I own a home in Texas
Homestead exemptions, appraisal notices, property taxes, and deeds.
TEXAS GUIDE
Life in Texas comes
with its own rules.
Know what comes next.
From homestead exemptions and appraisal protests to the County Clerk, hurricane season, and starting a business, CountyOffices gives you clear Texas-specific guidance for the things that matter.
Reviewed against official Texas government sources • Updated as laws and requirements change
What brings you here today?
I own a home in Texas
Texas has no state income tax, so property tax carries real weight here - but the state also offers genuinely substantial homestead protections. Following constitutional amendments Texas voters approved in November 2025, every qualifying homeowner gets a $140,000 reduction in taxable value for school district taxes (up from $100,000), and homeowners 65+ or disabled get an additional $60,000 on top of that, for $200,000 off school taxes total. File Form 50-114 with your county Appraisal District by April 30 - it's free, one-time, and retroactive to January 1 of your qualifying year. Once your homestead exemption is established, Texas caps how much your home's appraised value can increase for tax purposes at 10% annually, regardless of how much the market has actually moved. If you're 65+, your school district taxes are also frozen (a "tax ceiling") at the dollar amount owed the year you first qualify - it can go down but never up, absent home improvements. Disabled veterans with a 100% VA rating pay zero property tax on their homestead. Appraisal notices arrive each spring, and you have the right to protest the value with your county's Appraisal Review Board if you disagree. Deeds are recorded with the county Clerk.
Sources: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, county Appraisal District and Clerk offices
I'm buying or selling property
Closings, title searches, deeds, recording fees, and property records.
I'm buying or selling property
Texas closings typically go through a title company, with deeds recorded by the county Clerk. Texas charges no state real estate transfer tax, a genuine simplification compared to many states. A title search through the Clerk's records confirms there are no outstanding liens before closing. Once you buy and move in, file for your homestead exemption (Form 50-114) with the county Appraisal District by April 30 - it's free, reduces your school district taxable value by $140,000, and never transfers with the sale, so a new purchase always needs a fresh application. The 10% annual appraisal cap only activates once your homestead exemption is established, so your first year's appraised value reflects full current market value before that protection kicks in. If you're purchasing rural or agricultural land, ask specifically whether it qualifies for an agricultural or wildlife management valuation, which can substantially lower the taxable value based on use rather than market price - but removing land from ag-use status can trigger a rollback tax recapturing prior savings.
Sources: county Clerk and Appraisal District offices, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
I'm preparing for storm season
Evacuation zones, flood maps, insurance documents, and county resources.
I'm preparing for storm season
Texas hurricane and severe storm season runs June 1 through November 30, and the Gulf Coast - from the Rio Grande Valley through Houston-Galveston to Beaumont-Port Arthur - faces genuine annual risk from hurricanes and their inland flooding, which can extend meaningful distances from the coast itself. Know your specific county's evacuation zone before a storm approaches, since coastal Texas counties maintain zone designations that determine when and whether you're asked to leave, and major highway corridors run contraflow ("lane reversal") evacuation routes during significant storms. Flood insurance is a serious consideration even outside immediate coastal flood zones, given Texas's history of catastrophic inland flooding events like Hurricane Harvey. After a storm, your county Appraisal District can reassess damaged property, and the county Clerk holds the property records you'll need for insurance and any FEMA claims if a federal disaster is declared. If you're rebuilding, check with your county or city building department about permit requirements before starting repairs - remember that unincorporated Texas counties have no zoning authority, so rebuilding rules can differ meaningfully depending on whether your property sits inside or outside city limits.
Sources: Texas Division of Emergency Management, FEMA, county Emergency Management offices
Someone passed away
Probate court filings, wills, estates, and county-specific steps.
