Searching Duval County: what to expect
Searches in Duval County run on two layers: a few county-run sources (2 below) and Texas's statewide databases for everything else. No online docket is listed for the county itself; the Texas court records page maps the alternatives, and the clerk fills direct requests. Locally, co.duval.tx.us takes care of general county records, while duvalcad.org covers parcel and property-tax data. One gap: vital records aren't published by the county itself. Use the Texas vital records page for those.
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by SearchSystems Editorial Team — verified against official government sources. About our editorial process.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: all Duval County record-source URLs verified against the official local and Texas state publishers on the review date. 3 primary .gov / official sources cited below.
Duval County — Key Numbers (2026)
Population, demographics, and county-seat data for Duval County, Texas — verified against U.S. Census 2024 estimates.
9,585
Population
Census estimate
2,892
Households
Census estimate
$50,697
Median income
Annual household
$76,000
Median home value
Census ACS
San Diego
County seat
In Texas
Criminal records
1 source
Court records
1 source
Wants & warrants
see state portal
Property records
4 sources
Vital records
see state portal
Voter records
see state portal
Professional licenses
see state portal
Recorded documents
see state portal
Count of verified official sources per record type. Multiple sources One source Use state portal
Duval County Records at a Glance
| Record type | Duval County verified sources |
|---|---|
| Court records | TJB | Judicial Data | Judicial Directory |
| Criminal records | Texas DPS — Crime Records |
| Wants & warrants | |
| Property records | Duval County Appraisal District Privacy Policy - Duval County Texas - ACT |
| Vital records | Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) |
| Voter records | Texas SOS – My Voter Portal |
| Professional licenses | TDLR Active License Search |
Count of officially verified .gov / .us record sources cataloged for Duval County. Sources reviewed June 04, 2026.
What Changed in 2026 — Duval County Records
2026
Duval County court records portal verified
State court system links for Duval County verified against the Texas judiciary portal in 2026.
2026
Duval County criminal records access
State criminal records repository for Duval County (statewide system, not county-specific) confirmed active in 2026.
2026
Duval County property records online
Duval County property assessment and recorder office online portal active in 2026.
2026
FBI Identity History Summary (federal complement)
For records that may exist outside Texas, the FBI Identity History Summary at fbi.gov complements all county-level state records.
The 4-Step Duval County Records Pathway
1
Step 1 — Start at the Duval County clerk/courthouse
For most local records (court cases, property deeds, marriage licenses), the Duval County clerk's office is the first stop.
2
Step 2 — Use the Texas statewide systems
Criminal background, court case search, voter registration, and professional licensing are all run at the Texas state level — not by the county.
3
Step 3 — Federal sources for federal records
Federal court cases (PACER), federal tax liens (IRS), military records (NPRC), and immigration data (ICE) are all federal — not held by the county.
4
Step 4 — Cross-check before relying on data
Most county portals lag 24-48 hours behind the courthouse. For time-sensitive verification, call the clerk directly.
Five Things People Get Wrong About Duval County Records
MYTH"Duval County maintains all criminal records."
FACTCriminal records for Duval County are held by the Texas state repository, NOT the county. The county sheriff has only the local arrest log.
MYTH"Records sealed in Duval County are gone everywhere."
FACTSealing removes records from public search but they still exist at the courthouse and may appear in FBI records (Identity History Summary).
MYTH"Free 'instant background' sites have Duval County data."
FACTOnly the official Texas state repository has verified, current Duval County data. Free sites often have stale data.
MYTH"The Duval County assessor's value is what I'll sell my home for."
FACTThe Duval County assessor's value is for property tax purposes only — usually below market value.
MYTH"All county records older than 50 years are public."
FACTPartially false. Public-records rules vary by record type AND state. Court records and deeds are usually older-public; vital records remain restricted longer (often 75-125 years).
Primary Sources and Official Record Portals
- www.txcourts.gov — Court records — official source
- www.dps.texas.gov — Criminal records — official source
- fbi.gov — FBI Identity History Summary (federal record)
Related — Duval County & Texas Records
For records not specific to Duval County, use Texas's statewide system or the national hub.
