Navarro County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Navarro County?

Public records in Navarro County are defined under the Texas Public Information Act, codified at Texas Government Code § 552, 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 records in any physical or electronic format currently held by county offices.

Members of the public may access the following categories of records maintained by Navarro County governmental bodies:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family law case files are maintained by the Navarro County District Clerk and the County Clerk. Appeals from Navarro County courts are heard by the Tenth Court of Appeals, which covers eighteen counties in Texas.
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and easements are filed with the Navarro County Clerk's office. Property assessment data is maintained by the Navarro County Appraisal District.
Vital records — Birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage licenses are issued locally through the Navarro County Clerk. The Texas Department of State Health Services lists the Navarro County Clerk as a local vital record office authorized to issue certified copies of these documents.
Business records — Assumed name (DBA) certificates, business licenses, and related permits are filed with the County Clerk.
Tax records — Property tax records, payment histories, and assessment rolls are maintained by the Navarro County Tax Assessor-Collector. Motor vehicle records are also processed through the Navarro County Tax Office, which handles title transfers, registration renewals, and address changes.
Voting and election records — Voter registration rolls and election results are maintained by the Navarro County Elections Administrator.
Meeting minutes and agendas — Records of Commissioners Court sessions, board meetings, and public hearings are maintained by the County Clerk and are available for public inspection.
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, expenditure reports, and audit records are public documents maintained by the County Auditor's office.
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where not otherwise exempt, are maintained by the Navarro County Sheriff's Office. The Public Information Coordinator database maintained by the Office of the Attorney General lists the Navarro County Sheriff's Office at 312 W 2nd Ave, Corsicana, TX 75110 as a designated public information contact.
Land use and zoning records — Subdivision plats, zoning applications, and land use permits are maintained by the applicable county or municipal planning authority.
Environmental and groundwater records — Well data and groundwater information for Navarro County are accessible through the Texas Water Development Board Groundwater Database.

Is Navarro County an Open Records County?

Navarro County fully complies with the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA), which governs public access to government records throughout the state. Under Texas Government Code § 552.021, members of the public are entitled to complete information about the affairs of government and the official acts of public officials and employees. This statute establishes a presumption of openness, meaning that all government records are considered public unless a specific statutory exception applies.

Key provisions of the TPIA relevant to Navarro County requestors include:

Governmental bodies must promptly produce requested records, generally within ten business days of receiving a written request.
If a governmental body seeks to withhold information, it must request a ruling from the Texas Attorney General's Office within ten business days.
The Texas Attorney General's Open Government division provides guidance, training, and enforcement resources related to both the Texas Public Information Act and the Texas Open Meetings Act.

Navarro County governmental bodies, including the Commissioners Court, Sheriff's Office, and all county departments, are subject to these requirements under current law. The historic Navarro County Courthouse in Corsicana serves as the seat of county government and houses several offices responsible for maintaining and producing public records in compliance with state standards.

How to Find Public Records in Navarro County in 2026

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

Identify the custodial office. Determine which county office maintains the record being requested. Court records are held by the District Clerk or County Clerk; property and vital records are held by the County Clerk; tax and vehicle records are held by the Tax Assessor-Collector.
Submit a written request. Under the Texas Public Information Act, requests must be submitted in writing to the appropriate governmental body. Requests may be delivered in person, by mail, or by email to the designated Public Information Coordinator.
Use the judicial directory. The Office of Court Administration's public directory search provides current contact information for all Texas courts, including those in Navarro County, and is updated as new information is received.
Request vital records online or in person. Certified copies of birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage records may be requested through the Texas vital records portal or directly from the Navarro County Clerk's office.
Visit the courthouse in person. Members of the public may inspect most records during regular business hours at the Navarro County Courthouse, 300 W 3rd Ave, Corsicana, TX 75110.
Allow statutory response time. Governmental bodies have ten business days to respond to a written public information request under current law.

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

Standard fees for public records in Navarro County are governed by the Texas Public Information Act and the cost rules promulgated by the Texas Attorney General's Office under Texas Government Code § 552.261. Current fees applicable to most requests include:

Standard paper copies: $0.10 per page for black-and-white letter or legal size copies
Certified copies: Fees vary by record type; the County Clerk currently charges a statutory certification fee per document, typically ranging from $1.00 to $5.00 per instrument depending on the record category
Vital records: Certified copies of birth and death certificates are subject to fees set by the Texas Department of State Health Services; the Navarro County Clerk charges the applicable state-set fee per certified copy
Labor charges: When a request requires more than one hour of personnel time to locate, compile, or reproduce records, a labor charge may apply at the rate established by the Attorney General's cost rules
Postage and handling: Actual postage costs may be charged when records are mailed to the requestor

Accepted payment methods at Navarro County offices generally include cash, check, money order, and credit or debit card, though accepted methods may vary by office. Fee waivers or reductions may be available when the requestor demonstrates that release of the information primarily benefits the general public rather than a private interest, as provided under current state law.

