Search Kaufman County Public Records

Kaufman County public records are held at the courthouse in Kaufman and through Texas state databases that cover court and vital records statewide. The county sits on the eastern edge of the Dallas metro area and has grown quickly over the past decade, making its court and property records systems active and well-used. This guide points you to the right office for each type of Kaufman County record and explains the request process, fees, and online options.

Kaufman County Clerk

The Kaufman County Clerk is located at the county courthouse in Kaufman and records all real property instruments for the county. Deeds, deeds of trust, liens, releases, and easements are indexed and available for public inspection. Title searches on Kaufman County property begin here. Staff can perform name searches at $5.00 per name. Copies cost $1.00 per page for plain copies, plus $5.00 per document for certified copies.

Marriage licenses in Kaufman County are issued and recorded by the County Clerk. Certified copies of marriage certificates are available by request. Mail orders are accepted with prepayment. The clerk also maintains probate records opened in the county court, as well as commissioners court minutes.

Birth and death certificates are issued by the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Unit. Order online at dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics. Birth certificates cost $23 and death certificates cost $21. Older vital records that predate the state registration system may be held locally by the Kaufman County Clerk.

District Clerk and Court Records

The Kaufman County District Clerk maintains records for the 86th and 422nd Judicial District Courts. These courts handle felony criminal cases, civil matters above the county court threshold, and family law proceedings including divorce, child custody, and protective orders. If you need a divorce decree, a civil judgment, or certified records from a felony case in Kaufman County, the District Clerk is the right office.

The free re:SearchTX portal provides online access to the statewide case index. Search by name or case number to pull up basic case information for Kaufman County cases. Actual documents require a direct request to the District Clerk. New filings submitted through eFileTexas.gov appear in the portal after the clerk processes them.

County court at law records for Kaufman County handle Class A and B misdemeanors, probate, and civil cases under the district court threshold. Those records are in the County Clerk's system, not the District Clerk's. Be sure you know which court handled the case before you contact an office.

Note: Federal cases involving Kaufman County fall under the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. Search federal filings through PACER.

Texas Public Information Act Requests

Under the Texas Public Information Act, you have the right to request records from any Kaufman County government body. This covers county offices, city governments, school districts, and other public agencies in the area. Write your request to the agency that holds the records you want. No reason is required. They must respond within 10 business days.

Standard copying fees are $0.10 per page. If an agency claims an exemption, it must seek a ruling from the Texas Attorney General's Open Government division before withholding documents. You can contact the AG's office if an agency fails to respond or improperly denies your request.

Criminal Records and Supporting Resources

For a statewide criminal history check, use the Texas DPS Crime Records Service. This name-based search covers arrest and disposition data from all Texas jurisdictions, including Kaufman County. Certified copies of specific Kaufman County criminal case files are available from the District Clerk.

Historical Kaufman County records, including older documents and archived files, may be accessible through the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Business registrations and UCC filings are searchable through the Texas Secretary of State.

The Texas Public Information Act is the legal foundation for all records requests made to Kaufman County and other government bodies across the state.

Kaufman County agencies must follow the requirements of Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code when responding to any public records request.

Cities in Kaufman County

Kaufman is the county seat. Other communities include Forney, Terrell, Seagoville, Mesquite (partially), Rowlett (partially), and Garland (partially). The county has grown rapidly as DFW suburban development has pushed eastward.

No city in Kaufman County meets the qualifying threshold for a dedicated records page on this site. All county records are maintained at the Kaufman courthouse.

Nearby Counties

Kaufman County sits east of Dallas in the greater DFW region. Neighboring counties include major metro counties with their own robust records systems.