Someone passed away
Probate in Texas genuinely depends on your county. Larger metro counties (including Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, Bexar, and Travis) run dedicated statutory probate courts, staffed by judges who handle estates full-time. Most of Texas's 254 counties, lacking that case volume, instead route probate through the county court - the same court handling other general county business - with the county judge presiding. This means confirming which specific court handles probate in the county where the deceased lived is a genuinely necessary first step, since assuming a dedicated probate court exists everywhere can send you to the wrong office in most of the state. Texas offers a simplified small estate affidavit process for estates under a statutory value threshold, and Texas's independent administration process (available when a will authorizes it or all heirs agree) lets an executor settle an estate with minimal court supervision - a genuinely lighter-touch option than many states offer. If the deceased had a homestead exemption or the over-65 tax ceiling on their home, neither transfers automatically to heirs - whoever inherits and occupies the home needs to independently apply through the county Appraisal District. Property records for real estate in the estate are held by the county Clerk.
Sources: Texas Judicial Branch, Texas Estates Code
I'm getting married or divorced
Marriage licenses, divorce filing, name changes, and official records.
I'm getting married or divorced
Marriage licenses in Texas come from any county Clerk in the state, regardless of your residency, and the license works in any Texas county. Texas requires a 72-hour waiting period after the license is issued before the ceremony can happen - waivable with a judge's order, if either applicant is active-duty military, or by completing the state's "Twogether in Texas" premarital education course (which also discounts the license fee). If either applicant was recently divorced, Texas requires the divorce to have been final for 30 days before a new marriage license can be issued. Divorce is filed in District or County Court, and Texas requires 6 months of state residency plus 90 days in the specific county where you file. After filing, Texas imposes a mandatory 60-day waiting period (measured from filing, not service) before the court can grant the divorce, with a narrow exception for cases involving documented family violence. Texas courts divide community property under Texas's community property system, distinct from the equitable distribution approach most other states use. There's a 30-day wait to remarry someone new after a Texas divorce decree, though former spouses may remarry each other immediately.
Sources: Texas Judicial Branch, county Clerk offices, Texas Family Code §2 and §6
I'm caring for an aging parent
Senior services, the over-65 exemption, benefits, and estate planning.
I'm caring for an aging parent
If your parent is 65 or older, help them apply for the additional over-65 homestead exemption through their county Appraisal District - on top of the standard $140,000 school district exemption every homeowner gets, they receive an additional $60,000, for $200,000 total off school taxable value. Even more valuable: once they turn 65 and file, their school district taxes are frozen (a "tax ceiling") at the dollar amount owed that year - it can only go down, never up, unless they make substantial home improvements. If your parent is a disabled veteran with a 100% VA disability rating, they may qualify for a full property tax exemption on their homestead, with no income limit attached to any of these programs. If your parent needs help managing property or finances, a durable power of attorney can avoid the need for court-supervised guardianship in many situations; guardianship itself, when necessary, goes through the probate court structure specific to your parent's county - larger metro counties run dedicated statutory probate courts, while most counties route this through the county court instead.
Sources: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, county Appraisal District offices, Texas Health and Human Services
I need an official record
Birth, death, marriage, court, property, and business records.
I need an official record
Birth and death certificates come from the Texas Dept. of State Health Services Vital Statistics office, a state office, though county Clerks can also assist for events in their county. Marriage records are held by whichever county Clerk issued the license. Property records - deeds, mortgages, liens - are recorded and searchable through the county Clerk, generally free to search in person with a fee for certified copies. Probate and estate records depend on your county: larger metro counties (Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, Bexar, Travis, among others) maintain dedicated statutory probate courts, while most of the state's 254 counties route probate through the county court instead. Other civil and criminal court records come from the District Clerk or County Clerk depending on the case type. Business entity records are filed with the Texas Secretary of State, searchable statewide. Property valuation, homestead exemption, and appraisal records go through your county Appraisal District, a separate entity from the Clerk. Vehicle titles and registration run through the county Tax Assessor-Collector.
Sources: Texas Dept. of State Health Services, county Clerk, Appraisal District, and Tax Assessor-Collector offices, Texas Secretary of State
I'm starting or running a business
Licenses, permits, EIN, sales tax, and local requirements.
