Texas public records are a type of record that is available for public inspection and retrieval. Texas public records include a wide variety of information, such as birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, divorce records, property tax records, and criminal records.
The Texas Public Information Act governs the release of public records and gives the public the right to access certain government records, with some exceptions.
How to Request Texas Public Records?
To request Texas public records, you can contact the appropriate government agency directly. For example, to request birth certificates, you would need to contact the Texas Department of Health and Human Services. To request criminal records, you would need to contact the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) State Office Headquarters Is Located at:
North Austin Complex
4601 W. Guadalupe St.
Austin, TX 78751-3146
P.O. Box 13247
Austin, Texas 78711-3247
Main number: 512-424-6500
TTY number: 512-424-6597
Media calls: 512-424-6951
If you are not sure which government agency to contact, you can use the Texas Public Records Request Portal, which allows you to submit a public record request to multiple agencies at once. Public records are a valuable resource for anyone looking to obtain information about the people and places in Texas.
Court Records
Court Records are maintained by the Texas court system. Various types of court records are available to the public, including criminal court records, civil court records, and family court records. Court Records can be accessed online or in person at the county courthouse.
Court Records contain a wealth of information about an individual’s legal history. These records can be used to track an individual’s criminal history, to look up civil judgments against a person, or to research an individual’s family history. Texas court records are public records, and as such, are available to anyone who wishes to view them.
There are a few things to keep in mind when accessing court records. First, court records are typically public records, which means that anyone can view them. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, juvenile court records are typically not available to the public. Second, it is important to know that court records can be sealed or expunged under certain circumstances.
There are many reasons why someone might want to access court records. Perhaps you are considering hiring someone and want to do a background check. Or maybe you are researching your family history and want to see if any court records can give you some clues. Whatever the reason, court records are a valuable resource of information.
Criminal & Arrest Records
In Texas, criminal and arrest records are public information. This means that anyone can access these records, as long as they follow the proper procedures. However, there are some restrictions on who can access certain types of records. For example, only law enforcement agencies can access sealed or expunged records.
There are two types of criminal records in Texas: public and private. Public criminal records are available to anyone who requests them, while private criminal records are only available to the individual named in the record.
If you are looking for criminal or arrest records, there are a few different ways to go about it. You can request these records from the Texas Department of Public Safety, the county clerk’s office, or the local police department. You can also use an online public records search service.
Texas Department of Public Safety
5805 North Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78752-4431
Mailing Address:
PO Box 4087
Austin, TX 78773-0001
No matter which method you choose, you will likely have to pay a fee to access these records. The cost of accessing criminal and arrest records in Texas varies depending on the type of record and the method used to request it.
Vital Records
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Vital Statistics Unit maintains vital records for the state of Texas, including birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce records.
Texas Department of State Health Services
1100 West 49th Street
Austin, Texas 78756-3199
Main: 512-776-7111
Toll-free: 888-963-7111
You can order vital records from the DSHS either online, by mail, or in person. You can also order them through a third-party provider. VitalChek is the official provider of online ordering services for Texas vital records.
Birth Certificates
Birth certificates are available from the DSHS for births that occurred in Texas from 1926 to the present. To get a copy of a birth certificate, you must be:
- The person named on the birth certificate
- A parent or legal guardian of the person named on the birth certificate
- An authorized representative with written permission from either the person named on the birth certificate or the parent or legal guardian
Death Certificates
Death certificates are available from the DSHS for deaths that occurred in Texas from 1964 to the present. To get a copy of a death certificate, you must be:
- The spouse, child, parent, legal guardian, or next of kin of the deceased person named on the death certificate
- An authorized representative with written permission from either the spouse, child, parent, legal guardian, or next of kin
- A funeral director with a permit issued by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Marriage Licenses
Marriage licenses are available from the county clerk’s office in the county where the marriage ceremony was performed. The license is valid for 90 days from the date it is issued, and the marriage must be performed within that time.
To get a marriage license, you must be:
- At least 18 years old
- A resident of Texas, or
- Active duty military stationed in Texas
Divorce Records
Divorce records are available from the district clerk’s office in the county where the divorce was granted. To get a copy of a divorce record, you must be:
- A party to the divorce
- An attorney of record
- A state or federal agency
- A child support enforcement agency
To order vital records online, you must have a credit or debit card and an account with VitalChek. You can also order by mail or in person.
To order by mail, send a completed application form and a check or money order for the correct fee to Texas Vital Statistics, P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040.
To order in person, go to a vital statistics office and bring a completed application form and the correct fee in cash, credit or debit card, or check or money order. You can find your nearest office by visiting the DSHS website.