Find Public Records in Burnet County

Burnet County public records are managed by several offices in Burnet, the county seat in the Texas Hill Country. The County Clerk holds property deeds, marriage licenses, and official county instruments, while the District Clerk manages civil, criminal, and family court filings. Other agencies handle vital records, tax data, and law enforcement documents. Many record types can be searched online through Texas state tools, with in-person and mail requests available at the Burnet courthouse. This page explains where to look and how to request records.

County Clerk Property and Vital Records

The Burnet County Clerk is the central repository for property and vital records in the county. All deeds, deeds of trust, liens, plats, and other real property instruments are filed and indexed here. If you are searching for title history, easements, or encumbrances on a Burnet County property, the clerk's office maintains those records back to the county's founding.

Marriage licenses issued in Burnet County are recorded by the clerk. You can get a certified copy of a marriage record by visiting the courthouse or submitting a written request by mail. The fee is $1.00 per page plus $5.00 for certification. Assumed name (DBA) filings for local businesses are also on file with the county clerk.

For birth and death certificates from Burnet County, requests go to the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office. A birth certificate costs $23.00 and a death certificate costs $21.00. The state office handles statewide vital record requests more efficiently than routing through local county offices.

District Court Records

Burnet County is part of the 33rd Judicial District. The District Clerk manages court filings for felony criminal cases, civil suits, and family law proceedings including divorces and child custody matters. These filings are public records. The district clerk's office is at the Burnet County Courthouse in Burnet.

To search district court records, you can visit the clerk in person with a case number or party name. Records are organized by case type and filing year. Older records may require more time to retrieve. If the case is recent, there is a good chance it will appear in the online search tools described below.

County court records, including misdemeanor criminal cases and civil cases under the statutory limit, are handled by the County Clerk, not the District Clerk. Both offices are at the same courthouse location in Burnet.

Searching Burnet County Court Records Online

The re:SearchTX system is the statewide court records portal run by the Texas Office of Court Administration. It provides free access to case information from participating courts across Texas. Search by name, case number, or attorney to find Burnet County court records. The portal includes case status, docket entries, and some document images depending on the court.

For cases filed electronically, eFileTexas is the statewide e-filing platform. Public users can search and view case information through the public access portal. This is particularly useful for tracking pending civil cases or recently filed criminal matters in Burnet County district and county courts.

Historical Burnet County records may be found through the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. The state archives hold older county records that predate electronic systems, and some have been digitized and made available online.

Federal cases involving Burnet County are in the Western District of Texas, accessible through PACER.

Public Information Act and Open Records

The Texas Public Information Act guarantees the public's right to access records held by government bodies in Burnet County. You can submit a written request to any county office for records they hold. The office must respond within 10 business days. If they need to seek an Attorney General ruling on whether the records are exempt from release, they must notify you within that 10-day window.

Copies made through a PIA request cost $0.10 per page for standard paper copies. Electronic records may have different rates. For larger requests, additional labor or programming charges may apply beyond the first hour of staff time. The Texas AG's Open Government division enforces compliance and handles appeals.

Note: Government agencies cannot ask you why you want records. They cannot require you to identify yourself unless you are requesting records about yourself that fall under a privacy exemption.

The Texas Public Information Act is codified in the Government Code and governs how all Texas agencies handle open records requests, including those in Burnet County.

Requests made under this statute to any Burnet County government office must follow the procedures set out in Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code.

Criminal History and Other Record Sources

Criminal background checks for individuals in Texas go through the Texas DPS Crime Records Service. The agency maintains a statewide database of arrest records, convictions, and dispositions reported by law enforcement agencies including those in Burnet County. A name-based search is available online; fingerprint-based searches provide more precise results.

The Burnet County Sheriff's Office handles local law enforcement records. Arrest reports, incident reports, and jail information for unincorporated areas of the county are available through the sheriff. Cities like Marble Falls and Burnet have their own police departments that maintain records for arrests within their jurisdictions.

Property tax records for Burnet County are maintained by the Burnet Central Appraisal District. These records show ownership, assessed values, and tax payment status. They are public and searchable online through the appraisal district's website.

Cities in Burnet County

Burnet is the county seat, and Marble Falls is the other significant city in the county. Neither meets the population threshold for a dedicated records page, so all county records are accessed through Burnet County offices.

Other communities in Burnet County include Bertram, Llano (border area), and Lampasas (border area). Records for all these areas are on file with Burnet County offices in Burnet.

Nearby Counties

Burnet County is surrounded by several Central Texas counties, all of which maintain public records offices.