Last Updated on March 21, 2026 by Editorial Staff
Texas public records are government-created documents, filings, databases, and communications maintained by state and local agencies that are generally accessible to the public under the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA), codified in Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code. The law establishes a presumption that all information collected, assembled, or maintained by a governmental body in connection with official business is public unless a specific statutory exception applies.
Residents frequently perform a Texas public records search — sometimes called a Texas public records lookup, Texas open records request, or Texas government records search — to locate court filings, criminal history records, property ownership information, business registrations, and vital records.
Public records in Texas are distributed across state agencies and 254 county-level systems — more counties than any other U.S. state. Texas maintains statewide portals for some record types, but property records, court records, and many other documents remain organized at the county level. Understanding which agency and which county maintains each record type is the key to researching public records effectively in Texas.
On This Page
- Quick Answer: Where to Search Texas Public Records
- Legal Notice
- Why This Guide Is Reliable
- Why Texas Public Records Law Is Distinctive
- The Legal Framework
- Texas Court Records
- Texas Criminal Records
- Texas Property Records
- Texas Business Records
- Texas Vital Records
- Texas Inmate and Corrections Records
- Professional License Records
- Charity and Nonprofit Records
- How to Submit a Texas Public Information Act Request
- Free Government Databases for Texas Public Records
- Common Mistakes When Researching Texas Public Records
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Thoughts
- Related Guides
- Disclaimer
Quick Answer: Where to Search Texas Public Records
The most important free and low-cost government databases for researching Texas public records include:
- re:SearchTX (research.txcourts.gov) — statewide trial court case records portal requiring free registration
- Texas Judicial Branch Case Search (search.txcourts.gov) — Texas Supreme Court, Court of Criminal Appeals, and Courts of Appeals opinions and dockets
- Texas DPS Criminal History Conviction Name Search (publicsite.dps.texas.gov) — public conviction and deferred adjudication search, $1 per search credit
- Texas Sex Offender Registry (publicsite.dps.texas.gov/SexOffenderRegistry) — free statewide registry
- Texas TDCJ Offender Search (tdcj.texas.gov) — state prison inmate records
- County Appraisal District portals — property ownership and assessed value records (254 districts, each county-specific)
- County Clerk official records portals — deeds, liens, mortgages, and recorded documents
- Texas Secretary of State SOSDirect (sos.state.tx.us) — business entity filings and UCC records
- Texas DSHS Vital Statistics (dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics) — birth and death certificates via mail or VitalChek
- Texas AG Open Records Division (texasattorneygeneral.gov/open-government) — TPIA guidance, rulings, and complaint resources
These systems provide access to the majority of publicly searchable government records in Texas.
⚠️ Legal Notice
Texas public records law is governed primarily by the Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code Chapter 552). While all government information is presumed public, statutory exceptions cover categories including law enforcement investigative records, medical information, personal identifying information, student records, and certain pending litigation records. Criminal history records are separately governed by Texas Government Code Chapter 411, which makes conviction and deferred adjudication records publicly available but restricts other categories. Vital records are governed by the Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 191 and are not subject to the TPIA.
This guide explains lawful public records research methods and does not constitute legal advice.
Why This Guide Is Reliable
inet-investigation.com publishes research-based guides built on primary government sources, investigative research methods, and public records law. All databases referenced in this guide link to official government websites whenever possible.
For jurisdiction-specific legal questions, consult a licensed Texas attorney or the relevant government agency responsible for the record.
Why Texas Public Records Law Is Distinctive
Texas operates one of the most structurally distinct open records systems in the country. The Texas Public Information Act differs from other state open records laws in fundamental ways — most notably in how agencies are required to handle disputes over whether records must be released.
The agency must ask permission to withhold — not the requester to justify access. In most states, an agency can simply invoke an exemption and deny a request, placing the burden on the requester to appeal or sue. Texas reverses this burden in a meaningful way: if a governmental body believes information may be excepted from disclosure, it must proactively seek a ruling from the Texas Attorney General’s Open Records Division (ORD) within ten business days of receiving the request. Failure to seek that ruling within ten business days creates a legal presumption that the information is public. This is among the strongest agency-obligation provisions of any state open records law — the government must justify withholding, not the public justify receiving.
