Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4, Place 1

Blanco County Quicklinks

Justice Joe Hernandez, Precinct 4, Place 1

IF YOU RECEIVED A JURY SUMMONS: Call 830-868-0973 after 5 pm the day before the trial for status update.
Be sure to fill out jury questionnaire, date, sign, and bring with you to court. If you are exempt, circle exemption and date it, sign it and return to this court.

Cost of filing all civil suits (including petitions for Occupational Driver License) has increased to $54.00 on Jan. 1, 2022.

PAY TRAFFIC CITATIONS USING MASTERCARD OR VISA:
PAY ONLINE

There is a 5% fee when using a credit or debit card that does not come to the court but to the company we use to process card payments.

WE HANDLE MANY THINGS BY FIRST CLASS MAIL, EMAIL, AND FAX. PLEASE PROVIDE

YOUR EMAIL AND TELEPHONE NUMBER WHEN SUBMITTING DOCUMENTS TO THIS COURT.

Office Hours: Mon. thru Fri. - 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon, 1:30 p.m.- 4:30 p.m

MAIL PAYMENTS AND ALL CIVIL SUITS TO:
BLANCO COUNTY

P. O. BOX 596
BLANCO, TEXAS 78606

PHYSICAL LOCATION:
402 BLANCO AVENUE
BLANCO, TEXAS 78606

(DO NOT MAIL DOCUMENTS TO PHYSICAL LOCATION - post office will return.)

OFFICE PHONE: (830) 833-4212
OFFICE FAX: (830) 833-2667

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You may only pay your traffic citations IN FULL online by using MasterCard, Visa, American Express & Discover. TO PAY ONLINE CLICK BLUE LINK: https://www.govrec.com/home/blancocotx (if you have trouble call 830-833-4212 for payment assistance).

Partial payments, Driver Safety Course payments, or Deferral payments must be approved by the Court before payment is accepted. Your deferral and driver safety course payments must be mailed, or call the clerk to pay with a card.  Credit card payments are posted three business days from the day you give payment to the clerk or pay online yourself. If you are trying to renew your driving license and pay for your ticket with a credit card, anticipate at least five business days before your license can be renewed. The quickest method to pay your court fine is to pay using money order or cashier's check in person.
THIS COURT DOES NOT ACCEPT CASH AT THE WINDOW.

All Class C Traffic violations require submission of your /2025.pdf ∠click blue link to download and print; and you must include a copy of driver license and proof of personal liability insurance with your name on policy as covered driver, and must include a TYPE 3A driving record from http://www.dps.texas.gov/ and payment of $148.00 money order or cashier's check, postmarked on or before the appearance date on the citation. If you did not receive a reply form click the blue written plea link above to download print and mail.

DEFERRAL ORDERS are not always granted, but if granted, Judge Hernandez requires a driver safety course with 3 page report as part of a deferral order, plus a deferral fee, and six month probation. Submit your request for a deferral order with copy of driver license and proof of liability insurance. All deferral requests must be approved by the judge. If approved, a copy of the order will be mailed to you, and you will have 30 days to submit the deferral fee and court cost.

DRIVER SAFETY COURSE (DSC):  Refer to reply form for eligibility. If you are eligible to take a driver safety course (DSC) have your signature notarized by a notary public, and submit the reply form with copy of driver license, proof of personal liability insurance listing you as a covered driver on the policy, and a type 3A driver record obtained from the Texas Department of Public Safety, plus a $148.00 cashier's check or money order, and mail postmarked on or before your appearance date. Click the blue DPS link above to purchase your type 3A driving record from DPS and submit to this court.

Once you submit all required documents for a DSC, you have 90 days calculated from the appearance date on your citation to submit the court certificate of completion. DSC requests must include cashier's check or money order for $148.00.

You must choose a driver safety class from this website for TEXAS APPROVED COURSES. When you choose your school for driver safety class BE SURE TO INDICATE WHEN ENROLLING THAT YOU ARE TAKING THE CLASS FOR BLANCO COUNTY JUSTICE COURT PCT. 4. If the certificate says municipal court or any other court I cannot accept it. IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE A COURT REPLY FORM CLICK THE LINK BELOW.

COURT REPLY FORM

THE COURT REQUIRES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS FOR A DRIVER SAFETY COURSE:

1. Court Reply Form completely filled out, SIGNATURE NOTARIZED by a NOTARY PUBLIC;
2. Copy of driver license (FRONT ONLY);
3. Copy of current personal liability insurance showing you as a covered driver, (not expired);
4. Certified copy of TYPE 3A driving from DPS showing you have an "eligible" status;
5. Payment of $148.00 (money order or cashier's check)

NO PERSONAL CHECKS

Mail all required documents to:

Blanco County
P. O. Box 596
Blanco, Texas 78606

(It is helpful to me, in case I have any questions, if you will include a telephone number and email address on your plea form.)