I'm starting or running a business
Registering a business in Texas starts with the Secretary of State, where you file to form an LLC or corporation and register a trade name. Because Texas has no state income tax on individuals, there's no personal income withholding to set up, but most businesses do owe the state's franchise tax (a "margin tax" on gross receipts above a threshold) and should register with the Comptroller for a sales tax permit if selling taxable goods or services. Get an EIN from the IRS if you're not a sole proprietor with no employees. If you're operating outside a city's limits, understand that Texas counties have no zoning authority at all - building rules in unincorporated areas are genuinely much lighter than inside a city, though some counties do have limited subdivision and floodplain regulations. Local business licenses vary by city; unincorporated county areas typically have far fewer local licensing requirements than cities do. If you'll own commercial vehicles, remember Texas handles titling and registration through the county Tax Assessor-Collector, not a separate DMV location. Business real estate is assessed by your county Appraisal District, with notices arriving each spring and a right to protest the value.
Sources: Texas Secretary of State, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, IRS
How-To Guides for Texas
How do I access court records?
Read guide →How do I appeal my property tax assessment?
Read guide →How do I find an inmate or search a jail roster?
Read guide →How do I find and access senior services?
Read guide →How do I get a business license?
Read guide →How do I get a copy of a birth certificate?
Read guide →How do I get a copy of a death certificate?
Read guide →How do I get a marriage license?
Read guide →How do I pay my property taxes?
Read guide →How do I register to vote or check my registration?
Read guide →How to Research Your Family History in Texas
Read guide →Texas Open Records Guide
Read guide →Texas Statewide Probate Guide
Read guide →Texas works differently. Here's what to know.
Probate Depends on Your County
Big metros run dedicated statutory probate courts, while most counties send estates through the county court.
Probate Depends on Your County
Texas genuinely doesn't run one uniform probate structure statewide, and the difference matters practically, not just in name. A relatively small number of counties - mostly the largest metros, including Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, Bexar, and Travis - run dedicated statutory probate courts, staffed by judges who handle nothing but estate, guardianship, and mental health matters full-time. The other roughly 200+ Texas counties, lacking that case volume, instead route probate through the county court, presided over by the county judge who also handles other general county business - meaning your estate case shares a docket with unrelated county matters rather than getting a specialized court's full attention. This means the very first step in settling any Texas estate is confirming which specific court structure your county uses, since assuming a dedicated probate court exists everywhere would send you to the wrong office across most of the state. Texas's independent administration process - available when a will authorizes it, or when all heirs agree - lets an executor settle an estate with meaningfully less court supervision than many states require, regardless of which court structure your county uses.
Sources: Texas Judicial Branch, Texas Estates Code
No State Income Tax
Texas taxes no wages at all, so property and sales taxes carry the load for local services.
No State Income Tax
Texas has no personal income tax whatsoever - the Texas Constitution itself prohibits one - so your paycheck arrives without state withholding and you file no state income tax return regardless of income. This is a genuinely foundational feature of Texas's tax structure, and it shapes everything else: with income tax off the table entirely, sales tax and property tax carry more of the load for state and local government than in most states, which is part of why Texas property tax rates (typically 1.5-1.8% of market value before exemptions) run notably higher than the national average. This is also why Texas's homestead exemptions, appraisal cap, and over-65 tax ceiling matter so much here - property tax is a genuinely significant, ongoing cost that these protections are specifically designed to soften. Texas does levy a franchise tax on many businesses (a tax on gross receipts above a threshold, not on individual wages), so "no income tax" specifically means no tax on individual wage income, not an absence of all state-level business taxation. If you're relocating to Texas from a state with income tax, the absence of that withholding line on your paycheck is real and immediate, but it's worth understanding where that revenue gets made up elsewhere in your overall tax picture.
Sources: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Texas Constitution Article VIII §24
Homestead Exemption & Cap
Filing on your primary home cuts its taxable value and caps how fast that value can climb each year.
Homestead Exemption & Cap
Texas's homestead exemption got genuinely bigger following constitutional amendments voters approved in November 2025: every qualifying owner-occupied primary residence now gets a $140,000 reduction in taxable value for school district taxes specifically (up from $100,000), retroactive to January 1, 2025. Homeowners 65+ or disabled get an additional $60,000 on top of that, for $200,000 off school taxable value total - though you can't combine the senior and disabled versions, it's one or the other. File Form 50-114 with your county Appraisal District by April 30; it's free and, once established, unlocks a second genuine protection: your home's appraised value can't increase more than 10% annually for tax purposes, regardless of how much the actual market value has risen, insulating you from sudden appraisal spikes in a hot market. Many counties and cities also offer their own additional local homestead exemptions on top of the mandatory school district amount, so check with your specific county Appraisal District for what else might apply locally. The exemption reduces school taxes specifically - it doesn't automatically reduce city or county tax portions of your bill, though many local taxing units offer their own separate homestead exemptions that do.