Does Navarro County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to members of the public at Navarro County government offices during regular business hours. Under the Texas Public Information Act, governmental bodies are not permitted to charge for the mere inspection of records; fees apply only when copies are requested.

The following free access options are currently available:

In-person inspection at the Navarro County Courthouse allows members of the public to review court filings, property records, and other documents without charge.
Online court records may be accessed at no cost through the Office of Court Administration's judicial directory, which provides current contact and case information for Navarro County courts.
Groundwater and environmental data for Navarro County are available at no charge through the Texas Water Development Board Groundwater Database.
Vital records information and ordering instructions are available without charge through the Texas DSHS local vital record offices directory.
Motor vehicle and tax records information is accessible through the Navarro County Tax Office page on TxDMV.gov.

Who Can Request Public Records in Navarro County?

Any person, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose, is entitled to request public records from Navarro County governmental bodies under the Texas Public Information Act. The Act does not require requestors to be Texas residents, to provide identification, or to explain the reason for their request as a condition of access to most public records.

Specific eligibility considerations include:

Residency: Not required. Non-residents of Navarro County and non-Texas residents retain full rights to request public information under current law.
Identification: Requestors are generally not required to provide identification to access public records, though certain restricted record categories may require proof of eligibility.
Purpose: Governmental bodies may not condition the release of public information on the requestor disclosing the intended use of the records, except in limited circumstances authorized by statute.
Requesting your own records: Individuals requesting records about themselves may be entitled to access certain records that would otherwise be restricted when requested by a third party, such as personnel files or law enforcement records.
Restrictions for specific record types: Some records, including juvenile records, adoption records, and sealed court documents, are accessible only to authorized parties as defined by applicable statute.

Under Texas Government Code § 552.028, a governmental body may refuse to release information to a person who is incarcerated if the information is not related to the person's claim of wrongful conviction or to a civil matter in which the person is a party.

What Records Are Confidential in Navarro County?

Certain categories of records maintained by Navarro County governmental bodies are exempt from public disclosure under the Texas Public Information Act and related statutes. Texas Government Code Chapter 552 enumerates specific exceptions to the general presumption of openness. The following records are currently exempt from mandatory public disclosure:

Sealed court records — Documents sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection.
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juvenile offenders are confidential under the Texas Family Code and are accessible only to authorized parties.
Ongoing investigation records — Information related to active law enforcement investigations is exempt to the extent that release would interfere with the investigation or prosecution.
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are protected from disclosure under applicable state and federal law.
Medical records — Health information is protected under both the Texas Medical Records Privacy Act and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Adoption records — Records pertaining to adoptions are sealed by statute and accessible only through court order.
Child welfare and protective services records — Records maintained by child protective services agencies are confidential under the Texas Family Code.
Personnel records — Certain employee records, including performance evaluations and disciplinary records, are exempt, though basic employment information such as name, position, and salary is generally public.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Confidential commercial or financial information submitted to a governmental body may be exempt from disclosure.
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — Information relating to the security of government facilities or critical infrastructure is exempt under current law.

When a governmental body asserts that requested information falls within an exception, it must seek a ruling from the Texas Attorney General's Office, which applies a balancing analysis to determine whether the public interest in disclosure outweighs the interest in confidentiality, as provided under the open government framework administered by the Attorney General.

Navarro County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Navarro County Clerk serves as the primary recorder of official documents in Navarro County, maintaining property records, vital records, court records, and official instruments. The county court jurisdiction and records authority for Navarro County is established under Texas Government Code Chapter 26, which grants the County Court general probate jurisdiction and records custodianship.

Navarro County Clerk 300 W 3rd Ave, Suite 101, Corsicana, TX 75110 (903) 654-3035 Navarro County Clerk Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Navarro County District Clerk 300 W 3rd Ave, Corsicana, TX 75110 (903) 654-3025 Navarro County District Clerk Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Navarro County Tax Assessor-Collector 300 W 3rd Ave, Corsicana, TX 75110 (903) 654-3080 Navarro County Tax Office Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Navarro County Sheriff's Office 312 W 2nd Ave, Corsicana, TX 75110 (903) 654-3001 Navarro County Sheriff's Office Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Navarro County Appraisal District 107 E Corsicana St, Corsicana, TX 75110 (903) 872-6161 Navarro County Appraisal District Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.