About Texas Public Records

About Texas public records

Texas state agency department policies and procedures play a significant role in how and which public records each are to provide, while performing their duties within the state legislature's guidelines regarding open records and meeting statutes. Requests for various official recorded documents to criminal histories can be requested directly from the state of Texas departments. Individuals and companies are able to submit requests for different types of records and data from government operated websites and a list of services to the public.

State background and court information

Texas Public Information Act (PIA) or the Open Records Act was enacted in 1973 and gives people the right to request records from state agencies. The federal first freedom of information act began in 1966 and was signed into law by President Johnson. Requests for records and information are often made by journalists, researchers but can also be utilized by private entities and companies.

Also known as the lone state state, Texas became the 28th U.S. state in 1845. It has the 2nd largest economy as well as the 2nd largest workforce in the U.S. and leads the country in cattle, oil, chemical products and recently electronic equipment production. As with other states, Texas state government is comprised of 3 branches, the executive, legislative, and judicial branch.

The state of Texas is the second largest state by population and territory in the United States. It is comprised of 254 counties, the most in the U.S. and 1,208 cities with a population of approximately 25 million residents. There are no townships in Texas and areas are either incorporated or unincorporated. Texas does not have metropolitan cities or a city and county consolidated government. Counties run on a commissioners court system which is made of four precincts in each county with an elected commissioner. County government serves and functions as an arm of the state. Duties and responsibilities of county governments are land recordings, ownerships, local courts, tax collections, law enforcement and recording of birth and deaths of its residents amongst other local services. City government officials include the city's mayor, city manager, city council, commissioners, and other city official in departments and offices.

The state's law enforcement agency is the Texas Department of Public Safety. By accessing their online site you request services that include driver license services, criminal history search and other law enforcement roles. The state judicial system has over 2700 courts broken down into district, county level and municipal courts in addition to appellate courts. The Texas court online provides information regarding obtaining court records and services. Vital records such as birth, death, divorces and marriages are kept at the Texas department of state health services, vital statistics unit. Orders can be placed directly through their official website and certified copies can be obtained via mail.

Conduct a background check on anyone in Texas by ordering a criminal history search. Access public information of convictions from  class B misdemeanor violations to felonies directly from the Texas Department of Public Safety. A good starting point to maximize your results is by searching a free people locator database which can reveal current as well as past residences and addresses. This will show you where the search should cover. When residences are found outside the state of your search, you may need to expand your probe to other states. Residents are not required to present an agency with a reason when requesting records that are made public and not classified as private or confidential information.

The Texas courts of appeals must hear, i.e., have "mandatory jurisdiction," cases that involve civil, non-capital criminal, administrative agency, juvenile, original proceeding, and interlocutory decision cases. These courts have no discretionary jurisdiction. Texas courts of criminal appeals have mandatory jurisdiction in capital criminal, criminal, and original proceeding cases. Texas' courts of criminal appeals have discretionary jurisdiction in non-capital criminal, original proceeding cases and certified questions from federal court. The Texas district courts are the state's trial courts. The district courts have jurisdiction to hear cases that involve tort, contract, real property rights from $200 and up, estate, and other miscellaneous civil matters. District courts have exclusive jurisdiction over administrative agency appeals, domestic relations matters, juvenile matters, felony and misdemeanor matters, DWI or DUI matters, and other miscellaneous criminal matters.

Jury trials are available in these courts. Texas' criminal district court hears various felony, misdemeanor, DWI or DUI, and miscellaneous criminal cases. Texas' county courts at law have jurisdiction to hear cases that involve tort, contract, real property rights from $200 to an unspecified "varying" amount, estate, mental health, civil trial court appeals, and other miscellaneous civil matters. Additionally, these courts hear juvenile matters, misdemeanors, DWI or DUI matters, criminal appeals, moving traffic violations, and other miscellaneous traffic violations. Texas' probate courts hear estate, and mental health matters.

