Find a Comal County Court Case, Then Get the Actual Record From the Right Clerk
Comal County’s official Odyssey Public Access portal is a useful starting point for civil, family, probate, criminal, jail and bond searches, but the portal does not replace the clerk who holds the file. A case may appear online while the document you need is available only from the District Clerk, County Court at Law Clerk, Justice Court or Municipal Court.
This guide shows what to search first, how to separate district, misdemeanor, probate, eviction and city cases, why a document image may be missing, how to check court dates, and exactly what information to give the clerk when you need a regular or certified copy.
Start With the Type of Record You Actually Need
Routing the case before searching is faster than entering the same name into every Comal County system.
Use the district-court route for felony criminal, divorce, family and district civil cases.
District Clerk workflowUse this office for filed County Court at Law criminal, probate and civil records.
County Court workflowFind the Justice of the Peace precinct named on the filing, citation or court notice.
JP court routeCity traffic, parking and ordinance cases use New Braunfels Municipal Court.
Municipal routeJail information is separate from the later criminal court case and disposition.
Jail-record routeWhich Comal County Court or Clerk Holds the Record?
Odyssey brings several search categories together, but the official file is still maintained by the court clerk responsible for that case type. That distinction matters when you need a certified copy, an older document or something not displayed online.
| What you need | Best starting point | Do not confuse it with |
|---|---|---|
| Felony criminal case | Odyssey Criminal Case Records → District Clerk | A jail booking or arrest report. |
| Divorce / district family case | Odyssey Civil/Family → District Clerk | A marriage certificate or vital record. |
| District civil lawsuit | Odyssey Civil/Family → District Clerk | A land-record or lien search. |
| Class A or B misdemeanor | Odyssey Criminal → County Court at Law Clerk | An unfiled charge or jail record. |
| Probate case | Odyssey Probate → County Court at Law Clerk | A deed or recorded property document. |
| County Court civil case | Odyssey Civil/Family → County Court at Law civil department | A district civil lawsuit. |
| Eviction or small claim | Correct Justice of the Peace court | County Court at Law unless the case has been appealed. |
| New Braunfels citation | New Braunfels Municipal Court | County misdemeanor court. |
| Jail / bond information | Odyssey Jail / Jail Bond or Sheriff records | The later criminal case and disposition. |
| State appeal | Texas Third Court of Appeals | Comal County trial-court Odyssey records. |
| Federal case | Western District of Texas / PACER | A Texas state-court case. |
How to Use the Official Comal County Odyssey Court Records Portal
Comal County’s Judicial Record Search opens Odyssey Public Access. The current landing page separates Probate Case Records, Civil/Family Case Records, Criminal Case Records, Jail Records and Jail Bond Records.
- Open the official Judicial Record Search. Use the Comal County government page or its linked Odyssey system. Avoid starting with a commercial people-search form when you need an official case number or court.
- Pick the record category before typing the name. Select Probate, Civil/Family, Criminal, Jail or Jail Bond based on the record you actually need.
- Use a cause or case number when available. A number from a citation, pleading, order, attorney letter or hearing notice is usually the most precise identifier.
- Use a party-name search when the number is unknown. Start with the spelling shown on legal paperwork. Do not add uncertain information merely to make the search look more specific.
- Open the matching case and record the court. Save the cause number, court name, filing date, case type, parties, case actions and status or disposition.
- Identify the document you actually need. Look for entries such as petition, information, judgment, order, decree, dismissal or another specific case event.
- If there is no document image, stop hunting for a hidden download. County Court at Law online access is intentionally summary-level. Use the clerk’s records request process for the actual document.
- Confirm high-stakes information with the record-holding office. Court settings, legal deadlines, balances and certified-copy requirements should be confirmed before action.
How to Search Comal County Court Records by Name Without Creating False Matches
A name search is useful when the cause number is unknown, but a matching name does not prove that the record belongs to the person you intended to research.
Search Criminal only for a criminal case, Civil/Family for a civil or divorce matter, and Probate for an estate matter instead of searching every category.
