Blanco County Court Records

Blanco County Courts, TX *

Texas is one of the largest states in the United States, with 254 counties, more than any other state. The founders of Texas wanted each county seat to be accessible to people on horseback within a day. Blanco County is one of the smallest counties in the state, with a population ranking 213th. However, just because the county is small doesn't mean navigating the court system isn't confusing.

Overview of the Blanco County Court System

Texas has an enormous legal system, with overlapping areas of jurisdiction. The larger the county's population, the more court systems it has. Blanco County is 152nd among the Texas counties by population, but you need to understand how the court system works before you try navigating it.

Types of Courts in Blanco County, TX

Municipal Courts

There are two municipal courts in Blanco County, Texas. One municipal court is in the largest city in Blanco County, which is also called Blanco. The other is in Johnson City. Municipal courts only have jurisdiction within the city limits of Blanco and Johnson City.

Jurisdiction:

Class C misdemeanors
Zoning law violations
Parking offenses
Dangerous dog rulings

Class C misdemeanors are offenses that carry fines but no jail time, such as public intoxication, speeding, and disorderly conduct. Zoning law violations would include fire safety hazards, public health hazards, and sanitation violations. Parking offenses would include violations for parking in a no-parking zone.

Justice of the Peace

Blanco County has two justices of the peace. One is located in Johnson City (Precinct 1), and the other is located in Blanco (Precinct 4). In general, a justice of the peace would be responsible for minor violations that occur outside the city limits but within Blanco County.

Jurisdictions:

Class C misdemeanors
Small claims cases
Civil cases with damages under $20,000
Can issue arrest and search warrants
Driver's license suspensions
Inquests
Evictions

Inquests are formal investigations into the death of someone in the county. In Texas, this can happen when someone dies without a doctor's care, when a death is suspicious, or when death does not occur naturally. Unnatural deaths can happen during a car accident, an overdose, a fall, or an injury on the job.

County Court

Blanco County does not have a County Court at Law, unlike many other counties in Texas. Instead, there is one county court for the entire county. The county court in Blanco County is the intermediate court between the justice of the peace and the district courts.

Jurisdiction:

Divorce
Child Support and Custody
Child Abuse and Neglect
Probate, Trusts, and Estates
Felonies and misdemeanors
Civil Cases with damages between $500 and $200,000
Guardianship and Mental Health
Appeals from Justice of the Peace and Municipal Courts

District Court

Blanco County does not have a district court on its own. Instead, Blanco County is part of a group of counties (Blanco, Burnet, Llano, and San Saba) that are served by the 33rd and 424th district courts concurrently.

Jurisdictions:

Felony cases
Divorces
Land title disputes
Election disputes
Civil cases over $200

How to Access Blanco County Court Records

Accessing records in Blanco County can be frustrating, because one court doesn't have the same rules as another. Knowing how to get the information you need will save you hours of headaches.

Online Access

Online access to Texas court cases in Blanco County is limited. Municipal cases are not available online at this time. There are limited documents from the justices of the peace and the county court, such as evictions, foreclosures, and probate matters, on the county clerk's website. Also, there is no searchable database for district court cases in Texas prior to 2016. After 2016, most e-filed civil cases are available on re:SearchTexas, but what you can see is limited unless you are an attorney or a litigant.

Alternative Online Options

Because the Texas court systems' document availability is so fragmented, you may want to consider another option when you are searching for court records. It may be easier to search for Blanco County records online via a third-party search engine, such as CourtCaseFinder. Third-party search engines can search across multiple jurisdictions simultaneously.

In-Person Requests

Each court jurisdiction has separate procedures for requesting records in person. Requests for the Johnson City Municipal Court and Blanco Municipal Court records can be made in person at City Hall or by email to the deputy city secretary. Records for the Blanco County Justices of the Peace and the County Court can be requested in person or by email. You can request District Court records in person or via email.

Archived Records

Archived Blanco Municipal Court and Johnson City Municipal Court records can be requested in person or via email to the deputy city secretary. Select archived district court records can be found here. You can request archived Blanco County records from the Justices of the Peace or the County Court, either in person or via email through the county clerk. Archived district court records are available through the district court clerk.