Texas' Constitutional county courts have jurisdiction to hear cases that involve tort, contract, real property rights from $200 to $5,000, estate, mental health, civil trial court appeals, miscellaneous civil matters, juvenile matters, and domestic relations matters. Additionally, these courts hear various misdemeanors, DWI or DUI matters, criminal appeals matters, moving traffic violations, and other miscellaneous traffic violations. Texas' justice of the peace courts have jurisdiction to hear cases that involve tort, contract, real property rights from $0 to $5,000, small claims up to $5,000, mental health matters, misdemeanors, moving traffic violations, parking violations, and other miscellaneous traffic violations. These courts hold venue to preliminary hearings. Jury trials are available in these courts. Texas' municipal courts have jurisdiction to hear cases that involve various misdemeanors, moving traffic violations, parking violations, and other miscellaneous traffic violations. These courts have exclusive ordinance violation jurisdiction, and hold venue to preliminary hearings. Jury trials are available in Texas' municipal courts.

Vital records

Statewide Texas vital records. Search births, marriage records and death certificates. Divorces filed with courts. State vital records offices. Link to the agencies in Texas and order vital records. Many records are public information available to the public from private and government entities. You can use information to verify your records. Look up vital statistics and free vital searches in Texas to conduct research online. Department of state health services vital statistics and records, certificates, request a verification letter, county and district clerks office, local registrars, divorce decree.

Property and asset records

Search for assets in Texas and obtain records of property, business ownership, professional license verification and other personal or corporate assets. Find bankruptcies, liens, UCC judgment filings and find out about information that can effect a person's or company's asset. See the status of a business and verify ownership, DBA, status, activity and whether the corporation or business filed in Texas owns property, vehicles, real estate and more. Unclaimed property and asset search from official government databases open to the public.

Government records and agencies

Access Texas government agencies and obtain information on executive branches, legislative branches and jucidial branches within state jurisdiction. Link below to the state government agencies as well as state government information and services. Other state government resources such as codified state law, voters registration and other state government departments

Driving and vehicle records

Free and easy to use direct official Texas government links to driver license and registration sources. Register your vehicle, get your tags, obtain the history of a vehicle. Online forms and processing from your computer anywhere. You can also see the status of your applications at anytime online without having to call the clerk. Locations, hours and office information are also available online.

Expungements and record clearing

Expunge your criminal past of felonies, misdemeanors, D.U.I convictions and more in the state of Texas. Get information regarding expungements and begin to erase your previous Texas criminal records statewide as well as nationwide. Some records can contain inaccurate or erroneous information that can be amended. Both juvenile and adult cases that can be corrected and begin your search for employment without a tainted past showing.

Genealogy and historical research

Texas genealogy related links and topics. Individual state search of your ancestors, start a family tree, browse census records and more online. Find vital statistic records at the Department of State Health Services.

Missing children resources

Texas law enforcement and other agencies join forces when a child is reported missing in Texas. The Laura Recovery Center exists to prevent abductions and runaways and to recover missing children by fostering a Triangle of Trust among law enforcement, community and a missing child's family. The Texas Missing Children Clearinghouse plays an important role by providing resources for families, caregivers, and the professionals who serve them in assisting in the recovery of children who go missing from Texas. The Texas Center for the Missing is dedicated to offering help, and hope, to the missing and their families. The Texas Amber, Silver and Blue Alert Programs are critical tools for locating missing children and senior citizens and identifying the vehicle of the suspected assailant. The proliferation of child predators using the Internet to target young victims has become a national crisis. The Texas Attorney General's Office joins with the Texas Cable Association and the Internet Keep Safe Coalition to teach children and parents about online safety. Parents can download tips for their children to keep in mind when surfing the internet. Family members can learn about the laws that will help them, prevention methods, and suggestions for aftercare following a family abduction. Parents can find immediate steps to take if your child goes missing.