Texas Public Records Information

The records of birth, death and marriage constitute vital records in the state. These records along with criminal records are a part of Texas public records. All these are protected records and therefore can be accessed upon fulfillment of certain criteria.

Texas Vital Records

Vital records in Texas are maintained by the Texas Department of State Health Services.  As a resident of the state you can order for the records from 1903 till the present.  You can order for certificates of birth that have occurred in the past 75 years and for deaths that have taken place in the last 25 years.  These records can be requested by one who is an immediate family member.  If you are not a part of the immediate family, then you need to furnish legal documentation for example a court directive that states the guardianship.  If you are a legal representative, you can request for the records on behalf of the applicant.

• To access information about how to acquire a birth certificate visit http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/vs/reqproc/certified_copy.shtm
• To access information about how to access a death certificate visit http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/vs/reqproc/deathcert.shtm.

As far as marriage and divorce records are concerned, a certified copy of the marriage license can be obtained from the office of the county clerk in the particular county in which the marriage was registered.  Similarly, a certified record of a divorce decree can be obtained from the office of the district clerk of the respective county in which the divorce was approved.

Texas Criminal Records

Criminal records in the state are maintained on the Computerized Criminal History System as enumerated by Chapter 60 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.  This database features information that has been sourced from the local law enforcement authorities in Texas. The database features information concerning arrests, the court proceedings and the final disposition for people who have been arrested for offenses that fall under the category of Class B misdemeanor.  The information in the Computerized Criminal History is deemed as public record information but only when a deferred adjudication or instance of conviction is filed in the Department. Additional information can be accessed from Texas Department of Public Safety, Crime Records Service, CJIS Field Representatives, PO Box 4143, Austin, Texas 78765.

As per Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Art.62.005, the sex offender registry in the state is maintained by the Texas Department of Public Safety.  The information on the registry is an open record and therefore can be accessed by one and all in the state. The sex offenders in the state are supposed to register with the local law enforcement authorities within their residential jurisdiction. This information is then forwarded to the Department of Public Safety which is responsible for maintaining the database.  Thus these become a part of TX public records.  Though a subject of Texas public record, this information should be used carefully.  The records have been made public to make everyone in the community aware of the presence of such a potential threat in the vicinity and thus keep themselves and their loved ones safe.