Sources: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Texas Tax Code §11.13 and §23.23
Protest Season Every Spring
Your county appraisal district sets values each year, and you have the right to protest them.
Protest Season Every Spring
Every spring, your county Appraisal District mails a Notice of Appraised Value showing what it believes your property is worth for tax purposes that year - and unlike some states with multi-year reassessment cycles, Texas appraisal districts generally reassess property annually. You have a real, genuinely accessible right to protest that value if you believe it's too high, filing with your county's Appraisal Review Board, typically by May 15 or 30 days after your notice was mailed, whichever is later. This isn't a rare or difficult process - protesting is common practice in Texas, and many homeowners do it every single year, sometimes successfully reducing their appraised value through evidence like comparable sales, photos of property condition issues, or an independent appraisal. If your protest doesn't resolve informally with district staff, you're entitled to a formal hearing before the Appraisal Review Board, and further appeal options exist beyond that if you're still unsatisfied. Because your actual tax bill flows directly from this appraised value (after homestead and other exemptions), an unchallenged high appraisal directly costs you money - protesting costs nothing but time and is worth doing whenever your notice looks off from what you believe the property is actually worth.
Sources: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, county Appraisal District offices, Texas Tax Code §41
The Tax Office Handles Plates
Vehicle registration, titles, and plates all run through the county Tax Assessor-Collector's office.
The Tax Office Handles Plates
Texas routes vehicle registration, titling, and license plates through the county Tax Assessor-Collector's office - not a separate state DMV location the way many states operate. This means the same office collecting your property tax payments (a Tax Assessor-Collector's core historical function) also handles your car's title transfer and annual registration renewal, a genuinely combined process compared to states that split these functions between a state motor vehicle agency and a county recorder. Requirements include proof of insurance, a passed vehicle inspection in counties where one's required, and payment of applicable fees and any local sales tax due on the purchase. If you're new to Texas, your county Tax Assessor-Collector's office is genuinely your one destination for titling an out-of-state vehicle and getting Texas plates - not a state agency location, which doesn't exist as a separate walk-in office the way it does in many other states. Some larger counties operate multiple branch locations for convenience, but the underlying office and authority is always the county Tax Assessor-Collector.
Sources: Texas Dept. of Motor Vehicles, county Tax Assessor-Collector offices
Counties Don't Zone
Texas counties have no zoning power, so building rules outside city limits work very differently.
Counties Don't Zone
Texas counties have no zoning authority at all - a genuinely distinctive feature that surprises people moving from states where county zoning is the norm outside city limits. This means unincorporated areas of Texas (land outside any city's boundaries, which covers vast stretches of the state) generally have far fewer building and land-use restrictions than inside a city, since there's no county zoning ordinance dictating what you can build, where, or in what configuration on your own property. Counties do retain some limited regulatory authority - subdivision platting rules, floodplain management, and certain health and safety codes - but true zoning power (dictating residential vs. commercial use, lot sizes, setbacks tied to a zoning map) simply doesn't exist at the county level in Texas. Cities, by contrast, can and do zone within their own limits, so the moment you cross into an incorporated city's boundary, you're subject to a genuinely different, more regulated framework. This means the specific rules governing what you can do with a piece of Texas property depend heavily on whether it sits inside or outside a city's limits - a single county can have wildly different building freedom depending on that one distinction, so always check specifically before assuming county-level rules apply.
Sources: Texas Association of Counties, Texas Local Government Code
The questions Texas residents actually ask
The Texas county records research approach starts with the specific county's County Clerk or District Clerk website. Most large Texas counties offer online court record search, property record search, and recording document search through their county websites. Smaller counties may require in-person or mail-based research. Texas does not operate a unified statewide court records search. The Texas Association of Counties provides links to all 254 county websites for Texas county records access.
