Searching Franklin County: what to expect
Franklin County keeps a modest online footprint — 2 of the 13 sources below are the county's own; the rest is statewide coverage. Texas courts search county by county, and Franklin County has no public online docket listed — case records mean the clerk's office, or the statewide options on the Texas court records page. Two local sources do most of the work — franklin-cad.org for parcel and property-tax data, co.franklin.tx.us for general county records. For vital records there's no county-level source online — the statewide routes on the Texas vital records page cover that piece.
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by SearchSystems Editorial Team — verified against official government sources. About our editorial process.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: all Franklin County record-source URLs verified against the official local and Texas state publishers on the review date. 5 primary .gov / official sources cited below.
Franklin County — Key Numbers (2026)
Population, demographics, and county-seat data for Franklin County, Texas — verified against U.S. Census 2024 estimates.
10,912
Population
Census estimate
3,782
Households
Census estimate
$67,915
Median income
Annual household
$194,800
Median home value
Census ACS
Mount Vernon
County seat
In Texas
Criminal records
1 source
Court records
1 source
Wants & warrants
see state portal
Property records
4 sources
Vital records
1 source
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
Franklin County Records at a Glance
| Record type | Franklin County verified sources |
|---|---|
| Court records | 25.0003 • General statutory county court jurisdiction. |
| Criminal records | Texas DPS — Crime Records |
| Wants & warrants | |
| Property records | Franklin County Appraisal District checkHuman.title - County Government Records |
| Vital records | Start Date (Recording) 01/01/75 End Date (Recording) 05/31/1… |
| Voter records | Texas SOS – My Voter Portal |
| Professional licenses | TDLR Active License Search |
| Recorded documents | Open Records Policy Franklin County Sales Taxpayer Search |
Count of officially verified .gov / .us record sources cataloged for Franklin County. Sources reviewed June 04, 2026.
What Changed in 2026 — Franklin County Records
2026
Franklin County court records portal verified
State court system links for Franklin County verified against the Texas judiciary portal in 2026.
2026
Franklin County criminal records access
State criminal records repository for Franklin County (statewide system, not county-specific) confirmed active in 2026.
2026
Franklin County property records online
Franklin 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 Franklin County Records Pathway
1
Step 1 — Start at the Franklin County clerk/courthouse
For most local records (court cases, property deeds, marriage licenses), the Franklin 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 Franklin County Records
MYTH"Franklin County maintains all criminal records."
FACTCriminal records for Franklin County are held by the Texas state repository, NOT the county. The county sheriff has only the local arrest log.
MYTH"Records sealed in Franklin 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 Franklin County data."
FACTOnly the official Texas state repository has verified, current Franklin County data. Free sites often have stale data.
MYTH"The Franklin County assessor's value is what I'll sell my home for."
FACTThe Franklin 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
- publicsite.dps.texas.gov — Property records — official source
- www.co.franklin.tx.us — Vital records — official source
- fbi.gov — FBI Identity History Summary (federal record)
Related — Franklin County & Texas Records
For records not specific to Franklin 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
Skip the directory — step-by-step Texas guides that use these databases:
About Franklin County, Texas
Franklin County is located in the East Texas Region of Texas. The county seat is Mount Vernon.
- Population: 10,912
- Households: 3,782
- Median household income: $67,915
- Median home value: $194,800
- Below poverty line: 8.6%
- Land area: 284.4 sq mi
- Population density: 38.4 people / sq mi
- Public libraries indexed: 1
- NCES schools indexed: 4
Franklin County Appraisal District
Official Free
Property research in Franklin County starts here: parcels, assessments, and tax detail. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official property and tax office.
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.
Criminal History Name Search | TxDPS Crime Records Division
Official Free
The Texas DPS public conviction database. Anyone can run a name-based search of Texas convictions and deferred adjudications for a small per-search fee — the state's official public criminal check.
Franklin - 080 - Texas Comptroller
Official Free
Parcel and valuation data for Franklin County — ownership, assessed values, and property characteristics. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official property and tax office.
Franklin County, Texas
Free
Day-to-day records for Franklin County pass through the clerk's office reached here. If a link breaks, the office homepage at co.franklin.tx.us carries the new path.
25.0003 • General statutory county court jurisdiction.
Official Free
County Court 26.041-26.051 General county court jurisdiction. Justices of the Peace & Small Claims Courts - 5 4 precincts. Precinct 1, 2 places. Precincts 2 - 4, 1 place each. Franklin County District Courts - 2 8th 24.108 Also serves Delta, Hopkins, and Rains counties.
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.
Start Date (Recording) 01/01/75 End Date (Recording) 05/31/15 Grantor Grantee
Official Free
Marriage license records for Franklin County, Texas. Marriage records are among the more open vital records — most jurisdictions confirm a license exists to anyone. Older licenses may predate the index; the issuing office can search its books on request.
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
Welcome to Franklin County, Texas · Notice: 2027 Hotel/Motel Occupancy Tax (HOT) Funding Applications
TDLR Active License Search
Official Free
TDLR License Data Search (Active Licenses only) Search Help | Download License files | Download Other | Questions/Comments
Open Records Policy
Official Free
Texas Government Code, Chapter 552, gives you the right to access government records; and an officer for public information and the officer’s agent may not ask why you want them. All government information is presumed to be available to the public. Certain exceptions may apply to the disclosure.
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 Franklin County?
Franklin County court cases are searchable through the 25.0003 • General statutory county court jurisdiction. portal: https://www.txcourts.gov/All_Archived_documents/JudicialInformation/pubs/AR97/judad.htm. 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.
How long does an arrest stay on my record in Texas if I wasn't convicted?
In Texas, an arrest stays on your record indefinitely unless you petition the court to seal or expunge it, even if charges were dropped or you were found not guilty. Texas's rules for clearing non-conviction records are stricter than for convictions — start with the Texas Department of Public Safety.
How do I find someone in ICE custody?
Use the ICE Online Detainee Locator System (locator.ice.gov). You can search by A-number (alien registration number) or by biographical information (name, country of birth, date of birth). The system covers adult detainees currently in ICE custody.