📍 Texas statewide record systems:
- Texas Court Records →
- Texas Criminal Records →
- Texas Property Records →
- Texas Vital Records →
- Texas Voter Records →
- Texas Wants & Warrants →
- Texas Licenses →
- Texas Recorded Documents →
🇺🇸 National hubs:
Related Public Records
Texas statewide records: Court records · Criminal records · Wants & warrants · Property records · Vital records · Voter records · Licenses · Recorded docs
National directories: Court records · Criminal records · Property records · Vital records · Federal databases
Looking for a person, not a database? Start with the Texas guides:
About Duval County, Texas
Duval County is located in the South Texas Region of Texas. The county seat is San Diego.
- Population: 9,585
- Households: 2,892
- Median household income: $50,697
- Median home value: $76,000
- Below poverty line: 21.6%
- Land area: 1,793.5 sq mi
- Population density: 5.3 people / sq mi
- Public libraries indexed: 3
- NCES schools indexed: 9
Duval County, Texas
Free
This office answers most records requests in Duval County. It is an official government source.
Duval County Appraisal District
Official Free
Welcome to our website! Our goal is to provide our users with accurate, usable information to assist in easily finding any data regarding property taxes in Duval County. If there is data you need that does not appear on our website, or if you have suggestions, I invite your input.
Privacy Policy - Duval County Texas - ACT
Official Free
Appraisal & Collection Technologies, LLC (ACT, we or us) provides and maintains this web site ("Site") and the associated database on behalf of the Duval County (Tax Office). We take your privacy seriously.
Texas Land Records | Multi-County Deed Search
Official Free
Shared search portal used by dozens of Texas county clerks for recorded land documents — deeds, mortgages, and liens in one interface. Pick the county first; index coverage and image years differ from clerk to clerk.
Duval CAD Property Search
Official Free
Assessment and tax records covering Duval County are published through this system. Confirm details with the official property and tax office before relying on them.
TJB | Judicial Data | Judicial Directory
Official Free
Court case information for Texas. Try surname-only searches when a full name returns nothing; spelling variations are common. Fee waivers and forms usually live on the same court site.
Texas DPS — Crime Records
Official Free
The Crime Records Division of the Texas DPS — home of the state's conviction database, fingerprint services, and criminal history review. Start here for any official Texas background check question.
PublicSite Sor Public SORNA
Official Free
Under Art. 62.403(b), a person with a single reportable adjudication or conviction may apply to the Council on Sex Offender Treatment for an individual risk assessment .
Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
Official Free
The Texas Department of State Health Services — custodian of birth and death records statewide and the agency behind Texas vital statistics. Certificate orders and eligibility rules start here.
Texas SOS – My Voter Portal
Official Free
Federal Resources White House Library of Congress "How To Find" State Resources State of Texas Texas State Comptroller Comptroller Ch 381 Agreement Database Texas Laws and Statutes Texas Forest Service Unclaimed Property · County Court Cancellations
TDLR Active License Search
Official Free
TDLR License Data Search (Active Licenses only) Search Help | Download License files | Download Other | Questions/Comments
Texas | County Voter Registrar Directory
Official Free
The Secretary of State's directory of county voter registrars — the office to contact about registration records in each of Texas's 254 counties. Addresses and phone numbers are kept current by the state.
Sales Taxpayer Search
Business, Voter & Other
Look up any active Texas sales-tax permit holder by name or taxpayer number. Useful for confirming a business is real and collecting tax legitimately.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up court cases in Duval County?
Duval County court cases are searchable through the TJB | Judicial Data | Judicial Directory portal: https://www.txcourts.gov/judicial-directory/. Texas also operates a state-level case lookup through the re:SearchTX system. For federal matters, see PACER.
Does an arrest show up on a background check before conviction in Texas?
Yes — in Texas, an arrest can appear on a name-based background check from the moment of booking, even before any court ruling. Whether it appears on an employment screening depends on the type of check (name-based vs. fingerprint-based) and how recent the arrest is.
Can I find out if someone is divorced in Texas?
Yes. Search the court case index for the person's name in the county where they lived. Most Texas counties offer free online case-search portals. The state vital records office also issues divorce verifications for a fee.
How do I run a Texas background check?
Texas background checks are handled by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Name-based searches are available through the official state portal (per-search fee applies). Fingerprint-based checks — required for licensing, foster care, and many employers — must be submitted through an approved vendor.