Hood County Public Records Lookup
Hood County public records are kept by the County Clerk and District Clerk in Granbury, the county seat in North Central Texas southwest of Fort Worth. Court filings, property deeds, marriage licenses, and other official documents are all part of the public record here. The County Clerk handles property recordings and vital records, and the District Clerk manages civil and criminal court files. Records can be searched online, visited in person at the Granbury courthouse, or requested by mail. This guide explains how to find and access Hood County public records.
Hood County Overview
Hood County Clerk
The Hood County Clerk office in Granbury records and maintains all official county-level public documents. Property records are the largest category. Warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, lien releases, and easements are filed here when property changes hands or is encumbered. Every recorded deed in Hood County is indexed by grantor and grantee names and by instrument number, making it possible to search by party or by instrument.
The County Clerk also handles marriage licenses, DBA (assumed name) filings, and commissioners court minutes. Hood County is part of the DFW metro fringe and has seen real estate growth in recent years, so the volume of recordings here is higher than many rural Texas counties of similar size. Copy fees are $1.00 per page. Certified copies require a $5.00 certification fee plus the per-page cost. Office hours are Monday through Friday at the Hood County Courthouse in Granbury.
Note: Some older records may require an in-person visit to view from physical deed books or microfilm, as not all historical documents are digitized.
District Court Records
The Hood County District Clerk maintains all district court records for filings in Granbury. Civil cases, felony criminal cases, divorce and family law matters, and probate records are all filed here. Hood County is part of the 355th Judicial District. These records can be searched online through re:SearchTX, the statewide court records portal managed by the Texas Office of Court Administration.
Re:SearchTX is free and lets you search by party name or case number. Most Texas district and county court cases are included. For electronic filing, use eFileTexas.gov. This system is required for most filings in Hood County courts. County courts at law handle misdemeanors and lower civil matters. Justice of the Peace courts in Granbury and the county's precincts handle small claims and traffic cases.
Searching Property Records
Hood County has an active real estate market, especially around Lake Granbury and surrounding communities. Property records here include a mix of residential, rural, and lakefront property transactions. The County Clerk's office in Granbury holds all recorded deeds, deeds of trust, and liens filed in the county.
The Hood County Appraisal District maintains current ownership and valuation data for all taxable property. That database is free to search by owner name, address, or parcel number and is a useful starting point for ownership questions. For the actual deed and lien documents, you need the County Clerk's recorded instrument index. For a thorough property history, combine both sources. Mail requests for copies should include party names, approximate recording dates, and a check for estimated fees.
Vital Records in Hood County
Birth and death certificates for events that occurred in Hood County can be ordered through Texas DSHS Vital Statistics. Orders can be placed online, by mail to Austin, or in person at the DSHS office. A certified birth certificate costs $23.00. A certified death certificate is $21.00. Requestors must qualify as authorized under Texas Health and Safety Code provisions.
Marriage licenses issued in Hood County are on file with the County Clerk in Granbury. Certified copies can be requested from that office. Divorce records belong to the District Clerk. If you need a certified copy of a divorce decree entered in Hood County, contact the District Clerk's office directly.
Public Records Requests
The Texas Public Information Act covers all Hood County government agencies. Written requests for public records must receive a response within 10 business days. Agencies must either provide the records, seek an extension, or ask for an Attorney General ruling on any exemptions claimed. The Texas AG open government office handles PIA disputes.
Standard copy fees under the Act are $0.10 per page. Charges above $40 require a written estimate before work starts. You can also inspect records at no cost if you prefer not to request copies. Name searches cost $5.00 per name. Criminal history records for Hood County are part of the statewide system run by the Texas DPS Crime Records Division. Federal cases in the area fall under the Northern District of Texas at PACER.gov.
The Texas Office of Court Administration oversees the state's court system and publishes information about court records access. Their main portal at txcourts.gov covers all Texas court levels including those in Hood County.
For Hood County, understanding which court level handled a matter is the first step in knowing which clerk office to contact for records.
Nearby Counties
Hood County is southwest of Fort Worth. These neighboring counties are nearby if records from another jurisdiction are needed.