Grayson County Public Records
What Are Public Records in Grayson County?
Public records in Grayson County are defined according to the Texas Public Information Act, codified under Texas Government Code § 552. Pursuant to this statute, public records encompass information that is collected, assembled, or maintained under a law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business by a governmental body or for a governmental body if the governmental body owns the information or has a right of access to it.
Grayson County maintains numerous categories of public records, including:
- Court Records: Civil, criminal, probate, and family court cases processed through the Grayson County District Clerk and County Clerk offices
- Property Records: Deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and property assessments
- Vital Records: Birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees
- Business Records: Business licenses, permits, and assumed name certificates (DBA)
- Tax Records: Property tax information, assessment records, and tax rolls
- Voting and Election Records: Voter registration data and election results
- Meeting Minutes and Agendas: County Commissioner's Court and various boards and committees
- Budget and Financial Documents: Annual budgets, financial reports, and expenditure records
- Law Enforcement Records: Arrest logs, incident reports (with statutory limitations)
- Land Use and Zoning Records: Planning documents, zoning maps, and variance applications
The Grayson County Clerk's Office maintains property records, vital statistics, commissioners court minutes, and other official documents. The Grayson County District Clerk maintains all district court records, while the Grayson Central Appraisal District maintains property tax assessment records.
Is Grayson County an Open Records County?
Grayson County adheres to the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA), which establishes the framework for public access to government records throughout Texas. Under Texas Government Code § 552.021, "public information is available to the public at a minimum during the normal business hours of the governmental body."
The TPIA explicitly states that it is the policy of this state that each person is entitled, unless otherwise expressly provided by law, at all times to complete information about the affairs of government and the official acts of public officials and employees. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know.
Grayson County has implemented specific procedures to comply with state open records requirements. The county follows the Texas Attorney General's Public Information Act Handbook guidelines for processing requests and determining which records may be disclosed.
The county also complies with the Texas Open Meetings Act (Texas Government Code § 551), which requires governmental bodies to conduct open meetings unless specifically authorized to hold closed sessions. Meeting notices, agendas, and minutes are made available to the public as required by law.
How to Find Public Records in Grayson County in 2026
Members of the public seeking records in Grayson County may utilize several methods to locate and obtain the information they need:
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Submit a Public Information Request:
- Complete the Public Information Request Form available on the Grayson County website
- Submit requests to the specific department that maintains the records
- Clearly describe the records sought to facilitate prompt processing
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Visit County Offices in Person:
- The Grayson County Courthouse houses multiple departments that maintain public records
- Staff can assist with locating records and providing copies during regular business hours
- Self-service terminals are available for certain record types
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Access Online Resources:
- Property records can be searched through the Grayson Central Appraisal District website
- Court records may be accessed through the Texas Judicial Branch website
- County Commissioner's Court agendas and minutes are available on the Grayson County website
- Legal documents can be filed electronically through the eFileTexas system
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Contact the Appropriate Department:
- For vital records: Grayson County Clerk's Office
- For court records: District Clerk or County Clerk depending on court level
- For property tax information: Grayson Central Appraisal District
- For law enforcement records: Sheriff's Office or specific municipal police department
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Submit Requests by Mail:
- Written requests may be mailed to the appropriate county department
- Include contact information and specific description of records sought
- Enclose applicable fees or request fee information
Pursuant to Texas Government Code § 552.221, the county must promptly produce public information in response to an application. "Promptly" means as soon as possible under the circumstances, within a reasonable time, without delay.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Grayson County?
Grayson County assesses fees for public records in accordance with the guidelines established by the Texas Administrative Code (Title 1, Part 3, Chapter 70). Current standard fees include:
- Paper Copies: $0.10 per page for standard letter or legal size
- Oversized Paper Copies: $0.50 per page for 11"x17" or larger
- Certified Copies: $5.00 certification fee plus copy costs
- Electronic Records: $0.10 per page for PDFs or other electronic formats
- Labor Charges: $15.00 per hour for requests requiring more than 50 pages or extensive programming
- Overhead Charge: 20% of labor charge when applicable
- Media Charges:
- CD/DVD: $1.00 each
- USB drive: Actual cost
Specific record types have statutorily defined fees:
- Birth Certificates: $23.00 per certified copy
- Death Certificates: $21.00 for first copy, $4.00 for each additional copy
- Marriage Licenses: $82.00 to issue, $20.00 for certified copies
- Deed Records: $26.00 for first page, $4.00 for each additional page
- Court Records: Varies by case type and document
Payment methods accepted include:
- Cash (in-person only)
- Money orders
- Cashier's checks
- Personal checks (with proper identification)
- Credit cards (subject to processing fee)
Under Texas Government Code § 552.267, a governmental body shall provide a copy of public information without charge or at a reduced charge if the governmental body determines that waiver or reduction of the charge is in the public interest because providing the copy of the information primarily benefits the general public.
