Hidalgo County, Texas: CPS Courts, Court Records, DFPS Offices and Free Legal Help

This page is for families in Hidalgo County, Texas, including Edinburg, McAllen and Weslaco. It gives you official local contacts for CPS cases: the court that hears them, the clerks who keep court records, the DFPS offices, free or low-cost legal help, and help in Spanish. This is legal information, not legal advice.

The short answer

Most CPS cases in Hidalgo County are heard by the Child Protection Court of the Rio Grande Valley West. The county says it handles almost all child protection and welfare cases in Hidalgo and Starr counties Hidalgo County, Texas, Child Protection Court. The court is at 100 N. Closner, 3rd Floor, Edinburg, TX 78539. Phone: (956) 318-2671 Hidalgo County, Texas, Child Protection Court. DFPS (the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Texas DFPS, Contact Us, the state agency whose programs include Child Protective Services Texas DFPS, Office of Consumer Affairs) lists Hidalgo County in its Region 11 Texas DFPS, Counties in DFPS Regions and Districts. The Region 11 headquarters is at 2520 South I Road, Edinburg Texas DFPS, Region 11.

Courts that handle CPS cases in Hidalgo County

Child Protection Court of the Rio Grande Valley West Hidalgo County, Texas, Child Protection Court

• This court has existed since 1999. It handles almost all of the child protection and welfare cases in Hidalgo and Starr counties Hidalgo County, Texas, Child Protection Court.
• Its cases come to it from the District Courts and the County Courts at Law, and all of them are filed by DFPS Hidalgo County, Texas, Child Protection Court.
• Address: 100 N. Closner, 3rd Floor, Edinburg, TX 78539. Phone: (956) 318-2671 Hidalgo County, Texas, Child Protection Court.
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hidalgo County, Texas, Child Protection Court.

The Hidalgo County Courthouse is at 100 North Closner, Edinburg, Texas 78539 Hidalgo County, Texas, Child Protection Court. The county's District Courts page lists the 92nd, 93rd, 139th, 206th, 275th, 332nd, 370th, 389th, 398th, 430th, 449th, 464th and 476th District Courts Hidalgo County, Texas, District Courts.

Not sure which court has your case? Call the District Clerk at (956) 318-2200 and have your case number ready Hidalgo County, Texas, District Clerk's Office FAQs. If you don't have a case number, a clerk can search for a $5 fee, using the full name and date of birth of the person in the case Hidalgo County, Texas, District Clerk's Office FAQs. You can also search on your own at pa.co.hidalgo.tx.us/default.aspx Hidalgo County, Texas, District Clerk's Office FAQs.

A note about the Indigent Defense office: Hidalgo County's Indigent Defense office is for people who are arrested or charged with a crime and can't afford a lawyer Hidalgo County, Texas, Indigent Defense. It says it cannot help with family law cases such as CPS cases Hidalgo County, Texas, Indigent Defense. For a CPS case, see "Can the court give you a lawyer?" below.

Getting court records

Hidalgo County has two clerks that keep court records. The District Clerk's mission includes preserving the court records it indexes and secures Hidalgo County, Texas, District Clerk's Office. The County Clerk is the clerk for the County Courts at Law Hidalgo County, Texas, County Clerk's Office. A clerk is the office that files court papers and keeps the official record of each case.

Hidalgo County District Clerk

• Address: Hidalgo County Courthouse, 100 North Closner, First Floor, Edinburg, Texas 78539 Hidalgo County, Texas, District Clerk's Office FAQs. Phone: (956) 318-2200 Hidalgo County, Texas, District Clerk's Office.
• Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday Hidalgo County, Texas, District Clerk's Office.
• How to get copies: You can get a copy of any part of your case in person, by mail or by email. In-person copies are ready the same day, unless the file is in storage. Then it takes at least 24 hours Hidalgo County, Texas, District Clerk's Office FAQs.
• Email is the quickest way to get uncertified copies Hidalgo County, Texas, District Clerk, Purchase Copies. Email requests are paid by credit card only Hidalgo County, Texas, District Clerk, Purchase Copies. Electronic copies cost $1 for a document of up to 10 pages, plus $.10 for each page over 10 Hidalgo County, Texas, District Clerk, Purchase Copies.
• By mail, send the Copy Request Form with a self-addressed stamped envelope and enough postage Hidalgo County, Texas, District Clerk, Purchase Copies to Hidalgo County District Clerk, PO Box 87, Edinburg, Texas 78540 Hidalgo County, Texas, District Clerk, Purchase Copies. To check the page count or cost first, call (956) 318-2200 Hidalgo County, Texas, District Clerk, Purchase Copies.
• Many closed cases are not scanned yet and must come from storage, so your request may take more than 24 hours Hidalgo County, Texas, District Clerk, Purchase Copies.
• You can represent yourself, but you will be expected to know and follow the law and court rules just as a lawyer would Hidalgo County, Texas, District Clerk's Office FAQs.

