Galveston County Public Records Search

Galveston County public records are maintained at the courthouse in Galveston, Texas. The County Clerk and District Clerk offices hold court case files, property documents, marriage records, and vital statistics for the entire county including League City, Texas City, and the island city of Galveston. Court records are searchable online through re:SearchTX and through the county's own case search portal. This guide covers each office, what they hold, how to search, and what copies cost for residents throughout the county.

Galveston County Clerk

The Galveston County Clerk maintains property records and county court files for the county. The office records all instruments affecting real property including deeds, deeds of trust, liens, mortgage releases, plat maps, and easements. The clerk also handles marriage licenses, assumed name certificates, and county court cases covering misdemeanor criminal matters and probate filings.

The County Clerk's office is located at the Galveston County Courthouse, 722 Moody Avenue, Galveston, TX 77550. You can search records online through the county's official portal or visit in person. Plain copies of recorded documents cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies are $1.00 per page plus $5.00 for the certification. Name search fees of $5.00 per name apply when staff assistance is required for a manual search.

Vital records including birth and death certificates for events in Galveston County are on file with the clerk. Birth certificates cost $23.00 and death certificates cost $21.00 for the first copy. The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section in Austin handles state-level orders online or by mail.

Galveston County District Clerk

The District Clerk holds all district court records for Galveston County, including civil cases, felony criminal matters, family law filings, and juvenile records. Galveston County has multiple district courts handling different case types. The District Clerk office is also at the courthouse in Galveston.

Court records are searchable online through the re:SearchTX portal at no cost. You can search by party name or cause number and see case type, filing date, and status. Many Galveston County courts also have their own online search portals. Check the county website for additional access options specific to individual courts.

Attorneys must file through eFileTexas.gov, the mandatory statewide e-filing system. Self-represented parties can use this system too. Mail requests typically take 5 to 10 business days. In-person visits to the Galveston courthouse are usually handled the same day.

Note: Galveston County covers League City, Texas City, Friendswood, and the Galveston Island area. All district court filings for residents of those cities go through the Galveston County courthouse.

Open Records and PIA Requests

All Galveston County offices operate under the Texas Public Information Act, Government Code Chapter 552. Written requests must receive a response within 10 business days. No special form is needed. Submit your request in writing to the appropriate office, describe the records you want, and include contact information.

If an agency intends to withhold records, it must seek a ruling from the Texas Attorney General's Open Government division. PIA copies from non-court administrative offices cost $0.10 per page. Sealed court records and juvenile files are not available through public records requests.

Fees for Record Copies

Plain copies of court records cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies are $1.00 per page plus $5.00. Name searches run $5.00 per name. Administrative PIA copies cost $0.10 per page. Online re:SearchTX searches are free with no account required.

In-person requests at the Galveston courthouse are usually processed the same day. Mail requests take 5 to 10 business days. All PIA requests must receive a response within 10 business days under state law.

The Texas Secretary of State maintains business entity filings, UCC records, and other state-level documents through the SOS website, which complements county-level property and court records from Galveston County offices.

Vital Records and Criminal History

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section provides statewide birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce verifications. You can order online, by mail, or in person in Austin. Birth records cost $23.00 and death records cost $21.00 for the first copy.

Criminal history records are available through the Texas DPS Crime Records Division. Online name-based searches cost $3.15. The DPS Sex Offender Registry is free to search. Federal court records for Galveston County fall under the Southern District of Texas. Use PACER for those records. The Texas State Library and Archives holds older historical records from across the state.

Cities in Galveston County

Galveston County includes several cities. League City is the largest and has its own records page.

Other cities in Galveston County include Galveston, Texas City, Friendswood, La Marque, and Dickinson. All district court and property records for these communities go through the Galveston County courthouse.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Galveston County along the Texas Gulf Coast.