The Attorney General is the frontline arbiter of disclosure disputes. The ORD must issue a ruling within 45 working days of receiving the agency’s request (with a possible 10-working-day extension). That ruling either authorizes withholding or requires release. If the AG rules for disclosure and the agency fails to comply, both the requester and the AG’s office may file suit to enforce the ruling. This pre-litigation resolution mechanism keeps most Texas open records disputes out of court entirely — an efficiency advantage over states where litigation is the only enforcement path.
Records must be released “promptly” — the ten-day rule is not a production deadline. A common misconception is that Texas agencies have ten business days to produce records. The ten-day window is the deadline to seek an AG opinion if the agency believes an exception applies — not a production deadline. Records that are clearly public and require no AG opinion must be released as soon as possible, which in practice often means same-day or within a few business days for simple requests. Agencies may not use the AG opinion process as a delay tactic for clearly public records.
Deferred adjudication is treated as a public conviction record. Under Texas Government Code §411.135, both criminal convictions and deferred adjudication records (deferred prosecution agreements where charges may be dismissed after a period of compliance) are available to the public through the DPS criminal history system. This is more expansive than many states, which treat deferred adjudication as non-conviction. Researchers searching Texas criminal history will see deferred adjudication dispositions alongside convictions in the public conviction database.
254 counties — the most in the nation. Texas has more counties than any other state, which means property records, court records, and many other document types are fragmented across 254 separate county-level systems. There is no single statewide portal for court records that equals Pennsylvania’s UJS or Florida’s Clerk of Courts portal in coverage. The re:SearchTX portal has expanded significantly but remains incomplete for some counties. Researchers working a Texas case must typically identify the specific county and access that county’s own system.
Judicial records are explicitly outside the TPIA. Records collected, assembled, or maintained by the Texas judiciary are explicitly governed by Texas Supreme Court rules (Rule 12 of the Texas Rules of Judicial Administration) rather than the TPIA. This means TPIA requests sent to courts are improper — access to court records follows different procedures. This distinction matters when researching case filings versus requesting administrative records from court offices.
Fee waivers available when disclosure primarily benefits the public. Under §552.267, a governmental body must provide records without charge or at reduced charge when it determines the waiver is in the public interest because providing the records primarily benefits the general public rather than a private interest. This gives researchers and journalists a meaningful cost-reduction mechanism not available in all states.
The Legal Framework
| Law | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Texas Government Code Chapter 552 | Texas Public Information Act — public access to government records; establishes the AG ruling process and requester rights |
| Texas Government Code Chapter 551 | Texas Open Meetings Act — public access to government meetings and deliberations |
| Texas Government Code Chapter 411 | Criminal history records — governs DPS maintenance and public dissemination of conviction and deferred adjudication records |
| Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 191 | Vital Statistics Act — birth, death, marriage, and divorce records; access restrictions and fee authority |
| Texas Local Government Code | Records management and retention for counties, cities, and other local governmental bodies |
| Rule 12, Texas Rules of Judicial Administration | Governs public access to judicial records — separate from the TPIA; courts are not subject to the TPIA |
→ Related guide: What Are Public Records?
→ Related guide: How FOIA Requests Work
Texas Court Records
Texas court records document civil, criminal, family, probate, juvenile, and small claims cases across the state’s multi-tiered court system. Trial-level felony and major civil cases are handled by District Courts. County-level civil, criminal misdemeanor, and probate matters go to County Courts and County Courts at Law. Lower-tier civil disputes, small claims, and minor criminal matters are handled by Justice of the Peace Courts and Municipal Courts. The Texas court system is among the largest and most complex in the country, with more than 3,700 trial courts across 254 counties.
An important structural note: Texas court records are not subject to the TPIA. Access to judicial records is governed by Rule 12 of the Texas Rules of Judicial Administration and individual court policies. Do not submit a TPIA request to a court — access requests follow court-specific procedures.
re:SearchTX — Statewide Trial Court Portal
URL: research.txcourts.gov
Cost: Free (requires free registration)
re:SearchTX is the Texas Office of Court Administration’s statewide portal for trial court case records. Search by party name, attorney, case number, or filing date. Document availability varies significantly by county and court — some counties provide full document images, others provide docket summaries only. Coverage continues to expand but remains incomplete for some smaller counties and Justice of the Peace courts. For any substantive research, verify results against the county-specific portal below.