FILING AN EVICTION

Information for tenants and landlords is also in the left hand column, SRL (self represented litigants).

The CDC's moratorium on evictions for non-payment of rent expired October 3, 2021.

Before filing an eviction suit, a written notice to vacate must be given to tenant. This is a generic form you may use.  /upload/page/0094/2022/NOTICE TO VACATE EVICTIONS.pdf

The plaintiff must prove that they have given the proper notice to vacate in order to receive a judgment of possession. If the property is a "covered dwelling" and the eviction is based on nonpayment, the plaintiff is still required to give a 30-day notice to vacate. This requirement of the CARES Act DID NOT expire on March 31. If the property is not covered by the CARES Act or the eviction is not based on nonpayment, then the standard notice to vacate rules would apply. (For information on whether a property is a "covered dwelling" see the section in this category on "Determining if a Property is a "Covered Dwelling" Under the CARES Act.'" CAN ALSO READ INFO LEFT SIDE COLUMN)

A petition for eviction must also include a copy of the notice to vacate and how it was given to the defendant. It also must include reason for eviction.

Rule 500.6 makes it clear that justice courts can develop the facts of the case at trial to determine whether the CARES Act applies to an eviction case and whether the proper notice to vacate was given.

On April 8, TJCTC received a brief from TAA outlining their position that the 30-day notice to vacate provision no longer applies.

* An eviction MUST be filed in the precinct where the rental property is located.
* The notice to vacate must be in writing and should be unconditional, i.e., it should tell the tenant to vacate by a specific date in no uncertain terms (at least three days if a breach of contract) written notice to vacate before the landlord files an eviction (suggest 30 days if verbal agreement), unless the parties have contracted for a shorter or longer notice period in a lease or written agreement).
* The notice to vacate must be in writing & shall be given in person or by mail at the premises in question, or posted to entry way.
* To begin an eviction proceeding, the landlord must file a written REVISED EVICTION PETITION DECEMBER 2021 Affidavit of Military Status Form (click here for website to find out if defendant is on active military duty)

The petition must describe the premises of which the landlord is claiming possession with sufficient certainty to identify the premises, and state the facts which entitle the landlord to possession.

* Generally, all parties named in the lease should be sued and served with a citation in the eviction proceeding. Any judgment granted will run only against those who are specifically named and served.
* A suit for rent may be filed with the eviction suit if the amount due is within the jurisdiction of the justice court ($20,000.00). Charges for items other than rent cannot be joined with suit for eviction and would need to be sued for those items in small claims court, after the eviction suit trial has been held.
* A court date for the eviction will be set after the citation has been served and both parties will be notified and are expected to appear at that date/time. Any continuance request must be in writing, timely and agreed to by all parties.
* Under the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, either party to the lawsuit has five days to appeal the court’s decision. The filing of an appeal bond or paupers oath by that time completes the appeal. A properly filed appeal stops all further justice court proceedings until there is a resolution by the county court.
* If neither party appeals, the landlord may obtain a Writ of Possession from the court after the five (5) day period for appeal has passed. The writ fee of $200.00 plus a $10.00 processing fee is payable to JP court to cause the tenant to vacate the premises. Questions involving the execution of the writ should be directed to the appropriate constable's office.

During this period of time relative to COVID 19, orders from the United States Supreme Court and the Office of Court Administration are being followed by all courts. More information regarding evictions during COVID can be found on https://www.txcourts.gov/programs-services/eviction-diversion-program/
MAIL ALL DOCUMENTS WITH MONEY ORDER OR CASHIER'S CHECK FOR $54.00 COURT COST, AND SEPARATE MONEY ORDER OR CASHIER'S CHECK FOR $85.00 FOR SERVICE OF CITATION.

MAIL SUIT TO:

BLANCO COUNTY
P. O. BOX 596

BLANCO, TEXAS 78606   (currently not accepting suits by email)

A small claims case is a lawsuit brought for the recovery of monetary damages, civil penalties, personal property, or other relief allowed by law. The actual amount in controversy (not the amount sued for) cannot exceed $20,000.00, excluding statutory interest and court costs but including attorney fees, if any. In left side column there is a link for SELF HELP FOR SMALL CLAIMS SUIT that is very helpful in understanding a Small Claims Suit.THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE A BROAD INTERPRETATION OF THE LAWS THAT APPLY TO THE COURT. ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS OR LEGAL INTERPRETATION SHOULD BE BASED UPON YOUR OWN RESEARCH OF THE MATTER, OR THE ADVICE OF YOUR ATTORNEY.  SMALL CLAIMS ARE GOVERNED BY RULES 500-507 of PART V of the NEW RULES.

