Travis County Public Records

Travis County public records are held at several offices in Austin. The District Clerk maintains all district court case files covering civil, criminal, and family law matters. The County Clerk holds property records, marriage licenses, vital records, and county court files. Both offices serve Austin and all other communities in the county. Travis County is the home of the Texas state government, making it one of the most active counties in the state for public records activity. You can search many Travis County public records online through free portals. This guide covers each office, how to access records, and what fees apply.

Travis County District Clerk Records

The Travis County District Clerk holds all district court records for the county. This includes civil cases, felony criminal prosecutions, family law matters, and juvenile case files. The clerk maintains everything from initial filings to final judgments and court orders. Most of these records are public and available for viewing or copying.

The Travis County District Clerk website provides online case information and a records request form. The online portal covers family and civil cases from 2006 forward and criminal cases from 2008 forward. Older cases require an in-person or mail request. You can search by case number, party name, attorney name, filing date, or case type.

Record requests can be submitted online through the Court Records Request Form, by mail to Travis County District Clerk, Records Request, P.O. Box 679003, Austin, TX 78767, or in person at the civil/family facility or the criminal justice center.

The Travis County District Clerk also handles e-filing through eFileTexas.gov, which is mandatory for attorneys and available to self-represented filers.

The online portal provides access to case information for courts from 2006 onward. For older matters, contact the clerk's office to request a manual search.

Travis County Clerk and Property Records

The Travis County Clerk maintains property records, vital records, marriage licenses, assumed name certificates, and county court case files. This office is separate from the District Clerk and handles a different set of record types. Property records filed here include deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and plat maps for land located in Travis County.

Standard copy fees in Travis County are $0.10 per page for paper copies under the Texas Public Information Act. Oversize copies run $0.50 per page. Certified copies require an additional $5 certification fee per document. A research fee of $5 per name searched may also apply for some requests.

Vital records fees: Birth certificates cost $23 for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Death certificates cost $21 for the first and $4 for each additional. Marriage licenses cost $21 for a certified copy.

Searching Travis County Court Records

Travis County's online court portal gives free access to case information for most courts. The portal covers family and civil cases from 2006 to the present and criminal cases from 2008 forward. You can search by case number, party name, attorney name, or filing date. Results show case type, court location, current status, and scheduled hearing dates.

For cases outside the portal's date range, you submit a written records request to the District Clerk or visit in person. Mail requests typically take 5 to 10 business days. In-person requests at the civil/family location or the criminal justice center can often be handled the same day.

The statewide re:SearchTX portal also covers Travis County courts. This free tool lets you search across multiple Texas courts at once using the same name or cause number. It's a good starting point when you're not sure which court heard a specific case.

The Travis County courts page provides general information about each court, including jurisdiction and case types.

Court records in Travis County follow the same public access rules as all Texas courts, governed by the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and the Texas Public Information Act.

Travis County Public Information Requests

Travis County government offices follow the Texas Public Information Act, Government Code Chapter 552. Any person can submit a written request for public records to any county department. No specific form is required. An email, letter, or online request works. The office has 10 business days to respond.

If an agency wants to withhold records, it must notify you in writing and typically must seek an opinion from the Texas Attorney General's Open Government division before denying your request. The AG's opinion is binding on the agency. You can also appeal to the AG if you believe records were wrongfully withheld.

Travis County houses the state capital, so it's also worth noting that many state agency records are held at agencies based in Austin rather than at the county level. For state agency records, you submit a PIA request to that specific state agency, not to the county.

Federal court records for Travis County fall under the Western District of Texas. Use PACER to search and access federal case records. The Austin federal courthouse handles cases for the Austin division of the Western District.

Fees and Processing Times

Copy fees in Travis County courts are $1 per page for plain copies and $1 per page plus $5 for certified copies. For PIA requests from non-court county offices, the standard rate is $0.10 per page. Digital copies may be provided at no charge in some cases. If a request will cost more than $40, the county must give you a written estimate before proceeding.

Processing times vary by request type. Online case searches are immediate. Record requests submitted online or by mail typically take 1 to 3 business days, but can take up to 10 business days. In-person requests at the courthouse can often be handled the same day. Open records (PIA) requests must receive a response within 10 business days of receipt.

Some court fees are built into the filing process rather than billed to record requestors. The Records Preservation/Management Fee is $30, the General Court Reporter Fee is $25, and there are additional fees for courthouse security and the court facility fund. These apply to people filing new cases, not to people requesting existing records.

Vital Records and Other Sources

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section is another source for birth and death certificates, marriage records, and divorce verifications. They serve as the state-level archive and are an option when county-level access isn't convenient. Birth certificates cost $23 for the first certified copy. Death certificates cost $21. Orders can be placed online, by mail, or in person at their Austin office.

The Texas State Library and Archives is also located in Austin. For older historical records, genealogical research, or archived government documents, TSLAC is a valuable resource. They maintain records dating to the republic period and offer research assistance for hard-to-find materials.

Criminal history records for Travis County residents are available through the Texas DPS Crime Records Division. Name-based searches are available online for $3.15. The DPS Sex Offender Registry is searchable at no charge by name or location.

Cities in Travis County

Austin is the county seat and the state capital. All cities in Travis County use the Travis County District Clerk and County Clerk for official records.

Other communities in Travis County include Pflugerville, Lakeway, Cedar Park (partially), Rollingwood, West Lake Hills, and numerous other municipalities and unincorporated areas.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Travis County. Round Rock, Georgetown, and Leander are in Williamson County to the north.