Fort Bend County Offices will close on Monday, January 26, 2026. Jury Duty has been canceled. The County Judge and Office of Emergency Management continue to monitor our inclement conditions. For more information, click: Homeland Security & Emergency Management | Fort Bend County. Stay updated on road conditions and resources, and be careful during the icy weather.
Normal County operations will resume on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
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.
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.
Enhanced Customer Service
Launched New Services
Enhanced Efficiency
Legislative Updates
