Harris County Public Records

Harris County public records are held at the County Clerk and District Clerk offices in Houston, Texas, the county seat. Harris County is the third most populous county in the United States and home to over 4.7 million residents. The County Clerk maintains property records going back to 1836, marriage licenses, vital records, and civil court filings. The District Clerk handles all district court records for civil, criminal, and family law matters. Many records are available online through free county portals. This guide covers each office, search options, fees, and how to request copies.

Harris County Clerk Office

The Harris County Clerk maintains property records, marriage licenses, assumed name filings, vital records, and civil court case files. The office is at 201 Caroline Street, Suite 460, Houston, TX 77002, phone (713) 274-8600. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Real property records (phone: 713-274-8595) and vital statistics (phone: 713-274-8690) have dedicated lines.

The County Clerk's online records portal at cclerk.hctx.net lets you search by name, date range, document type, instrument number, legal description, or address. Property records available online include deeds, mortgages, liens, plat maps, UCC filings, and records going back to 1836. Marriage license records also go back to 1836. Assumed name certificates, commissioners court records, and probate records are searchable as well.

Recording fees are $26.00 for the first page and $4.00 for each additional page. Standard copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies are $1.00 per page plus $5.00. Birth certificates cost $23.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for each additional. Death certificates are $21.00 for the first copy and $4.00 for each additional. Marriage license copies cost $21.00. Some older records from before the 1970s may be on microfilm only.

Harris County District Clerk and Courts

The Harris County District Clerk maintains all district court records for the county. The office is at 201 Caroline Street, Suite 420, Houston, TX 77002. Main phone: (832) 927-5800. Criminal records: (832) 927-5810. Civil records: (832) 927-5800. The District Clerk handles civil cases, felony criminal matters, family law filings, juvenile records, and probate cases for Houston and all of Harris County.

The Harris County District Clerk's office at 201 Caroline handles all district court case filings for Houston, covering one of the busiest court systems in the United States.

Court case searches are available through the District Clerk's portal at hcdistrictclerk.com/Search.aspx. Search by party name, cause number, attorney, or filing date. Results show case type, filing date, court assignment, and case status. Sealed court records require a court order to access. Juvenile records are not public. Attorneys file electronically through eFileTexas.gov. The statewide re:SearchTX portal also covers Harris County courts.

Harris County Tax Records and Appraisal

The Harris County Tax office at hctax.net provides online access to property tax records, payment options, and tax certificate requests for all taxable property in Houston and Harris County.

The Harris Central Appraisal District maintains property appraisal values used for tax calculation. Appraisal records are searchable at hcad.org by owner name, address, or account number. Property tax records, deed records, and appraisal records are maintained by three separate offices. The tax office handles payments and delinquent tax matters.

Court Records Search Online

Harris County court case searches cover all district courts in Houston, with case status, party information, and event history available online at no charge through the District Clerk's portal.

Online searches are immediate. In-person requests are handled the same day at 201 Caroline. Mail requests take 7 to 10 business days. Certified copy requests take 5 to 7 business days. Federal court records for Harris County fall under the Southern District of Texas, Houston division. Use PACER to search and access federal case files.

Public Information Requests

Harris County offices follow the Texas Public Information Act, Government Code Chapter 552. Any written records request must receive a response within 10 business days. If records are denied, the agency must seek a ruling from the Texas Attorney General's Open Government division. PIA copies from non-court offices cost $0.10 per page. Criminal history records are available through the Texas DPS Crime Records Division for $3.15 per name search online.

Cities in Harris County

Houston is the county seat and the largest city in Texas.

Other communities in Harris County include Pearland (partly), Sugar Land (partly), Humble, Katy, Spring, and Cypress. All county court and property records go through the clerk offices at 201 Caroline in Houston.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Harris County in Southeast Texas.