How to Search Harris County Records (Start Here)
Harris County splits courts three ways — District, County Criminal, and JP. Property runs through HCAD and the County Clerk separately. Here's where each search lives:
- District Court (felonies, major civil, family, juvenile): hcdistrictclerk.com — Party Inquiry search by name. Returns case details, costs, documents, and file location.
- County Criminal Courts (misdemeanors): County Clerk criminal search at cclerk.hctx.net — separate from the District Clerk.
- JP Courts (small claims, evictions, traffic): jpwebsite.harriscountytx.gov — search by case number, name, or DOB across all precincts.
- HCAD direct search at hcad.org/property-search — by account, address, or owner. The map tool at arcgis.hcad.org shows parcel boundaries.
- County Clerk real property at cclerk.hctx.net — separate search from criminal. Account needed for copies.
- Jail: Sheriff inmate search at harriscountyso.org — current bookings by name, SPN, or SSN.
- Tax: hctax.net — property tax payments, statements, and vehicle registration.
Each source below is verified and links to an official portal.
Criminal & Court Records
Arrests
Visit →Criminal & Court Records
Official Free
Use this Harris County Justice Information Management System (JIMS) service to browse for bookings, releases, and arrests in the last 24 hours.
PACER Federal Courts
Visit →Criminal & Court Records
.gov
Federal court electronic records (Public Access to Court Electronic Records).
pacer.gov
Jail & Inmate Records
National Sex Offender Registry
Visit →Jail & Inmate Records
.gov
Dept. of Justice national sex offender public website.
nsopw.gov
Property & Tax Records
BLM General Land Office Records
Visit →Property & Tax Records
.gov
U.S. Bureau of Land Management federal land records.
glorecords.blm.gov
Birth/Death/Marriage
FamilySearch US Records
Visit →Birth/Death/Marriage
Free U.S. genealogy and vital records (non-profit).
familysearch.org
Business, Voter & Other
Phone Directory
Visit →Business, Voter & Other
Official Free
Harris County employee, department or court phone numbers, mailing addresses, email addresses, or web sites.
Visit →
Harris County Government
Visit →Business, Voter & Other
Harris County, Texas government portal.
co.harris.tx.us
Texas Comptroller Business Search
Visit →Business, Voter & Other
TX Comptroller entity search.
mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us
USCIS Business Verification
Visit →Business, Voter & Other
.gov
US Citizenship & Immigration Services.
uscis.gov
Arrests
Visit →Criminal & Court Records
Official Free
Use this Harris County Justice Information Management System (JIMS) service to browse for bookings, releases, and arrests in the last 24 hours.
Jail & Inmate Records
Business, Voter & Other
Phone Directory
Visit →Business, Voter & Other
Official Free
Harris County employee, department or court phone numbers, mailing addresses, email addresses, or web sites.
Visit →
Frequently Asked Questions
Who handles court records in Harris County? ▼
Go to the District Clerk (felony/civil) / County Clerk (misdemeanor/probate) for court records in Harris County. For online case lookups, use re:SearchTX — it covers Texas District Court cases statewide.
Who handles property records in Harris County? ▼
For deeds, mortgages, and liens, go to the County Clerk. For property values and assessment data, go to the County Appraisal District (CAD). For tax bills and payments, go to the County Tax Assessor-Collector.
How do I get birth, death, or marriage records in Harris County? ▼
Marriage licenses in Harris County are issued by the County Clerk. Birth and death certificates are available from County Clerk (marriage) / DSHS (birth, death). Divorce records come from the court that granted the decree.
Are Harris County records available online? ▼
Yes — Harris County has good online coverage. This page lists 11 searchable databases covering court records, jail and inmate records, property records, vital records, and business filings. Each links directly to an official government portal.
What is the difference between the District Clerk and the County Clerk in Harris County? ▼
Texas splits court duties between two clerks. The District Clerk handles felony criminal cases and civil cases filed in District Court. The County Clerk handles misdemeanors, probate, and records property documents like deeds and liens. For criminal matters, start with the District Clerk. For everything else, start with the County Clerk.
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