Galveston County, Texas public records

In Galveston County, deeds are recorded by the Galveston County Clerk; property values come from the Galveston Central Appraisal District; court files are split between the Galveston County District Clerk and the Galveston County Clerk.

Last checked against official sources on November 8, 2026.

On this page

1. Where to get each record
2. Deeds and land records
3. Property values, owners and tax bills
4. Court records: which clerk keeps which case
5. Marriage records
6. Divorce records
7. Birth certificates
8. Death certificates
9. Probate records and wills
10. Business names (DBA)
11. Voter records
12. Historical records
13. Good to know about Galveston County records
14. Office addresses, phones and hours
15. Questions people ask
16. Official copies vs look-alike sites
17. Sources

Where to get each record

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in Galveston County are recorded by the Galveston County Clerk (Real Property).⁵

Online search

ava.fidlar.com/txgalveston/avaweb²³

Certified copy fee

$5.00 for the clerk's certification plus $1.00 per page or part of page⁴

Recording fee

$25.00 first page; $4.00 each additional page⁴

How to order

Certified copies are requested through Official Records Online, linked by the County Clerk²

How deeds work in Texas

Property values, owners and tax bills

The Galveston Central Appraisal District sets property values⁶; the Galveston County Tax Assessor-Collector bills and collects the tax⁸.

Property search

esearch.galvestoncad.org⁷

Tax bill search

actweb.acttax.com/…⁹

Parcel map (GIS)

galvestoncad.maps.arcgis.com/…⁷

Appealing a value

Protest online on the GCAD Taxpayer Portal or by form at the GCAD office; heard by the Appraisal Review Board¹⁸

How property tax works in Texas

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

Statewide

research.txcourts.gov (ReSearchTX; Family, Probate and Civil cases only)¹¹

Public records note

Court case records are outside the Texas Public Information Act¹⁹

Criminal records and background checks

Online search

portalnav19.galvestoncountytx.gov/portal¹¹

About this search

Tyler Odyssey Portal, on the county's own domain¹¹

Custodian

District Clerk keeps pleadings and papers in civil and criminal causes in the courts it serves²⁰

How Texas courts keep their files

Marriage records

Certified copies come only from the county clerk²¹

Online search

txgalveston.fidlar.com/…²³

Request form

galvestoncountytx.gov/…²²

Certified copy fee

$9.00 per copy¹²

Marriage license fee

$81.00⁴

Texas marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Kept by: Galveston County District Clerk²¹

Texas divorce records: decree or state record

Birth certificates

Galveston County Health District for 1903 to present; the County Clerk holds delayed certificates only²³

Online search

ava.fidlar.com/txgalveston/avaweb¹³¹⁴

Coverage

Births from 1910 if born in Galveston; outside the city from 1926; Texas City from 1912²³

Delayed copy fee

$22.00 (delayed birth certificate, County Clerk)⁴

Fee

$23 (Health District)¹⁵

Ordering a Texas birth certificate

Death certificates

Galveston County Health District; records before 1927 are in Rosenberg Library²³

Coverage

From 1927 in Galveston County; Texas City from 1912²³

Delayed copy fee

$20.00; $4.00 each additional copy (delayed death certificate, County Clerk)⁴

Fee

$21 first certificate; $4 each additional copy ordered at the same time (Health District)¹⁵

Ordering a Texas death certificate

Probate records and wills

Kept by the Galveston County Probate Court.⁸

Online search

portalnav19.galvestoncountytx.gov/portal¹¹

About this search

Tyler Odyssey Portal, on the county's own domain¹¹

Finding a will or probate case in Texas

Business names (DBA)

Kept by the Galveston County Clerk.¹⁰

Online search

txgalveston.fidlar.com/…¹⁷

Fee

$24.50 in office with one owner; $23.50 out of office (notarized); $.50 each additional owner; certified copy $7.00¹⁷

Voter records

Tax Office Voter Registration, 722 Moody Avenue, 1st floor: (409) 766-2280 or (888) 976-2280 (toll free)²⁴