Does Grayson County Have Free Public Records?
Grayson County provides free inspection of public records in compliance with the Texas Public Information Act. Members of the public may examine records during normal business hours without charge, provided the records are readily available and do not require extensive retrieval or redaction.
Free public records resources in Grayson County include:
- In-Person Inspection: Available at no cost at the respective county offices during regular business hours
- Online Resources:
- Grayson County Commissioner's Court agendas and minutes
- Grayson Central Appraisal District property search
- Grayson County Elections voter information and election results
- Texas Judicial Branch case information system
The Grayson County Law Library, located in the courthouse, provides free access to legal resources and certain public records for research purposes.
Pursuant to Texas Government Code § 552.271, a governmental body may not charge for inspection of public information unless the governmental body has to make copies of the information to make it available for inspection. In such cases, the governmental body may charge only for the cost of making the copies.
Who Can Request Public Records in Grayson County?
Under the Texas Public Information Act, any person may request public records from Grayson County governmental bodies. The statute defines "person" broadly to include individuals, corporations, partnerships, associations, and governmental entities.
Key eligibility considerations include:
- Residency: Texas residency is not required to request public records
- Identification: Requestors may be asked to provide identification for certain records, particularly those with restricted access
- Purpose: For most records, requestors are not required to state the purpose of their request or how the information will be used
- Format: Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, email, or fax
Special provisions apply to certain record types:
- Vital Records: Access to birth certificates is restricted to the person named on the certificate, immediate family members, legal representatives, or those who can demonstrate a direct and tangible interest
- Criminal History Information: Complete criminal histories are generally available only to criminal justice agencies, though conviction records are public
- Medical Records: Access is restricted under HIPAA and state privacy laws
- Juvenile Records: Access is limited by Texas Family Code § 58.007
Government officials processing requests are prohibited from asking why the information is being requested, except to clarify which records are being sought or to determine if the information falls under an exception to disclosure.
What Records Are Confidential in Grayson County?
Certain records maintained by Grayson County are confidential by law and exempt from public disclosure. These exemptions are primarily established under Texas Government Code § 552.101 through § 552.158, which protect various categories of information from mandatory release.
Confidential records in Grayson County include:
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Personal Identifying Information:
- Social Security numbers
- Driver's license numbers
- Financial account information
- Email addresses of members of the public
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Law Enforcement Records:
- Active criminal investigation materials
- Information that would interfere with prosecution
- Confidential informant identities
- Juvenile law enforcement records
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Medical and Mental Health Records:
- Patient health information protected under HIPAA
- Mental health treatment records
- Drug and alcohol treatment information
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Family and Protective Services Records:
- Child abuse and neglect investigations
- Foster care records
- Adoption records
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Personnel Information:
- Home addresses and phone numbers of peace officers
- Family information of public employees
- Performance evaluations (with exceptions)
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Critical Infrastructure:
- Security plans for public buildings
- Emergency response protocols
- Computer network security information
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Attorney-Client Communications:
- Legal advice to governmental bodies
- Litigation strategy documents
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Economic Development Information:
- Trade secrets
- Certain commercial or financial information
Under Texas Government Code § 552.301, when a governmental body receives a written request for information it wishes to withhold as confidential, it must ask for a decision from the Texas Attorney General about whether the information is excepted from disclosure, unless there has been a previous determination about the specific information.
Grayson County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Grayson County Clerk's Office
100 W. Houston St.
Sherman, TX 75090
(903) 813-4211
Grayson County Clerk
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays
Services Provided:
- Recording of deeds, mortgages, and other land records
- Issuance of marriage licenses
- Birth and death certificates
- Assumed name certificates (DBA)
- Commissioners Court records
- Probate records
- County civil and criminal court records
Grayson County District Clerk's Office
100 W. Houston St.
Sherman, TX 75090
(903) 813-4300
Grayson County District Clerk
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays
Services Provided:
- District court records (civil and criminal)
- Jury service administration
- Passport application processing
- Child support payment processing
Grayson Central Appraisal District
512 N. Travis St.
Sherman, TX 75090
(903) 893-9673
Grayson Central Appraisal District
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays
Services Provided:
- Property appraisals
- Property tax records
- Homestead exemption applications
- Property ownership information
Lookup Public Records in Grayson County
Official E-Filing System for Texas
State of Texas Official Website