Mills County Background Check Records

Mills County background check records are maintained by the County Clerk and District Clerk at the courthouse in Goldthwaite, Texas. Mills County is a small rural county with about 4,400 residents in the Texas Hill Country region. The County Clerk holds misdemeanor criminal records, civil case files, probate documents, and property records. The District Clerk manages felony criminal records from the district court serving Mills County. You can access these records in person at the Goldthwaite courthouse or by mailing a written request to the appropriate office.

Mills County Clerk Records

The Mills County Clerk is responsible for all public records assigned to that office by Texas law. These include misdemeanor criminal case files, civil county court filings, probate documents, marriage licenses, real property records, and assumed name filings. All records are public under Texas law unless a court has issued a sealing or expunction order. The office is at the Mills County Courthouse in Goldthwaite and is open on weekdays.

Mills County does not operate a public online records portal. To search records, go to the office in person, call to check availability, or mail a written request. In-person visits are the fastest and most direct method. Bring a valid photo ID when you visit. For mail requests, state the subject's full name, type of record, helpful dates or case numbers, and include payment for copy fees. Copies are $1.00 per page. Certified copies add a $5.00 certification fee to the per-page cost.

Because Mills County is rural and small, some older records may only exist in paper form or on microfilm. Call the office ahead of time if you are searching for records from decades ago to make sure they have what you need before making the trip.

Note: Mills County has no public online records portal. Contact the office first before submitting a mail request to confirm current fees and procedures.

Mills County District Clerk Criminal Records

The Mills County District Clerk holds all felony criminal records and district court filings for the county. Mills County is served by the 35th District Court, a multi-county court that sits in Mills and several neighboring counties. All felony charges, indictments, plea agreements, verdicts, and sentences for Mills County are on file with the District Clerk. The District Clerk also maintains civil district court filings and family law records. These are among the most important records for a full background check in Mills County.

To get district court records, submit a written request to the District Clerk in Goldthwaite. Include the subject's name and any known dates or case numbers. Name searches are billed per year searched. Certified copies cost $5.00 for certification plus $1.00 per page. Civil and family case e-filing for Mills County goes through eFileTexas.gov. The re:SearchTX portal may carry 35th District Court case indexes that include Mills County filings.

Expunctions and orders of nondisclosure processed through the District Clerk change what a Mills County background check will show. A granted expunction removes the record from all public access. A nondisclosure seals it from the public but keeps it available to law enforcement and certain agencies.

Mills County Sheriff Arrest Records

The Mills County Sheriff's Office handles all arrests, jail bookings, and incident reports for the county. Texas law makes arrest records public. To request them, submit a written request under the Texas Public Information Act with the subject's name and any known incident dates. The office has 10 business days to respond. The Mills County Jail holds persons arrested in the county. Bond information is available through the Sheriff's Office. Dial 911 for emergencies.

Sex offender registration data for Mills County is in the Texas DPS Sex Offender Registry, which is free and searchable online. The TDCJ inmate search covers all Texas state prison inmates at no cost.

Mills County Court System

Mills County is in the 35th Judicial District. The district court handles felony criminal cases, large civil matters, and family law proceedings. The county court manages Class A and B misdemeanor cases, probate, and smaller civil disputes. Justice of the Peace courts handle Class C misdemeanors and traffic violations at the precinct level. All of these courts generate records that can show up in a Mills County background check search.

District court records are held by the District Clerk in Goldthwaite. County and misdemeanor records go to the County Clerk at the same courthouse. The re:SearchTX portal may have 35th District Court case indexes available online for free. Civil and family e-filing goes through eFileTexas.gov.

Note: Texas court records are public unless a judge has issued a specific order to seal or expunge them.

Online Search Tools for Mills County Background Checks

Mills County has no county-run online records portal. These state-level tools let you search without traveling to Goldthwaite.

The re:SearchTX portal gives free access to Texas district court case indexes, including the 35th Judicial District. Search Mills County cases by name or cause number at no cost. For a statewide criminal history search, the Texas DPS Criminal History Name Search costs $3.00. The TDCJ inmate search is free. The Texas Sex Offender Registry is free and searchable by name or location.

The re:SearchTX portal covers Texas district court filings including those from the 35th Judicial District that serves Mills County.

Search Mills County district court cases by party name or cause number for free using the re:SearchTX portal.

The Texas statutes website is the official source for Texas laws covering public records access, expunctions, and the rules that govern what clerk offices must keep on file.

Texas statutes define what records the Mills County Clerk and District Clerk must maintain and what the public can access.

Note: Name-based searches are not definitive. Use the Texas DPS FAST fingerprint program for a certified identity-tied background check result.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Mills County. Each has its own courthouse and clerk offices for background check record searches.