Public Records in Archer County

Archer County public records are held at the courthouse in Archer City, the county seat in North Texas. The County Clerk maintains property deeds, marriage licenses, and official county documents, while the District Clerk handles civil and criminal court filings. Tax records, vital documents, and law enforcement reports are kept by other county and state offices. Many records can be searched through Texas online systems, with in-person or mail requests available for certified copies. This guide explains where to find what you need.

Archer County Clerk Office

The Archer County Clerk is located at the Archer County Courthouse in Archer City. This office records and maintains all real property instruments including deeds, deeds of trust, and liens. Anyone buying or researching land in Archer County needs to start here for title chain searches and recorded instruments. The clerk's staff can perform name searches at $5.00 per name searched.

Marriage licenses are issued and recorded by the County Clerk as well. Vital records filed locally, including some birth and death registrations, may be on file at the clerk's office. The most complete source for certified vital records is the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Unit at dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics. Certified birth certificates are $23 and certified death certificates are $21. DSHS accepts mail, online, and in-person requests.

Copy fees at the County Clerk follow the standard Texas schedule: $1.00 per page for plain copies and $1.00 per page plus $5.00 for a certified copy. Mail requests are accepted with prepayment.

District Clerk and Court Records

The Archer County District Clerk maintains records for the 97th Judicial District Court, which serves Archer County. This court handles felony criminal cases, civil suits above $10,000, and family law matters including divorce and child support. All case files from these proceedings are held by the District Clerk's office at the courthouse in Archer City.

Searching court records online is possible through the re:SearchTX portal. This free state resource covers many Texas courts and lets you search by party name or case number. The system shows case status, hearing dates, and basic filing information. For actual document copies, contact the District Clerk directly.

Note: Misdemeanor and small civil cases are handled at the County Court level, not the District Court. If you need records from County Court cases, those may be filed with the County Clerk rather than the District Clerk.

Online Records and E-Filing

New court filings in Texas must go through eFileTexas.gov, the state's mandatory electronic filing system for district courts. This means most recent cases appear in re:SearchTX quickly after being filed. Older records may only be available by visiting the courthouse or submitting a mail request.

For federal cases involving Archer County residents or property, the PACER system covers the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, which includes this area. PACER accounts are free to register, and fees apply per page when accessing documents.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission holds historical government records from Texas counties, including older land records and some court documents that predate digital filing systems.

Public Information Act Requests

Records held by Archer County government bodies, including the county itself, road and bridge departments, and any public entity, are available to requesters under the Texas Public Information Act. Submit requests in writing directly to the office that holds the records. Agencies have 10 business days to respond. Standard copy cost under the PIA is $0.10 per page for paper documents.

If an agency believes a record is confidential or exempt, they must request a ruling from the Texas Attorney General before withholding it. The AG's open government page also has guidance on how to file a complaint if an agency does not respond in time.

Vital Records and Criminal History

Criminal history background checks for Archer County residents are handled through the Texas DPS. The DPS Crime Records Service provides name-based searches that cover statewide arrest and conviction records. For a check limited to Archer County court records, the District Clerk can provide certified copies of case records by name or case number.

Vital records, including birth and death certificates, are best obtained through the DSHS Vital Statistics Unit. The Texas Secretary of State also handles certain official records, and sos.texas.gov is the right place for business entity filings and UCC records that may intersect with property or legal matters in Archer County.

DPS Crime Records Service handles statewide background checks and is the most complete source for Texas criminal history outside of individual court records.

Cities in Archer County

Archer City is the county seat and main community in Archer County. Other small towns in the county include Holliday, Windthorst, and Megargel. All county records are processed through the Archer City courthouse.

No communities in Archer County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city records page. Residents across the county access public records through the same clerk offices in Archer City.

Nearby Counties

Archer County is surrounded by several North Texas counties. Legal and property matters near county borders may require searching records in more than one location.