Fannin County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Fannin County?

Public records in Fannin County, Texas, are documents, files, and data created or received by governmental bodies in the course of official business and maintained for public access under state law. Under Texas Government Code § 552.002, "public information" is defined as any information that is written, produced, collected, assembled, or maintained under a law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business by a governmental body. The following categories of records are currently available to members of the public through various Fannin County offices:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family law case files are maintained by the Fannin County District Clerk's Office and the County Clerk. Appeals from district and county courts may be reviewed through the First Court of Appeals, which holds appellate jurisdiction over such matters.
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and related instruments are filed with the Fannin County Clerk, which serves as the official recorder of real property documents.
Vital records — Birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage licenses issued within Fannin County are maintained locally by the County Clerk. The Texas Department of State Health Services identifies the Fannin County Clerk as the designated local vital records office for birth, death, and marriage records.
Business records — Assumed name (DBA) certificates, business licenses, and related filings are recorded through the County Clerk's office.
Tax records — Property tax assessments, payment histories, and appraisal data are administered by the Fannin County Appraisal District and the Fannin County Tax Office, which also handles motor vehicle title transfers and registration renewals.
Voting and election records — Voter registration data, election results, and campaign finance disclosures are maintained by the Fannin County Elections office. Campaign finance reports, including Appointment of Campaign Treasurer Forms filed on or after January 1, 2023, are posted publicly by the Elections office.
Meeting minutes and agendas — Records of Fannin County Commissioners Court proceedings, board meetings, and committee sessions, including those of the Fannin County Lake Economic Development Committee, are available as public documents.
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, expenditure reports, and audit records are maintained by the County Auditor and the office of the Fannin County Judge.
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports are maintained by the Fannin County Sheriff's Office, subject to applicable exemptions under state law.
Land use and zoning records — Subdivision plats, zoning applications, and related land use documents are filed with the County Clerk and relevant planning authorities.

Is Fannin County an Open Records County?

Fannin County fully operates under the Texas Public Information Act, which mandates broad public access to governmental records. Under Texas Government Code § 552.021, public information is available to any person, and governmental bodies are required to promptly produce requested records. The Act establishes that the public's right of access to government information is fundamental to a democratic society, and that government is accountable to the people it serves. Governmental bodies in Fannin County are required to respond to written requests for public information no later than ten business days after the date of receipt, as prescribed by the statute. The Texas Attorney General's Office oversees compliance with the Act statewide, and members of the public may submit complaints or seek rulings through that office if a governmental body withholds records without proper legal justification. The PIC Contact Information Database maintained by the Office of the Attorney General identifies the designated public information contacts for Fannin County offices, including the Fannin County District Clerk's Office at 200 E. 1st Street, Bonham, TX. Fannin County does not currently maintain a separate county-specific public records ordinance beyond the requirements established by state law.

How to Find Public Records in Fannin County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Fannin County public records through several established channels. The process varies by record type and the office that maintains the relevant documents.

In person — Requestors may visit the appropriate county office during regular business hours. The Fannin County Clerk's office, located at 800 E. 2nd Street, Bonham, TX 75418, accepts walk-in requests for property records, vital records, court filings, and business documents.
Written request — Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act, written requests may be submitted by mail, fax, or email to the designated public information officer of the relevant governmental body. Requests should describe the records sought with sufficient specificity to allow the office to identify and locate them.
Online search — Certain records, including court case information and property data, may be accessible through online portals maintained by county offices. The Texas Secretary of State's county clerks directory provides current contact information for the Fannin County Clerk.
Motor vehicle and tax records — Requests related to vehicle titles, registration, and motor vehicle records are directed to the Fannin County Tax Office, which serves as the county's designated agent for the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
Court records — Civil and criminal case records may be requested through the District Clerk's office. Appellate records from cases originating in Fannin County may be accessed through the First Court of Appeals.

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

Standard fees apply to the reproduction and certification of public records in Fannin County, consistent with the schedule established under Texas Government Code § 552.261, which authorizes governmental bodies to charge reasonable fees for providing copies of public information. Current fees generally include the following:

Standard paper copies — $0.10 per page for black-and-white copies on standard paper, as set by the Texas Office of the Attorney General's cost rules.
Certified copies — Additional certification fees apply for documents requiring an official seal or attestation; these vary by record type and office.
Vital records — Certified copies of birth and death certificates are subject to fees established by the Texas Department of State Health Services; the Fannin County Clerk collects these fees locally.
Property records — Recording fees and copy fees for deeds, liens, and related instruments are set by state statute and collected by the County Clerk.
Labor charges — When a request requires more than one hour of personnel time to locate, compile, or reproduce records, the governmental body may charge for the labor at rates established by the Attorney General's cost rules.
Accepted payment methods — Most Fannin County offices accept cash, check, and money order; individual offices should be contacted to confirm currently accepted payment methods.
Fee waivers — Under current law, governmental bodies may waive fees when the requestor demonstrates that release of the information primarily benefits the general public rather than the individual requestor.

