Austin County Civil Court Records Lookup

Austin County civil court records are maintained by the County Clerk and District Clerk in Bellville, Texas. Austin County is one of Texas's original counties, created in 1837, giving its records collection significant depth. The County Clerk handles civil cases under $200,000 along with property, probate, and vital records. The District Clerk manages larger civil suits, family law cases, and criminal matters. You can search Austin County civil court records in person at the courthouse on North Chesley Street or contact either clerk directly by phone or email.

Austin County Clerk

Diane Day is the Austin County Clerk. Her office is at 265 N. Chesley St., Suite 7, Bellville, TX 77418. Call (979) 227-3144 during business hours. The fax line is not listed publicly, but email for deed records is ccvault@austincounty.com. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, with the office closed for lunch from noon to 1:00 PM. The website is at austincounty.com.

The County Clerk maintains county court civil records, probate files, land records including deeds and liens, marriage licenses, and birth and death certificates. Civil records from birth and death go back to 1903. Deed records and land records extend back to the county's founding in 1837. The office also accepts e-recording through authorized e-recording vendors for property instruments.

A new photo ID requirement took effect December 4, 2025. All persons presenting documents in person for filing into real property records must provide valid photo ID. This is required under Section 191.010 of the Texas Local Government Code. It applies to deeds, liens, divorce decrees filed into official public records, DBA filings, and birth and death records. If mailing documents, include a copy of your ID. The office also offers a free property fraud alert service that sends a notification when your name is recorded.

The Austin County Clerk's website provides access to contact details, e-recording instructions, and information on civil court records for this historic Southeast Texas county established in 1837.

The Austin County Clerk in Bellville maintains one of the older civil records archives in Texas, with land and deed records dating from the county's original 1837 organization.

Austin County District Clerk

Sue Murphy is the Austin County District Clerk. Her office is at 265 N. Chesley St., Suite 1, Bellville, TX 77418, which puts her in the same building as the County Clerk. Call the District Clerk directly at (979) 270-6830. The District Clerk handles all district court civil cases over $200,000, felony criminal matters, family law cases including divorce and custody, and juvenile proceedings.

For civil records searches in Austin County district courts, the statewide re:SearchTX portal is a useful tool. It covers district court civil cases statewide, including those filed in Austin County. Search by party name or cause number to find basic case information at no cost. For actual court documents, you need to contact the District Clerk's office directly or visit in person.

E-filing is mandatory for civil cases in Austin County district court through eFileTexas. All new civil filings must go through the portal. If you have questions about e-filing in Austin County, call the District Clerk's office at (979) 270-6830.

How to Get Austin County Civil Records

Getting civil court records from Austin County starts with knowing which court handled the case. County court civil records are under $200,000 and are kept by the County Clerk. District court civil records, including family law cases, are kept by the District Clerk. Both offices are at 265 N. Chesley Street in Bellville.

For online searches, start with re:SearchTX for district court cases. For older county court civil and deed records, contact the County Clerk directly. Online document copies from Austin County cover the period from 1990 to 2026. Records before 1990 may require an in-person visit or a written request. Standard copies are $1 per page, and certified copies run $5 per document plus the per-page fee.

Mail requests are accepted. Send the party's name, the approximate year of the case, and the case type, along with payment and a return envelope. Both clerks can assist with written requests.

Legal Help in Austin County

Austin County residents who need help navigating civil cases can use the free tools at TexasLawHelp. The site provides guides, forms, and plain-language explanations for common civil case types. It covers family law, property, debt, and other matters handled in Austin County courts.

The State Bar of Texas lawyer referral service is at (800) 252-9690. Attorneys in the Bellville and Brenham areas often serve Austin County clients. Lone Star Legal Aid may also assist qualifying residents with low income for civil legal matters. All standard court forms are available at txcourts.gov.

Cities in Austin County

Bellville is the county seat. Other communities include Sealy and Wallis. All civil cases go through the clerk offices in Bellville. No qualifying cities in Austin County have individual pages on this site.

Nearby Counties

Austin County is in Southeast Texas between Houston and San Antonio. Civil cases must be filed in the county where the relevant events took place or where parties reside.