For Attorneys and Legal Professionals

As an attorney who doesn't regularly practice in Blanco County or as a legal professional, it is important to know which court you need to file in. Large civil cases are usually in the district court system, while small claims cases are almost exclusively in a justice of the peace courtroom. Family law matters can be argued in either the county court or the district court. If you aren't sure where your case is located, you can always contact the clerk of court.

How to File a Case in Blanco County

Filing a case in Blanco County is easy if you follow these procedures. Each court has its own procedures outlined below.

Step 1: Choose the Correct Court

Because the Texas court system is so large, it is vital to know which court to file your case in. Here are some general rules of thumb:

For Class C misdemeanors, code violations, and minor traffic offenses that occur inside the city limits of Blanco or Johnson City, you would file in either the Blanco Municipal Court or the Johnson City Municipal Court.
For Class C misdemeanors and small civil cases (under $20,000), you need to file with one of the Justices of the Peace, depending on where you live in the county.
Class A and B misdemeanors, felonies, family law cases, and civil cases from $500 to $200,000 are filed with the County Judge.
District Courts hear major felony crimes, large civil lawsuits, election lawsuits, and land disputes.

Step 2: Complete Required Forms

For the Blanco Municipal Court, several forms are accessible online. Johnson City Municipal Court also has forms online. Johnson City has plenty of useful information on its website about completing forms. Both municipal courts have a court clerk available by phone as well to answer questions about filling out forms correctly. The Justices of the Peace in Blanco County have the forms available for download online, along with detailed instructions for filling them out correctly. The forms you need to fill out for Blanco County's judge are available on the website. District Court forms are also available online.

Step 3: File Your Case

Both of the municipal courts in Blanco County handle infractions rather than civil lawsuits, so if you are filing a small claims lawsuit, it needs to be filed with a justice of the peace in your precinct in the county. For all other cases, no matter whether you are filing in the county court or the district court, you will need to use the eFileTexas.gov website.

Step 4: Pay Filing Fees

Both Blanco City and Johnson City Municipal Courts allow you to pay fees for infractions online. You can also pay in person, by phone, or by mail. If you are filing a small claims case with a justice of the peace, you can pay in person via money order or cashier's check. For county and district fees, you can pay online with a credit or debit card when you file your case with eFileTexas.gov. If you are facing financial hardship and will struggle to pay the filing fee, you can submit a waiver.

Step 5: Serve the Other Party

It is important that you serve the other litigant with the paperwork. Court papers can be served in Texas by a sheriff or constable, an adult over the age of 18 with the court's permission, the clerks of court, or a process server certified by the Judicial Branch Certification Commission (JBCC). After the paperwork is served, you have to file an affidavit of service with the court. Know that if a sheriff or constable serves the paperwork, they will file an officer's affidavit of service with the court.

Step 6: Monitor Your Case

Once the filing process is complete, you need to monitor your case so that you don't miss a hearing with the court. Each court has a clerk, so you can check on the progress of your case with the clerks of court at the municipal court, justices of the peace, county court, or district courts.

Blanco County Courthouse Directory

Blanco County is home to several court systems.

