Brands

Payment Information

Personal checks (as of October 28, 2024) and business checks (as of January 1, 2025) will no longer be accepted in Official Public Records. Payment may be made by cash (in person only), Money Order, credit cards (Visa, Master Card, Discover, and American Express), or cashier's check.

Requirements Checklist

Livestock is required to have distinct earmarks and brands which shall be recorded and maintained with the clerk of the county in which the livestock is located according to the Texas Agriculture Code, Sections 144.041–144.004.

  • Application for Marks and Brands [PDF] (Effective date August 31, 2021 - August 30, 2031)
  • Marks and Brands Instructions [PDF]
  • $16.00 per brand or mark
  • Record all marks and brands with the County Clerk. You must record all marks and brands every 10 years beginning August 31, 1981.
  • A copy is mailed to the Texas State Cattle Association.
  • Texas Agriculture Code, Section 142 provides a method of disposing of estray livestock. 

Search Brands

NOTE: To search for a brand, click on the Official Public Records tab, go to Search Real Estate Index link, and select BRAND under Document Type.

E-Recording

The following entities per Texas Local Government Code Chapter 195.003, may use E-Recording to electronically file documents with our office:

  • An attorney licensed in this state
  • Mortgage Lenders, banks, and credit unions
  • State agencies
  • State licensed Title Companies and agents

Texas Local Government Code Chapter 195.003 prohibits us from offering E-Recording services to the general public.

 

The following list of companies work with Fort Bend for eRecording documents:

 

Please note: Digital signatures are acceptable on a document that has been filed with the county clerk electronically by code requirements (eRecording). A paper document that contains a copy of a digital signature or signatures does not meet requirement of Property Code 12.00011 that requires a document to have an original signature. To allow for a paper document to be recorded with electronic signatures, the notary must attach a “tangible paper declaration” to the paper copy of the electronically signed instrument. Property Code 12.0013

Non-Contact Transactions

The Fort Bend County Clerk's office provides several ways for you to process or request information online. Please continue to visit this page for additional ways to do business with our office online.

 

Birth and Death Certificates

You may order a certified copy of a birth or death record online using your credit card through our only approved official Internet business partner of the Fort Bend County Clerk's office, VitalChek Network, Inc.VitalChek Order Online 04 round

 

 

You may also obtain Birth or Death certificate copies by mail to our office by completing the application online. It is available in both English and Spanish. The document MUST be printed and notarized and a copy of acceptable ID MUST be included. Payment can be made on the County Clerk website and confirmation of payment must be included with the request. Other forms of payment accepted are cashier's check and money order. For your convenience, the County Clerk’s office has a drop box located at our Travis Building/Main office location across from the Mail Room at 301 Jackson Street, Richmond Texas 77469. Please ensure that your request is securely packaged in an envelope with appropriate payment and valid return address. For more information, visit the Birth/Death Certificates website.

Marriage License Application

It is mandatory that the Marriage License Application be filled out online prior to arrival at the County Clerk's Office. The marriage license application can be found here and is available in both English and Spanish. For more information, please visit the Marriage Licenses website

Marriage License Copies

You may order a certified copy of a marriage license online using your credit card through our only approved official Internet business partner of the Fort Bend County Clerk's office, VitalChek Network, Inc.

VitalChek Order Online 04 round

You may also request a certified copy of a marriage license directly to our office through the mail. Applications for marriage license copy requests can be found online. Once completed, you can email the Records Division (cclerkrecords@fortbendcountytx.gov), or mail it. Payment can be made on the County Clerk website. Confirmation number of payment must be included with the request. Payment can also be made by cashier's check, personal or business check and money order. For your convenience, the County Clerk’s office has a drop box located at our Travis Building/Main office location beside the Mail Room at 301 Jackson Street, Richmond Texas 77469. Please ensure that your request is securely packaged in an envelope with appropriate payment and valid return address. For additional information, visit the Marriage Licenses website

Keepsake Marriage Certificate

You may request a Keepsake Marriage Certificate for both formal and informal marriages. This is NOT a legal document. We are only able to provide the Keepsake Marriage Certificate if your license is legally filed with the Fort Bend County Clerk’s office. You may search for your marriage license via our online Record Search function. Once you have your marriage license number, please complete the copy request form found online. After it is completed, you may email the Records Division  (cclerkrecords@fortbendcountytx.gov), or mail it. Payment can be made on the County Clerk website. Confirmation number of payment must be included with the request. Payment can also be made by cashier's check and money order. For your convenience, the County Clerk’s office has a drop box located at our Travis Building/Main office location across from the Mail Room at 301 Jackson Street, Richmond Texas 77469. Please ensure that your request is securely packaged in an envelope with appropriate payment and valid return address. For additional information, visit the Marriage Licenses page

DBA/Assumed Name

You may complete the application online. Once completed, print it out and have it notarized. Pay online via the County Clerk website. Confirmation number of payment must be included with the request. Cashier's check and money order are accepted.  Mail the document to our office at 301 Jackson St., Richmond, TX  77469. For your convenience, the County Clerk’s office has a drop box at this location across from the Mail Room. Please ensure that your request is securely packaged in an envelope with appropriate payment and valid return address. For more information, please visit the DBA/Assumed Name website.

