Bastrop County Public Records
What Are Public Records in Bastrop County?
Public records in Bastrop County are defined as information created, collected, or maintained by government agencies in the course of official business. According to the Texas Public Information Act § 552.002, public records include "information that is written, produced, collected, assembled, or maintained under a law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business."
Bastrop County maintains numerous types of public records, including:
- Court Records: Civil, criminal, probate, and family court cases processed through the Bastrop 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 liens
- Voting and Election Records: Voter registration data and election results
- Meeting Minutes and Agendas: County Commission, boards, and committee proceedings
- Budget and Financial Documents: County expenditures, contracts, and financial reports
- Law Enforcement Records: Arrest logs, incident reports (with certain restrictions)
- Land Use and Zoning Records: Planning documents, zoning maps, and permit applications
The Bastrop County Clerk's Office maintains many of these records, particularly property records, vital statistics, and business filings. Court records are primarily maintained by the District Clerk for district court cases and the County Clerk for county court cases. The Texas Department of Public Safety maintains criminal history information and driver records at the state level.
Is Bastrop County an Open Records County?
Bastrop County fully complies with the Texas Public Information Act § 552, which establishes the presumption that all government information is available to the public. Under this law, Bastrop County is required to promptly release requested information unless specifically exempted by law.
The Texas Public Information Act 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."
Bastrop County has established procedures for handling public information requests in accordance with state law. The county follows the guidelines set forth by the Texas Attorney General regarding response timelines, which generally require that requests be fulfilled "promptly" or within 10 business days if the records cannot be produced immediately.
The county also adheres to the Texas Open Meetings Act, which requires that meetings of governmental bodies be open to the public, with proper notice given in advance. This commitment to transparency ensures that citizens have access to both records and proceedings of their local government.
How to Find Public Records in Bastrop County in 2026
Members of the public seeking records from Bastrop County may utilize several methods to access information:
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Visit the appropriate county office in person:
- For property records, vital records, and general county records, visit the County Clerk's office
- For district court records, visit the District Clerk's office
- For tax records, visit the Tax Assessor-Collector's office
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Submit a written request:
- Prepare a clear, specific written request identifying the desired records
- Submit the request to the appropriate county department
- Include contact information for follow-up questions
- Requests may be submitted via mail, email, fax, or in person
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Use online resources:
- The Bastrop County Official Website provides access to many public records
- Property records can be searched through the county's online portal
- Court case information is available through the judicial access system
- County Commission agendas and minutes are posted online
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Submit a Public Information Act request:
- For records not readily available, submit a formal request citing the Texas Public Information Act
- The county must respond within 10 business days
- If records cannot be provided within that timeframe, the county must notify the requestor of a reasonable date when the information will be available
For specialized records such as vital statistics or criminal history information, requestors may need to contact state agencies. Birth and death certificates can be obtained through the Texas Department of State Health Services, while criminal history information is maintained by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Bastrop County?
Bastrop County charges fees for public records in accordance with the guidelines established by the Texas Administrative Code § 70.3. The current standard fees include:
- Paper copies: $0.10 per page for standard letter or legal size
- Oversized copies (e.g., maps, plats): $0.50 per page
- Certified copies: Additional $5.00 certification fee per document
- Electronic records: Actual cost of production, which may include programming time
- Labor charges: $15.00 per hour for requests requiring more than 50 pages or extensive programming
- Overhead charges: 20% of labor charge may be added for requests requiring significant personnel time
Specific record types have statutorily set fees:
- Birth certificates: $23.00 per certified copy
- Death certificates: $21.00 for the first copy, $4.00 for each additional copy
- Marriage licenses: $82.00 to issue; $8.00 per certified copy
- Property records: Recording fees vary by document type and length
Accepted payment methods include:
- Cash (in-person only)
- Personal checks
- Money orders
- Credit cards (subject to processing fee)
The county may waive fees if the cost of collecting the fee exceeds the amount of the fee or if the information primarily benefits the general public. Additionally, requestors may examine records in person at no charge during normal business hours.
Does Bastrop County Have Free Public Records?