Municipal Court, Blanco

Address: City Hall, 300 Pecan Street, Blanco, TX 78606

Phone: (830) 833-4525

Website: cityofblancotx.gov/1204/Municipal-Court

Municipal Court, Johnson City

Address: 303 E. Pecan Drive, Johnson City, TX 78636

Phone: (830) 868-7111, extension 4

Email: municipalcourt@johnsoncitytx.org

Website: johnsoncitytx.org/departments/court/

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1

Address: 108 E. Pecan Street, Johnson City, TX 78636

Phone: (830) 868-4888

Email: bcjp1@co.blanco.tx.us

Website: co.blanco.tx.us/page/blanco.JP1.Main

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4

Address: 402 Blanco Avenue, Blanco, TX 78606

Phone: (830) 833-4212

Email: bcjp4@co.blanco.tx.us

Website: co.blanco.tx.us/page/blanco.JP4.Main

Blanco County Court

Address: Blanco County Courthouse, 101 E. Pecan Street, Johnson City, TX 78636

Phone: (830) 868-4266

Email: cojudge@co.blanco.tx.us

Website: co.blanco.tx.us/page/blanco.County.Judge

Blanco District Court, 33rd District

Address: 1701 E. Polk Street, Suite 74, Burnet, TX 78611

Phone: (512) 756-5436

Email: 33coordinator@dcourttexas.org

Website: co.blanco.tx.us/page/blanco.DC.Courts

Blanco District Court, 424th District

Address: 1701 E. Polk Street, Suite 74, Burnet, TX 78611

Phone: (512) 756-5436

Email: 424coordinator@dcourttexas.org

Website: co.blanco.tx.us/page/blanco.DC.Courts

Legal Help and Self-Help Resources

For a layperson, it can be challenging to complete paperwork correctly and navigate the various court systems in Texas. Luckily, there are resources to help you check and complete your paperwork or give you legal advice.

Free Legal Assistance

The Johnson City Municipal Court has extensive information on its website about all aspects of municipal court proceedings and how to get answers to your questions. It has step-by-step instructions on how to enter a plea, appeal, request continuances or deferments, enter into probation, make court appearances, and ask for a new trial. Both Justices of the Peace in Blanco County also list all of their self-help topics on their websites, including how to properly file civil suits, help with landlord-tenant disputes, and assistance with debt collections and challenges. The County Court has a PDF with rules and procedures available on its website. The District Court clerk also has self-help information on the District Court website.

Local Legal Support

Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid is available to help low and moderate-income residents of Blanco County. The organization specializes in social and economic justice, housing, benefits, domestic violence, and labor issues. A great free legal assistance website in Texas is TexasLawHelp.org. TexasLawHelp provides paperwork and advice for people trying to access the Texas legal system. You can also post for help with your civil case from lawyers with the American Bar Association at Free Legal Answers Texas.

FAQs

How do I search for a criminal case in Blanco County?

It depends on the jurisdiction. If you are looking for Class C misdemeanors within the city limits of Blanco or Johnson City, you will need to contact the municipal clerks in person or via email to the deputy city secretary. Justices of the Peace hear Class C misdemeanors outside the city limits, so you would need to contact the county clerk for a case search. The county clerk would also be able to access criminal records for the County Court as well. District Court criminal cases after 2016 can be accessed with the re:SearchTexas tool.

Are court records public in Blanco County?

Under the Texas Freedom of Information Act, most court records are public in Blanco County. Juvenile cases are exempt, and a judge can order that court cases and records be sealed.

Where can I find eviction records?

Justices of the Peace usually handle evictions in Blanco County. You can obtain records of evictions by contacting the County Clerk for Blanco County.

Can I file a small claims case online?

In Texas, you can file your small claims online or in person. If you choose to file online, you can use the e-file option.

How long does it take to get records in Blanco County?

Blanco County is small in population. Asking for records in the county, no matter which court you need, should be a fairly quick process. Make sure you have as much information as possible to help speed up the process.

Are online court record searches always accurate?

Texas' online court searches are sparse at best in less populated counties. To make sure your time is well spent, ensure the information you input is correct.

When is it helpful to use a third-party records finder?

Because online information from the Texas court system is fragmented, using a third-party records finder may be very helpful. Third-party search tools such as CourtCaseFinder can help you determine where a case is located and whether you are searching in the right county.

What do I do if I can't find my case online?

If you are having trouble finding your case online, you may need to contact the court clerk. They have extensive experience finding court cases in their respective courts.

What kind of records can I find online?

The court records online are fragmented at best. You have the best chance of finding county or district court records that were filed electronically through the Texas e-file system.

Can I save or download records for future reference?

If you get records from a court clerk, you can scan those records into your computer and save them for future reference. You can also save online records from the county or district courts, as they are available in PDF format.

Blanco County Court Records Lookup

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