Access Nueces County Public Information & Records on Anyone

Free Nueces County Public Records Search
Access Nueces County Records: marriage, divorce, warrants, arrests, probation, criminal, court, background checks, and all public records.

Nueces County public records are an invaluable source of information about residents within the jurisdiction, including Corpus Christi. With a free public records search, you can learn more about someone else — or make sure there are no surprises in your own file.

Knowing where to start is half the battle but through this resource, citizens can find out which agencies host and distribute public information in Nueces County such as arrests, marriages, divorces, criminal offenses, court cases warrants, property records and more.

How To Search Nueces County Arrest Records & Mugshots for Free

The Texas Public Information Act grants everyone the right to request access to public records kept by the state, county, and local agencies (unless exempted by law).1 This includes jail records, arrest logs, and other public information involving law enforcement activity.

What’s more, the law stipulates that requesters don’t need to provide the reason why they’re looking for these Texas public records. That makes finding out more about someone’s criminal past safe and easy.

In Nueces County, researchers can track down information on arrests through the sheriff’s office and various local law enforcement agencies. Knowing the person’s full name and in which city or town they may have been arrested can make your search even more efficient.

Determine if Someone Was Arrested & Taken to a Nueces County Jail

There are two county-run detention facilities in the county: the Nueces County Jail and the McKinzie Jail Annex, which was built to help address overcrowding issues. Both jails are overseen by the Nueces County Sheriff’s Office.2

Unlike many other sheriff departments, the Nueces County Sheriff’s Office does not offer an inmate search feature on its website. Therefore, anyone who wants to locate records on Nueces County bookings or who is trying to find someone’s mugshot should contact the Sheriff’s Office or the facilities directly. They may be able to tell you if someone is currently incarcerated or even on which charges they were arrested.

The Nueces County Sheriff’s Office phone number is 361.887.2222 or you can try inquiring in person at the following address:

Nueces County Sheriff’s Office
901 Leopard Street
Corpus Christi, TX 78401

The phone number for the Nueces County Jail is 361.887.2300. The jail can also be visited in person at:

Nueces County Jail
901 Leopard Street
Corpus Christi, TX 78401

Finally, the McKinzie Jail Annex’s telephone number is 361.289.4200. If you wish to visit in person, the address is:

McKinzie Jail Annex
745 North Padre Island Drive
Corpus Christi, TX 78406

Both jails, as well as the Sheriff’s Office, are open 24/7.

Obtain Police Reports & Arrest Details via Law Enforcement Agencies Within Nueces County

If you’re unable to find the Nueces County arrest records you’re seeking through the Sheriff’s Office, the next recommended method is to check with the other law enforcement agencies serving the county’s cities and towns.

The largest city in Nueces County is Corpus Christi, which is also the county seat. The city’s police department operates the Magistration and Detention Center, where arrested individuals are held while awaiting processing.

Once processed, arrestees charged with a felony or a class A or B misdemeanor are transported to the Nueces County Jail. Individuals with lesser charges are released after processing.

To find out if someone is being temporarily held at the Magistration and Detention Center, you can contact the center by phone at 361.826.4176 or 361.826.4013. Or you can visit the center in person at the following address:

City of Corpus Christi Magistration and Detention Center
615 Leopard Street, Ste. 113A
Corpus Christi, TX 78401

In addition, the Corpus Christi Police Department can be reached by phone at 361.886.2600 or visited in person at:3

Corpus Christi Police
321 John Sartain St.
Corpus Christi, TX 78401

There are four other local police departments in Nueces County. Here’s the contact information for each of them to aid your search:

Local Police Department Address Phone Number
Robstown Police Department 430 East Main Ave.
Robstown, TX 78380
361.387.3531
Port Aransas Police Department 105 West Avenue A
Port Aransas, TX 78373
361.749.6241
Bishop Police Department 119 East 4th St.
Bishop, TX 78343
361.584.2443
Driscoll Police Department 130 West Avenue D
Driscoll, TX 78341
361.221.2902

How To Look Up Someone’s Criminal Record for Free in Nueces County, Texas

Nueces County criminal records can help researchers find out more about someone’s past. There are several types of criminal records to check, including information on charges and court cases, arrest warrants, probation sentences, and more.