Begin with reliable first and last-name information, then compare the visible court, case type, filing date and other case details.
Check prior pleadings, invoices, leases or contracts for the exact entity name before searching a civil case.
A booking can exist before a County Court at Law or district criminal case appears.
If the citation names New Braunfels Municipal Court, use the city court search rather than Odyssey county criminal records.
Justice Court cases depend on the court where the matter was filed.
Use this match checklist before assuming it is the same person
- Does the court location make sense?
- Does the case type match what you expected?
- Does the filing year fit the known event?
- Is the person shown in the expected party role?
- Does the disposition support the conclusion you are drawing?
What to Save From a Comal County Case Result
Treat the portal result as a routing sheet. The most valuable outcome of the search is knowing exactly which court file and document to request.
| Field | Why it matters | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Cause number | Fastest identifier for the clerk and court. | Calling with only a common name. |
| Court | Tells you whether the District Clerk, County Court clerk, JP or city court likely holds the record. | Sending the request to the wrong clerk. |
| Case type | Separates felony, misdemeanor, civil, family, probate and other matters. | Assuming every “criminal record” is kept by the same office. |
| Filing date | Helps verify identity and locate older files. | Using only today’s residence or age to identify a record. |
| Case actions | Shows what has been filed or entered in the case. | Assuming every listed action has an online PDF. |
| Disposition / status | Helps distinguish a pending case from a final outcome. | Reading the original allegation as the result. |
Before leaving the portal, write down
- Complete cause number
- Exact court name
- Party name as displayed
- Filing date
- Case type
- Visible status or disposition
- Exact document or case action you want
- Approximate document date
How to Check a Comal County Court Date or Docket
Case search and docket information answer slightly different questions. The case summary can help you identify the assigned court, while the individual court’s docket or administrator should control when an appearance matters.
County Court at Law 1 schedule
Comal County currently publishes a recurring County Court at Law 1 schedule that includes criminal, family, jail-video, probate, civil and arraignment dockets. The county warns that family-law settings should go through the District Court and that dates need to be confirmed with the court administrator.
| Day | Published recurring schedule |
|---|---|
| Monday | Criminal docket at 9:00 a.m.; family every other Monday at 9:00 a.m.; jail video docket at 1:30 p.m. |
| Tuesday | Criminal docket at 9:00 a.m.; announcement docket; attorneys and defendants have a 1:30 p.m. docket call. |
| Wednesday | Probate at 9:00 a.m.; civil at 10:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. |
| Thursday | Arraignment at 9:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; family every other Thursday at 9:00 a.m. |
| Friday | Family docket at 9:00 a.m. |
District Clerk Records: Felony, Divorce, Family and District Civil Cases
The Comal County District Clerk is the practical copy and records contact for district-court matters. The office also directs people trying to find a case or see what was filed to the county Judicial Record Search.
150 N Seguin Avenue
Suite 3009
New Braunfels, TX 78130
Phone: 830-221-1250
Fax: 830-608-2006
Monday–Thursday: 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Closed noon–1:00 p.m.
Regular copies can be emailed. Certified copies must be picked up or mailed. The District Clerk currently lists an additional $2 mailing fee for certified copies.
2026 District Clerk copy and search fees
The current 2026 District Clerk fee sheet separates paper, digital, certified and exemplified copies. This is a different fee schedule from the County Court at Law records form.
| District Clerk service | 2026 published fee |
|---|---|
| Civil or criminal record search | $5 |
| Paper copy | $1 per page |
| Digital / electronic copy | 10¢ per page, with a $1 minimum fee per document |
| Clerk certification | Additional $5 each |
| Exemplified copy | Additional $5 each |
County Court at Law Records: Misdemeanor, Probate and County Civil Files
The County Court at Law records clerk can provide public copies from County Court at Law 1, 2 and 3, including criminal misdemeanor, civil and probate records.
| Department | Phone route | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Records | 830-221-1149 | Public record-copy requests. |
| Main County Court at Law Clerk | 830-221-1240 | General County Court at Law routing. |
| Probate / mental health | 830-221-1240, option 2 | Probate and mental-health case questions. |
| Criminal misdemeanors | 830-221-1240, option 3 | Filed County Court at Law misdemeanor cases. |
| Civil | 830-221-1240, option 5 | County Court at Law civil matters. |
County Court at Law Clerk’s Office
199 Main Plaza, Suite 1013
New Braunfels, TX 78130
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Lobby hours end at 4:30 p.m., and the office closes from noon–1:00 p.m. for lunch.