A Texas Central Appraisal District (CAD) is the independent governmental entity that values all property within its jurisdiction for tax purposes. Each Texas county has a CAD that is separate from the county government itself. CADs are governed by representatives of the local taxing jurisdictions (county, cities, school districts) they serve. Property tax appeals in Texas county records go through the CAD's Appraisal Review Board (ARB), not through the county. The Texas Comptroller Property Tax Assistance Division oversees CAD operations.
Texas is a community property state. Property acquired during marriage belongs equally to both spouses regardless of titling. At divorce, community property is divided equitably (which may or may not be exactly 50/50 depending on factors). At death, the surviving spouse automatically owns their half of community property. Separate property (owned before marriage or received by gift or inheritance) remains separate. Texas county records on marriage establish the start date for community property accumulation.
Texas property taxes are due by January 31 of the year following the tax year. Tax bills are typically mailed in October. Texas does not offer the early payment discount schedule that some states have. After January 31, taxes become delinquent and accrue penalty and interest. Many Texas counties offer payment plans for property owners experiencing hardship. The Texas county records system for tax payment is operated by the County Tax Assessor-Collector in each county. The Texas county tax guide covers payment procedures.
Apply at the County Clerk's office in any Texas county. Both applicants must appear together. Required documents include government-issued photo ID and Social Security number. License fees range from approximately $60 to $85 depending on county. Texas has a 72-hour waiting period between license issuance and the marriage ceremony, with exceptions for active military, those completing a Twogether in Texas premarital education course (which also reduces the fee), or those obtaining a judicial waiver. Licenses are valid for 90 days.
Order through the Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics office or some county clerks (depending on the county). Texas accepts online, mail, and in-person orders. Required information includes the full name on the certificate, date of birth, place of birth, parents' names, and proof of your identity and relationship if you are not the person named. Texas birth certificate fees are approximately $22 per certified copy at the state level. Texas county records on births in some counties can also be ordered through the county clerk.
Texas divorce filing requires meeting the 6-month state residency requirement and 90-day county residency requirement, completing the original petition for divorce, and filing with the district court in the county of residence. Filing fees range from approximately $250 to $400 depending on county. Texas has a 60-day mandatory waiting period from filing before divorce can be finalized, one of the shorter waiting periods among states with waiting periods. Texas allows both no-fault (insupportability) and fault-based grounds.
The Texas Appraisal Review Board (ARB) is the body that hears property tax appeals in Texas. The ARB is appointed by the local administrative district judge but operates as part of the Central Appraisal District structure. Property owners who believe their CAD valuation exceeds market value have 30 days from the Notice of Appraised Value to file a protest. The ARB conducts hearings and issues decisions that become part of the Texas county records on property tax matters. The Texas property tax guide covers the process in detail.
File a Certificate of Formation with the Texas Secretary of State. The filing fee is $300. Texas LLC formation typically processes within 3-5 business days for standard filing or 2 business days with expedited service. After state formation, obtain a federal EIN, register with the Texas Comptroller for franchise tax (which has a no-tax-due threshold for small businesses), and obtain any county or city business permits required for your specific business activities.
Register through the Texas Secretary of State Elections or your county Tax Assessor-Collector or Voter Registrar (counties handle voter registration in Texas through the tax office in many counties). Texas does not allow online voter registration in most circumstances (with limited exception for online voter address updates). Texas registration deadline is 30 days before each election. Texas requires photo ID at the polls. Texas mail-in ballot eligibility is restricted to specific categories. Texas county records on voter registration are maintained by each county voter registrar.
The Texas county records maintained by the County Clerk include real property records (deeds, mortgages, liens), marriage license records, commissioners court minutes, vital records in some counties, and other recorded instruments. Texas District Clerks maintain district court records (felony criminal, civil cases over the county court jurisdictional limit, family law, juvenile). Texas County Clerks and District Clerks have different responsibilities. The Texas County and District Clerks' Association provides additional information.
