Atascosa County

Atascosa County is located in south-central Texas, approximately 35 miles south of San Antonio. Atascosa County seat is Jourdanton, a small city that is the administrative and commercial hub for Atascosa County. Established in 1856, Atascosa County was named after the Atascosa River, which flows through Atascosa County; 'Atascosa County' is Spanish for 'boggy' or 'marshy,' referring to the river's muddy conditions. Atascosa County covers approximately 1,232 square miles and has a population of around 50,000 residents according to recent census estimates. Major communities include Pleasanton, Poteet (known as the 'Strawberry Capital of Texas'), Charlotte, and Lytle. Atascosa County is characterized by rolling plains, ranching heritage, and agricultural production. Atascosa County Courthouse, located at 1 Courthouse Circle in Jourdanton, houses many essential county offices. Atascosa County Clerk's office manages vital records, court documents, and official filings. Atascosa County Tax Assessor-Collector, located at the Courthouse Annex at 3552 FM 476 in Jourdanton, handles property tax assessments and collections. Atascosa County Recorder functions are performed by the County Clerk, who maintains land records, deeds, and property documents. Notable landmarks include Pleasanton's Longhorn Museum, which celebrates Atascosa County's ranching history, and the annual Poteet Strawberry Festival, one of Texas's oldest agricultural festivals. The economy traditionally centers on ranching, oil and gas production, agriculture (particularly peanuts and strawberries), and increasingly, commuter residents working in San Antonio.

Atascosa County Texas Court is located at 100 North Main Street, Jourdanton, TX 78026. It is a district court that handles civil and criminal cases. It also handles family law, probate, juvenile, and mental health cases. The court is open Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm.

Law Enforcement & Arrests

• Citizens may request arrest records by submitting a written public information request to the Sheriff's Office or the specific municipal police department that made the arrest.
• Mugshots and booking photos are generally considered public information and are often available through the jail's online inmate search system or by specific request to the custodian of records.
• Processing fees may apply for copies of arrest reports and related documentation.
• Texas law requires law enforcement agencies to respond to public information requests within ten business days, though they may seek an Attorney General opinion for certain exemptions.

Mugshots & Booking Photos

• County Courts at Law handle misdemeanor criminal cases, probate matters, mental health proceedings, and civil cases with amounts in controversy between $200 and $250,000.
• Justice of the Peace Courts operate in multiple precincts throughout Atascosa County, handling small claims up to $20,000, Class C misdemeanors, traffic violations, magistrate functions, and eviction cases.
• Fees for certified copies typically range from $1 to $5 per page, with additional certification fees.
• The Texas Judicial Branch website (www.txcourts.gov) provides access to some appellate-level information, though most trial court records must be obtained directly from Atascosa County.
• Online case searches may be available through re:SearchTX or Atascosa County's local system, though access and fees vary by court.

• Atascosa County Clerk provides both in-person research access and online property document searches through Atascosa County's official property records system.
• Many Texas counties use services such as TitleDoc or Fidlar for online document retrieval, though fees apply for viewing and printing official documents.
• Certified copies of recorded documents can be requested from the County Clerk's office for a fee of $5 for the first page and $4 for each additional page, plus $5 for certification.
• All property records requests are governed by the Texas Public Information Act, which presumes records are public unless specifically exempted by law.

Vital records for this county include birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates issued under state vital statistics law.

• Processing time is typically 10-15 business days for mail requests, though expedited service is available for additional fees.
• Death certificates follow the same process and fee structure, with the County Clerk maintaining local records and the state maintaining full records for all Texas deaths.
• The marriage license fee in Atascosa County is approximately $81, though couples who complete a premarital education course can receive a $60 discount and an extended license validity period.
• After the marriage ceremony, the completed license is returned to the County Clerk for recording, and certified copies of the marriage record can be purchased for $11.

Business records, licenses, and permits for this county are processed by the County Clerk and local government offices.

• The filing fee is typically $16 for the initial filing.
• This free online system allows searches by entity name, filing number, or registered agent, providing information on entity status, formation date, registered agent, and principal office address.
• Atascosa County Chamber of Commerce, serving the Jourdanton area, can be reached through local business networks and provides resources for new and existing businesses.