County Clerk's Office 500 N. Loraine St., Suite 105 Midland, TX 79701 (432) 688-1040 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Midland County Clerk

Midland County currently has two County Courts at Law (County Court at Law No. 1 and No. 2), which handle misdemeanor criminal cases, civil matters, probate, and mental health proceedings.

Justice of the Peace Courts

Midland County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1 500 N. Loraine St. Midland, TX 79701 (432) 688-1080 Midland County Justice Courts

Justice of the Peace courts in Midland County handle small claims cases up to $20,000, Class C misdemeanors, and eviction (forcible detainer) proceedings.

Midland Municipal Court

City of Midland Municipal Court 300 N. Loraine St. Midland, TX 79701 (432) 685-7170 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Midland Municipal Court

Eleventh Court of Appeals

Eleventh Court of Appeals 100 W. Texas Ave., Suite 500 Midland, TX 79701 (432) 688-1110 Eleventh Court of Appeals

What Types of Cases Do Midland County Courts Hear?

Each court within the Midland County judicial system exercises jurisdiction over specific categories of cases as defined by the Texas Constitution and applicable statutes.

District Courts (142nd, 318th, 385th):

Felony criminal cases (state jail felonies through first-degree felonies)
Civil cases involving amounts exceeding $200,000
Family law matters, including divorce, child custody, and termination of parental rights
Juvenile delinquency and child in need of supervision cases
Cases involving title to land and election contests

County Courts at Law (No. 1 and No. 2):

Class A and Class B misdemeanor criminal cases
Civil cases with amounts in controversy between $200 and $200,000
Probate matters, including will contests and estate administration
Mental health commitment proceedings
Appeals from Justice of the Peace and Municipal Court decisions

Justice of the Peace Courts:

Class C misdemeanor offenses (fine-only)
Small claims civil cases up to $20,000
Eviction and forcible detainer proceedings
Magistrate functions, including issuance of arrest and search warrants

Municipal Court (City of Midland):

Class C misdemeanor violations of state law and city ordinances occurring within city limits
Traffic violations
Code enforcement matters

Eleventh Court of Appeals:

Intermediate appellate review of civil and criminal cases from Midland County and twenty-seven additional West Texas counties

How To Find a Court Docket In Midland County

A court docket is the official schedule of proceedings and chronological record of filings in a given case. Members of the public may access Midland County court dockets through the following methods:

Online Docket Search:

The Midland County District Clerk's public portal provides docket information for district court cases. Users may search by case number or party name.
The Texas Judicial Branch provides appellate docket information for cases before the Eleventh Court of Appeals.
Child protection case dockets are accessible through the Child Protection Court of the Permian Basin docket viewer maintained by the Texas Judicial Branch.

In-Person Docket Inspection:

Members of the public may inspect docket books and case indexes at the District Clerk's Office or County Clerk's Office during regular business hours at 500 N. Loraine St., Midland, TX 79701.

Telephone Inquiry:

The District Clerk's Office may be reached at (432) 688-1070 for docket status inquiries during business hours.

Steps to Search a Docket Online:

Access the Midland County District Clerk's case search portal through the county website.
Select the appropriate court type (district, county, or justice court).
Enter the case number or the full or partial name of a party.
Review the docket entries listed in chronological order, including filing dates, document types, and scheduled hearing dates.

Which Courts in Midland County Are Not Courts of Record?

A court of record is a court whose proceedings are officially documented and preserved, whose acts and judicial proceedings are enrolled in permanent records, and whose judgments carry a presumption of regularity. Under Texas Government Code § 30.00003, courts of record are defined as those courts required by law to keep a record of their proceedings.

In Midland County, the following courts are not courts of record:

Justice of the Peace Courts – Under Texas law, Justice of the Peace courts are not courts of record. Proceedings are not transcribed, and appeals from these courts are heard de novo (as new trials) in the County Court at Law.
Municipal Court of the City of Midland – The Midland Municipal Court is not a court of record unless the city has specifically designated it as such by ordinance. In most Texas municipalities of comparable size, municipal courts operate as courts not of record, meaning appeals are tried anew in the county court.

The practical consequence of a court not being a court of record is that no official transcript of proceedings is produced. Parties who wish to appeal a judgment from a Justice of the Peace or Municipal Court are entitled to a de novo trial in the County Court at Law, where the case is heard entirely anew without reference to the lower court's record. This distinction is governed by Texas Government Code § 30.014 and related provisions of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.