While there are several state and county agencies that may offer insight into another person’s criminal history, the Nueces County court system is a good place to start.

View Criminal Case Notification Using the Nueces County Court Search Tool

Until relatively recently, only attorneys and paralegals could access Nueces County court records online. Luckily, that’s changed, and the county’s new Public Portal website is the best way to conduct a free criminal record check.

To start your search for this public records repository, all you need to enter is the first and last name of the party you’re researching. However, if the person in question has a common name, you probably want to add additional information to the search.

A screenshot of the Smart Search tool of Nueces County, Texas, where anyone can search for court records online with advanced filtering options for better results.
Source: Nueces County, Texas – Public Portal4

Clicking on the “Advanced Filtering Options” buttons will give you the chance to enter more search criteria, such as a range for the party’s date of birth, ethnicity, and judgment type.

Once you click “Submit,” the website will present you with a public index of results. To look up someone’s criminal record, scroll through the results with an eye on the “Type” column. There are a lot of court case types contained in the database, including civil, tax, and family matters.

Look for “Adult Felony” or “Adult Misdemeanor.”

Here’s a tip: You can make it easier to search the database by increasing the number of items displayed per page up to 200.

Clicking on a case number will yield more information about the case, including charges, pleas,  dispositions, and any sentences handed down.

Access Nueces County Criminal Records Through the District Clerk’s Criminal Division

The District Clerk’s Criminal Division maintains Nueces County public records having to do with criminal cases tried in the county.

Interested parties can request a Nueces County case search and order copies of criminal case records through the division’s office by fax or email.

If you live close to Corpus Christi, you can pick the copies up in person, or the court can mail them to you.

Either way, the cost is $1 per page, plus an additional $1 for certification.

To order the records, first complete the Customer Order Form for Criminal Copies found on the Criminal Division’s website.5 You’ll need to supply some pertinent information about the case, including the case number (misspelled on the form as “Cause Number”), the defendant’s name and date of birth, as well as your name, email address, and phone number.

A screenshot of the Customer Order Form for Criminal Copies of Nueces County, Texas, that can be filled out online providing the following information: case status. number of copies, date of request, and more.
Source: Nueces County, Texas5

Fill the form out online and then click “Continue.”

Your answers will then populate in an official order form. Click “Submit” to download a PDF that can be printed and faxed to the office at 361.888.0759 or emailed to [email protected].

The Criminal Division will call you once they’ve received the form and will tell you the total dollar amount owed, along with instructions for paying. The office accepts personal checks from Nueces County residents, as well as money orders and cashier’s checks from everyone else.

Once your payment has been received, the office will mail the requested copies to you or contact you to let you know they’re ready for pickup.

For more information about ordering criminal records, contact the Nueces County District Clerk’s Criminal Division at 361.888.0468.

The address for the office is:

Nueces County District Clerk – Criminal Division
901 Leopard St., 2nd Floor
Corpus Christi, TX 78401

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

See Criminal Case Information Using the City of Corpus Christi Search Tool

Corpus Christi, the Nueces County seat (or government center), maintains a Municipal Court that tries criminal cases punishable with only a fine that were committed within the city’s jurisdiction (along with traffic, health and safety, property, and other cases).

The court’s website has a Traffic/Criminal Case Search that can be used to find out if someone was a party in a criminal case.6 All that’s required is the person’s last name.

A screenshot of the Traffic/Criminal Case Search tool available on the Corpus Christi Municipal Court website with its sample results showing the citation numbers, docket numbers, defendant names, and violation dates.
Source: Corpus Christi Municipal Court Record Search Website6

However, this tool is very barebones. The results page will display only the defendant’s first and last names, the violation date, and the citation and docket numbers, as well as if there are any warrants connected to the case. Researchers can’t click on any hotlinks to retrieve more information, so there’s no way of knowing whether these cases were related to a traffic incident or something more nefarious.

Anyone seeking further details or clarification about criminal cases tried in the court should contact the Municipal Court at the following information:

City of Corpus Christi Municipal Court
120 North Chaparral St.
Corpus Christi, TX 78401

Phone: 361.886.2500

Courthouse hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

How To See Who or if Someone Has a Warrant Out for Their Arrest

There are several options for looking up Nueces County warrants, and this information can be found in-person, via phone, or online through various agencies and courts.

