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Free Hidalgo County Public Records Search

Access Hidalgo County Records: marriage, divorce, warrants, arrests, probation, criminal, court, background checks, and all public records.

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Learn how to access free Hidalgo County public records to find out more about someone’s past or to check the accuracy of your own information.

Public information–including background check reports, arrest, criminal, court, marital, probation, warrant, prisoner, and property records–can be searched through official channels. However, knowing where to look for the desired records and the steps to obtain them is vital.

This streamlined resource provides searchers with all the details on how to find public records in Hidalgo County, making the hunt for information quick and efficient.

How To Access Arrest Logs, Mugshots & the Reason for Detainment in Hidalgo County

Thanks to the Texas Public Information Act, everyone has the right to access government records in the state, unless exempted by law.¹ In addition, inquirers do not need to provide the reason for their search. This applies to arrest and jail records, as well as other kinds of public information.

Searchers looking for Hidalgo County arrest records can check with both county and municipal law enforcement agencies. It helps to know in which city or town someone was arrested–as well as their full name–in order to conduct an accurate search.

Track Down Someone Who Was Arrested in Hidalgo County, Texas

The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office manages the county’s correctional facility, the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center.

Typically, offenders who have been arrested and sentenced by the various law enforcement agencies in the county, including the sheriff’s department, are sent here to serve their time. The jail also houses defendants awaiting trial in county criminal courts, so the best place to start searching for arrest records in this South Texas county is the Hidalgo County Jail search tool.

To conduct an inmate search on this site, which is maintained by the county sheriff, all you need is the subject’s first and last names — although supplying extra information, such as their middle name, date of birth, and booking or release dates can help narrow down the search.

Entering information into the search fields will result in a public index of Hidalgo County bookings. This index includes booking numbers, defendants’ names, booking and release dates, arresting agencies, and a brief description of charges.

Searchers looking for more information or wanting to find someone’s mugshot can click on the booking number for more details — including the date of the offense, bail information, and the offender’s physical description and any aliases — along with thumbnail pictures of any booking photos.

For more information on inmates in Hidalgo County, searchers can contact the sheriff’s office using the information below:

Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office
711 East El Cibolo Rd.
Edinburg, TX 78541

Phone: 956.383.8114

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Alternatively, more information about inmates and the Hidalgo County corrections system can be requested by reaching out to the jail using this contact information:

Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center
701 East El Cibolo Rd.
Edinburg, TX 78541

Phone: 956.381.7900

Office hours are Monday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Obtain Police Reports & Arrest Details via Law Enforcement Agencies Within Hidalgo County

If Hidalgo County’s prison records search tool doesn’t yield the desired results, the next recommended way to find arrest records is by checking with the police departments of different municipalities in the county.

Hidalgo County is a large, populous county with dozens of local police departments. Here’s a list of the 10 biggest local law enforcement departments to kickstart a search:

Local Police Department	Address	Phone Number
McAllen Police Department	1601 North Bicentennial Blvd. McAllen, TX 78501	956.681.2000
Edinburg Police Department	1702 South Closner Blvd. Edinburg, TX 78539	956.289.7700
Mission Police Department	1200 East 8th St. Mission, TX 78572	956.584.5000
Pharr Police Department	1900 South Cage Blvd. Pharr, TX 78577	956.402.4700
Weslaco Police Department	901 North Airport Dr. Weslaco, TX 78596	956.968.8591
San Juan Police Department	2391 North Raul Longoria Rd. San Juan, TX 78589	956.223.2400
Alamo Police Department	423 North Tower Rd. Alamo, TX 78516	956.787.1454
Alton Police Department	509 South Alton Blvd. Alton, TX 78573	956.432.0700
Donna Police Department	207 South 10th St. Donna, TX 78537	956.464.4481
Mercedes Police Department	2314 North Baseline Rd. Mercedes, TX 78570	956.565.3102

To find information about other police departments in Hidalgo County, type “[city name] Texas police department contact information” into any search engine.

How To Find Hidalgo County Criminal History Information

To delve more into someone’s past, interested parties may want to conduct a free criminal record check. This can yield information about any arrests, charges, prior and pending court cases, convictions, warrants, and probation periods.

In Hidalgo County, searchers can look up someone’s criminal record by checking county criminal court records or contacting local law enforcement agencies.

