Search Upshur County Public Records

Upshur County public records are filed and maintained by county offices in Gilmer, the county seat in the Piney Woods of East Texas. The County Clerk and District Clerk hold official record collections covering property filings, court cases, vital records, and other government documents. Both offices are located at the Gilmer courthouse and accept in-person requests; mail requests are also an option. Some records are accessible through state online systems. This page explains where to find public records in Upshur County, what types of documents are maintained, and how to contact the right office to request copies.

Upshur County Clerk

The Upshur County Clerk is the primary records custodian for most non-court documents in the county. This office records and indexes property instruments including warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, mechanic's liens, and releases. When real property changes hands or a lender records a mortgage in Upshur County, the deed or deed of trust gets filed here. The clerk also handles marriage licenses, assumed name certificates, and commissioners court minutes.

Copies of recorded documents cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies carry an additional $5.00 certification fee. The County Clerk office is in the courthouse in Gilmer and is open during normal business hours, Monday through Friday. You can request records in person or by mailing a written request with payment. Some property records may be available for search on the county website or through a third-party vendor contracted by the county.

The Upshur County Clerk also maintains local vital records. Birth and death certificates filed in the county can be obtained here in addition to the state vital records office. For statewide records or older events, use Texas DSHS Vital Statistics.

District and County Court Records

The Upshur County District Clerk holds records for all district court proceedings. These include felony criminal cases, civil lawsuits above the county court limit, family law cases such as divorce and child support, and probate matters. The District Clerk can provide copies of case files, dockets, judgments, and orders. Most requests can be handled in person at the Gilmer courthouse.

You can search Upshur County court records online using re:SearchTX, the free statewide portal run by the Texas Office of Court Administration. This tool covers most district and county courts across Texas and lets you look up cases by party name or case number. For filing documents electronically, attorneys and pro se parties use eFileTexas.gov, which is required in Texas district courts.

Upshur County sits in the 115th Judicial District. County court handles misdemeanors and lower-value civil matters. Justice of the Peace courts cover small claims and traffic citations. Records from all these court levels may be searched through the re:SearchTX portal or by contacting the relevant clerk directly in Gilmer.

Property Records in Upshur County

Property records are filed with the County Clerk and are public documents. To find out who owns a parcel or look up the history of a piece of land, start with the Upshur County Appraisal District. The appraisal district keeps current ownership data and property valuations. For the actual recorded deeds and liens, you need the County Clerk's record index.

Both offices serve the same geographic area but hold different types of documents. The appraisal district is your starting point for quick ownership lookups. The County Clerk has the actual recorded instruments with legal descriptions and grantor-grantee details. Together they give you a full picture of any property in Upshur County.

The Texas courts portal provides background on how Texas courts handle property-related filings. Visit the Texas courts overview for more context on how courts and clerk offices fit together in the state system.

Understanding the Texas court structure helps you know which clerk to contact when searching for specific types of Upshur County records.

Vital Records

Birth and death certificates for events in Upshur County can be requested from the local County Clerk or through Texas DSHS Vital Statistics. The state office maintains a complete archive going back many decades. To get a certified copy, you must be an eligible requestor. Birth certificates cost $23.00 and death certificates cost $21.00. Allow 5 to 10 business days for orders placed online through VitalChek. Walk-in service is available at the DSHS Austin office for faster turnaround.

Marriage records are kept by the Upshur County Clerk. Divorce records are held by the District Clerk. If you need proof of a marriage or divorce that took place in Gilmer or anywhere else in Upshur County, contact the appropriate clerk office with the names of the parties and the approximate year.

Texas Public Information Act Requests

Texas residents have a strong right to access government records under the Texas Public Information Act (Government Code Chapter 552). This law covers Upshur County and all its agencies. To request records, send a written request to the specific office that holds the records. No special form is required, though some agencies provide one.

The agency must respond within 10 business days. They can provide the records, give a cost estimate, ask for an extension, or seek an Attorney General ruling on whether the records are exempt from disclosure. Standard copying fees under the Act are $0.10 per page for standard paper copies. You always have the right to inspect records in person at no charge rather than ordering copies.

If a government body denies your request or fails to respond, the Texas Attorney General's open government division handles complaints and offers free guidance. You can file a complaint or request a formal opinion on whether the denial was proper.

Criminal Records and Background Checks

Criminal case records for Upshur County can be searched through re:SearchTX for district and county court filings. For a statewide criminal history report, the Texas DPS Crime Records Division is the official source. DPS compiles criminal history data submitted by law enforcement agencies across Texas. Public name-based searches are available for a small fee.

Certified criminal history reports from DPS are often needed for employment background checks, professional licensing, or tenant screening. You can order a certified report directly from DPS. For felony convictions filed in Upshur County district courts, case-level detail is also available through re:SearchTX at no charge. These records show case filings, charges, and dispositions but are not a substitute for an official DPS background check.

Federal Court Records

Upshur County falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Federal cases involving Upshur County parties are filed in that court. To search federal court records, use PACER.gov, the federal judiciary's public access system. PACER charges a small per-page fee for document retrieval but is the definitive source for all federal civil, criminal, and bankruptcy filings.

Cities in Upshur County

No cities in Upshur County currently meet the 100,000-population threshold for a dedicated city page. Gilmer is the county seat and largest city in the county. For nearby larger cities, see the counties surrounding Upshur.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Upshur County.