Texas Judicial Branch Case Search — Appellate Courts
URL: search.txcourts.gov
Cost: Free
This portal provides searchable access to cases from the Texas Supreme Court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, and all 14 intermediate Courts of Appeals. Search by party name, attorney, docket number, or keyword. Opinions are published and available as PDFs. Texas has a unique dual-apex appellate structure: the Supreme Court handles civil and juvenile cases, while the Court of Criminal Appeals is the court of last resort for criminal matters.
County District and County Clerk Portals
Trial court records are ultimately maintained by the District Clerk (for district court cases) or the County Clerk (for county court cases) in the county where the case was filed. For comprehensive research — particularly criminal cases and cases in counties not well-covered by re:SearchTX — go directly to the county-level portals. Major county portals include:
- Harris County District Clerk — hcdistrictclerk.com (Houston)
- Dallas County District Clerk — dallascounty.org/departments/distclerk
- Travis County District Clerk — traviscountytx.gov/district-clerk (Austin)
- Bexar County District Clerk — bexar.org/2096/District-Clerk (San Antonio)
- Tarrant County District Clerk — tarrantcounty.com/districtclerk (Fort Worth)
Federal Court Records
Federal cases in Texas — bankruptcy, civil rights, federal criminal matters — are maintained through PACER (pacer.gov), which requires free registration and charges $0.10 per page for documents. Texas has four federal judicial districts: the Northern (Dallas, Fort Worth, Lubbock, Amarillo), Southern (Houston, Corpus Christi, Laredo, McAllen), Eastern (Tyler, Beaumont, Sherman), and Western (San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, Waco).
Texas Criminal Records
Texas criminal history records are maintained by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Crime Records Division, which operates the Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system. Under Texas Government Code §411.135, both conviction records and deferred adjudication records are public information and available to any person — not just employers or licensed agencies. This makes Texas’s public criminal history access broader than many states, including California (individuals only) and New York (court records only, no statewide public search).
Criminal History Conviction Name Search — Public Website
URL: publicsite.dps.texas.gov/DpsWebsite/CriminalHistory
Cost: $1 per search credit (plus a 2.25% fee and $0.25 transaction fee per credit purchase)
Any person may create a free account and purchase search credits to run name-based criminal history searches. Results include arrests, prosecutions, and dispositions for Class B misdemeanor or greater — plus deferred adjudication records. Class C misdemeanor conviction information may sometimes appear. Results are based on name matching (with Soundex algorithm for similar-sounding names) and are not fingerprint-verified — false matches are possible with common names, and records not reported to DPS will not appear. The CCH is updated as courts report dispositions to DPS, which can lag behind actual case activity.
Offline Mail-Based Name Search
URL: dps.texas.gov/section/crime-records (Form CR-42)
Cost: $10 per mail-based name search
For researchers who prefer not to use the online system, DPS accepts paper form requests by mail at $10 per search, payable by check or money order to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Texas Sex Offender Registry
URL: publicsite.dps.texas.gov/SexOffenderRegistry
Cost: Free
Maintained by the Texas DPS under the Sex Offender Registration Act. Search by name, city, county, zip code, or proximity to an address. Results include photograph, current address, physical description, offense details, and risk level. The registry is searchable without registration.
Arrest Records and Local Jail Rosters
Arrest records originate with county sheriff offices and municipal police departments. Many Texas counties publish online jail rosters showing individuals currently held in local detention facilities. Search “[county name] Texas sheriff inmate search” to find the relevant portal. For county courts, the District Clerk or County Clerk case search portals will show case filings including charges, which represent arrests that progressed to court proceedings.
What Is Not Public
- Juvenile criminal records
- Expunged records (removed from all public access under court order)
- Records subject to an order of nondisclosure (sealed from public view after waiting period)
- Active law enforcement investigative records (§552.108 exception)
- Arrests that did not result in conviction, deferred adjudication, or a court filing
Texas Property Records
Texas property records are entirely county-level — the state does not maintain a centralized property records database. Research typically involves up to three separate county offices, each with its own online portal:
County Appraisal District — maintains ownership records, property characteristics, and assessed values (used for tax purposes). Each of Texas’s 254 counties has an independent appraisal district. The Texas State Comptroller’s property tax directory at comptroller.texas.gov links to all 254 CAD portals.
County Clerk — records deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other official property instruments. The county clerk’s official records portal is the definitive source for chain of title and recorded document research.