The first way to check is by contacting the Nueces County Sheriff’s Office. Unlike some other sheriff’s departments, the Nueces County Sheriff’s Office does not host a warrant search or “Most Wanted” list on its website.

However, interested parties can always call the office and ask if someone has an open warrant or even visit in person. (However, note that anyone who visits the Sheriff’s Office with an open warrant against them will be arrested on the spot.)

Here’s the contact information:

Nueces County Sheriff’s Office
901 Leopard Street
Corpus Christi, TX 78401

Phone: 361.887.2222

The office is open 24/7.

Another option is to use the county court system’s Public Portal website to search criminal cases that may have a warrant connected to them (of course, the warrants found this way may not be currently open).

When viewing case details, simply scroll through to find “Warrant of Arrest Issued” listed as one of the events.

Additionally, researchers can look up warrants issued by the Corpus Christi Police Department through the city’s Municipal Court Traffic/Criminal Case Search. All that’s needed to search the Municipal Court’s records is the party’s last name. Cases with active warrants connected to them will be displayed in red.

How To Search Probation Records & Determine Who’s on Probation in Nueces County

Nueces County’s Community Supervision and Corrections Department (CSCD) is in charge of probation services for offenders who are serving out their sentences at home. There’s no online search tool on the CSCD website for finding out whether or not someone is on probation in the county.

However, questions about the probation program can be directed to the CSCD at:

Nueces County CSCD
901 Leopard St., Room 310
Corpus Christi, TX 78401

Phone: 361.854.4122

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, the CSCD is closed daily for lunch between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.

In addition, requesters can use the Nueces County court system’s Public Portal website to find out if a probation sentence has been handed down in connection with a case. (See the section above on criminal court cases for instructions on using this tool.)

How To Perform a Background Check in Nueces County, Texas

There are many reasons why someone may want to perform a background check on another person — or even themselves.

Perhaps you want to run a check for personal purposes, either on your own name to make sure there are no surprises or inaccuracies the next time you apply for a job, or to look up information about a friend, colleague, romantic partner, neighbor or someone else.

Checks like these are considered personal background checks and can be done without the subject’s consent. These types of background checks can be done by scouring public records through the agencies this resource outlines, or through third-party sites that offer this information as a service.

On the other hand, a business, nonprofit, landlord, or other organization might conduct a background check on someone for employment or licensing reasons. These kinds of checks are considered professional background checks.

Professional background checks can be Level 1 name-based checks. Or they can be Level 2 checks, which involve fingerprinting. No matter what they’re based on, by law, professional background checks always require the written consent of the subject before they’re conducted.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act outlines many of these protections, and if you believe you may be the victim of an unlawful professional background check, agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Federal Trade Commission can assist – more information about these agencies and applicable statutes can be found at the bottom of this resource.7

As far as getting a background check done, Nueces County doesn’t offer a background check service or platform and instead, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) handles these screenings for employers and the public – both Level 1 (name) and Level 2 (fingerprint) screenings as well. Anyone can be looked up through their Criminal History Conviction Name Search feature that will check public records in all jurisdictions of the state, including Nueces County.8

This search doesn’t come free; each criminal history search costs $3. Researchers may purchase credits for searches with a credit card. However, be aware that this incurs a transaction fee of 2.25% plus 25 cents for each purchase

The DPS’s Crime Records Division will also run a Level 2 professional fingerprint check on another person (with their written consent, of course). These checks cost $15 each, plus an additional $10 for the fingerprint card.

The DPS also allows residents of Texas to request a Level 2 fingerprint check on themselves to verify the accuracy of their own records.

To request a Level 2 check on yourself, schedule an appointment for fingerprinting at a Finger Applicant Services of Texas (FAST) location (usually a law enforcement office) on the IdentoGO website. Make sure to bring a government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license or passport and $25 in payment. FAST vendors accept credit cards, business checks, and money orders — but not personal checks or cash.

After your fingerprints have been taken, the FAST vendor will submit them to the DPS and give you a receipt. The DPS will mail or email your results (depending on your stated preference) within 14 days.