Recording of Real and Personal Property Documents

These documents may be e-Recorded or mailed. Please note that the following entities per Texas Local Government Code Chapter 195.003, may use e-Recording to electronically file documents with our office:

  • An attorney licensed in this state
  • Mortgage lenders, banks, and credit unions
  • State agencies
  • State licensed Title Companies and agents

Payment can be made online through the County Clerk's website. Confirmation number of payment must be included in the request. If the document is mailed, payment can be made with a cashier's check or money order. For your convenience, the County Clerk’s office has a drop box located at our Travis Building/Main office location across from the Mail Room at 301 Jackson Street, Richmond Texas 77469. Please ensure that your request is securely packaged in an envelope with appropriate payment and valid return address. For additional information, visit the Recording website. After recording, the document will be returned to the customer via standard mail.

Foreclosures

Foreclosures can be emailed to the Records Division (cclerkrecords@fortbendcountytx.gov). Payment can be made online through the County Clerk's website. Confirmation number of payment must be included with the request. For your convenience, the County Clerk’s office has a drop box located at our Travis Building/Main office location across from the Mail Room at 301 Jackson Street, Richmond Texas 77469. Please ensure that your request is securely packaged in an envelope with appropriate payment and valid return address.  For more information, contact the County Clerk staff.

Legal Postings

Email legal postings to ccposting@fortbendcountytx.gov. Payment can be made through a previously established escrow account or online at the County Clerk's website. Delivery can also be made by mail or Fax. For more information, contact the County Clerk staff.

Certified Copies of Court Documents

Complete the online form to request copies of court documents. Payment can be made online through the County Clerk website. Confirmation number of payment must be included with the request. Email the request form and payment confirmation to the Courts Division (cclerkcourts@fortbendcountytx.gov). You may also mail it to our Richmond location at 301 Jackson St., Richmond, TX 77469. For your convenience, the County Clerk’s office has a drop box located at the Justice Center beside the handicap access ramp at 1422 Eugene Heimann Circle, Richmond Texas 77469. Please ensure that your request is securely packaged in an envelope with appropriate payment and valid return address.

Case Filings for County Court at Law

Most filings for court cases in the County Court of Law are eFiled through the eFile provider of your choice. For additional information, please contact the County Clerk staff.

Misdemeanor Payments

Payments for fines and court costs can be made online through the County Clerk website.  Confirmation of payment must be included with the request. Your case number is required. Payment can also be mailed. Cashier's check or money ordered are also accepted. For your convenience, the County Clerk’s office has a drop box located at the Justice Center beside the handicap access ramp at 1422 Eugene Heimann Circle, Richmond Texas 77469. Please ensure that your request is securely packaged in an envelope with appropriate payment and valid return address. 

** Fees for all documents can be found at County Clerk Fee Schedules **

Online Record Search

Should you need to search online records or purchase non-certified copies, go to Online Records Search.

The following records can be searched at Online Records Search.

Official Public Records                             Foreclosures                               Birth Certificates (index only)

Court Records                                            Marriage Records                       Death Certificates (index only)

Commissioners Court Agenda and Minutes

Recording

The Fort Bend County Clerk is the recorder and custodian of important public records, ensuring that these records are maintained in a secure, archival manner. 

Official Public Records (OPR) consist of all publicly accessible documents recorded by this office and may include deeds, plats, mortgage documents, easements, assumed names (DBA), powers of attorney, bills of sale, and liens. 

The Fort Bend County Clerk's permanent online library contains millions of documents from 1821 to the present.

Search Official Public Records

Property Code Sec. 5.0261 provides a streamlined procedure for addressing discriminatory provisions in real property records. Senate Bill 30, which took effect on September 1, 2021, amends Property Code Sec. 5.0261 to establish a process for a property owner, or another person that the owner authorizes, to request a judicial review of specific property records to determine whether they contain prohibited discriminatory provisions.
Property Code Sec 5.0261 sets out the contents of the documents required to be submitted to the court as well as a suggested format for the court’s findings and order. No filing fees may be charged under the statute.
To view the language of the Code and the format for filing with the court as well as the format for the court’s findings and order, go to Texas Constitution and Statues – Property Code-Conveyances.

Please note: Digital signatures are acceptable on a document that has been filed with the county clerk electronically by code requirements (eRecording). A paper document that contains a copy of a digital signature or signatures does not meet requirement of Property Code 12.00011 that requires a document to have an original signature. To allow for a paper document to be recorded with electronic signatures, the notary must attach a “tangible paper declaration” to the paper copy of the electronically signed instrument. Property Code 12.0013


 

E-Filing Rules

Court of Criminal Appeals Mandate for Criminal E-Filing Supreme Court Orders and Rules, County Courts at Law Judges, and the Texas Supreme Court have adopted the following rules regarding the electronic filing of court documents within Fort Bend County. The signature page of the judges is on file with the County Clerk for viewing. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Courts Division (cclerkcourts@fortbendcountytx.gov). 

Local Rules

Supreme Court Orders and Rules

Please go to http://www.efiletexas.gov/ for more information or to register as a new user of the eFile system. 

Division Supervisor - Records
First Assistant County Clerk
Division Supervisor - Case Management
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