County Tax Assessor-Collector — maintains property tax payment records, tax liens, and delinquency information. Often accessible through the same portal as the appraisal district or a linked tax office portal.
What Texas Property Records Contain
- Current owner of record and historical ownership chain (grantor/grantee index)
- Legal description of the property (lot, block, subdivision, or metes and bounds)
- Appraised value (assessed value used for tax calculation)
- Property tax payment status and tax lien history
- Deed transfer history and sale dates
- Mortgage recordings and satisfaction filings
- Judgment liens and mechanic’s liens
- Homestead exemption status (indicates primary residence)
Texas property records also show homestead exemption status, which is useful for confirming a subject’s primary address. Investigators frequently cross-reference appraisal district ownership data with the county clerk deed index to confirm ownership transfers and identify additional properties held by the same individual or entity.
Texas Business Records
Texas Secretary of State — SOSDirect
URL: sos.state.tx.us (SOSDirect business search)
Cost: Free for basic name searches; fee for certified copies
The Texas Secretary of State maintains the official registry of entities formed or registered to do business in Texas — including domestic and foreign corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and nonprofit corporations. Search by entity name, registered agent, or filing number. Results include entity status, formation date, registered agent name and address, and principal office. Scanned document images of many filings are available. Certified copies of business records can be ordered through SOSDirect for a fee.
Texas UCC Filings
URL: sos.state.tx.us (UCC search)
Cost: Free for searches
UCC financing statements (documents securing loans against personal property used as collateral) filed at the state level are searchable through the Secretary of State. UCC filings related to real property fixtures may be filed at the county clerk level.
Texas Transparency Website
URL: transparency.texas.gov
Cost: Free
The State of Texas’s open data and expenditure portal shows state agency spending, grants, and contracts. Useful for researching state vendors and contractors without filing a public information request.
Texas Vital Records
Texas vital records — birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce records — are governed by the Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 191. Birth and death certificates are maintained by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Vital Statistics Unit in Austin. Marriage and divorce records exist at two levels: the state holds an index, but certified copies come from the county clerk (marriage) or district court clerk (divorce).
How to Request Texas Birth and Death Certificates
Online: VitalChek — vitalchek.com — expedited service available
Mail: Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Unit, P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040
In Person: Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Unit, 1100 W. 49th Street, Austin, TX 78756
Phone: (512) 776-7111
Fee: $22 per certified copy (birth or death)
Records begin: 1903 for most counties; earlier records may be at the county level
Birth Certificates
Texas birth certificates are restricted records. Authorized recipients include the registrant (if 18 or older), parents named on the certificate, legal guardians, legal representatives, and immediate family members with a direct and tangible interest. Requests must include valid government-issued photo ID. Notarization of the sworn statement is required for mail requests.
Death Certificates
Texas death certificates are restricted records for 25 years from the date of death. After 25 years, death certificates become publicly accessible. Within the 25-year restriction period, authorized recipients include surviving spouses, parents, children, siblings, legal representatives, and parties with a documented financial or property interest. The fee is $22 per certified copy.
Marriage and Divorce Records
DSHS maintains an index of marriages (from 1966) and divorces (from 1968) but does not issue certified copies. To obtain a certified copy of a marriage license, contact the county clerk in the county where the license was issued. To obtain a certified copy of a divorce decree, contact the district court clerk in the county where the divorce was granted. County fees vary.
Texas Inmate and Corrections Records
Texas TDCJ Offender Search
URL: tdcj.texas.gov (Offender Search)
Cost: Free
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice maintains a public offender search for individuals currently or previously incarcerated in Texas state prisons. Search by name or TDCJ number. Results include current unit location (for active inmates), offense, sentence information, projected release date, and parole review dates.
County Jail Rosters
Individuals arrested and held pending trial in Texas county jails are managed by the county sheriff. Most major Texas county sheriffs publish online inmate roster searches. Harris County (Houston), Dallas County, Travis County (Austin), Bexar County (San Antonio), and other large counties all have dedicated jail search portals. Search “[county name] Texas jail inmate search” or “[county name] sheriff inmate roster” to locate the portal.
Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator
URL: bop.gov/inmateloc
Cost: Free
Individuals incarcerated in federal prisons — including those convicted in Texas’s four federal districts — are searchable through the BOP Inmate Locator by name or federal register number.