Texas criminal record expunction (called expunction in Texas, not expungement) requires petition to the court where the original case was prosecuted. Texas allows expunction of arrests that did not result in conviction (dismissed, acquitted, no-bill by grand jury) and certain Class C misdemeanors after deferred adjudication. Most felony convictions cannot be expunged in Texas. Texas county records on criminal matters can also be sealed (called nondisclosure) for some offenses through a separate process. The Texas court records guide covers expunction and nondisclosure procedures.
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Important Deadlines in Texas
Texas's Homestead Exemption - a genuinely significant $100,000 reduction in your home's taxable value for school district taxes, plus additional relief for seniors, disabled homeowners, and disabled veterans - must be filed with your county Appraisal District between January 1 and April 30 for that tax year.
Important Deadlines in Texas
Texas's Homestead Exemption - a genuinely significant $100,000 reduction in your home's taxable value for school district taxes, plus additional relief for seniors, disabled homeowners, and disabled veterans - must be filed with your county Appraisal District between January 1 and April 30 for that tax year. Once approved, you don't need to reapply annually. If you miss April 30, Texas genuinely allows late filing up to two years after the tax year, though some of the year's savings may be delayed depending on when you file. Appraisal notices, sent when your value increases, go out by April 1 for homestead property (May 1 for other property) - this notice starts your protest clock. Property tax bills are typically due by January 31, with delinquency (and real penalty and interest) kicking in after that date. If you disagree with your appraised value, the protest deadline is genuinely a dual-track rule: May 15, or 30 days after your notice was mailed, whichever is later - so a late-mailed notice can actually extend your window past May 15. Because Texas homestead property also benefits from a real 10% annual cap on appraised value increases, that cap doesn't begin until the year after your exemption is approved, so filing promptly genuinely matters for long-term savings.
Sources: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, county Appraisal District offices, Texas Tax Code §11.13 and §25.19
Appraisal Protests in Texas
If you disagree with your property's appraised value, Texas gives you a genuinely dual-track deadline: May 15, or 30 days after your Notice of Appraised Value was mailed, whichever is later.
Appraisal Protests in Texas
If you disagree with your property's appraised value, Texas gives you a genuinely dual-track deadline: May 15, or 30 days after your Notice of Appraised Value was mailed, whichever is later. This matters - a late-mailed notice can actually push your real deadline well past May 15, so check your specific notice's mailing date rather than assuming the standard date applies. File your Notice of Protest with your county Appraisal Review Board (ARB), a citizen panel distinct from the Appraisal District that set your value. Bring genuine supporting evidence: comparable sales, an independent appraisal, or documentation of a factual error in your property's characteristics. Many Texas homeowners start with an informal conference with an appraiser before the formal ARB hearing - a real opportunity to resolve the disagreement without a full hearing. If the ARB's decision doesn't resolve things in your favor, further appeal to district court, or to binding arbitration for qualifying residential properties, remains available - arbitration is often faster and less costly than litigation for homestead-value disputes specifically. Because Texas homestead property benefits from a real 10% annual cap on appraised value growth, a successful protest reducing your underlying value can have meaningful compounding benefit if your assessed value is climbing toward that cap.
Read the full property tax appeal guide →
Sources: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, county Appraisal District and Appraisal Review Board offices, Texas Tax Code §41.41 and §41A
Public Records Access in Texas
The Texas Public Information Act presumes that records held by state and local government agencies are open to public inspection, and like most states' open-records laws, you generally don't need to explain your reason for a request or demonstrate a personal interest in the records.
Public Records Access in Texas
The Texas Public Information Act presumes that records held by state and local government agencies are open to public inspection, and like most states' open-records laws, you generally don't need to explain your reason for a request or demonstrate a personal interest in the records. Agencies must respond promptly, generally within 10 business days (or refer the request to the Attorney General for an exemption ruling within that window), and cite a specific statutory exemption if a request is denied - common exemptions include certain law enforcement investigative records, personnel and medical information, and other categories the legislature has carved out. Real estate records - deeds, mortgages, liens - are recorded and searchable through the county Clerk. Probate matters genuinely vary by county in Texas: large metro counties (Harris, Dallas, Bexar, Tarrant, and others) run dedicated statutory probate courts, while most of the state's other 254 counties send estates through the regular county court, so confirm which structure applies where you're filing. Business entity records are filed with the Texas Secretary of State, searchable statewide. Property valuation and protest records go through your county Appraisal District, a separate entity from the county Clerk. Vehicle registration, titles, and plates run through the county Tax Assessor-Collector, distinct from both the Clerk and the Appraisal District. If a Public Information Act request is denied, disputes can be appealed to the Texas Attorney General's office, and ultimately to court.
