Travis County Clerk: Records, Elections, and Official Documents

The Travis County Clerk is a constitutionally established elected office in Texas responsible for maintaining official public records, administering county elections, and processing a broad range of legal documents for residents and government entities within Travis County. This page covers the office's core functions, how each service works in practice, the most common transactions residents encounter, and the boundaries that distinguish the County Clerk's authority from that of other Travis County offices. Understanding the distinctions between this resource and similar county offices — particularly the Travis County District Clerk — prevents delays and misfiled documents.

Definition and scope

The Travis County Clerk operates under Article V, Section 20 of the Texas Constitution and Texas Government Code Chapter 51, which together establish the office as the official keeper of county records and administrator of county and precinct-level elections. The office is not a state agency and does not fall under Austin city government; it is a county constitutional office accountable to Travis County voters through a four-year election cycle.

The office's responsibilities fall into three broad categories: vital and property records, elections administration, and commissioners court support. The County Clerk serves as clerk of the Travis County Commissioners Court, recording minutes, resolutions, and official actions of that governing body.

Scope and geographic coverage: The Travis County Clerk's jurisdiction covers unincorporated Travis County and all municipalities within Travis County, including the City of Austin, as those jurisdictions are defined by Texas county boundary law. Records filed with this resource apply to real property located within Travis County. Documents related to property in Williamson County, Hays County, Bastrop County, or Caldwell County are not covered by this resource — those filings must go to the respective county clerk in each of those jurisdictions. Similarly, court records from district courts, civil courts, and criminal courts are maintained by the Travis County District Clerk, not the County Clerk. Probate proceedings handled through the Travis County Probate Court are also administered separately.

How it works

The County Clerk's office operates through five functional divisions:

1. Real Property Records — Receives, indexes, and archives all deeds, deeds of trust, liens, plats, easements, and related instruments affecting real property in Travis County. Instruments are recorded by instrument type, grantor/grantee name, and legal description. Recording fees are set under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 118 and vary by instrument type and page count.

2. Vital Statistics — Issues certified copies of birth and death certificates for events registered in Travis County. Texas birth records are also maintained at the state level by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), but the County Clerk holds local copies and can issue certified documents.

3. Elections Administration — Manages voter registration rolls in coordination with the Texas Secretary of State, operates early voting locations, processes mail-in ballots, trains election judges, and canvasses returns for all county, state, and federal elections held within Travis County. Voter registration in Travis County is administered through this resource; the broader Austin elections overview and Austin voter registration pages address related civic processes.

4. Commissioners Court Records — Archives all official minutes, orders, contracts, and budgetary documents approved by the Commissioners Court, making them available as public records under Texas Government Code Chapter 552 (the Texas Public Information Act).

5. Assumed Name (DBA) Filings — Processes assumed name certificates required by Texas Business & Commerce Code Chapter 71 for sole proprietors and general partnerships operating under a name other than the owner's legal name within Travis County.

Common scenarios

The following are the most frequently encountered interactions with the Travis County Clerk:

• Homebuyers and title companies submit warranty deeds and deeds of trust for recording after a real estate closing. The instrument must meet Texas recording requirements — including a notarized signature and a complete legal description — before the Clerk's office will accept it.

• Residents seeking birth or death certificates request certified copies either in person at the County Clerk's main office or through a written application by mail. Certified copies require valid government-issued identification and payment of a per-copy fee established under state fee schedules.

• Voters checking registration status can confirm enrollment through the Travis County Clerk's online voter registration portal or by contacting the elections division directly. Texas law requires voter registration applications to be submitted at least 30 days before an election (Texas Election Code §13.143).

• Small business owners file an assumed name certificate before operating under a trade name. The certificate is valid for 10 years under Texas Business & Commerce Code Chapter 71 and must be renewed or re-filed after any change in ownership or business structure.

• Lienholders and contractors file mechanic's liens and release of lien documents with the property records division. Filing deadlines and requirements are governed by Texas Property Code Chapter 53.

Decision boundaries

A frequent source of confusion is determining whether a document or request belongs with the County Clerk or another Travis County office.

The core distinction is that the County Clerk handles administrative, property, vital, and elections records, while the District Clerk handles all court-filed documents from district and statutory county courts. Residents uncertain about which court handles a specific legal matter can consult the Travis County Courts reference page.

For questions about Travis County government structure more broadly, the Austin Metro Authority home provides an overview of the full regional governance landscape, including both county-level and municipal offices. The Travis County government page addresses the broader administrative framework within which the Clerk's office operates.

References

• Texas Constitution, Article V, Section 20 — Constitutional basis for the County Clerk office
• Texas Government Code Chapter 51 — Duties and powers of county clerks
• Texas Election Code §13.143 — Voter registration deadline (30 days before election)
• Texas Local Government Code Chapter 118 — County clerk fee schedules
• Texas Business & Commerce Code Chapter 71 — Assumed name certificate requirements
• Texas Property Code Chapter 53 — Mechanic's lien filing requirements
• Texas Government Code Chapter 552 — Texas Public Information Act
• Texas Department of State Health Services — Vital Statistics — State-level vital records authority
• Travis County Clerk — Official Website — Primary public-facing office resource