Professional License Records
Texas licenses hundreds of professions through multiple state agencies. Unlike states with a single unified licensing board (such as Illinois’s IDFPR), Texas professional licensing is distributed across numerous agencies by profession type.
Primary licensing agencies include:
- Texas Medical Board — tmb.state.tx.us — physicians, physician assistants
- Texas Board of Nursing — bon.texas.gov — nurses (RN, LVN, APRN)
- Texas State Board of Pharmacy — pharmacy.texas.gov — pharmacists and pharmacies
- Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) — trec.texas.gov — real estate agents, brokers, inspectors
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) — tdlr.texas.gov — 30+ license types including electricians, HVAC, barbers, cosmetologists, and more
- State Bar of Texas — texasbar.com — licensed attorneys; attorney search at texasbar.com/attorney-search
- Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) — tdi.texas.gov — insurance agents, adjusters, and companies
- Texas State Board of Public Accountancy — tsbpa.texas.gov — CPAs
Most Texas licensing agency portals include a public license lookup showing current license status, expiration date, and any disciplinary actions or sanctions.
Charity and Nonprofit Records
Texas does not require charities to register with the state solely for charitable solicitation purposes — making Texas one of the few states without a unified charity registration requirement. However, Texas nonprofits must register with the Secretary of State as nonprofit corporations and may have additional reporting obligations depending on their activities.
Texas nonprofit corporations are searchable through the Texas Secretary of State SOSDirect portal at sos.state.tx.us.
Federal tax-exempt organizations operating in Texas file Form 990 with the IRS. These annual information returns — disclosing revenue, expenses, officer compensation, and program activities — are publicly available through:
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search — apps.irs.gov/app/eos
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer — projects.propublica.org/nonprofits
- Candid (GuideStar) — candid.org
For Texas-specific charity complaints or enforcement actions, the Texas Attorney General’s Charitable Trust Program maintains records at texasattorneygeneral.gov/charities.
How to Submit a Texas Public Information Act Request
Step 1 — Identify the Governmental Body and Its Public Information Officer
Each Texas governmental body must designate a public information officer (PIO) responsible for receiving and responding to TPIA requests. The PIO’s contact information should be posted on the agency’s website. State agency directories are available through the Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov. Remember: Texas courts are not subject to the TPIA — court records access follows separate procedures under Rule 12 of the Texas Rules of Judicial Administration.
Step 2 — Submit the Request in Writing
TPIA requests must be in writing — letter, email, fax, or in-person submission. No special form or legal language is required. Be as specific as possible: describe the records by type, date range, subject matter, or case number. The governmental body’s PIO is expressly prohibited from asking why you want the records. Any person may request records from any Texas governmental body — there is no residency requirement.
Step 3 — Response Timeline and the AG Opinion Process
The TPIA timeline works differently from other states:
- Records that are clearly public must be released “promptly” — the agency may not delay clearly public records.
- By the 10th business day after receiving the request: if the agency believes any portion may be excepted from disclosure, it must request an AG ruling, notify the requester of the referral, and state which exceptions it believes apply. Failure to meet the 10-day deadline creates a legal presumption that the information is public.
- The AG’s Office must rule within 45 working days of receiving the agency’s request (with a possible 10-working-day extension). Requesters may submit their own letter to the AG arguing for release.
- After the AG ruling: the agency must comply within 30 days — either producing the records, notifying the requester the records are being withheld as authorized, or notifying the requester the agency is challenging the ruling in court.
Step 4 — Fees
Texas agencies may charge reasonable fees for public information, but the fee structure has important limits:
- Agencies must provide a written cost estimate before beginning work when charges will exceed $40
- Requesters have 10 days to respond to a cost estimate or the request is deemed withdrawn
- Standard copy fees: approximately $0.10 per page for standard paper copies; other rates set by the AG’s cost rules
- Agencies may require a deposit or prepayment when charges will exceed $100 (or $50 for agencies with fewer than 16 employees)
- Fee waiver (§552.267): a governmental body must waive or reduce charges when it determines that the disclosure primarily benefits the general public — a meaningful provision for journalists and public interest researchers. The waiver is mandatory when the cost of collecting the charge would exceed the charge itself.