VENUE:
General Rule: Generally, a defendant in a small claims case or a debt claim case is entitled to be sued in one of the following venues:

The county and precinct where the defendant resides;

The county and precinct where the incident, or the majority of incidents, that gave rise to the claim occurred;

The county and precinct where the contract or agreement, if any, that gave rise to the claim was to be performed; or

The county and precinct where the property is located, in a suit to recover personal property.

WHO YOU MAY SUE:

INDIVIDUAL – list all known addresses on the form

SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP – contact the Assumed Names Dept. 830-997-6515 or call 830-868-7357 in the Blanco County Clerk’s office for more information

CORPORATION – serve its registered agent; the name and address can be obtained by calling the office of the Secretary of State at 512-463-5701 or http://ecpa.cpa.state.tx.us/coa/Index/html

FILING SUIT:
The responsibility for filling out your Petition, FORM REQUIRED STATING DEFENDANT IS NOT IN MILITARY SERVICE, Service Members Civil Relief Act (website to see if defendant is on active military duty) rests with you. The filing fee is $54.00 and the service fee for certified mail is $8.45, for constable service, $70.00 IF defendant resides in Blanco County. We need name and address for service.  If Defendant is located out of the County you must research the physical address of Defendant to find out which County that address is located in and which Constable will serve petition and what their cost is. The clerk will provide citation to you for you to send to that Constable for service. A litigant is entitled to alternative methods of satisfying the court cost, subject to acceptance by the Court.

APPEAL:
After the trial, either party may appeal the judgment by filing a Notice of Appeal with the Court, and an Appeal Surety Bond, within (21) twenty-one days from the date of judgment. If the appeal is filed by the Plaintiff, the appeal bond amount shall be $500.00. If the appeal is filed by the Defendant, the appeal bond amount shall be two (2) times the judgment amount. $54.00 Filing fees are required for filing an appeal.

AFTER THE JUDGMENT:
Should you receive a judgment, this Court does not collect the judgment for you, nor can we force the defendant to pay the judgment. If you receive a judgment against the defendant, this Court can issue various instruments to assist you in collecting the judgment.

Abstract of Judgment: $5.00; requested after (21) days after Judgment and filed with the County Clerk; and is good for a period of ten (10) years.

Writ of Execution: $200.00 plus a $5.00 processing fee, requested (30) days after judgment.

MAIL ALL DOCUMENTS FOR THE SUIT TO:

BLANCO COUNTY
P. O. BOX 596

BLANCO, TEXAS 78606

(not accepting suits by email)

Filing a Repair & Remedy Suit:

If you feel your landlord is not maintaining the residence you are renting you can file a Repair & Remedy Suit by filling out the PETITION and submitting to the post office box address below. The filing fee is $54.00 and the cost of service of citation in Blanco County is $70.00. If your landlord lives in a different county, you must provide the Court with mailing address for your landlord and the service fee will depend on what that County charges for their service fee. The citation will then be mailed along with your payment that you have provided to the Court. Information for filing a Repair & Remedy Suit is HERE.

Mail to:

Blanco County
P. O. Box 596
Blanco, Texas 78606, and PLEASE include your telephone number.

If you have been sued by a debt collector who is trying to collect on a debt from an old credit card account that you had, you can find helpful information on how to handle that suit HERE and also on the TEXAS COURT HELP website. You should appear for the trial because if you don't, there may be a default judgment entered for the entire amount they are suing for. If you decide to settle without coming to trial be sure to have your signature notarized on all documents and/or agreed judgments that you intend to submit to the Court.

Mail all documents to:

Blanco County
P. O. Box 596
Blanco, Texas 78606

Email: blancojp4@co.blanco.tx.us (currently not accepting suits by email)

ONLINE PAYMENT OF TICKETS: http://www.govrec.com/home/blancocotx
Citation Search
Online Driver Safety Course
(Be sure to choose driver safety course and not driver course, for new learners).
Texas Drivers Record Request
(Type 3-A is required for driver safety course).
Texas Failure to Appear
TEXAS COURT HELP
TEXAS STATE LAW LIBRARY
SERVICE MEMBERS CIVIL RELIEF ACT (use this site to find out if defendant is in active military duty)

Justice Joe Hernandez is Justice of the Peace for Precinct 4, as of August 27, 2024. Judge Hernandez has been active on the Blanco School Board for several years and he and his family enjoy living in Blanco. He is looking forward to serving the citizens of Blanco County.

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4, Place 1

Contact JP4

PAYING TRAFFIC TICKETS

FILING EVICTIONS

FILING SMALL CLAIMS SUIT

LANDLORD/TENANT DISPUTES

DEBT COLLECTION SUITS (CREDIT CARDS)

HELPFUL LINKS

Contact Us

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