Collin County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Collin County?

Public records in Collin County are official documents and information created, received, or maintained by county government agencies in the course of conducting public business. According to the Texas Public Information Act, codified under Texas Government Code § 552, public records are defined as "information that is written, produced, collected, assembled, or maintained under a law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business."

Collin County maintains numerous types of public records, including:

• Court Records: Civil, criminal, probate, and family court cases processed through the Collin County Courts system. These include case filings, judgments, orders, and hearing schedules.
• Property Records: Deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and property assessments maintained by the County Clerk's Office.
• Vital Records: Birth certificates (if born in Collin County), death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees.
• Business Records: Assumed name certificates (DBA), alcohol permits, and other business licenses.
• Tax Records: Property tax statements, payment records, and assessment information maintained by the Collin County Tax Office.
• Voting and Election Records: Voter registration information, election results, and campaign finance reports accessible through the Collin County Elections Department.
• Meeting Minutes and Agendas: Records of Commissioners Court meetings, board proceedings, and other public body deliberations.
• Budget and Financial Documents: County budgets, expenditure reports, and financial statements.
• Law Enforcement Records: Certain arrest records, incident reports, and jail records (with statutory limitations).
• Land Use and Zoning Records: Building permits, zoning applications, and development plans.

The Collin County Clerk's Office serves as the primary custodian for many of these records, particularly property records, vital statistics, and court documents. However, specific departments maintain their respective records, such as the Collin Central Appraisal District for property appraisal records and the District Clerk for felony court records.

Is Collin County an Open Records County?

Collin County fully adheres to the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA), which establishes the presumption that all government information is available to the public. 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 specifically 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." This fundamental principle guides Collin County's approach to records access.

Collin County has established comprehensive public information procedures to facilitate citizen access to government records. The county maintains an online portal for many commonly requested records and provides clear instructions for submitting formal public information requests for records not available online.

In compliance with Texas Government Code § 552.205, Collin County has designated Public Information Officers within each department who are responsible for processing records requests and ensuring compliance with state law. The county also adheres to the statutory timeframes for responding to requests, typically providing requested information within 10 business days as required by law.

Collin County's commitment to transparency extends to its compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act (Texas Government Code Chapter 551), which requires that meetings of governmental bodies be open to the public, with proper notice given.

How to Find Public Records in Collin County in 2026

Members of the public seeking records from Collin County may utilize several methods to locate and obtain the information they need:

1. Online Access: Many records are available through the county's official websites:

   • Court records can be searched through the Collin County Courts Records Inquiry system
   • Property records are accessible via the County Clerk's Official Records Search
   • Tax records can be found using the Collin County Tax Office search portal
   • Voter registration information is available through the Voter Registration Search tool

2. In-Person Requests: Individuals may visit the appropriate county office during regular business hours to request records:

   • For property records, vital records, and misdemeanor court records, visit the County Clerk's Office
   • For felony court records, visit the District Clerk's Office
   • For tax records, visit the Tax Assessor-Collector's Office
   • For property appraisal records, visit the Collin Central Appraisal District

3. Written Requests: Submit a formal public information request in writing to the relevant department. Requests may be submitted:

   • By mail to the appropriate department
   • By email to the department's designated Public Information Officer
   • By using the County Clerk Record Request Form for specific clerk-maintained records

4. Electronic Filing: For court documents, attorneys and authorized individuals may submit filings through the eFileTexas system, the official e-filing system for Texas courts.

When making a request, individuals should:

• Clearly describe the records sought with reasonable specificity
• Provide contact information for follow-up questions or clarification
• Specify the preferred format for receiving the records (electronic or paper)
• Include any relevant identifying information that may help locate the records

The county typically responds to requests within 10 business days, as required by the Texas Public Information Act. For complex requests or those requiring extensive compilation, the county may provide an estimated completion date.

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

Collin County assesses fees for public records in accordance with the guidelines established by the Texas Public Information Act and the Office of the Attorney General. Current standard fees include:

• Paper Copies: $0.10 per page for standard letter or legal size copies
• Certified Copies: $5.00 for the first page plus $0.10 per additional page
• Electronic Records: $0.10 per page for PDFs or other electronic formats
• Specialized Documents:
  • Birth Certificates: $23.00 per certified copy
  • Death Certificates: $21.00 for the first copy, $4.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time
  • Marriage Licenses: $82.00 to issue; $20.00 per certified copy
  • Divorce Decrees: $5.00 for the first page plus $0.10 per additional page

Additional fees may apply for:

• Labor charges: $15.00 per hour for requests requiring more than 50 pages or extensive programming/manipulation
• Overhead charges: 20% of labor charges
• Computer resources: Actual cost
• Postage and shipping: Actual cost

Payment methods accepted by Collin County include:

• Cash (in-person only)
• Credit/debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover)
• Money orders
• Cashier's checks
• Personal checks (with proper identification)

As stipulated in Texas Government Code § 552.261, charges for public information must be "reasonable" and not exceed the actual cost of producing the records. The county follows the cost rules established by the Texas Administrative Code (1 TAC § 70.3).

Fee waivers or reductions may be available if the request is determined to be in the public interest or if providing the information primarily benefits the general public. Additionally, the first $40.00 of labor charges may be waived for requestors who qualify for a waiver under Texas Government Code § 552.267.

