Kendall County Warrant Search
What Is a Search Warrant In Kendall County?
A search warrant in Kendall County is a written court order issued by a magistrate or judge that authorizes law enforcement officers to search a specified location and seize particular items, evidence, or persons connected to a suspected criminal offense. Under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 18, a search warrant may only be issued upon a showing of probable cause, supported by a sworn affidavit from a peace officer or other credible person, establishing that specific evidence of a crime is likely to be found at the described location.
Search warrants in Kendall County are distinct from other types of warrants issued by Texas courts:
- Search Warrant — Authorizes law enforcement to enter and search a specific premises and seize designated items or evidence.
- Arrest Warrant — Authorizes the arrest and detention of a named individual believed to have committed a criminal offense.
- Bench Warrant — Issued directly by a court ordering a person to appear before the court, typically when an individual has failed to comply with a prior court order or missed a scheduled hearing.
The legal foundation for search warrants in Kendall County is established under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure § 18.01, which defines a search warrant as a written order issued by a magistrate and directed to a peace officer, commanding the officer to search for any property or thing and to seize the same. The affidavit supporting the warrant must set forth sufficient facts to establish probable cause that the items sought are located at the place to be searched.
Are Warrants Public Records In Kendall County?
Whether warrants constitute public records in Kendall County depends on the type of warrant and its current status in the judicial process. Under the Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code Chapter 552), government records are generally presumed to be open to the public unless a specific exception applies.
Search warrants present a more complex situation:
- Sealed warrants — Search warrants that have not yet been executed, or that a court has ordered sealed, are not available for public inspection. Disclosure of an unexecuted warrant could compromise an ongoing investigation.
- Executed and unsealed warrants — Once a search warrant has been executed and the associated case proceeds through the courts, the warrant and its supporting affidavit typically become part of the public court record and may be inspected by members of the public.
- Arrest warrants — Active, unserved arrest warrants are generally considered public records in Texas, as law enforcement agencies have an interest in public awareness that may assist in apprehending a subject.
- Bench warrants — These are court records and are generally accessible through the issuing court's records system.
Texas Government Code § 552.108 provides an exception to public disclosure for information held by a law enforcement agency that deals with the detection, investigation, or prosecution of crime, where release would interfere with the detection, investigation, or prosecution of crime. This exception is frequently applied to active warrant information.
How to Find Out if I Have a Warrant In Kendall County?
Members of the public who wish to determine whether an active warrant has been issued in their name in Kendall County may use several official channels to obtain this information.
- Kendall County District Clerk's Office — Maintains records of felony and civil court proceedings, including warrants issued in district court cases. Members of the public may visit the office in person or submit a written inquiry.
- Kendall County Sheriff's Office — The Sheriff's Office maintains records of active warrants and may be contacted directly to inquire about outstanding warrants.
- Kendall County Justice of the Peace Courts — Misdemeanor and Class C offense warrants may be on file with the appropriate Justice of the Peace precinct.
- Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) — Maintains a statewide criminal history database that may reflect warrant information.
Kendall County District Clerk's Office 201 E. San Antonio Ave., Suite 212, Boerne, TX 78006 (830) 331-8120 Kendall County District Clerk
Kendall County Sheriff's Office 130 River Road, Boerne, TX 78006 (830) 249-8645 Kendall County Sheriff's Office
How To Check for Warrants in Kendall County for Free in 2026
Members of the public may conduct a warrant check in Kendall County at no cost through the following official methods:
- Visit the Kendall County District Clerk's Office in person — Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Staff can assist with searches of court records, including warrant information in district court cases.
- Contact the Kendall County Sheriff's Office — Members of the public may call or visit the Sheriff's Office to inquire about active warrants. The office is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for general inquiries.
- Search the Kendall County online court records portal — The District Clerk's office provides access to court case information through its online records system, where case status and warrant information may be available.
- Contact the Kendall County Justice of the Peace — For Class C misdemeanor warrants, members of the public may contact the appropriate Justice of the Peace precinct directly.
- Texas OCA Case Search — The Texas Office of Court Administration provides a public case search tool that may reflect warrant-related case activity across participating Texas courts.
Kendall County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1 201 E. San Antonio Ave., Boerne, TX 78006 (830) 331-8190 Kendall County Justice of the Peace
What Types of Warrants In Kendall County
Kendall County courts and law enforcement agencies issue several distinct categories of warrants, each serving a specific legal purpose:
- Search Warrant — Authorizes peace officers to search a defined location for specific evidence, contraband, or persons, as governed by Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 18.
- Arrest Warrant — Issued when probable cause exists to believe a person has committed a criminal offense; directs law enforcement to take the named individual into custody.
- Bench Warrant — Issued by a judge when a defendant or witness fails to appear for a scheduled court proceeding or violates a court order.
- Capias — A type of arrest warrant issued by a court directing law enforcement to bring a named person before the court, commonly used in cases involving failure to pay fines or appear.
- Capias Pro Fine — Issued specifically to compel a defendant to appear and show cause why they have not paid a court-ordered fine.
- Emergency Protective Order (EPO) Warrant — Issued in connection with family violence incidents, directing law enforcement action to protect a victim.