What the official records form requires
The County Court at Law records form adds several details that are easy to miss if you only read the general website:
- Requests must be in writing and legible.
- Use one research form per case.
- The request should be document-specific.
- Include the case number and party name.
- Identify the document name and document date when known.
- Certified copies are paper-only and cannot be delivered by email.
- The form notes that a clerk search fee may be charged, up to the amount shown on the form.
Do Not Use a General Public-Information Request When You Really Need a Court Case Record
Texas distinguishes ordinary governmental public-information records from court case records. The Texas Judicial Branch explains that access to court case records is governed by common law, statutes and court rules, and that the clerk of the court is generally the custodian.
Comal County’s own Public Information Request page reinforces the practical route: divorce, probate, child-custody, family, criminal, traffic and lawsuit records are directed to the court records search rather than the general county public-information office.
How to Request a Regular or Certified Comal County Court Copy
First identify the office that owns the case. District Clerk and County Court at Law records use different fee schedules and delivery rules.
Find the cause number. The clerk can locate the correct file faster and avoid same-name confusion.
Name the exact document. Request “final judgment,” “final decree,” “order,” “information,” “petition” or another identifiable filing.
Choose regular or certified. Ask the receiving organization what level of authentication it actually requires.
Confirm delivery and total cost. Email, paper, pickup and mail options differ by clerk.
County Court at Law copy fees
| Copy type | Published fee | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic document, 10 pages or less | $1 flat fee | Electronic copies cannot be certified. |
| Additional electronic pages | 10¢ each | Applies beyond the initial page allowance shown by the clerk. |
| Regular paper copy | $1 per page | Paper is required when certification is needed. |
| Certification | $5 per document | Paper only; email is not available for certified copies. |
| Postage | $3 | Large requests may have additional calculated charges. |
| Credit card convenience fee | 2.85% | Paid to the payment processor. |
Use this request sequence
- Search the case first. Save the cause number, court and filing you need.
- Download the correct form when requesting County Court at Law records. The clerk requires its County Court at Law Records Request Form.
- Use one form per case. Put additional document requests from the same case where the form instructs.
- Choose electronic or paper delivery. If you need certification, choose paper because electronic copies cannot be certified.
- Wait for the cost notice. The clerk says you will be notified of the cost before processing.
- Respond to any written estimate promptly. The clerk warns that failing to respond within 10 days can cause the request to be treated as withdrawn.
“I need a certified paper copy of the final judgment in cause number ______. The case is ______ v. ______. The judgment was entered approximately ______. Please confirm the total copy, certification and mailing charge before processing.”
Case Found but No PDF? Or No Case Found at All?
Diagnose what is missing before assuming the record is sealed or nonexistent.
Use the records clerk. The official County Court page explicitly says record images are unavailable on the public website.
The County Court clerk can answer questions about a filed case; an unfiled charge may still be with the magistrate or prosecutor.
Probate, Civil/Family and Criminal are separate search routes.
An eviction or New Braunfels citation can exist outside the county-level case path you first searched.
Comal County is one of the counties served by Texas’s Third Court of Appeals.
Comal County is served by the San Antonio Division of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.
Recovery order
- Confirm the court level.
- Confirm the correct Odyssey category.
- Use the complete cause number if known.
- Retry the party name from official paperwork.
- Check whether the charge or lawsuit has actually been filed.
- Check the correct Justice Court or Municipal Court.
- Check the appellate or federal system when applicable.
