Find a court case or docket
County District Clerk or County Clerk for the case’s county; Texas Judicial Branch for appellate opinions and court directory
Trial court records are maintained locally; appellate materials are statewide.
Where To Start In Texas
Pick the office based on the record you need; many Texas searches begin at the county level.
Get a deed, lien, or property filing
County Clerk/Recorder in the property’s county; County Appraisal District for ownership and value data
Real property documents are recorded by county; appraisal data helps confirm parcel details.
Order a birth or death certificate
Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Vital Statistics or the local registrar where the event occurred
DSHS issues statewide certified copies; some local offices can issue recent records.
Marriage license or divorce decree copy
County Clerk for marriage license; District Clerk for divorce decree in the county of issuance
Certified copies are only available from the county that issued or finalized the record.
Criminal history or inmate location
Texas DPS Criminal History name-based search; TDCJ Offender Search; County Sheriff jail roster
State DPS hosts public criminal history; TDCJ covers prisons; counties handle local jail custody.
Texas Official Sources At A Glance
| Source Or Office | Best For | Helpful Search Input | Access Method | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Judicial Branch (Statewide) and Local Trial Courts | Appellate opinions; limited case lookup; court directory to reach District, County, JP, and Municipal courts | Party name, case number, court level, county | Online portal and county-level court sites; clerk counters | Most case files are kept by the county clerk or district clerk where filed. |
| County District Clerk | District court civil cases, felony criminal, family, and divorce decrees | Case number, party name, filing year, attorney name | Online index (where offered), in person, by mail | Certified copies and full case files are issued by the office of record. |
| County Clerk / County Recorder | Real property deeds, liens, plats; marriage licenses; probate and county court at law records | Grantor/grantee name, address, instrument/recording number, legal description | Online index (varies by county), in person, by mail | Property recordings are county-specific; marriage license copies only from issuing county. |
| County Appraisal District (CAD) | Property ownership, parcel IDs, valuations, and maps | Address, owner name, parcel/account ID, geographic ID | Online property search; office counter | CAD data is not a deed; verify ownership against the County Clerk’s recordings. |
| Texas DSHS Vital Statistics | Certified Texas birth and death certificates; marriage/divorce verification letters | Full name, date/place of event, parents’ names, ID details | Online/phone ordering options, mail, or accepted in-person locations | Certified marriage licenses and divorce decrees must be obtained from the appropriate county office. |
| Corrections: Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) and County Sheriff | State prison offender status/parole; county jail custody and recent arrests | Name, date of birth, TDCJ/DOC number, booking number | Online offender/jail rosters (varies), phone, in person | Warrants and jail records are county-specific; online availability varies by county. |
Helpful Search Inputs For Texas Records
- Full legal name plus known aliases or maiden names
- Date of birth and an approximate age range
- County of filing or event, if known
- Street address, city, and ZIP for property searches
- Parcel/account ID or legal description from the Appraisal District
- Case number, citation number, or cause number
- Recording or instrument number from a deed or lien
- Date range for filing or event (month/year if exact date unknown)
- Business or assumed name (DBA) for filings or UCC lookups
- TDCJ/DOC number or booking number for inmate searches
Route By Record Type
Court Records
Civil, criminal, family, probate, JP, and municipal cases
- Where To Start
- District Clerk for district court cases; County Clerk for county court/probate; check municipal or JP court sites for local citations
- Best Search Input
- Case or cause number, party name, filing year, attorney
- Official Copy Note
- Certified copies are issued by the clerk of the court where the case was filed.
Criminal History & Warrants
Public criminal history, pending cases, and local warrant information
- Where To Start
- Texas DPS for public criminal history; county sheriff or court clerk for warrants and case status
- Best Search Input
- Full name, DOB, county, approximate offense date
- Official Copy Note
- For official dispositions, request certified docket or judgment from the court of record.
Property & Deeds
Deeds, liens, releases, plats, and ownership details
- Where To Start
- County Clerk/Recorder for recordings; County Appraisal District for ownership and values
- Best Search Input
- Grantor/grantee name, address, instrument number, parcel/account ID
- Official Copy Note
- Order certified deed or lien copies from the County Clerk that recorded the document.
Vital Records
Birth and death certificates; marriage and divorce verifications
- Where To Start
- Texas DSHS Vital Statistics for certificates and verifications; County Clerk for marriage license copies; District Clerk for divorce decrees
- Best Search Input
- Name at event, event date/place, parents’ names (for birth), ID details
- Official Copy Note
- Certified copies require valid ID and eligibility; county-issued certified copies come only from the issuing county.
Inmates & Corrections
State prison custody/parole and county jail bookings
- Where To Start
- TDCJ Offender Search for state inmates; local Sheriff for county jail rosters
- Best Search Input
- Name, DOB, TDCJ/DOC number, booking number
- Official Copy Note
- For certified jail or custody records, contact the holding agency’s records unit.
Official Records vs Background Services
Official Texas sources are best for certified copies, court filings, deeds, vital records, and agency-held documents tied to a specific case, parcel, or event. Background check services can help with broad, name-based lookups across many jurisdictions, but results may be incomplete, delayed, or lack certified status. Use official courts, clerks, recorders, and DSHS when you need authoritative documents or exact case and recording details.
How To Request Official Copies
- Identify the exact record type and the Texas office that holds it (court, county clerk, district clerk, CAD, or DSHS).
- Confirm the jurisdiction and date range (county of filing, event city, or statewide coverage for DSHS).
- Gather search details: full name, DOB, case or instrument number, parcel/account ID, and relevant dates.
- Search the office’s index (online or onsite) to locate the precise case, instrument, or certificate entry.
- Submit a copy request specifying certified or plain copies, number of pages, and delivery method (pickup, mail, or electronic if offered).
- Provide required ID and payment as instructed and track fulfillment using the receipt or order reference.
Limits And Accuracy Notes
- Texas has 254 counties; not all provide full online indexes or images.
- Statewide name searches can return multiple matches—verify using DOB, middle name, or address.
- Older or archived files may require onsite research or a manual pull by staff.
- Some records are sealed or restricted by law (juvenile, adoption, certain vital records details).
- Appraisal District ownership data is not a substitute for the recorded deed—confirm with the County Clerk.
- DPS public criminal history may omit certain dispositions; confirm details with the court of record.
Texas Public Records FAQs
Where do I look up a Texas court case?
Start with the county where the case was filed—District Clerk for district court cases and County Clerk for county court matters. Municipal and JP courts maintain their own records and dockets.
How do I get a certified marriage license or divorce decree?
Request a certified marriage license copy from the County Clerk that issued it. Request a certified divorce decree from the District Clerk in the county where the divorce was finalized. The state can issue verification letters, not certified county copies.
Who has deeds and property liens in Texas?
The County Clerk (Recorder) in the property’s county records deeds, liens, and plats. Use the County Appraisal District to confirm parcel IDs and ownership before ordering certified copies from the clerk.
How do I run a Texas criminal history search?
Use the Texas DPS public criminal history system for a name-based search. For official case documents or certified outcomes, contact the court clerk where the case was heard.
Can I find property owner information by address?
Yes. Search the County Appraisal District for the property’s address to get the account or parcel ID and ownership data, then verify filings in the County Clerk’s deed index.
Can I search by Social Security Number?
Most public portals do not allow SSN searches due to privacy laws. Use full name, DOB, county, case number, parcel ID, or instrument number instead.