- Attorney fees and costs may be recovered by a prevailing plaintiff in a TPIA lawsuit under §552.323
Step 5 — If Access Is Denied or Delayed
- AG complaint: if a governmental body fails to respond within 10 business days or fails to comply with an AG ruling, contact the Texas AG Open Records Division at texasattorneygeneral.gov/open-government or call the Open Government Hotline at (877) 673-6839 (toll-free)
- District or county attorney complaint: for violations by local governmental bodies, file a complaint with the district or county attorney for the county where the body is located
- Court action: any person denied access may file suit for injunctive relief in district court; prevailing plaintiffs may recover attorney fees and costs
Free Government Databases for Texas Public Records
| Database | Record Type | URL | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| re:SearchTX | Statewide trial court case records | research.txcourts.gov | Free (registration required) |
| Texas Judicial Branch Case Search | Appellate court opinions and dockets | search.txcourts.gov | Free |
| DPS Criminal History Conviction Search | Public conviction and deferred adjudication records | publicsite.dps.texas.gov/DpsWebsite/CriminalHistory | $1 per search credit |
| Texas Sex Offender Registry | Sex offender registry | publicsite.dps.texas.gov/SexOffenderRegistry | Free |
| TDCJ Offender Search | State prison inmates | tdcj.texas.gov | Free |
| County Appraisal District Portals | Property ownership and assessed values (254 counties) | comptroller.texas.gov (directory) | Free |
| County Clerk Official Records | Deeds, liens, mortgages (county-specific portals) | Varies by county | Free to search; copies may have fees |
| Texas Secretary of State SOSDirect | Business entity filings statewide | sos.state.tx.us | Free to search |
| Texas UCC Search | UCC financing statements | sos.state.tx.us (UCC) | Free |
| Texas Transparency Website | State spending, contracts, grants | transparency.texas.gov | Free |
| DSHS Vital Statistics (VitalChek) | Birth and death certificates (from 1903) | dshs.texas.gov / vitalchek.com | $22 per copy |
| PACER | Federal court records (4 districts) | pacer.gov | $0.10/page |
Common Mistakes When Researching Texas Public Records
Sending a TPIA request to a court. Texas courts are explicitly excluded from the TPIA. Court records access is governed by Rule 12 of the Texas Rules of Judicial Administration and court-specific policies. If you submit a TPIA request to a district clerk or court administrator, it will be rejected as improper. Use re:SearchTX, the county-level court portals, or make a direct request to the clerk’s office under court access rules instead.
Misunderstanding the 10-day deadline as a production deadline. Records that are clearly public must be released promptly — often within a day or two for simple requests. The 10-business-day window is the deadline for the agency to seek an AG opinion if it believes an exception applies — not a grace period for withholding clearly public records. An agency that routinely delays clearly public records beyond a few business days may be misusing the process.
Assuming re:SearchTX covers all Texas counties and courts. re:SearchTX is expanding but is not comprehensive for all 254 counties or all court types. Justice of the Peace courts and smaller county courts may not participate fully. For any case where re:SearchTX returns no results, check the county district clerk or county clerk’s website directly before concluding no case exists.
Conflating DPS conviction records with a complete criminal history. The Texas DPS public criminal history database shows convictions and deferred adjudications reported to DPS — it does not show cases where charges were dismissed, no-billed by a grand jury, or still pending. Courts also take time to report dispositions to DPS, so recent cases may not yet appear. For a more complete picture, supplement the DPS search with county court case searches which show all case filings regardless of outcome.
Searching only the appraisal district for property records. Appraisal district records show ownership and valuation, but do not show the full chain of title, recorded liens, or mortgage history. For a complete property research picture, search both the county appraisal district (for ownership) and the county clerk’s official records index (for recorded instruments). Tax lien and delinquency information may require a third search of the county tax assessor-collector portal.
Requesting a certified copy of a marriage or divorce record from DSHS. The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Unit maintains a marriage and divorce index but does not issue certified copies. Certified marriage licenses come from the county clerk where the license was issued; certified divorce decrees come from the district court clerk where the divorce was granted. Submitting a DSHS request for a certified copy will result in a no-record response even if the event occurred in Texas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Texas public records open to anyone?
Yes. Texas Government Code Chapter 552 gives any person — regardless of residency, citizenship, or purpose — the right to request government information from any Texas governmental body. The governmental body’s officers are expressly prohibited from asking why you want the records or requiring you to identify yourself in connection with the request. Texas does not require requesters to be Texas residents, and there is no minimum age restriction. This is one of the most open access provisions of any state open records law.