Does Fannin County Have Free Public Records?

Members of the public are entitled to inspect public records at no charge under the Texas Public Information Act, which provides that a governmental body may not charge a fee for the inspection of public information. Free access to records is available through the following means:

In-person inspection — Any person may inspect public records at the relevant Fannin County office during regular business hours without incurring a fee, provided the records are not subject to a recognized exemption.
Online portals — Certain records maintained by Fannin County offices are accessible at no cost through official online databases, including court case searches and election-related documents such as publicly posted campaign finance reports.
Vital records information — General information about local vital records availability is accessible through the Texas DSHS local vital record offices directory at no charge, though certified copies carry a statutory fee.
Motor vehicle records — Basic vehicle registration and title information may be reviewed through the Fannin County Tax Office in accordance with applicable state and federal privacy laws.

Who Can Request Public Records in Fannin County?

The Texas Public Information Act establishes that any person — regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose — is entitled to request public information from a governmental body in Texas. The following provisions govern eligibility and access:

No residency requirement — Requestors are not required to be residents of Fannin County or the State of Texas to submit a valid public information request.
No identification requirement — Under current law, governmental bodies generally may not require a requestor to provide identification as a condition of receiving public information, except in limited circumstances involving records that contain personal information about the requestor.
No purpose requirement — Requestors are not required to state the reason for their request, and governmental bodies may not condition access on the disclosure of the requestor's intended use of the information.
Requesting your own records — Individuals seeking records that contain their own personal information, such as criminal history or vital records, may be required to provide identification to verify identity and protect against unauthorized disclosure.
Restrictions for specific record types — Certain categories of records, such as juvenile records, sealed court files, and law enforcement investigative materials, are subject to access restrictions regardless of the identity of the requestor.
Non-residents — Non-residents of Fannin County hold the same rights of access as residents under the Texas Public Information Act and may submit requests by mail, email, or fax to the appropriate office.

What Records Are Confidential in Fannin County?

Not all government-held documents are subject to public disclosure. Texas law identifies numerous categories of information that are exempt from mandatory release. Under Texas Government Code § 552.101 and related provisions, the following types of records are currently withheld from public access in whole or in part:

Sealed court records — Documents sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection.
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to individuals who were minors at the time of a proceeding are confidential under Texas Family Code provisions.
Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement records related to active criminal investigations are exempt to the extent that disclosure would interfere with the investigation or prosecution.
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are protected from disclosure under 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 related to adoption proceedings are sealed by statute and accessible only under specific court-ordered circumstances.
Child welfare records — Records maintained by child protective services agencies are confidential under Texas Family Code Chapter 261.
Personnel records — Employee records held by governmental bodies are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for information such as salary and job title.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Commercially sensitive information submitted to a governmental body in connection with a regulatory or licensing matter may be withheld.
Security plans and infrastructure details — Information relating to the security of public facilities, critical infrastructure, or emergency response plans is exempt from disclosure.

When a governmental body seeks to withhold records, it must request a ruling from the Texas Attorney General's Office within ten business days of receiving the public information request, unless a clear statutory exception applies without the need for an Attorney General determination.

Fannin County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Fannin County Clerk serves as the official recorder of public documents in Fannin County, maintaining property records, vital records, court filings, and business documents. The District Clerk's office handles court records for district-level civil and criminal cases.

Fannin County Clerk 800 E. 2nd Street, Bonham, TX 75418 (903) 583-7488 Fannin County Clerk — Texas Secretary of State Directory Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (closed on official county holidays)

Fannin County District Clerk's Office 200 E. 1st Street, Bonham, TX 75418 Public Information Contact — Office of the Attorney General Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Fannin County Judge's Office Fannin County Courthouse, 101 E. Sam Rayburn Dr., Suite 214, Bonham, TX 75418 (903) 583-7455 County Judge Newt Cunningham — Fannin County Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Fannin County Tax Office Bonham, TX 75418 Fannin County Tax Office — TxDMV