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Laura Richard was sworn into office as the Fort Bend County Clerk January 1, 2015 and subsequently in 2019 and 2023. Prior to being County Clerk, she spent a long career working for a technology company managing multi-million-dollar budgets and staff located in multiple countries around the world. After "retiring" from the technology sector, she spent a number of years in various development and executive director positions for Fort Bend non-profit organizations. On the death of her husband, Judge Jim Richard, she was unanimously appointed by Commissioners Court to fill his vacancy of Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4. Laura and her family have made Fort Bend County their home for more than 30 years.
The Honorable Laura Richard received the 2023 Public Official of the Year Award from the University of Houston Master of Public Administration Program. Her office has won the coveted Five Star Award from the Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics division each year of her tenure.
In 2021 Laura graduated from the prestigious National Association of Counties (NACO) High Performance Leadership Academy. This intensive program is to aid frontline county government professionals with leadership skills that directly deliver high value results to communities. Laura is also a member of the Urban Recorders Alliance, the International Association of Government Officials, the past chair of the Fort Bend Bail Bond Board, a life member of the Fort Bend County Fair Association, a member of the legislative committee for the Texas County & District Clerks Association and a member of the Property Records Industry Association (PRIA).
While in office, Clerk Richard has focused on enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and providing expanded services to the public for all of life's important filings.
FORT BEND COUNTY CLERK'S MISSION STATEMENT
To provide excellent customer service through skilled personnel and leading edge technology to the citizens of Fort Bend County while being vigilant and efficient with tax payer dollars.
COUNTY CLERK DUTIES
- Serves as clerk and custodian of records for the Commissioners Court, Constitutional County Court, and Statutory County Courts.
- Acts as a recorder, local registrar, and custodian of important public records, including all bonds, deeds, birth and death certificates, assumed names (DBA), and livestock brands, ensuring that records are maintained in a secure, archival manner.
- Issues marriage licenses.
COUNTY CLERK ADVANCEMENTS
Enhanced Customer Service
- Opened new Sugar Land Annex
- Extended annex office hours
- Implemented new user-friendly records search function
- Digitized over two million pages of probate and civil files
- Updated easy-to-read online fee schedules
- Enabled E-commerce for Official Public Records
- VitalChek online services for the safety of customers
- Introduced the Property Fraud Alert program
Launched New Services
- More Than Words - Thank-A-Veteran Program
- New Business Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
- Special Saturday events for Birth Certificates and filing of Veteran documents
Enhanced Efficiency
- Established electronic workflow between clerk and court
- Optimized hundreds of internal processes
- Developed new training program for new hires
- Increased e-recording to save time
- Reorganized staff for increased efficiency
- Technology implemented to support remote hearings
Legislative Updates
- Instituted criminal e-Filing prior to mandate
- Trained attorneys and District Attorney's Office on new processes
- Implemented electronic signatures
- Supported the addition of two new courts
County Clerk Statistics 2015 - 2024
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