Refugio County Public Records

Refugio County public records are held by the County Clerk and District Clerk in the city of Refugio, the county seat of this South Texas Gulf Coast county. These offices maintain court case files, property deeds, deed of trust instruments, marriage licenses, and other official county documents. Records are available in person at the courthouse, and some filings can be searched through online court portals. This guide explains how to find and request public records from Refugio County offices.

County Clerk Records

The Refugio County Clerk keeps official records for the county. Property deeds, mortgages, and liens are filed here when real estate transactions occur. These recordings create the public record of ownership and debt on land in Refugio County. The Clerk indexes documents by party name, so searches can be run by grantor or grantee to find all transactions connected to a person or property.

Marriage licenses, assumed name filings, and Commissioners Court minutes are also on file. County Court case records, including misdemeanor matters and probate, are recorded through this office. All of these records are public unless a court has ordered otherwise.

Copies cost $1 per page. Certified copies are $1 per page plus $5. Mail requests are accepted if you include document details and payment. Since this is a small county, call before visiting or mailing to confirm hours and availability.

District Court Records

The Refugio County District Clerk handles records for the district courts. These courts see felony criminal cases, family law matters including divorce and custody, and larger civil suits. The District Clerk files and keeps all case documents, orders, and final judgments.

Search Refugio County court records online at re:SearchTX. This free portal from the Texas Office of Court Administration covers many courts across the state. Search by name or case number to find basic case details without traveling to Refugio.

For records not available through re:SearchTX, contact the District Clerk's office in Refugio directly.

Property Records and Appraisal

The Refugio County Appraisal District sets values for all taxable property in the county. Their records include current ownership, property type, acreage, and assessed value. These are public records. Contact the Appraisal District or visit their website for owner lookups and property data.

For deed records and the recorded history of transactions, go to the County Clerk. Combining both sources gives you the most complete picture of a property's ownership and value history in Refugio County.

For online court filings in Texas, use eFileTexas. This system is used statewide by attorneys and self-represented filers.

Texas DPS maintains statewide criminal records through the Crime Records Service.

The Texas DPS Crime Records Service provides statewide criminal history information, covering convictions from Refugio County and all other Texas counties.

Open Records Requests

The Texas Public Information Act gives you the right to request records from Refugio County government. Write a request describing the records you need and submit it to the right office. The agency must respond in 10 business days. If records are withheld, the agency must seek a ruling from the Texas Attorney General. Get help at texasattorneygeneral.gov/open-government.

PIA copies cost $0.10 per standard page. Certified copies follow the clerk fee schedule.

Vital Records

Birth and death certificates from Refugio County are issued through Texas DSHS Vital Statistics. Certified birth certificates cost $23. Death certificates cost $21. Marriage licenses are recorded at the County Clerk's office in Refugio. For statewide vital records, visit Texas DSHS Vital Statistics.

Cities in Refugio County

Refugio is the county seat and main city in the county. No cities in Refugio County exceed 100,000 residents.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Refugio County.