Does Collin County Have Free Public Records?

Collin County provides several avenues for accessing public records at no cost:

1. In-Person Inspection: Pursuant to Texas Government Code § 552.221, members of the public may inspect public records at no charge during regular business hours. The county must provide "a suitable place" for such examination.

2. Online Resources: The county maintains several free online databases:

   • The Collin County Courts Records Inquiry system provides basic case information at no charge
   • The Collin County Tax Office offers free property tax record searches
   • The Voter Registration Search allows verification of voter registration status
   • The Commissioners Court Agenda and Minutes are freely available online

3. Small Requests: Requests that result in fewer than 50 pages of copies and do not require programming, manipulation, or redaction may be provided without labor charges.

4. Public Interest Waivers: The county may waive or reduce charges if the request primarily benefits the general public rather than the individual requestor.

The County Clerk's public access terminals are available at no charge for searching records maintained by that office. These terminals are located in the County Clerk's office and provide access to property records, marriage records, and other documents maintained by the clerk.

It should be noted that while inspection is free, obtaining copies or certified documents typically incurs the standard fees outlined in the previous section.

Who Can Request Public Records in Collin County?

Under the Texas Public Information Act, public records in Collin County are available to all persons regardless of:

• Citizenship status
• Residency
• Age (with certain exceptions for minors)
• Purpose or intended use of the information

As stated in Texas Government Code § 552.223, "A governmental body may not inquire into the purpose for which information will be used." This means requestors are not generally required to explain why they want the records or what they plan to do with them.

However, certain limitations apply:

1. Identification Requirements: Some records may require verification of identity, particularly when:

   • Requesting one's own confidential records
   • Seeking records that contain sensitive personal information
   • Requesting vital records such as birth or death certificates

2. Authorized Representatives: For certain protected records, only the subject of the record or their legally authorized representative may access the information. This includes:

   • Medical records
   • Certain personnel records
   • Records containing social security numbers or other sensitive personal information

3. Commercial Use Considerations: While commercial use is permitted, bulk requests for commercial purposes may be subject to additional scrutiny to prevent misuse of personal information.

4. Incarcerated Individuals: Under Texas Government Code § 552.028, governmental bodies are not required to accept or comply with requests from incarcerated individuals, though they may choose to do so.

Foreign nationals and out-of-state residents have the same rights to access public records as Texas residents, with no additional restrictions or requirements imposed based on residency status.

What Records Are Confidential in Collin County?

While Collin County operates under the presumption of openness, certain records are confidential by law and exempt from public disclosure. These exemptions are primarily established by the Texas Public Information Act § 552.101-152 and include:

• Personal Identifying Information: Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and financial account information are protected under Texas Government Code § 552.147 and § 552.136.

• Medical and Mental Health Records: Protected by both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

• Juvenile Records: Most juvenile court and law enforcement records are confidential under Texas Family Code § 58.007.

• Victim Information: Information identifying victims of sexual assault, family violence, stalking, or trafficking is confidential.

• Active Investigations: Records pertaining to ongoing law enforcement investigations or prosecutions may be withheld under Texas Government Code § 552.108.

• Attorney-Client Communications: Legal advice and attorney work product are protected under Texas Government Code § 552.107.

• Certain Personnel Information: Home addresses, phone numbers, emergency contact information, and family information of public employees and officials are confidential under Texas Government Code § 552.117.

• Critical Infrastructure Information: Details about security systems, infrastructure vulnerabilities, or emergency response plans may be withheld under Texas Government Code § 552.139.

• Sealed Court Records: Records sealed by court order, including certain expunged criminal records, sealed divorce proceedings, and adoption records.

• Economic Development Negotiations: Information related to economic development negotiations may be temporarily confidential under Texas Government Code § 552.131.

• Test Items: Standardized test questions and assessment instruments used by educational institutions.

When a request includes both public and confidential information, Collin County will redact the confidential portions and release the remainder, as required by Texas Government Code § 552.114. If there is uncertainty about whether information is confidential, the county may seek a ruling from the Texas Attorney General's Office.

Collin County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Collin County Clerk's Office (Records Division)
2300 Bloomdale Road, Suite 2104
McKinney, TX 75071
Phone: (972) 548-4185
Collin County Clerk

Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays

Satellite Offices:

Plano Office
900 E. Park Blvd., Suite 160
Plano, TX 75074
Phone: (972) 881-3025

Frisco Office
8585 John Wesley Drive, Suite 110
Frisco, TX 75034
Phone: (972) 335-5245

The Collin County Clerk serves as the county recorder and is responsible for maintaining and providing access to:

• Real property records (deeds, mortgages, liens)
• Marriage licenses
• Assumed name certificates (DBAs)
• Military discharge records (DD-214)
• Commissioners Court minutes
• Misdemeanor court records
• Probate records
• Vital statistics (birth and death records)

For records related to felony cases, contact:

Collin County District Clerk
2100 Bloomdale Road, Suite 12132
McKinney, TX 75071
Phone: (972) 548-4320
Collin County District Clerk

Lookup Public Records in Collin County

Public Information and Records Request Portal

Collin County Courts Records Inquiry System

Official Property Records Search

Tax Records Search Portal

Voter Registration Information

County Clerk Land Recordings

eFileTexas Court Filing System