Stephens County Public Records Search

Stephens County public records are maintained by the County Clerk and District Clerk in Breckenridge, the county seat in West Central Texas. With a population of around 9,000, Stephens County is a rural county where the Breckenridge courthouse handles all official property filings, court cases, and marriage records. In-person and mail requests are both accepted at the courthouse. Some court records can also be accessed online through the Texas case search portal. This page explains how to find public records in Stephens County, what documents are available, and which offices to contact when requesting copies.

County Clerk Records

The Stephens County Clerk records and maintains real property instruments, including deeds, deeds of trust, liens, easements, and releases. The office also holds marriage licenses, assumed name filings, and commissioners court minutes. Copy fees are $1 per page for plain copies and $5 plus the per-page fee for certified copies. The clerk's office is at the Stephens County Courthouse in Breckenridge.

Oil and gas has been part of Stephens County's land history, so the deed records contain a significant volume of mineral leases and related instruments in addition to surface deeds. Staff can assist with in-person searches. Mail requests are accepted with payment included. Call ahead to get a copy fee estimate before mailing payment, especially if you are not sure how many pages your document is.

District Court Records

Stephens County is part of the 90th Judicial District. The District Clerk handles felony criminal cases, civil suits over $200, family law matters, and probate proceedings. To search for cases, the free re:SearchTX portal provides access to case index data by name or cause number. Full document access requires a request to the clerk's office. Electronic filing for civil cases is available through eFileTexas.

Property Records

Property in Stephens County ranges from ranching and agricultural tracts to residential lots in and around Breckenridge. The County Clerk holds the deed index for all recorded property transactions. The Stephens County Appraisal District maintains current ownership and appraisal data that can help identify owners by address or parcel. For a complete title search, use both the appraisal district's online data for current status and the deed index for ownership history.

Mineral rights records, oil and gas leases, and pipeline right-of-way easements are all filed with the County Clerk. If you are researching a property with mineral activity, the deed records will include a significant volume of lease and assignment instruments. Older records going back to the early oil boom era in Stephens County are also indexed in the clerk's files.

Texas Public Information Act

Under the Texas Public Information Act, you have the right to request records from Stephens County government offices. Write a request and send it to the office that holds the records. The agency has 10 business days to respond. Most county records are public. Exemptions cover active criminal investigation files, some personnel data, and records protected under other Texas laws. If denied, you can seek a ruling from the Texas Attorney General's Office.

Vital Records and Additional Sources

Certified birth and death records for Stephens County are issued by Texas DSHS Vital Statistics, not the county clerk. A birth certificate is $23 and a death certificate is $21. Order online, by mail, or in person through DSHS. The County Clerk holds original marriage licenses. Divorce decrees are in the District Clerk's case files.

For statewide criminal history, use the Texas DPS Crime Records Service. The Stephens County Sheriff holds local arrest and jail records. For historical Texas records, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission maintains an extensive collection.

The Texas Public Information Act statute page, shown below, is the official legal text for your right to request government records throughout Texas.

Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code is the law that governs your right to request public records from Stephens County and all other Texas government bodies.

Cities in Stephens County

Stephens County has no cities with a population above 100,000. Breckenridge is the county seat and primary incorporated community. No qualifying cities have dedicated pages for this county.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Stephens County.