Hidalgo County Clerk (for County Court at Law cases)

• The County Clerk is the clerk for the County Court and the County Courts at Law Hidalgo County, Texas, County Clerk's Office.
• Address: 100 N. Closner, Edinburg, TX 78539. All mail must go to Hidalgo County Clerk's Office, P.O. Box 58, Edinburg, Texas 78540 Hidalgo County, Texas, County Clerk's Office.
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hidalgo County, Texas, County Clerk's Office.
• Phone: (956) 318-2100. Toll free: (888) 318-2811 Hidalgo County, Texas, County Clerk's Office.

Court records are different from DFPS's own case records. To ask DFPS for its records, see How to Get Your CPS Case Records in Texas.

DFPS in Hidalgo County

DFPS lists Hidalgo County in DFPS Region 11 Texas DFPS, Counties in DFPS Regions and Districts. The Region 11 headquarters is at 2520 South I Road, Edinburg, TX 78539 Texas DFPS, Region 11.

DFPS's office list shows five locations in Hidalgo County Texas DFPS, Region 11 Office Locations:

• 2520 S. Veterans Blvd., Edinburg, Texas 78539. Phone: (956) 383-5344. Programs listed: APS, CCI, CPI, CPS and MS Texas DFPS, Region 11 Office Locations.
• 300 E. Canton Rd., Edinburg, Texas 78539. Phone: (956) 381-5791. Programs listed: CPS, DCI and MS Texas DFPS, Region 11 Office Locations.
• 2520 N. Closner Blvd., Edinburg, Texas 78541. Phone: (956) 316-2489. Programs listed: CCI, CPI and RCI Texas DFPS, Region 11 Office Locations.
• 1919 Austin Ave., McAllen, Texas 78501. Phone: (956) 682-1301. Programs listed: APS, CPI and CPS Texas DFPS, Region 11 Office Locations.
• 510 S. Texas Blvd., Weslaco, Texas 78596. Phone: (956) 969-9280. Programs listed: CPI, CPS and MS Texas DFPS, Region 11 Office Locations.

In DFPS's list, APS means Adult Protective Services, CCI means Child Care Investigations, CPI means Child Protective Investigations, CPS means Child Protective Services, DCI means Day Care Investigations and MS means Management Services Texas DFPS, Region 11 Office Locations. RCI means Residential Care Investigations Texas DFPS, Region 11 Office Locations.

If you have a question or complaint about your own case, DFPS says to contact its Office of Consumer Affairs Texas DFPS, Questions and Complaints. Its contact details are under "Statewide numbers" below.

Free and low-cost legal help

TexasLawHelp.org lists four free legal aid groups for Hidalgo County under Child Protective Services (CPS) TexasLawHelp.org, Legal Help Directory (Hidalgo County, Child Protective Services):

• Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) gives free civil legal services to residents of 68 Southwest Texas counties TexasLawHelp.org, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. TexasLawHelp.org lists CPS among its areas of work and Hidalgo among the counties linked to it TexasLawHelp.org, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. Its central toll-free line is (833) 329-8752, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. TexasLawHelp.org, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. TRLA also lists (956) 996-8752, open weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Offices.
• Help before there is a court case: TRLA has a special project for parents involved with DFPS before a court petition is filed Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Family. It helps in stages where parents don't get a court-appointed lawyer, including investigations, voluntary services and challenges to investigation findings Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Family. If you are involved with CPS and don't have a court-appointed lawyer, you can call (956) 996-8752 to complete an intake any weekday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Family.
• For other family law problems, TRLA's intake hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays only, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Family. TRLA cannot represent everyone who qualifies, and many people get only referral information Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Family.
• TRLA lists an Edinburg office at 316 South Closner Blvd., Edinburg, TX 78539 Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Offices. Its Mercedes office at 301 S. Texas is for administrative staff only: TRLA says no attorneys are there and it does no intake there Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Offices.
• Texas Foster Youth Justice Project gives free legal help to current and former foster youth in Texas. Phone: (877) 313-3688 TexasLawHelp.org, Legal Help Directory (Hidalgo County, Child Protective Services).
• Texas Free Legal Answers lets Texans with low or modest incomes work online with a volunteer lawyer for free TexasLawHelp.org, Legal Help Directory (Hidalgo County, Child Protective Services).
• Texas Legal Services Center (TLSC) offers legal education, advocacy, advice and representation to underserved Texans TexasLawHelp.org, Legal Help Directory (Hidalgo County, Child Protective Services).

The District Clerk's self-help page also points to Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid as a nonprofit that gives free legal services to low-income residents of 68 Southwest Texas counties Hidalgo County, Texas, Self-Represented/Pro Se Litigants.