View Criminal Case Information Using the Hidalgo County Search Tool

The best place to start in the search for Hidalgo County criminal records is the county’s Criminal Case Records search tool; this tool will search the Hidalgo County public records repository for all criminal court cases, making it a one-stop shop so there’s no need to check all of the different courts within the county.

With the search tool, users can search criminal cases by case number, defendant name, citation number, or even attorney name.

Note that both the first and last names are required for name-based searches. Other information including middle name, date of birth, and filing date can be added to narrow down the results.

Every Hidalgo County case search yields a list of case numbers, plus the defendants’ names and dates of birth, the dates the cases were filed, the specific court involved, the type and status of the case, and any charges.

Clicking on the case number will deliver more information about the case, including court events, charge information, and a list of related cases, if any. Searchers may be able to click on the titles of hot-linked documents to see scanned copies.

Look Up Prior Charges & Criminal Convictions Through the Hidalgo County Clerk’s Office

Interested parties can also obtain Hidalgo County criminal records by requesting copies of criminal case information from the county clerk.

The Hidalgo County Clerk’s Office Criminal Department maintains records pertaining to misdemeanor crime cases handled by county-level courts.

Individuals can request information about criminal cases by electronically submitting the official request form found on the clerk’s website.

The only required fields on this form are the defendant’s full name, as well as the requester’s name, phone number, mailing address, and email address. Requesters do not need to supply the case number or the court date. However, supplying the defendant’s date of birth can help narrow down the results.

You can also specifically request information related to a criminal complaint, judgment, case dismissal, or probation discharge.

However, note that requesting copies of criminal court records via the clerk’s office isn’t free. There is a fee of $5 for searching records, as well as a $1 document fee per page. Having documents certified incurs an additional $5 charge per document. Once the request is submitted, the office will reach out to discuss the method of payment.

Requesters can choose whether to have the court records delivered to them via mail or email. Alternatively, they can pick up the documents at the clerk’s office.

For more information about using the online request form, individuals can contact the county clerk’s office via email at [email protected] or by phone at 956.318.2100.

Searchers can also visit the Hidalgo County Clerk’s Office in person to request and collect documents at:

Hidalgo County Clerk’s Office
100 North Closner Blvd.
Edinburg, TX 78539

Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

How To Check Hidalgo County, Texas Warrants

The best place to start the search for Hidalgo County warrants is the sheriff’s office, as serving warrants is among the many duties of a county sheriff in Texas.

While some Texas sheriff’s offices maintain online warrant search tools, Hidalgo County’s does not. Requesters can contact the sheriff’s department to find out more information about warrants using the contact information below:

Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office
711 East El Cibolo Rd.
Edinburg, TX 78541

Phone: 956.383.8114

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Note that anyone who has an open warrant against them may be arrested on the spot if they visit the sheriff’s office.

In addition, requesters can contact the county’s many police departments (see table of contact information above) to find out more about potential warrants. Some law enforcement agencies, such as the Mission Police Department, post “Most Wanted” lists on their websites.

Interested parties can also use the Criminal Case Records search tool to search case information and possibly find information about issued warrants.

How To Execute a Probationer Search in Hidalgo County, Texas

The Hidalgo County Community Supervision and Corrections Department (CSCD) oversees court-ordered probation services for offenders in lieu of incarceration in the county jail.

There’s no CSCD search tool for finding out whether or not someone is on probation. However, questions about the program can be directed to the office using the following contact information:

Hidalgo County Community Supervision & Corrections (CSCD)
3100 South U.S. Business 281
P.O. Box 970
Edinburg, TX 78539

Phone: 956.587.6000

Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

How To Run a Hidalgo County, Texas Background Check

There are many reasons why someone may want to conduct a background check on another person — from individuals finding out more about a new date to employers completing a pre-employment screening. You may also run a background check on yourself to make sure there are no inaccuracies or surprises on your record.

Personal background checks are those made by individuals curious about an acquaintance, coworker, neighbor, etc. These checks don’t require the consent of the subject, nor does anyone requesting the records need to give a reason why they’re gathering the information.

Typically, personal background checks are what is known as Level 1 checks. These are name-based checks, and anyone can conduct one by using the myriad of free public records search methods identified in this resource.

It’s also possible to order a personal background check by a third-party records search service. However, this may incur a small fee.