How To Find Out if Someone Has a Criminal Record Throughout Texas

In addition to the county resources above there are many criminal record custodians in Texas that can be used by the public. Depending on the type of offense, these agencies include:

  • The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Inmate Information Search.8 This tool allows users to search records pertaining to Texas state prisoners in the department’s system. Searches can be made using the subject’s last name and first initial.
  • The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Search Tool. Researchers can use this resource to find out information about inmates incarcerated in BOP-run prisons. Users must supply both the first and last names of the subject.
  • The Texas DPS Sex Offender Registry. This service allows users to search for sex offenders based on their name or location. There is also an option to search for offenders on a map.
  • The U.S. Justice Department’s National Sex Offender Public Website. This site allows users to look up offenders by name and location.
  • The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Criminal History Conviction Name Search. Searches cost $3 per name, in addition to a credit card fee of 2.25% plus 25 cents. This guide’s section on conducting a background check includes more details about this search method.
A screenshot of the Inmate Information Search tool of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice showing a list of inmate records showing the name of the inmate, TDCJ number, race, gender, projected release date, unit of assignment, and age.
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety8

How To Perform a Nueces County, Texas Court Case Look Up

There are a number of different courts in Nueces County that handle all kinds of cases, from criminal trials to divorce disputes to traffic violations.

At the top level of county courts are the district courts. Nueces County has eight of these (the maximum number for a county in Texas). These courts hear cases pertaining to felonies and some misdemeanors, as well as divorces, land title disputes, slander and defamation suits, etc.

Nueces County also has five courts at law, which have jurisdiction over large civil lawsuits, misdemeanors, and probate matters.

There are also nine justice-of-the-peace courts that handle civil lawsuits involving less than $10,000, as well as misdemeanors that are punishable only by fine, rather than incarceration.

Find Nueces County Court Records via the Public Portal — Researchers need to use only one online tool, the Public Portal website, to search all of the Nueces County judicial records. To check this online directory of court records, searchers need to enter the first and last names of the party they’re looking up. But by clicking on “Advanced Filtering Options,” interested parties can enter more information to narrow down the search.

Clicking “Submit” will yield a list of court cases by name, number, file date, type, status, location, and the party’s date of birth (if it’s a criminal case).

A screenshot of sample results from the Smart Search tool showing the case number, file date, case type, status, location, and date of birth.
Source: Nueces County, Texas – Public Portal4

Click on the case number to find out more information, including the case status, court date, and rulings.

Request Nueces County Court Records from the District Clerk — Researchers can also request copies of Nueces County public records through the District Clerk’s Records Division. However, before ordering copies, be sure to know the case number, case title, status (pending or disposed), and document title that you’re looking for.

Copies cost $1 per page, plus an additional $1 for certified copies. Call the office at 361.888.0450 to find out the total you owe. The Records Division accepts personal checks from Nueces County residents, as well as money orders and cashier’s checks from everyone else.

Use the Customer Order Form for Civil Copies to generate a completed PDF that you can email to [email protected].

Once the office has received your payment, your request will be completed within 10 business days.

In addition, you can visit the District Clerk’s office at this address:

Nueces County District Clerk
901 Leopard St.
Corpus Christi, TX 78401

Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

It’s worth mentioning that anyone searching for historical court records can also use the Nueces County District Clerk’s QuickLink system to search court judgments made prior to 1991.9

Look Up Corpus Christi Municipal Court Records — In addition, Corpus Christi has its own Municipal Court that hears cases involving misdemeanors punishable by fines, traffic cases, health and safety complaints, property disputes, and other city ordinance-related matters.

As discussed in the criminal case section above, the Municipal Court’s website has a very basic search feature for criminal and traffic cases. There’s no way to search civil cases online. Instead, researchers can try contacting the Municipal Court using the following information:

City of Corpus Christi Municipal Court
120 North Chaparral St.
Corpus Christi, TX 78401

Phone: 361.886.2500

Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Find State Court Records Through the Texas Judicial Branch — For searching court records on a state level, researchers can use the Texas Office of Court Administration’s Directory Search. This database contains details and contact information for all of the courts located within the state.