Read the full open records guide →
Sources: Texas Attorney General's Office, Texas Government Code Chapter 552 (Public Information Act), county Clerk, probate/county courts, and Appraisal District offices
Storm & Recovery Help in Texas
Texas's hurricane and severe storm season runs officially June 1 through November 30, and the state's genuinely enormous size and long Gulf Coast means real risk varies dramatically by region - coastal counties face hurricane and storm surge risk, while inland counties across North and Central Texas face real severe thunderstorm and tornado risk, sometimes in the same season.
Storm & Recovery Help in Texas
Texas's hurricane and severe storm season runs officially June 1 through November 30, and the state's genuinely enormous size and long Gulf Coast means real risk varies dramatically by region - coastal counties face hurricane and storm surge risk, while inland counties across North and Central Texas face real severe thunderstorm and tornado risk, sometimes in the same season. Know your specific county's evacuation zone before hurricane season if you're along the coast, since Texas's Gulf counties maintain real, zone-based evacuation planning distinct from inland areas. Flash flooding is a genuine, distinctive Texas risk too - the state's hill country and urban areas alike can see fast-rising water from intense rainfall, and "Hill Country flash flood alley" is a real, recognized regional hazard worth understanding if you're near a creek or low-water crossing. Your county Emergency Management office coordinates local response and maintains current evacuation and warning information. After a storm causes damage, your county Appraisal District can adjust your property's valuation to reflect the damage, and if a federal disaster is declared, FEMA assistance becomes available for both individuals and local governments - Texas has genuine, extensive experience with major hurricane and flood disaster declarations. Insurance claims should be filed promptly with documentation (photos, a written inventory), and flood insurance specifically is essential in coastal and flood-prone areas.
Sources: Texas Division of Emergency Management, FEMA, county Emergency Management and Appraisal District offices
New to Texas?
As a new Texas resident, check with the Texas DMV for the current specific window to transfer your out-of-state driver's license, and register your vehicle through your county Tax Assessor-Collector's office - genuinely one combined office for both titles and registration.
New to Texas?
As a new Texas resident, check with the Texas DMV for the current specific window to transfer your out-of-state driver's license, and register your vehicle through your county Tax Assessor-Collector's office - genuinely one combined office for both titles and registration. If you've purchased a home, file your Homestead Exemption with your county Appraisal District between January 1 and April 30 - a real, significant reduction ($100,000 off school district taxable value) with additional relief available for seniors, disabled homeowners, and disabled veterans. Register to vote through your county Voter Registrar. Remember Texas has no state income tax, so property and sales taxes genuinely carry more of the local funding load than in many states. If you're settling an estate here, confirm whether your specific county runs a dedicated statutory probate court (common in large metros like Harris, Dallas, Bexar, and Tarrant) or sends estates through the regular county court, since this genuinely varies by county rather than following one uniform structure statewide. Property deeds are recorded with the county Clerk. Remember Texas counties genuinely have no zoning authority, so building and land-use rules outside city limits work very differently than what you may be used to from other states.
Sources: Texas Dept. of Motor Vehicles, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, county Tax Assessor-Collector, Appraisal District, and Clerk offices
Find the services available in your county
Texas laws apply statewide, but offices, services, procedures and local requirements can vary by county. Select your county for verified local offices, services and official resources.
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Sources and References
- Texas.gov
- Texas Secretary of State
- Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics
- Texas Office of Court Administration
- Texas Attorney General Open Government
- Texas Association of Counties
- Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
- Texas Comptroller Property Tax Assistance Division
- Texas Secretary of State Elections
- Texas County and District Clerks' Association
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