On the flip side, professional background checks are typically conducted for business, employment, or licensing reasons. You may be subject of a professional check if you want to purchase a firearm, volunteer with children or the elderly, or obtain security clearance. Professional checks are also often completed for pre-employment screenings.

By law, professional background checks require the written permission of the subject before they can be conducted. Professional checks can be either a Level 1 name-based check or a Level 2 check, which uses fingerprinting and is more accurate.

Perform a Background Check in Hidalgo County – As mentioned above, any of the searches detailed in this resource constitute a personal Level 1 background check.

That said, the Hidalgo County Clerk’s Criminal Department also conducts Level 1 background checks for Class A and B misdemeanors. These include crimes such as vehicle burglary and property theft valued between $770 and $2,500 (Class A), as well as DWI offenses, marijuana possession, and criminal trespass (Class B).

Requesters can use the Criminal Case Request Form on the clerk’s website to submit a background check online. Each search costs $5, with an additional $1 per page charge for copies. Once the request is submitted, the office will reach out to discuss the method of payment.

For more information, contact the office using the information below:

Hidalgo County Clerk’s Office
100 North Closner Blvd.
Edinburg, TX 78540

Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Perform a Statewide Background Check in Texas – To complete a background check that includes all jurisdictions in Texas, interested individuals can use the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Criminal History Conviction Name Search. This search pulls information from the DPS Criminal History System.

In order to use this tool, searchers must register for an account and purchase credits. Each public criminal history record search costs one credit, or $3. Credits can be purchased using a credit card; however, note that this incurs a 2.25% plus a 25-cent fee per transaction.

Researchers can also use the DPS Crime Records Division to request a Level 2 fingerprint check.

However, it’s crucial to understand that Level 2 background checks on another person can be conducted only for professional purposes and only with the subject’s written consent.

These criminal history checks cost $15 each. In addition, applicants must purchase an official fingerprint card from either the DPS or a local police department. Prices for fingerprint cards vary but are limited in cost to $10 at most.

Request a Background Check on Yourself – Texans also have the right to request a Level 2 fingerprint check through the DPS Crime Records Division on themselves to verify their own records.

To conduct a personal review, follow these steps:

1. Schedule a fingerprinting appointment at a DPS Fingerprint Applicant Services of Texas (FAST) location through the IdentoGO website.
2. Arrive at the scheduled appointment with a government-issued photo ID and payment ($25 total). The vendor will accept credit cards, business checks, or money orders. Cash and personal checks are not accepted.
3. The FAST agent will submit your fingerprints electronically to the DPS and provide a receipt.

Results will be mailed or emailed within 14 days.

How To Review All Criminal Records in Texas via State & Federal Agencies

There are many outlets for discovering someone’s criminal history by checking Texas public records. These include:

• The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Criminal History Conviction Name Search, which is based on information in the state’s Criminal History System. Searches here cost $3 apiece, plus a small credit card processing fee. See the background check section above for more details.
• The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), which allows anyone to check public records pertaining to inmates in the system. The Inmate Information Search requires the subject’s last name and first initial to search inmates currently incarcerated in state facilities.⁵
• The Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate search tool, which allows members of the public to find inmates incarcerated in federal government-run prisons. First and last names or BOP register numbers are required for this search.
• The Texas DPS Sex Offender Registry, which allows users to search offenders by name and location.⁶
• The U.S. Justice Department’s National Sex Offender Public Website, which also allows searchers to look up sex offenders by name and location for free.⁷

How To Conduct a Hidalgo County, Texas Court Case Lookup

There are a myriad of courts in the Hidalgo County judicial system. These include district, statutory probate, justice, and municipal courts. The county website maintains an online directory for finding contact information for each of these courts that can be used to request Hidalgo County public records.⁸

However, the easiest way to search for Hidalgo County judicial records is by using the county’s Case Records Inquiry tool. This feature can be used to search records for criminal, civil, and family cases.

This resource has already discussed how to search criminal case records (see section above).

Searching for civil and family court records is just as simple. Hidalgo County court records can be searched by case number, party name, or attorney name.

When searching via names, both first and last names are required.

Search results include an index of all cases that may fit the bill, including case numbers, styles, file dates, locations, case types, and status.

Clicking on the case number will yield more details about each case, including party information, judgments, and other court events.