A screenshot of the Directory Search tool of the Texas Office of Court Administration searchable by providing the requirements needed to find state-level records.
Source: The Texas Office of Court Administration10

How To See Marriage, Divorce, Birth & Death Records in Nueces County, Texas: Vital Records

Birth and death certificates, as well as information on marriages and divorces, are considered forms of vital records.

There are many reasons why someone would want to look up vital records. For example, you may need a copy of your birth certificate to apply for a passport or you may want to check if someone is married before going out on that second date. In addition, some researchers use vital records for genealogical purposes.

No matter the reason and as long as you know the person’s name, finding this information is relatively straightforward once you know where to look.

Determine if Someone Is Married or Divorced in Nueces County, Texas via County Records

The County Clerk maintains Nueces County public records pertaining to marriages, while the District Clerk keeps information on divorces. This guide will detail how to request records from either record custodian with success.

Find Nueces County Marriage Records — The County Clerk’s Official Records Search is the easiest way to find out if someone is married. This tool can be used to look up Nueces County marriage records going all the way back to 1851.

All that’s needed to start the search is to select “Marriage” in the department dropdown box and enter one of the party’s last names. Of course, because there are more than 150 years of records here, you may want to include a first name or provide a date range, as well.

A screenshot of the sample results of the Official Records Search tool provided by the County Clerk's Office showing the applicant 1 and 2's name, doc type, recorded type, marriage date, and doc number of these records.
Source: Nueces County Clerk11

Once you click the orange button, the website will display a list of search results. You’ll be able to see the names of both parties listed on the license, along with the date the license was recorded and the marriage date.

Requesters can register for a free account to export a basic record of the marriage (the party names, marriage date, and recorded date, as well as document numbers) to a PDF.

For more information on finding marriage records in Nueces County, interested parties can contact the County Clerk’s office or visit it in person using the following information:

Nueces County Clerk
901 Leopard St., Room 201
Corpus Christi, TX 78401

Phone: 361.888.0580

Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Researchers can also request marriage records from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). This agency maintains information on weddings in the state going back to 1966. However, it’s not free; the cost is $20 per record.

To order records from the DSHS, send the $20 payment along with a copy of your state-issued photo ID and a completed Application for Marriage or Divorce Record to:

Texas Vital Records
Department of State Health Services
1100 West 49th St.
P.O. Box 12040
Austin, TX 78756

A screenshot of the Mail Application for Marriage or Divorce Record form that must be completed and then submitted through mail to the official custodian when requesting these records.
Source: Texas Department of State Health Services12

Search Nueces County Divorce Records — The District Clerk maintains Nueces County divorce records. However, there’s no online search function here. Instead, you can request copies of divorce records by email if you know the divorce case number and styling in addition to the parties involved.

For this option, use the online Customer Order Form for Civil Copies to download a PDF you can email to [email protected]. The fee for copies is $1 per page (plus $1 for certification). The District Clerk’s office requests that you call them to find out the total owed.

The office will accept personal checks only from Nueces County residents. Everyone else may pay via cashier’s check or money order.

In addition, interested parties can visit the District Clerk’s office to request divorce records in person:

Nueces County District Clerk’s Office
901 Leopard St.
Corpus Christi, TX 78401

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There is an easier way to find out if someone is divorced — simply use the Nueces County court system’s Public Portal website. When scrolling through the results, simply look for the word “Divorce” in the “Type” column.

There’s one other way to search for Nueces County divorce records. For the fee of $20 per record, researchers can request official copies of divorce decrees from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Vital Records office. This office maintains divorce records dating back to 1968.

To order a divorce record this way, mail a completed Application for Marriage or Divorce Record along with payment and a copy of your government-issued photo ID to:

Texas Vital Records
Department of State Health Services
1100 West 49th St.
P.O. Box 12040
Austin, TX 78756

Check Nueces County Birth & Death Records Through the County Clerk

The process for obtaining a birth certificate or a death certificate from the Nueces County Clerk is nearly identical to the process above (other than the forms, prices, and limitations).

However, before starting your request, note that these types of vital records can be issued only to certain individuals.