Free legal information by phone: The Texas Legal Services Center Family Helpline gives free legal information and education about CPS issues TexasLawHelp.org, Child Protective Services (CPS). TexasLawHelp.org lists its number as 844-888-6565 TexasLawHelp.org, I want help and information on dealing with Child Protective Services.

Can the court give you a lawyer? In some CPS cases, yes. If DFPS sues to end your parental rights or to be named your child's conservator (the person or agency the court gives legal custody), the court must appoint a lawyer for a parent who is indigent (can't afford a lawyer) and who opposes the case Tex. Fam. Code §107.013(a). If you don't have a lawyer the first time you appear in court in that kind of case, the court must tell you about your right to a lawyer and, if you are indigent and oppose the case, your right to a court-appointed one Tex. Fam. Code §107.013(a-1). Learn more in Your Right to a Lawyer in a Texas CPS Case.

Lawyer referral: TexasLawHelp.org lists the State Bar of Texas Lawyer Referral and Information Service at (800) 252-9690 for help finding a Texas lawyer to hire TexasLawHelp.org, Legal Help Directory (Hidalgo County, Child Protective Services).

Help in Spanish (Ayuda en español)

These official and legal-aid sources publish help in Spanish:

• TRLA: Its phone message is posted in Spanish: "Si usted necesita asistencia legal, llame al (956) 996-8752 o (833) 329-8752 gratuito," Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Offices. Its help page tells callers in English and Spanish to call (956) 996-8752 to apply for free legal help Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Get Help. TRLA's Spanish page (trla.org/ayuda) asks people with a family law problem to call on Tuesdays and Thursdays during hotline hours Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Ayuda (en español).
• TexasLawHelp.org en español: It has a Spanish-language CPS section TexasLawHelp.org en español, Servicios de protección infantil (CPS). Its Spanish CPS guide gives the Family Helpline number, 844-888-6565, for free legal information about DFPS matters TexasLawHelp.org en español, guía sobre los Servicios de protección infantil.
• DFPS en español: DFPS's Spanish page says to call the 24-hour line, 1-800-252-5400, to report suspected abuse or neglect Texas DFPS, En Español. It lists the Office of Consumer Affairs at 1-800-720-7777, a toll-free line Texas DFPS, En Español. DFPS also publishes its parents' guide to investigations in Spanish. It lists the Family Helpline at (844) 888-6565, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Texas DFPS, Guía para padres sobre las investigaciones de DFPS.
• Hidalgo County: The county's Indigent Defense page says in Spanish, too, that it cannot help with family law cases such as CPS cases Hidalgo County, Texas, Indigent Defense.

Statewide numbers

• Emergency: DFPS says to call 9-1-1 Texas DFPS, Contact Us.
• Texas Abuse/Neglect Hotline: 1-800-252-5400, or report online at www.txabusehotline.org. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week Texas DFPS, Hotlines.
• DFPS Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA): (800) 720-7777, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Texas DFPS, Office of Consumer Affairs. DFPS's hotline list gives the same hours in Central Time Texas DFPS, Hotlines. The OCA handles complaints about specific cases that involve DFPS program policy Texas DFPS, Office of Consumer Affairs. You can also use its online question and complaint form, or write to OCA/DFPS, PO Box 149030, MC: Y946, Austin TX 78714-9030 Texas DFPS, Office of Consumer Affairs.
• The OCA also does formal reviews when a CPS investigation concludes that a person abused or neglected a child. DFPS used to call this the OCR review process Texas DFPS, Office of Consumer Affairs. See How to Ask for an ARIF (Administrative Review of CPS Findings) in Texas and CPS Investigation Findings in Texas: Reason to Believe, Ruled Out and More.
• The OCA does not review what courts or law enforcement do or order Texas DFPS, Office of Consumer Affairs.
• Texas Parent Helpline: 1-833-680-0611. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Texas DFPS, Hotlines.
• DFPS Records Management Group (to ask for a DFPS record): 1-877-764-7230. Open 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday Texas DFPS, Hotlines.
• Family Helpline (Texas Legal Services Center): 844-888-6565, for free legal information and education about CPS and DFPS issues TexasLawHelp.org, Child Protective Services (CPS) TexasLawHelp.org, I want help and information on dealing with Child Protective Services.

Guides that apply in Hidalgo County

• The Texas CPS Investigation Process, Step by Step (Family Code §§261.301–261.302)
• Your Rights When Texas CPS Contacts You (Family Code §261.307)
• CPS Investigation Findings in Texas: Reason to Believe, Ruled Out and More
• Family-Based Safety Services (FBSS) in Texas: What Families Should Know
• Court-Ordered Services in Texas CPS Cases (Family Code §264.203)
• CPS Drug Testing in Texas: What DFPS Policy Says
• Your Right to a Lawyer in a Texas CPS Case
• How to Get Your CPS Case Records in Texas

Information verified against official sources on 2026-10-02. Call ahead; hours and locations can change.