Bee County Public Records

Bee County public records are maintained at the Bee County Courthouse in Beeville, the county seat in South Texas. The County Clerk holds property deeds, marriage licenses, and official county documents, while the District Clerk manages civil, criminal, and family court filings. Vital records, tax data, and law enforcement reports are handled by other county and state offices. Records can be searched through Texas state online tools or requested in person and by mail at the courthouse. This guide covers the right office for each record type.

Bee County Clerk

The Bee County Clerk, located at the Bee County Courthouse in Beeville, records all real property instruments including deeds, deeds of trust, liens, releases, and easements. Title research for any property in Bee County begins with a search of the clerk's land records index. The office maintains a grantor-grantee index, and staff can perform name searches at $5.00 per name.

Marriage licenses are issued and recorded here. Certified copies of Bee County marriage records are available from the clerk. Copy fees are $1.00 per page for plain copies and $1.00 per page plus $5.00 per document for certified copies. Mail requests are accepted with prepayment.

For birth and death certificates, the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Unit at dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics handles certified copies statewide. Birth certificates are $23, death certificates are $21. Older vital records may also be on file at the county level.

District Clerk and Court Filings

The Bee County District Clerk manages records for the 156th Judicial District Court. This court hears felony criminal cases, civil matters above $10,000, and family law proceedings including divorce, custody, and child support cases. All case files are maintained by the District Clerk at the Beeville courthouse. If you need a divorce decree, a civil judgment, or certified records from a felony case, this is the right office.

The free re:SearchTX portal provides online access to case index data. You can search by name or case number and see basic information about court cases. For actual documents, contact the District Clerk directly. New electronic filings submitted through eFileTexas.gov are reflected in the search portal shortly after submission.

For federal cases, the PACER system covers the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, which includes Bee County. This is the source for federal civil and criminal case records, including bankruptcy filings.

Public Information Requests

The Texas Public Information Act gives any person the right to request records from Bee County government bodies. This includes county departments, the City of Beeville, local school districts, and other public entities. Submit your request in writing directly to the agency holding the records. No reason is required. The agency has 10 business days to respond.

Standard copy costs under the PIA are $0.10 per page for paper documents. The Texas AG's Open Government division publishes guidance on what records are public and handles complaints when agencies fail to comply with the law. If a local agency claims an exemption, they must seek a ruling from the AG before withholding records.

Vital Records and Criminal History

Statewide criminal history is available through the Texas DPS Crime Records Service. Name-based searches cover arrests and court dispositions across all Texas jurisdictions. Bee County residents or property owners needing court records from local cases can request certified copies from the District Clerk.

Historical and archived county records may be available through the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Business entity filings and UCC records are available through the Texas Secretary of State and may be relevant for commercial transactions in Bee County.

The Texas Secretary of State maintains statewide business entity filings and UCC records that may be relevant alongside local Bee County property and court documents.

Cities in Bee County

Bee County is anchored by Beeville, the county seat. Other communities include Skidmore and Pawnee. All county records, including those for residents across the county, are maintained at the Beeville courthouse.

No city in Bee County meets the population threshold for a dedicated records page. All residents of the county access the same county clerk and district clerk offices in Beeville.

Nearby Counties

Bee County is in the South Texas coastal bend region. Neighboring counties may hold records relevant to transactions or legal matters that cross county lines.