- If the case exists but the document is absent, contact the clerk holding the file.
Comal County Criminal Records: Arrest, Jail, Filed Charge and Disposition Are Different
| Record | What it tells you | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Arrest / booking | Shows an interaction with law enforcement and possible custody. | Check whether prosecutors later filed a court case. |
| Jail record | Shows custody or jail-related information. | Use the criminal court case for charges and disposition. |
| Filed felony | A district-court prosecution exists. | Use District Clerk records. |
| Filed Class A / B misdemeanor | A County Court at Law prosecution exists. | Use County Court at Law criminal records. |
| Disposition | The later court outcome. | Read this before drawing conclusions from the original allegation. |
Comal County Jail Records: Request Rules, Fees and Limits
The Sheriff’s Criminal / Jail Records Division handles jail open-record requests. Use this office for jail-related documents rather than treating the jail database as a complete criminal-court history.
Criminal / Jail Records Division
3000 IH 35 South
New Braunfels, TX 78130
Phone: 830-620-3412
Fax: 830-608-0147
What the official jail-record PDF says
- Requests must be made in writing.
- Requests are processed in the order received.
- The county says a request may take up to 10 business days.
- Pages 1–40 are free.
- Additional pages are listed at 10¢ per page.
- Large requests can include research and assembly charges.
- Some information may be redacted, including protected identifying information.
- Medical documents must be picked up in person with identification.
Public local background-check limitation
The jail-records page says its public background checks are for Comal County residents only and return Comal County information only. It does not search federal records, other counties, Justice of the Peace cases or municipal Class C misdemeanor records.
Justice Court and New Braunfels Municipal Court Use Separate Case Routes
Use the Justice of the Peace court where the case was filed. Do not assume a JP matter will be found through the same clerk-copy workflow as district or county court.
The County Court at Law Clerk explains that a small-claims appeal from Justice Court is sent to the Comal County civil department and heard as a new case.
The city’s official Municipal Court page says its online search can show warrant status, case details and upcoming dockets.
New Braunfels Municipal Court
550 Landa Street
New Braunfels, TX 78130
Phone: 830-221-4180
The current city directory lists court hours Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Comal County Appeals and Federal Cases Are Not in the County Trial-Court Search
Comal County is currently one of the counties served by the Texas Third Court of Appeals in Austin.
Comal County is assigned to the San Antonio Division of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.
Use PACER or the federal clerk when the case is federal rather than a Texas state-court matter.
Western District of Texas — San Antonio Division
U.S. District Clerk’s Office
262 West Nueva Street, Room 1-400
San Antonio, TX 78207
Phone: 210-472-6550
re:SearchTX and Comal County’s Current Order-Delivery Procedure
The District Clerk states that its office is integrated with re:SearchTX, the approved electronic filing and service system.
Effective September 1, 2025, the District Clerk discontinued the practice of e-serving or emailing Court Orders and Notices of Court Orders. Parties are directed to obtain those documents through re:SearchTX.
Need Help Understanding a Filing? Use the Comal County Law Library
The District Clerk can provide public information and explain procedural office information, but court staff cannot provide legal advice, recommend pleadings or predict outcomes. For self-help research, Comal County operates a public law library.
Comal County Law Library
199 Main Plaza, B102
New Braunfels, TX 78130
Phone: 830-221-1249
| Day | Current published hours |
|---|---|
| Monday–Wednesday | 8:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. |
| Thursday | 8:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. |
| Friday | Closed |
Hours exclude county holidays and are subject to change, so confirm before making a special trip.