What Warrants in Kendall County Contain
A valid search warrant issued in Kendall County must contain specific information as required by Texas Code of Criminal Procedure § 18.04. The following elements are required by law to appear in every search warrant:
- The name of the person whose oath or affirmation was used to establish probable cause, or a statement that the affiant is a credible person
- The date and time of issuance
- The name and signature of the issuing magistrate, along with the magistrate's official title and court
- A specific description of the place, premises, or person to be searched
- A specific description of the property, items, or evidence to be seized
- A command directing a peace officer to search the described location and seize the described items
- The statutory authority under which the warrant is issued
Arrest warrants and bench warrants similarly contain the name of the accused, the offense charged or the basis for the court's order, the issuing court's information, and the commanding language directing law enforcement to act.
Who Issues Warrants In Kendall County
In Kendall County, the authority to issue warrants is vested in judicial officers designated as magistrates under Texas law. The following officials currently hold magistrate authority and may issue warrants:
- District Court Judges — Preside over felony criminal cases and civil matters; issue search warrants, arrest warrants, and bench warrants in district court proceedings.
- County Court at Law Judges — Handle Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases and certain civil matters; issue warrants within their jurisdiction.
- Justices of the Peace — Serve as magistrates for Class C misdemeanor offenses and may issue search warrants and arrest warrants within their statutory authority.
- Municipal Court Judges — Issue warrants related to municipal ordinance violations and Class C misdemeanors within the City of Boerne and other incorporated municipalities.
Kendall County District Court (216th Judicial District) 201 E. San Antonio Ave., Boerne, TX 78006 (830) 331-8120 216th District Court
Kendall County Court at Law 201 E. San Antonio Ave., Boerne, TX 78006 (830) 331-8100 Kendall County Court at Law
How To Find for Outstanding Warrants In Kendall County
Members of the public seeking information about outstanding warrants in Kendall County may use the following official resources:
- Kendall County Sheriff's Office — The primary law enforcement agency responsible for maintaining and serving active warrants in unincorporated Kendall County. Members of the public may contact the office by phone or visit in person during business hours.
- Kendall County District Clerk — Maintains records of district court warrants and may confirm whether a warrant is on file in a specific case.
- Boerne Police Department — Handles warrant inquiries for offenses occurring within the City of Boerne city limits.
- Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Records Service — Provides access to statewide criminal history information, which may reflect outstanding warrant status.
Boerne Police Department 851 N. Main Street, Boerne, TX 78006 (830) 249-8645 Boerne Police Department
Texas Department of Public Safety – Crime Records Service P.O. Box 4143, Austin, TX 78765 (512) 424-2474 Texas DPS Crime Records
How To Check Federal Warrants In Kendall County
Federal warrants are issued by United States District Courts and are entirely separate from warrants issued by Kendall County or Texas state courts. Federal warrants arise from investigations conducted by federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Members of the public seeking information about federal warrants may use the following resources:
- U.S. Marshals Service — The primary federal agency responsible for serving federal warrants. The Western District of Texas office has jurisdiction over Kendall County.
- PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) — The federal courts' official online system allows members of the public to search federal court case records, including warrant-related proceedings, at a nominal per-page fee.
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas — Federal cases involving Kendall County residents are typically filed in the San Antonio Division of the Western District of Texas.
U.S. Marshals Service – Western District of Texas 655 E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd., Suite 110, San Antonio, TX 78206 (210) 472-6540 U.S. Marshals Service Western District of Texas
U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas – San Antonio Division 262 W. Nueva Street, San Antonio, TX 78207 (210) 472-6550 U.S. District Court Western District of Texas
How Long Do Warrants Last In Kendall County?
Under current Texas law, search warrants do not remain valid indefinitely. Pursuant to Texas Code of Criminal Procedure § 18.06, a search warrant must be executed within three days from the time of its issuance, not counting the day of issuance or the day of execution. If a search warrant is not executed within this three-day period, it expires and is no longer valid; law enforcement must obtain a new warrant to conduct the search.
Arrest warrants and bench warrants, by contrast, do not expire under Texas law. An unserved arrest warrant or bench warrant remains active and enforceable until one of the following occurs:
- The warrant is recalled or quashed by the issuing court
- The named individual is arrested and brought before the court
- The underlying case is dismissed
This means that an individual with an outstanding arrest or bench warrant in Kendall County may be subject to arrest at any time, regardless of how much time has passed since the warrant was originally issued.
How Long Does It Take To Get a Search Warrant In Kendall County?
The time required to obtain a search warrant in Kendall County varies depending on the complexity of the investigation and the availability of a magistrate. In standard circumstances, the process follows this general order:
- Preparation of the affidavit — A peace officer prepares a sworn affidavit setting forth the facts establishing probable cause. This step may take several hours to several days depending on the investigation.
- Presentation to a magistrate — The officer presents the affidavit to an available magistrate. Texas law permits magistrates to be contacted at any hour, including nights and weekends, for urgent warrant requests.
- Magistrate review — The magistrate reviews the affidavit to determine whether probable cause has been established. This review typically takes minutes to a few hours.
- Issuance — If the magistrate finds probable cause, the warrant is signed and issued. The entire process from affidavit submission to issuance can occur within a matter of hours in straightforward cases.
- Execution — Once issued, the warrant must be executed within three days as required by Texas Code of Criminal Procedure § 18.06.
In emergency situations involving imminent danger or the likely destruction of evidence, law enforcement may seek expedited review, and magistrates are available around the clock to accommodate urgent requests.