A certificate of birth is only issued by the County Clerk to the following individuals:

  • The registrant
  • A parent, child, sibling, spouse, grandparent, legal guardian, or conservator of the registrant
  • A proven legal representative of the registrant

The office will issue a certificate of death only to:

  • A parent, child, sibling, spouse, grandparent, legal guardian, or conservator of the registrant
  • A proven legal representative of the registrant

Copies of birth certificates cost $23 a piece. Death certificate copies cost $21 for the first copy and $4 per additional copy.

Here are the steps for requesting either a birth or death certificate from the County Clerk:

  1. Print and fill out the Application for Certified Copies of Birth or Death Certificates13
  2. Complete the Notarized Proof of Identification section and sign the Affidavit of Personal Knowledge on the second page of the application in front of a notary public.
  3. Mail the completed application, notarized sworn statement, payment, and a copy of your government-issued photo ID to the address below:

Nueces County Clerk
Filing Dept.
P.O. Box 2627
Corpus Christi, TX 78403

Eligible parties may also order a certified birth certificate for $22 or a death certificate for $20 from the Texas Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) online. The DHHS accepts credit card payments online.

Finally, researchers looking for information on a Nueces County birth or death who are not relatives or legal representatives of the person in question may use a third-party record search service.

How To View Property Ownership & Property Taxes in Nueces County for Free

There are several ways to search Nueces County property records for free online.

The first method is through the county Tax Assessor-Collector’s website. Using the site’s search function, you can enter a name to find out what property they own — or search by address to find out who owns what.

After you click the “Search” button, the website will display results including each property’s account number, address, owner’s name and mailing address, legal description (block and lot numbers), as well as the CAD (County Appraisal District) reference number.

A screenshot of the Nueces County Tax Assessor-Collector's property search portal showing the list records about a property with the following details: account number, owner's name and address, property site address, legal description, CAD reference number and a link routing to further details about the property.
Source: Nueces County Tax Assessor-Collector14

By clicking on a hot-linked account number, researchers can find out more information about the property, including the property’s value and the amount of taxes owed.

For more information, contact the Tax Assessor-Collector’s office at:

Nueces County Courthouse

901 Leopard St., Room 301

Corpus Christi, TX 78401

Phone: 361.888.0230

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Nueces County Appraisal District also offers a search feature that allows users to look up properties by entering either the owner’s name or the street address.

A screenshot of a Nueces CAD property search portal is searchable by providing the following information: owner name, street number, street name, property ID, geographic ID, and other details.
Source: Nueces County Appraisal District15

Clicking the “Search” button will yield results including the property’s geographic and ID numbers, address, the owner’s name, and appraised value.

Clicking “More Details” will yield even more information about the property, including its value and deed histories. Clicking “View Map” will display the location of the parcel on a map. (Note that property boundaries displayed on tax maps are not surveyed lines and are only approximate.)

For more information, contact the Nueces County Appraisal District at:

Nueces County Appraisal District
201 North Chaparral St.
Corpus Christi, TX 78401

Phone: 361.881.9978

Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

One other way to find out information about property in Nueces County is by searching the records kept by the County Clerk’s office. The office maintains a handy search tool for looking up official records by name.

Make sure to select “Official Public Records” from the dropdown box.

The County Clerk’s office maintains all kinds of property records, including deeds, homestead designation affidavits, and lien notices.

By clicking on a search result, you can learn more about the record and sometimes even view related documents.

Interested parties can request more details about searching property records through the Nueces County Clerk by contacting:

Nueces County Clerk
901 Leopard St., Room 201
Corpus Christi, TX 78401

Phone: 361.888.0580

Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Citizens’ Responsibilities & Rights & Pertaining to Nueces County Public Records

Although the Texas Public Information Act grants everyone the right to access public records maintained by state, county, and local agencies (with some exceptions), it’s imperative that researchers use this information legally and responsibly.

As discussed in the section on background checks above, anyone can search these public records for their own personal use without having to notify the search subject first. However, you must not use this information to harass, intimidate, or stalk the person you’re researching. You also can’t use someone else’s records to commit identity theft or any other crime.

Information gained through a personal public records search also can’t be used to screen someone for employment or housing.

On the flip side, information searches by businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations for professional purposes require the written consent of the subject before they can be carried out.