Bastrop County provides free access to certain public records as required by state law. Under the Texas Public Information Act, members of the public have the right to inspect public records without charge during normal business hours. This includes the right to examine records in their original form, take notes, and view information on computer screens.
Free public records resources in Bastrop County include:
- In-person inspection: Any non-confidential public record may be viewed at no cost at the appropriate county office
- Online resources: Many records are available at no charge through the county's website, including:
- County Commission meeting agendas and minutes
- County budget documents
- Election results
- Property tax information through the appraisal district website
- Court docket information (basic case details)
The Bastrop County Clerk's Office maintains public access terminals where visitors can search property records and other public documents at no charge. Similarly, the District Clerk's office provides terminals for searching court records.
While inspection is free, fees apply when copies are requested or when extensive staff time is required to compile information. Additionally, certain specialized records maintained by state agencies, such as comprehensive criminal history information from the Texas Department of Public Safety, always require payment of statutory fees.
Who Can Request Public Records in Bastrop County?
Under the Texas Public Information Act § 552.021, public information is available to "the people, including those who are not citizens of the state, those who are not citizens of the United States, and those who are not residents of the governmental body's jurisdiction." This broad eligibility means:
- Any person, regardless of citizenship or residency status, may request public records
- Requestors do not need to state a reason or purpose for their request
- Requestors do not need to identify themselves, though providing contact information is necessary for the county to respond
- Requests may be made by individuals, organizations, businesses, or media outlets
For most general public records, identification is not required. However, certain sensitive or restricted records have additional requirements:
- Vital records (birth, death certificates): Requestors must provide identification and demonstrate they are an eligible requestor under Texas Health and Safety Code § 191.051
- Criminal history information: Access may be restricted based on the requestor's relationship to the subject
- Medical records: Generally only available to the individual or their legal representative
- Juvenile records: Subject to strict confidentiality provisions
When requesting your own records, proper identification is typically required to verify identity and prevent unauthorized disclosure of personal information. When requesting records about another individual, access may be limited based on the type of record and relationship to the subject.
What Records Are Confidential in Bastrop County?
While Bastrop County strives for transparency, certain records are confidential by law and exempt from public disclosure. Under the Texas Public Information Act § 552.101, information is excepted from disclosure if it is "confidential by law, either constitutional, statutory, or by judicial decision."
Records that are generally confidential in Bastrop County include:
- Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and financial account information
- Medical records: Protected under HIPAA and state medical privacy laws
- Juvenile records: Court and law enforcement records involving minors
- Child welfare records: Reports and investigations maintained by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
- Sealed court records: Cases that have been ordered sealed by a judge
- Adoption records: Birth certificates and court documents related to adoptions
- Active criminal investigations: Information that would interfere with detection or prosecution of crime
- Attorney-client privileged communications: Legal advice provided to county officials
- Certain personnel information: Home addresses, phone numbers, family information, and medical information of public employees
- Critical infrastructure information: Details about security systems, emergency response plans, or utility vulnerabilities
- Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Confidential commercial or financial information submitted to the county
The Texas Attorney General has issued numerous opinions interpreting these exemptions, and county officials must follow these guidelines when determining whether information is confidential. In cases where only portions of a record contain confidential information, the county will redact those portions and release the remainder of the record.
Bastrop County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Bastrop County Clerk's Office
804 Pecan Street
Bastrop, TX 78602
(512) 332-7236
Bastrop County Clerk
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed on weekends and county holidays
Services Provided:
- Recording of deeds, mortgages, and other property documents
- Issuance of marriage licenses
- Maintenance of vital records (birth and death certificates)
- Processing of assumed name certificates (DBA)
- Maintenance of Commissioners Court records
- Administration of elections
Bastrop County District Clerk's Office
804 Pecan Street
Bastrop, TX 78602
(512) 332-7244
Bastrop County District Clerk
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed on weekends and county holidays
Services Provided:
- Maintenance of district court records
- Processing of passport applications
- Collection of court fees and fines
- Jury management for district courts
Lookup Public Records in Bastrop County
Texas Department of Public Safety records
Texas vital statistics records