Within the county, municipal courts offer case information as well. For example, searchers can request official records from the city of McAllen’s municipal court by submitting a request in writing.

In addition, researchers may want to check Texas state courts for information on cases. There are 13 district courts located in Hidalgo County. Texas also has a Supreme Court, multiple courts of appeals, children’s courts, and specialty courts.

Researchers can request official copies of district court records via email. Print and complete the Copy Request Form, including as much information about a case as possible, then scan the form and return it to the Hidalgo County District Clerk at [email protected]. Official records cost $1 per page, plus an additional $5 fee if the exact case number isn’t known. Payment can be made by credit card, money order, or check.

The Texas Judicial Branch website also allows users to conduct case and document searches of state court records.

How To Retrieve Hidalgo County Vital Records (Marriage, Divorce, Birth & Death)

Vital records are government-kept records that pertain to significant life events, such as marriage, divorce, birth, and death.

Searching these records can be helpful to a number of individuals, from a family member who needs a death certificate to settle an estate to a potential love interest who wants to find out if someone is married.

Determine if Someone Is Married or Divorced in Hidalgo County, Texas via County Records

Hidalgo County public records can help researchers check if someone is married or divorced. There are several options for finding these vital records, and this resource outlines the easiest ways to obtain the requested information.

Find Marriage Records in Hidalgo County – The easiest way to find records for marriages that have taken place in Hidalgo County is by using the County Clerk’s Official Records Search tool. Select “Marriage” from the dropdown box and pick whether to conduct a quick or advanced search.

Note: Advanced searches are recommended for parties with more common names, as duplicates may be shown.

Searching for marriage records this way will result in a brief summary of marriage license information, including the date of the wedding, the document’s recorded date, and the names of both parties.

Researchers can register for a public records system account and then export selected marriage records to a PDF for free. Create an account with the requester’s full name and email address.

For more information on obtaining Hidalgo County marriage records, requesters can contact or visit the County Clerk using the information below:

Hidalgo County Clerk
100 North Closner Blvd., 1st Floor
Edinburg, TX 78539

Phone: 956.318.2100

Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Alternatively, marriage records are available for purchase via mail from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Official information is available for marriages dating back to 1966 and costs $20 per record.

To request records, mail fee payment, a copy of a government-issued photo ID, and a completed Application for Marriage or Divorce Record to:

Texas Vital Records
Department of State Health Services
1100 West 49th St.
P.O. Box 12040
Austin, TX 78756

Find Divorce Records in Hidalgo County – The District Clerk hosts Hidalgo County divorce records.

Official copies of divorce decrees are available after applicants print, complete, and scan the Copy Request Form and email it to the Hidalgo County District Clerk at [email protected].

In addition to the cost of $1 per page for the records, an additional $5 fee applies in instances where the divorce case number is unknown.

Researchers hoping to determine if someone is divorced can use the county’s Case Records Inquiry tool to run a search for civil and family records using the subject’s name. Scan the “Type” column for divorce records.

Finally, official divorce records are obtainable from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Vital Records division. Requesters can use the DSHS to find information on divorces dating back to 1968. The cost is $20 per record.

To request records, send payment, plus a copy of a government-issued photo ID, and a completed Application for Marriage or Divorce Record to:

Texas Vital Records
Department of State Health Services
1100 West 49th St.
P.O. Box 12040
Austin, TX 78756

Acquire Birth & Death Records in Hidalgo County Texas via the County Clerk

The Hidalgo County Clerk’s office maintains both birth and death certificates for individuals who were born or who died in the county.

However, the office does not accept requests for either type of certificate by mail. To request a birth or death certificate from the County Clerk, researchers must visit the office in person Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the following address:

Hidalgo County Clerk
100 North Closner Blvd., 1st Floor
Edinburg, TX 78539

The office will grant a copy of a certificate of birth to only the following:

• The registrant
• The registrant’s parent, child, sibling, spouse, grandparent, legal guardian, or conservator
• The registrant’s legal representative who can provide a letter of permission and a copy of the registrant’s ID

Note: Anyone requesting a spouse’s birth certificate must bring a copy of the marriage license. Anyone requesting a birth certificate for a grandchild must bring a birth certificate for a parent of the child to establish the relationship.