These entities must also adhere to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which regulates how consumer information is used. According to FCRA, every U.S. resident has the right to:

  • Know what information is in their files
  • Dispute inaccurate information
  • Be notified if their information has been used against them
  • Seek damages if their FCRA rights have been violated

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also protect individuals from the unlawful use of personal information.16 If you believe that your records have been unjustly used against you, contact these agencies via the links above for help.

In addition, the Texas Workforce Commission and the Texas Civil Rights Project are committed to helping victims of discrimination and can be contacted for assistance.

Whether you want to find out more about another person or want to make sure your own records are correct, Nueces County public records offer a wealth of information and can be found quickly and efficiently by searching the agencies in this resource.


References

1Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. (n.d.). The Public Information Act. Retrieved September 27, 2023, from <https://comptroller.texas.gov/about/policies/open-records/public-information-act.php#:~:text=Texas%20Government%20Code%2C%20Chapter%20552,the%20disclosure%20of%20the%20information.>

2Nueces County, Texas. (n.d.). Sheriff. Retrieved September 27, 2023, from <https://www.nuecesco.com/law-enforcement/sheriff>

3City of Corpus Christi. (n.d.). Police Department. Retrieved September 27, 2023, from <https://www.cctexas.com/police>

4Nueces County, Texas. (n.d.). Public Portal. Retrieved September 27, 2023, from <https://portal-txnueces.tylertech.cloud/Portal/Home/Dashboard/29>

5Nueces County, Texas. (n.d.). Customer Order Form for Criminal Copies. Retrieved September 27, 2023, from <https://nuecescountytx.seamlessdocs.com/w/CriminalCopyRequest>

6City of Corpus Christi. (n.d.). Traffic/Criminal Case Search. Retrieved September 27, 2023, from <https://www.municipalrecordsearch.com/corpuschristitx/Cases>

7City of Corpus Christi. (n.d.). Traffic/Criminal Case Search. Results. Retrieved September 27, 2023, from <https://www.municipalrecordsearch.com/corpuschristitx/Cases/Search?SearchBy=Name&SearchByNameCriteria.LastName=smith&SearchByNameCriteria.FirstName=&SearchByNameCriteria.DateOfBirth=&SearchByNameCriteria.DriversLicenseNumber=&CitationNumberSearch=&DocketNumberSearch=&PDCaseNumberSearch=&WarrantNumberSearch=&VehiclePlateSearch=&VehicleStateSearch=&VINSearch=>

8Texas Department of Criminal Justice. (n.d.). Inmate Information Search. Retrieved September 27, 2023, from <https://inmate.tdcj.texas.gov/InmateSearch/start.action>

9Nueces County District Clerk. (n.d.). Welcome to Nueces County, Texas – District Clerk QuickLink. Retrieved September 27, 2023, from <https://kofilequicklinks.com/nuecestx_dc/Default.aspx>

10The Texas Office of Court Administration. (n.d.). Court Activity Reporting and Directory System. Directory Search. Retrieved September 27, 2023, from <https://card.txcourts.gov/DirectorySearch.aspx>

11Nueces County Clerk. (n.d.). Official Records Search. Results. Retrieved September 27, 2023, from <https://nueces.tx.publicsearch.us/results?department=MC&instrumentDateRange=18510110%2C20230926&searchOcrText=false&searchType=quickSearch&searchValue=smith>

12Texas Department of State Health Services. (2022, February). Mail Application for Marriage or Divorce Record. Retrieved September 27, 2023, from <https://www.dshs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/vs/doc/marr-div-verification-wedding.pdf>

13Nueces County Clerk. (2016, September). Application for Certified Copies of Birth or Death Certificates. Retrieved September 27, 2023, from <https://www.nuecesco.com/home/showpublisheddocument/27926/637587573036870000>

14Nueces County Tax Assessor-Collector. (n.d.). Find Your Property Tax Balances. Retrieved September 27, 2023, from <https://actweb.acttax.com/act_webdev/nueces/showlist.jsp>

15Nueces CAD. (2023). Property Search Options. Retrieved September 27, 2023, from <https://propaccess.trueautomation.com/clientdb/?cid=75>

16U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (n.d.). Discrimination by Type. Retrieved September 27, 2023, from <https://www.twc.texas.gov/>