El Paso County Public Records
El Paso County public records are held at the county courthouse at 500 E. San Antonio in downtown El Paso. The County Clerk and District Clerk offices are both based there and together maintain court case files, property records, marriage licenses, vital records, and other official documents for El Paso and the surrounding communities. El Paso County sits at the western tip of Texas on the border with New Mexico and Mexico, serving roughly 870,000 residents. This guide covers how to find and request public records through each office, what the online search tools cover, and what fees apply.
El Paso County Overview
El Paso County District Clerk
The El Paso County District Clerk holds all district court records for the county. These include civil cases, felony criminal matters, family law filings, juvenile records, and probate cases. The clerk maintains case files, dockets, judgments, and court orders. Most records are public and available to anyone who requests them.
| Office | El Paso County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 500 E. San Antonio El Paso, TX 79901 |
| Phone | (915) 546-2000 |
| Website | epcounty.com/districtclerk |
The District Clerk's office handles record requests by mail, in person, and through the county's online portal. Civil cases, criminal matters, and family law records can be searched by case number, party name, attorney name, or citation number. Results show case type, filing date, court location, and current status.
The El Paso County District Clerk's website provides information on how to access and request court records for civil, criminal, and family cases.
The District Clerk maintains records for all district courts in El Paso County, including civil, criminal, family, and probate matters.
El Paso County Clerk and Property Records
The El Paso County Clerk maintains property records, marriage licenses, assumed name certificates, vital records, and county court case files. Property documents filed with the clerk include deeds, deeds of trust, mortgage documents, liens, releases, and plat maps for all real estate in El Paso County.
| Office | El Paso County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 500 E. San Antonio El Paso, TX 79901 |
| Phone | (915) 546-2000 |
| Website | epcounty.com/clerk.htm |
Property records can be searched online through the County Clerk's portal at epcounty.com. You can search by grantor name, grantee name, instrument number, or filing date. Many document images are available online. For older records or certified copies, contact the clerk's office directly or visit in person.
Standard copy fees are $1.00 per page for printed copies. Certified copies cost $5.00 per document plus copy fees. Name searches run $5.00 per search. Online docket searches are free of charge through the county portal.
El Paso County Court Records Search
El Paso County provides online access to court records through the county website at epcounty.com. You can search civil cases, criminal cases, and probate matters. Search options include case number, citation number, and defendant or party name.
Court record contents in El Paso County include case filings, judgments, evidence listings, witness information, hearing dates, motions, and court orders. Property records from the County Clerk include deeds, mortgages, liens and releases, plat maps, and ownership information.
The El Paso County courts page provides information on each court, its jurisdiction, and how to access case records.
El Paso County court records cover civil, criminal, and family matters handled by the district and county courts serving the region.
The statewide re:SearchTX portal also covers El Paso County courts. This free tool lets you search across multiple Texas courts using a name or cause number. Attorneys file electronically through eFileTexas.gov, the mandatory statewide e-filing platform.
El Paso County Public Information Requests
El Paso County offices follow the Texas Public Information Act, Government Code Chapter 552. Any person can submit a written request for public records. No special form is needed. An email or letter to the specific office works. The county has 10 business days to respond.
If an agency wants to withhold records, it must notify you in writing and typically must seek a ruling from the Texas Attorney General's Open Government division before denying your request. You can appeal to the AG if you believe records were improperly withheld. The AG's ruling is binding on the agency.
Federal court records for El Paso County fall under the Western District of Texas. Use PACER to search and access federal case records. The El Paso division of the Western District handles federal matters for the county.
Fees and Processing Times
Copy fees in El Paso County courts are $1.00 per page for plain copies. Certified copies cost $5.00 per document plus per-page copy fees. Name searches run $5.00 each. Online docket searches are free through the county portal. For PIA requests to non-court offices, the standard state rate is $0.10 per page for paper copies.
Online searches are immediate. Copy requests typically take 3 to 5 business days. Mail requests may take 7 to 10 business days. In-person requests at the courthouse can often be handled the same day. State law gives agencies up to 10 business days to respond to any written public information request.
If a request will cost more than $40.00, the county must give you a written estimate before proceeding. You can adjust your request to reduce the cost or agree to the estimate before work begins.
Vital Records and Criminal History
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section maintains birth and death certificates, marriage records, and divorce verifications for the state. You can order certified copies online, by mail, or in person at their Austin office. Birth certificates cost $23.00 and death certificates cost $21.00 for the first copy.
Criminal history records for El Paso County are available through the Texas DPS Crime Records Division. Name-based searches are available online for $3.15. The DPS Sex Offender Registry is searchable at no charge by name or location. For serious criminal matters, contact the District Clerk directly for court record copies.
The Texas State Library and Archives in Austin holds historical government documents and archived records. For older materials not available through county offices, TSLAC offers research assistance and access to records dating back to the republic period.
Cities in El Paso County
El Paso is the county seat and the only large city in the county. All county court and property records are held at the El Paso County courthouse.
Other communities in El Paso County include Socorro, Anthony, Clint, Fabens, and several unincorporated areas. All court and property records go through the El Paso County clerk offices downtown.
Nearby Counties
El Paso County borders Hudspeth County to the east within Texas. The county also borders New Mexico and the Mexican state of Chihuahua.