Comal County Court Records Phone Numbers and Addresses
| Office | Phone | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| District Clerk | 830-221-1250 | District-court records and copies. |
| County Court at Law Records | 830-221-1149 | Public misdemeanor, probate and county civil record-copy requests. |
| County Court at Law main line | 830-221-1240 | General County Court routing. |
| Magistrate’s Office | 830-620-3400 | Questions concerning misdemeanor charges not yet filed with County Court. |
| Criminal / Jail Records | 830-620-3412 | Jail open-record requests. |
| Comal County Law Library | 830-221-1249 | Public legal research and self-help resources. |
| New Braunfels Municipal Court | 830-221-4180 | New Braunfels municipal citations and city cases. |
District Clerk map
Parking tip for the District Clerk / courthouse area
The District Clerk currently states that free public parking is available at the corner of Seguin and Bridge Streets. Around the courthouse, other parking may be paid, and the county notes that the parking garage is reserved for handicapped drivers and employees.
Interpret Comal County Court Information Carefully
A court portal result can contain allegations, pending cases, dismissals, amended filings, duplicate names and incomplete remote document access.
- Do not assume an arrest created a filed court case.
- Do not assume a criminal charge resulted in conviction.
- Do not assume a closed case ended against the defendant.
- Do not identify a person from a name match alone.
- Do not assume “no image online” means the record is sealed.
- Do not treat a case summary as a certified copy.
- Do not use this website as a consumer-reporting service.
If you are unsure whether you need a docket, judgment, order or certified copy, use the court record types guide. For nearby county research, the verified Bexar County court records guide covers the separate Bexar County system.
Before using public-record information in an employment, tenant, credit, insurance, licensing or eligibility decision, read the site’s FCRA and consumer-reporting notice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Comal County Court Records
What is the official Comal County court records portal?
Comal County links to Odyssey Public Access through its Judicial Record Search page. The portal currently separates probate, civil/family, criminal, jail and jail bond searches.
Can I search Comal County court records by name?
Yes. Name searching is useful when the cause number is unknown. For filed County Court at Law misdemeanor cases, the clerk specifically says a case can be looked up by case number or defendant name.
Why can I see the case but not the court document?
For County Court at Law records, that is expected. The clerk states that the website displays case-summary information and actions but does not provide record images online.
Which office has Comal County felony records?
Felony prosecutions are district-court matters. Use Odyssey to locate the case, then use the Comal County District Clerk for district-court record copies.
Which office has misdemeanor court records?
Filed Class A and B misdemeanor County Court at Law cases are handled by the County Court at Law Clerk. If the charge has not yet been filed, the clerk directs users to the Magistrate’s Office.
How much does a certified Comal County court copy cost?
The answer depends on the clerk. The 2026 District Clerk fee sheet lists a $5 additional certification fee. The County Court at Law records form also lists $5 per certified document, plus applicable paper-copy and delivery charges. Confirm the current total before paying.
Can Comal County email me a certified copy?
Not under the current published procedures reviewed here. The District Clerk can email regular copies but says certified copies must be picked up or mailed. County Court at Law certified copies are paper-only.
How do I find a Comal County eviction or small-claims case?
Start with the correct Justice of the Peace court. If a small-claims case is appealed, the County Court at Law Clerk explains that the case can then move to the county civil department.
Where do I search a New Braunfels traffic citation?
Use New Braunfels Municipal Court when the citation is a city case. Its official search supports name, citation, docket and case-number searches.
Are Comal County jail records the same as criminal court records?
No. Jail records relate to custody and booking information. The court case shows whether charges were filed and what happened later. Always review the court disposition before drawing conclusions from a jail record.
Official Sources Used to Verify This Guide
- Comal County — Record Search
- Comal County — Odyssey Public Access
- District Clerk — Records & Resources
- District Clerk — 2026 Fee Schedule PDF
- County Court at Law Clerk
- County Court at Law Records Request PDF
- Sheriff — Jail Open Records
- Comal County Law Library
- New Braunfels Municipal Court
- Texas Third Court of Appeals
- Western District of Texas — Office Locations
Official Odyssey categories, District Clerk records guidance, 2026 District Clerk copy fees, County Court at Law record-image limits and request form, court dockets, jail-record rules, Municipal Court search options, Law Library hours, state appellate coverage and federal-court routing were reviewed against current official sources.
Court portals, fees, hours, personnel and procedures can change. The current record-holding court or clerk controls when its instructions differ from this guide.