Leon County Public Records Search

Leon County sits in East-Central Texas with Centerville as the county seat. Public records held here cover court cases, property filings, vital records, and official documents maintained by the County Clerk and District Clerk. This page outlines how to search, request, and access those records through county offices and state online tools. Whether you need a deed, a court filing, or a birth record, the county offices in Centerville handle most requests. The county is part of the 12th Judicial District of Texas.

Leon County Clerk Records

The Leon County Clerk keeps official records for the county. That includes property deeds, liens, plats, assumed name filings, and vital records such as birth and death certificates. The office is located at the Leon County Courthouse in Centerville, TX. Walk-in service is available during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.

To request copies of deeds or other real property documents, you can visit in person or contact the County Clerk at the Leon County courthouse. Plain copies cost $1 per page. Certified copies cost $1 per page plus a $5 certification fee. Birth certificates are $23 and death certificates are $21. The clerk's office also handles marriage licenses and commissioners court minutes.

Property records in Leon County go back many decades. If you are searching for older documents, the clerk may refer you to microfilm or archived records kept on-site. The office does not currently offer a full online search portal for all record types, so in-person or mail requests are often needed for older filings.

District Clerk and Court Records

The Leon County District Clerk handles filings for the 12th Judicial District Court. Records in this office include civil cases, family law matters, and felony criminal cases. If you need records from a specific case, you can visit the District Clerk at the Leon County courthouse or search online through re:SearchTX.

re:SearchTX is the statewide court records portal maintained by the Texas Office of Court Administration. It gives you free access to case information, party names, and filing dates for district and county courts across Texas, including Leon County. Not all documents are available to download, but case summaries and docket entries are often posted.

Attorneys and parties who need to file new documents with the District Court can use eFileTexas, the state's mandatory electronic filing system. Self-represented litigants may also use the system. The District Clerk's office can walk you through the process if you have questions about filing in person.

Searching Records Online

The Texas Office of Court Administration runs re:SearchTX so you can look up court cases from a browser. Enter a name or case number to find district and county court records from Leon County. Results show case type, filing date, parties involved, and hearing dates.

For property records, Texas does not have a single statewide database. Leon County maintains its own records at the courthouse. The Leon County Appraisal District holds property tax and appraisal data. Those records are separate from deed records at the County Clerk's office but can help you find ownership history and assessed values.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission holds some historical county records and can be a useful backup source for older filings not digitized at the county level. For criminal history background checks, the Texas Department of Public Safety runs its own Crime Records Service at DPS Crime Records.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office at DSHS Vital Statistics issues certified copies of birth and death records statewide. You can order records there if the County Clerk's office is not convenient.

Public Information Act Requests

Texas gives the public the right to request government records under the Texas Public Information Act (PIA). The full text is at Texas Government Code Chapter 552. You can submit a PIA request to any Leon County office in writing. Email or mail work for most departments.

Once a government body gets your request, it must respond within 10 business days. The response may fulfill the request, ask for clarification, or explain any exceptions that apply. If the county wants to withhold records, it usually must get a ruling from the Texas Attorney General's office.

The Texas Attorney General Open Government division handles PIA disputes, issues opinion letters, and offers resources for both requesters and government officials. If you believe a denial is improper, you can file a complaint or request an AG opinion. Fees for PIA requests are set by state rule and are generally $0.10 per page for standard copies.

Leon County offices covered by the PIA include the County Clerk, District Clerk, county departments, and the sheriff's office. Elected officials' records related to official duties are also subject to disclosure in most cases.

Standard Fees for Leon County Records

The fees below apply to most Leon County record requests. Some specialty records may have different costs.

• Plain copies: $1.00 per page
• Certified copies: $1.00 per page plus $5.00 certification fee
• PIA request copies: $0.10 per page (standard paper)
• Birth certificates: $23.00 per copy
• Death certificates: $21.00 per copy

Payment is typically accepted by cash, check, or money order at the courthouse. Call ahead to confirm payment methods before a visit. Some offices also accept credit cards. Mail requests should include a check or money order made out to the relevant office.

The Texas Office of Court Administration provides guidance on court-related fees. District court filing fees vary by case type. Contact the District Clerk at the Leon County courthouse for a current fee schedule before filing a new case.

Visit the Texas Courts website to learn more about how the state court system is organized and what types of records each court level maintains.

The Texas Courts site explains how district courts, county courts, and justice of the peace courts are structured, which helps you know where to look for specific types of records in Leon County.

Cities in Leon County

Centerville is the county seat of Leon County. Other small communities in the county include Jewett, Normangee, Buffalo, and Leona. None of these cities meets the 100,000-population threshold for a dedicated city page. For records matters, all residents of Leon County use the county offices in Centerville.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Leon County.