Does Texas have a FOIA law?
Texas has its own open records law called the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA), codified at Texas Government Code Chapter 552. It is not called a FOIA — that name refers to the federal law — but it serves the same purpose for state and local government records. The TPIA has a unique structure compared to other state open records laws: rather than allowing agencies to invoke exemptions and forcing requesters to appeal, the TPIA requires agencies to proactively seek an Attorney General ruling before withholding records they believe are excepted. The AG’s Open Records Division has built a large body of rulings that serve as guidance on how exemptions are applied in Texas.
Are Texas criminal records public?
Yes — more broadly than most states. Under Texas Government Code §411.135, both conviction records and deferred adjudication records are available to any person through the DPS public criminal history website at $1 per search credit online (or $10 by mail). This includes felonies, misdemeanors Class B and above, and deferred adjudication dispositions. Class C misdemeanor information may sometimes appear. Arrests that did not proceed to conviction, deferred adjudication, or a court filing are not available through the public DPS system. Records subject to expunction or nondisclosure orders are also removed from public access.
Where can Texas property records be searched?
Texas property records are entirely county-level. Start with the county appraisal district for the county where the property is located — search by owner name, address, or account number to find current ownership and assessed value. The Texas State Comptroller’s property tax directory at comptroller.texas.gov links to all 254 county appraisal district websites. For recorded instruments — deeds, mortgages, liens — search the county clerk’s official records portal for the same county. Large metro area portals (Harris County, Dallas County, Travis County, Bexar County) are well-developed; smaller counties may require in-person or mail requests.
Are Texas arrest records public?
Arrest information is included in the Texas DPS public criminal history database when it is connected to a conviction or deferred adjudication. Arrests that did not result in prosecution, were dismissed, or resulted in acquittal do not appear in the public DPS system. However, many Texas counties publish online jail rosters showing individuals currently in custody, which includes recent arrests regardless of outcome. Additionally, court case search portals (re:SearchTX, county district clerk portals) will show case filings for arrests that progressed to court proceedings, including cases that were later dismissed — these are court records and follow judicial records access rules rather than the TPIA.
Can I be charged fees for Texas public information requests?
Yes, but with meaningful constraints. Standard copy fees are set by the Attorney General’s cost rules — typically around $0.10 per page for standard paper copies. When estimated charges will exceed $40, the agency must provide a written cost estimate before beginning work, and you have 10 days to decide whether to proceed, modify, or withdraw the request. If estimated costs exceed $100, the agency may require prepayment. For requests that primarily benefit the general public rather than a private interest, the agency must waive or reduce fees under §552.267. To avoid fees entirely, you can ask to view records in person at the agency’s office — inspection of records on the premises is typically free. Complaints about overcharges can be filed with the Attorney General’s Office.
Final Thoughts
The Texas Public Information Act is structurally one of the most pro-disclosure open records laws in the country, primarily because of the mandatory AG opinion mechanism that places the burden of justifying withholding on the government rather than on the requester. The $1-per-search-credit public criminal history system is also among the most accessible in the nation — providing both conviction and deferred adjudication records to anyone without requiring proof of purpose or identity.
The main practical challenges are Texas’s scale and fragmentation. With 254 counties and no single statewide court portal with complete coverage, property research and court research require identifying the right county system for each subject. The re:SearchTX portal continues to expand, but direct access to county district clerk and county clerk portals remains necessary for comprehensive research. The four separate appraisal district, county clerk, and tax assessor-collector offices for property records — each with its own portal — add additional steps compared to states with unified property portals.
For most research tasks: use re:SearchTX supplemented by direct county clerk searches for court records, the DPS public conviction search at $1 per credit for criminal history, county appraisal district and county clerk portals for property, and SOSDirect for business entities. For disputes over TPIA compliance, the AG’s Open Government Hotline at (877) 673-6839 is the first resource.
Related Guides
- Florida Public Records: A Complete Research Guide
- New York Public Records: A Complete Research Guide
- Pennsylvania Public Records: A Complete Research Guide
- Illinois Public Records: A Complete Research Guide
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Disclaimer
This guide is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. Public records laws and agency procedures change over time. Always verify current law and agency requirements directly with the relevant government office or a licensed Texas attorney before relying on this information for legal or official purposes.
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