The office will allow only the following to obtain a copy of a certificate of death:

• The registrant’s parent, child, sibling, spouse, grandparent, legal guardian, or conservator
• The registrant’s legal representative (a letter of permission and a copy of the registrant’s ID must be provided)

If the interested party can’t visit the County Clerk’s office in person, they can also request a certified copy of a birth or death certificate from the Texas Department of Health and Human Services.

Note that only qualified family members or legal representatives may order these records.

To order a birth certificate, provide:¹¹

• The registrant’s first and last name
• The registrant’s sex at birth
• The city and county where the birth took place
• The registrant’s mother’s full maiden name
• The registrant’s father’s full name

To order a death certificate, provide:¹²

• The registrant’s full name
• The date of death listed on the certificate
• The registrant’s sex
• The city and county in which the death took place

Certified copies of birth certificates cost $22, while certified copies of death certificates cost $20. Payments are made electronically via credit or debit card.

If searchers are looking for information about the birth or death of someone who is not a direct relative (for example, for genealogy purposes), they may wish to use a third-party service to help quickly track down unofficial copies of vital records.

How To Verify Who Owns a Property or Home in Hidalgo County, Texas for Free

There are several ways to check records for properties located in Hidalgo County.

The easiest way is to use the property search function maintained by the Hidalgo County Tax Assessor. Using this tool, you can look up information on any property for which Hidalgo County collects taxes.

This tool enables searchers to look up property information by the owner’s name (last name required) or property address, as well as by account number, CAD reference number, or fiduciary number.

For more information, you can reach the Tax Assessor at the following contact information:

Hidalgo County Tax Office
Administration Building
2804 South Business Hwy 281
Edinburg, TX 78539

Phone: 956.318.2157

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

In addition to the main office, there are several substations located within Hidalgo County. Find their contact information on the Tax Office website.

Another avenue to try is the Hidalgo County Appraisal District, which hosts a property search tool on its website. Through this feature, you can search properties by owner, address, or ID number.

Direct any questions or concerns to the Appraisal District using the following contact information:

Hidalgo County Appraisal District
4405 Professional Dr.
Edinburg, TX 78639

Phone: 956.381.8466

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

One final place to check for property records is the Hidalgo County Clerk’s Official Records Search function online.

Simply select “Property Records” from the dropdown menu and enter the owner’s name. This search will yield records such as deeds, bills of sale, and oil, gas, and mineral leases. Researchers can use the tool to search property records dating as far back as 1833.

For more details, use the following information to contact the County Clerk:

Hidalgo County Clerk’s Office
100 North Closner Blvd.
Edinburg, TX 78539

Phone: 956.318.2100

Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Search Hidalgo County Public Records Responsibly & Know Your Rights

Thanks to the Texas Public Information Act, everyone has the right to access government records maintained in the state, with some exceptions. That said, it’s important to always use the knowledge gained from viewing this information responsibly.

Anyone searching public records for their own personal use may do so as long as they don’t use the information to stalk, harass, or intimidate the subject. They must also not use the records to commit any crime, such as identity theft.

Information sought for personal reasons also cannot be used for employment screenings, the decision to rent property to a tenant, or for determining an individual’s creditworthiness.

On the other hand, public record searches such as fingerprint-based background checks are usable by businesses and organizations on a professional basis. However, there are limitations. These checks require the subject’s knowledge and written consent.

In addition, when considering public records, you must adhere to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).¹⁶ This law regulates the collection, dissemination, and use of consumer information and stipulates everyone has the right to:

• Be notified of information being used against them
• Know what is in their information file
• Ask for a credit score
• Dispute inaccurate or incomplete information
• Seek damages from FCRA violators

In addition, FCRA requires consumer reporting agencies to correct or delete inaccurate, outdated, or unverifiable information and to provide information about consumers only to anyone with a valid need.

Public records are also subject to regulation by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which both assist victims of background check fraud.

In cases of records used against you unlawfully, the Texas Workforce Commission takes labor-related complaints as well. The Texas Civil Rights Project also helps victims of discrimination.

The saying goes that everything is bigger in Texas, which applies to public records in Hidalgo County, too. The county maintains more than 150 years’ worth of data on individuals who have resided within its borders.

When used responsibly, Hidalgo County public records can be an invaluable resource to anyone looking to find information about a county resident or to check that their own records are accurate.