Texas Online Public Records
Find Texas public records by starting with statewide business and vital indexes, then route to county clerks, appraisal districts, tax offices, and court clerks for detailed searches.
On this page:
Start Online in Texas
- Start with statewide business entity and UCC indexes at the Secretary of State.
- Check the county clerk’s recorded documents index for deeds, liens, and plats.
- Use the county appraisal district parcel search for owner, address, or parcel ID.
- Search the county tax assessor-collector account lookup for bills, receipts, and status.
- Request birth or death verification at the state vital records office; obtain certificates from the correct custodian.
Record Routing in Texas
- Recorded documents (deeds, liens, plats) → County Clerk
- Property assessment and ownership data → County Appraisal District
- Property tax bills and payment history → County Tax Assessor-Collector
- Business entities and UCC filings → Secretary of State
- Birth and death certificates → State Health Department
Common Search Inputs
- Owner or grantor/grantee name
- Parcel or property ID (CAD/account number)
- Instrument or filing number
- Business entity name or filing ID
- Case or cause number
- Site or mailing address
Texas Public Record Source Map
| Source / Office | Best For | Search Method | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Secretary of State | Business entities, assumed names, and UCC filings | Online index by entity name or filing/charter number | State-level registrations and lien notices are centralized; check here before county searches. |
| County Clerk (Texas counties) | Recorded deeds, deeds of trust, liens, releases, plats | Online grantor/grantee index where available; name, date range, instrument number | Texas land records are recorded at the county level; this is the ownership and lien chain. |
| County Appraisal District | Parcel ownership, situs, land and improvement values | Online parcel lookup; owner name, address, or parcel/account ID | Assessment data confirms current owner and parcel characteristics used across transactions. |
| County Tax Assessor-Collector | Tax bills, payment history, delinquency status | Online tax account search; owner, address, account number | Verifies tax obligations and payment status tied to a property in the county. |
| District or County Clerk (Courts) | Civil, family, and probate case dockets and filings | Online docket or register search where provided; name or case/cause number | Trial court records are filed by county; use docket indexes to identify the file to request. |
| Texas Vital Records (State Health Department) | Birth and death record verification and certificate requests | Online verification or application; name, date, and place details | State indexes allow statewide checks; certified copies are issued by the custodian upon request. |
Texas Online Access FAQs
What can I search statewide online in Texas before contacting a county?
Begin with Secretary of State business and UCC indexes, statewide vital record verifications, and licensing or professional registries; then move to county property, tax, and court sources.
Are property deeds and liens available statewide in Texas?
No. Recorded land records are maintained by each county clerk. Use the county’s online index where available, then request copies from that clerk.
Where do I obtain certified copies after finding an index entry?
Request from the custodian: county clerk for recorded land records or marriage licenses, district or county clerk for court files, and the state or local vital records office for certificates.
What if a Texas county has no online index?
Contact the office directly to request an index search or document copies by name, instrument number, or date range, or plan an in-person records room search.