Historical records

Immigration

District Clerk digitized historic immigration records for free public access²⁰

Official page

immigrationportal.galvestoncountytx.gov²⁰

Good to know about Galveston County records

• Appraisal is by the separate Galveston Central Appraisal District; the county Tax Assessor-Collector collects⁶
• Before June 1903 births and deaths were not recorded unless a delayed certificate was filed²³
• Tyler Public Access was retired after 12/31/2025; use the Odyssey Portal or ReSearchTX¹¹
• Military discharges are recorded free⁴

Office addresses, phones and hours

Questions people ask

Other counties in Texas with a full guide: Anderson County, Angelina County, Atascosa County, Bastrop County, Bell County, Bexar County, Bowie County, Brazoria County, Brazos County, Burnet County, Caldwell County, Cameron County, Chambers County, Cherokee County, Collin County, Comal County, Coryell County, Dallas County, Denton County, Ector County, El Paso County, Ellis County, Fort Bend County, Grayson County, Gregg County, Guadalupe County, Hardin County, Harris County, Harrison County, Hays County, Hidalgo County, Hood County, Hunt County, Jefferson County, Johnson County, Kaufman County, Kendall County, Kerr County, Lamar County, Liberty County, Lubbock County, Maverick County, McLennan County, Medina County, Midland County, Montgomery County, Nacogdoches County, Navarro County, Nueces County, Orange County, Parker County, Polk County, Potter County, Randall County, Rockwall County, Rusk County, San Patricio County, Smith County, Starr County, Tarrant County, Taylor County, Tom Green County, Travis County, Val Verde County, Van Zandt County, Victoria County, Walker County, Waller County, Webb County, Williamson County, Wilson County, Wise County, Wood County. Every county in the state: Texas county list.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

1. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureauchecked November 4, 2026
2. County Clerk Records SearchGalveston County, TXchecked November 4, 2026
3. Records Search | Galveston County, TXGalveston County, TXchecked November 8, 2026
4. Real property fees (2024) (PDF)Galveston County, TXchecked November 4, 2026
5. County Clerk Real PropertyGalveston County, TXchecked November 4, 2026
6. Property Tax County Directory: GalvestonTexas Comptroller of Public Accountschecked November 4, 2026
7. Galveston Central Appraisal District homeGalveston Central Appraisal Districtchecked November 4, 2026
8. Galveston County home pageGalveston County, TXchecked November 4, 2026
9. Pay Property Taxes (county URL redirects to the Tax Office ACT portal)Galveston County, TXchecked November 4, 2026
10. County Clerk's OfficeGalveston County, TXchecked November 4, 2026
11. Tyler's Public Access Software End of SupportGalveston County, TXchecked November 4, 2026
12. Certified Copy Request for Marriage License (PDF)Galveston County, TXchecked November 4, 2026
13. Birth and Death Records InformationGalveston County, TXchecked November 4, 2026
14. Birth and Death Records Information | Galveston County, TXGalveston County, TXchecked November 8, 2026
15. Birth & Death Records feesGalveston County Health Districtchecked November 4, 2026
16. Galveston County Health District homeGalveston County Health Districtchecked November 4, 2026
17. Assumed Name (DBA) InformationGalveston County, TXchecked November 4, 2026
18. How to ProtestGalveston Central Appraisal Districtchecked November 4, 2026
19. Texas Court Records (research guide)Texas State Law Librarychecked November 4, 2026
20. District ClerkGalveston County, TXchecked November 4, 2026
21. Marriage and Divorce RecordsTexas Department of State Health Serviceschecked November 4, 2026
22. Marriage License InformationGalveston County, TXchecked November 4, 2026
23. Birth or Death Certificate Information (PDF)Galveston County, TXchecked November 4, 2026
24. Tax Office: Office Location & HoursGalveston County, TXchecked November 4, 2026
25. District Clerk contactGalveston County, TXchecked November 4, 2026
26. Probate CourtGalveston County, TXchecked November 4, 2026
27. Election Duties, county list (Galveston entry excerpt)Texas Secretary of Statechecked November 4, 2026
28. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureauchecked November 4, 2026