Nacogdoches County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Nacogdoches County?

Public records in Nacogdoches County are defined under the Texas Public Information Act, Texas Government Code § 552.002 as any information collected, assembled, or maintained by or for a governmental body in connection with the transaction of official business. This definition is broad and encompasses a wide range of document types held by county offices.

The following categories of records are currently available through various Nacogdoches County offices:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family law case files are maintained by the District Clerk and County Clerk. Members of the public may inspect dockets, judgments, and case filings through the respective clerk's office.
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and real property instruments are recorded and maintained by the Nacogdoches County Clerk's Office, which serves as the official recorder of deeds and other instruments.
Vital records — Birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees are filed with the County Clerk.
Business records — Assumed name (DBA) filings, business licenses, and related permits are processed through the County Clerk's office.
Tax records — Property tax assessments and payment histories are maintained by the Nacogdoches County Appraisal District and the County Tax Assessor-Collector.
Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results are administered by the County Clerk in the capacity of elections administrator.
Meeting minutes and agendas — Commissioner's Court proceedings, board minutes, and official agendas are recorded and preserved by the County Clerk.
Budget and financial documents — County financial reports and adopted budgets are available through the County Judge's office and the Commissioner's Court.
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, may be requested through the Nacogdoches County Sheriff's Office.
Land use and zoning records — Plats, subdivision records, and related land use documents are filed with the County Clerk.

Is Nacogdoches County an Open Records County?

Nacogdoches County fully complies with the Texas Public Information Act, which establishes the right of public access to government records throughout the state. Under Texas Government Code § 552.001, it is the policy of the State of Texas that each person is entitled to complete information about the affairs of government and the official acts of public officials and employees. The Act further provides that government information is presumed to be available to the public, and any exceptions to disclosure must be specifically authorized by law.

Nacogdoches County administers open records requests in accordance with this statute. The county's official open records policy is published through The Public Information Act page on the Nacogdoches County website, which confirms that Texas law gives members of the public the right to access government records and that government officials may not ask why a requestor wants them. The county is also subject to the Texas Open Meetings Act, which requires that meetings of governmental bodies be open to the public and that agendas be posted in advance, ensuring transparency in local governance.

How to Find Public Records in Nacogdoches County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Nacogdoches County records through several channels, depending on the record type sought. The following steps outline the current process:

Identify the custodial office. Determine which county office maintains the record in question. Property and vital records are held by the County Clerk; court case files are held by the District Clerk or County Clerk depending on jurisdiction; tax records are held by the Appraisal District or Tax Assessor-Collector.
Submit a written open records request. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or electronically through the county's designated open records portal. The county's open records submission process is described on the Nacogdoches County open records page.
Visit the office in person. Members of the public may inspect records during regular business hours at the applicable county office without submitting a formal written request in many cases.
Search online databases. Certain property and court records may be accessible through online search tools provided by the County Clerk or District Clerk.
Allow for the statutory response period. Under Texas Government Code § 552.228, a governmental body must promptly produce public information. If the information cannot be produced within ten business days, the requestor must be notified of the anticipated production date.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Nacogdoches County?

Standard fees apply to the reproduction and certification of public records in Nacogdoches County, consistent with the cost rules established under Texas Government Code § 552.261, which authorizes the Office of the Attorney General to set maximum charges for public information. Current fees generally include:

Standard paper copies — $0.10 per page for copies up to 8.5 x 14 inches, as established by the Texas Attorney General's cost rules.
Certified copies — Additional certification fees apply and vary by record type; the County Clerk currently charges a per-page fee plus a certification surcharge for official certified documents.
Deed and instrument copies — Fees for recorded document copies are set by the County Clerk and may differ from standard copy rates.
Vital records — Certified copies of birth and death certificates carry a statutory fee established by the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Labor charges — When a request requires more than one hour of personnel time to locate, compile, or reproduce records, a labor charge may be assessed at the rate established by the Attorney General's cost schedule.
Waiver provisions — Fees may be waived or reduced if the requestor demonstrates that release of the information primarily benefits the general public rather than the individual requestor.

Accepted payment methods vary by office and currently include cash, check, and money order. Members of the public are advised to confirm accepted payment forms with the specific office prior to submitting payment.

Does Nacogdoches County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to members of the public under Texas law. Governmental bodies are not permitted to charge for the mere inspection of records that do not require reproduction. The following free access options are currently available:

In-person inspection — Members of the public may inspect original records at the County Clerk's office and District Clerk's office at no charge during regular business hours.
Online access — The Nacogdoches County, Texas official website provides access to certain public documents, meeting agendas, and county information at no cost.
Court records online — The District Clerk's office provides online access to certain case information through its public search portal.
Appraisal records — Property appraisal data maintained by the Nacogdoches County Appraisal District is accessible online at no charge through the appraisal district's public search tool.

Who Can Request Public Records in Nacogdoches County?

Any person, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose, is entitled to request public records from Nacogdoches County governmental bodies. Under the Texas Public Information Act, a governmental body may not require a requestor to identify themselves, provide a reason for the request, or demonstrate any particular interest in the records sought. Specifically:

Residency — Requestors are not required to be residents of Nacogdoches County or the State of Texas.
Identification — Requestors are generally not required to provide identification to access public records, though identification may be required for certain restricted record types such as vital records.
Purpose — Government officials are expressly prohibited from asking why a requestor wants the information, as confirmed by the county's open records policy.
Non-residents — Non-residents hold the same rights as residents under the Act.
Requesting your own records — Individuals requesting records pertaining to themselves may be required to provide identification to verify identity, particularly for vital records or records containing sensitive personal information.
Restricted record types — Certain records, such as juvenile case files, sealed court records, and adoption records, are subject to access restrictions regardless of the requestor's identity.

What Records Are Confidential in Nacogdoches County?

Not all government-held information is subject to public disclosure. Texas Government Code Chapter 552, Subchapter C, enumerates specific categories of information that are currently exempt from required public disclosure. The following record types are among those treated as confidential in Nacogdoches County:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection.
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juvenile offenders are confidential under the Texas Family Code.
Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement records related to active criminal investigations are exempt from disclosure where release would interfere with the investigation.
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar personally identifiable information are protected from disclosure.
Medical records — Health information is protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Adoption records — Records related to adoption proceedings are sealed and confidential under Texas law.
Child welfare and protective services records — Records maintained by child protective services are confidential pursuant to the Texas Family Code.
Personnel records — Certain employee records are exempt, though information such as an employee's name, position, and salary is generally subject to disclosure.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Confidential commercial or financial information submitted to a governmental body may be exempt from disclosure.
Security plans and infrastructure details — Information relating to the security of critical infrastructure is exempt from public disclosure.

Where a governmental body believes that requested information may be confidential, it must seek a ruling from the Texas Attorney General's Office within the statutory timeframe before withholding the records.

Nacogdoches County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Nacogdoches County Clerk serves as the official recorder of deeds, vital records, and other instruments for the county. The District Clerk maintains court records for district-level proceedings. Both offices are located at the Nacogdoches County Courthouse.

Nacogdoches County Clerk's Office 101 W. Main Street, Suite 110, Nacogdoches, TX 75961 (936) 560-7733 Nacogdoches County Clerk's Office

Public counter hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding official county holidays.

Nacogdoches County District Clerk 101 W. Main Street, Suite 230, Nacogdoches, TX 75961 (936) 560-7740 District Clerk – Nacogdoches County, Texas