Find Public Records in Hardin County
Hardin County public records are held at the county courthouse in Kountze, Texas. The County Clerk and District Clerk offices maintain court case files, property documents, marriage licenses, vital records, and other official records for Kountze, Silsbee, Lumberton, and all communities in the county. Hardin County is in the Piney Woods of Southeast Texas. Many public records can be searched online through the statewide court portal, and certified copies are available through the clerk's offices. This guide covers what each office holds, online search tools, and fees for copies.
Hardin County Overview
Hardin County Clerk
The Hardin County Clerk is the official custodian for property records, marriage licenses, assumed name filings, vital records, and county court case files. The clerk's office is at the county courthouse in Kountze. Deeds, mortgages, liens, releases, and plat maps for all real property in the county are filed here and are accessible to the public.
You can search the clerk's records in person at the Kountze courthouse or by written request. Plain copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies are $1.00 per page plus $5.00. Name search fees of $5.00 per name apply when staff assists. Vital records: birth certificates $23.00, death certificates $21.00. The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section also handles statewide vital records orders.
Hardin County District Clerk and Court Records
The Hardin County District Clerk holds all district court records including civil cases, felony criminal matters, family law filings, and probate cases. The District Clerk office is at the Kountze courthouse. Most district court records in the county are public and available to anyone who requests them through proper channels.
The statewide re:SearchTX portal provides free online access to case information for Hardin County courts. Search by party name or cause number. Attorneys file electronically through eFileTexas.gov. For full document images or certified copies, contact the District Clerk directly at the courthouse.
Federal court records for Hardin County fall under the Eastern District of Texas. Use PACER to access those records. The Beaumont division of the Eastern District serves Hardin County for federal cases.
Public Information Requests
Hardin County offices follow the Texas Public Information Act, Government Code Chapter 552. Any written request for records must receive a response within 10 business days. If records are withheld, the agency must seek a ruling from the Texas Attorney General's Open Government division.
The Texas State Library and Archives in Austin maintains historical government records including older documents from East Texas counties like Hardin.
TSLAC holds historical government records dating to the republic period and provides research assistance for older materials that may not be available through county clerk offices.
Fees and Criminal History
Copy fees are $1.00 per page for plain copies and $1.00 per page plus $5.00 for certified copies. PIA copies cost $0.10 per page. Online court searches through re:SearchTX are free. Criminal history records are available through the Texas DPS Crime Records Division for $3.15 per name search. The DPS Sex Offender Registry is free to search by name or location.
Cities in Hardin County
Kountze is the county seat of Hardin County.
Other communities in Hardin County include Silsbee, Lumberton, and Sour Lake. All county court and property records go through the Hardin County courthouse in Kountze.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Hardin County in Southeast Texas.