Smith County Background Check Records
Smith County background check records are available through three main offices in Tyler: the County Clerk, the District Clerk, and the Sheriff's Office. Smith County is the most populous county in East Texas, with over 233,000 residents, and its court system handles a high volume of criminal and civil filings each year. You can search Smith County background check records online through the county website and state court portals, or visit the offices in Tyler directly. Each office keeps different record types and serves different parts of the court system.
Smith County Overview
Smith County Clerk Background Check Records
County Clerk Karen A. Phillips oversees the Smith County Clerk's Office, which is the main custodian for misdemeanor criminal records, civil court filings, probate cases, real property records, and vital records. The office is at 200 E. Ferguson St., Suite 100, Tyler, TX 75702. Mailing address is PO Box 1018, Tyler, TX 75710. Phone is (903) 590-4600. Fax is (903) 590-4601. Email is countyclerk@smith-county.com. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
The County Clerk maintains misdemeanor criminal case records from the county courts at law, including Class A and Class B cases. Real property records go back to 1846 when Smith County was organized. You can find deed records, liens, assumed name filings, marriage licenses, birth and death certificates, probate files, and commissioners court minutes all with this office. The Smith County website at smith-county.com provides additional contact and service information.
Copy fees are $1 per page for plain copies. Certified copies require a $5 certification fee in addition to the per-page cost. Recording fees are $26 for the first page and $4 for each additional page. Birth certificates cost $23; death certificates are $21 for the first copy and $3 for each additional. Mail requests need a written description, correct payment, and a return envelope.
| Office | Smith County Clerk |
|---|---|
| County Clerk | Karen A. Phillips |
| Address | 200 E. Ferguson St., Suite 100, Tyler, TX 75702 |
| Mailing Address | PO Box 1018, Tyler, TX 75710 |
| Phone | (903) 590-4600 |
| Fax | (903) 590-4601 |
| countyclerk@smith-county.com | |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Website | smith-county.com |
The Smith County website provides contact information, office hours, and links to county departments including the County Clerk and other public record offices in Tyler.
Use this site to find current department contact details, office locations, and links to online services available through Smith County.
Smith County District Clerk Criminal Records
District Clerk Tamika R. Hightower manages the Smith County District Clerk's Office, which keeps felony criminal records, civil district court filings, and family law cases for Smith County. The office is at 100 N. Broadway, Suite 304, Tyler, TX 75702. Mailing address is PO Box 1146, Tyler, TX 75710. Phone is (903) 590-4670. Fax is (903) 590-4671.
Smith County has multiple district courts handling felony criminal cases, civil matters, and family law. These are some of the busiest courts in East Texas. Felony background check records, family law cases, and large civil suits all go through this office. Online case searches are available through the statewide re:SearchTX portal, which lets you search Smith County district court dockets by name or case number. E-filing for civil and family cases is required and goes through eFileTexas.gov.
The District Clerk also processes expunctions and orders of nondisclosure in Smith County. An expunction removes records from public access entirely. A nondisclosure seals certain records from public view but does not affect law enforcement access. Both proceedings can affect what appears in a Smith County background check search.
| Office | Smith County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| District Clerk | Tamika R. Hightower |
| Address | 100 N. Broadway, Suite 304, Tyler, TX 75702 |
| Mailing Address | PO Box 1146, Tyler, TX 75710 |
| Phone | (903) 590-4670 |
| Fax | (903) 590-4671 |
| Courts Served | Multiple district courts in Smith County |
Smith County Sheriff Arrest Records
Sheriff Larry R. Smith leads the Smith County Sheriff's Office. The main office is at 121 N. Spring St., Tyler, TX 75702. Mailing address is PO Box 1018, Tyler, TX 75710. Non-emergency phone is (903) 590-2600. Fax is (903) 590-2601. For emergencies, call 911.
The Sheriff's Office handles arrest records, incident reports, and jail operations for Smith County. Arrest records are public records under the Texas Public Information Act. Written requests go to the Sheriff's Records Division and the office has 10 business days to respond. Copy fees may apply. The Sheriff's Office also handles sex offender registration for Smith County. All registered sex offenders are in the statewide Texas DPS Sex Offender Registry.
For state prison inmate records, use the TDCJ offender search at tdcj.texas.gov. That system covers all Texas Department of Criminal Justice facilities and is separate from the county jail system in Tyler.
| Office | Smith County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Sheriff | Larry R. Smith |
| Address | 121 N. Spring St., Tyler, TX 75702 |
| Mailing Address | PO Box 1018, Tyler, TX 75710 |
| Phone | (903) 590-2600 |
| Fax | (903) 590-2601 |
| Emergency | 911 |
Smith County Court System
Smith County has multiple district courts, each dedicated to specific types of cases. Felony criminal courts, civil district courts, and family law courts all operate in Tyler. Records from all district courts go through the District Clerk's office at 100 N. Broadway. County courts at law handle Class A and B misdemeanor cases and probate matters. The County Clerk at 200 E. Ferguson maintains those records.
The re:SearchTX portal provides online access to Smith County district court dockets. This is one of the most useful free tools for background check searches in this county. You can search by party name or cause number and get case status, filing dates, and hearing information. The statewide DPS criminal history search at the FACT Clearinghouse covers Smith County records along with all other Texas counties.
Note: E-filing is required for civil and family law cases in Smith County district courts. All electronic submissions go through eFileTexas.gov. Filings submitted before the daily cutoff are processed the same business day.
Online Background Check Search Tools for Smith County
Multiple online tools help you search Smith County background check records without visiting the courthouse in Tyler. The Smith County website links to county departments and services. The statewide re:SearchTX portal covers district court records for Smith County and can be searched by name or case number for free.
For official statewide criminal history, the Texas DPS FACT Clearinghouse provides name-based searches for $3 each. This covers criminal history from all Texas counties, not just Smith County. The Texas DPS Sex Offender Registry is searchable by name or location. For TDCJ state prison records, use tdcj.texas.gov.
- Smith County Website - County department contacts and links
- re:SearchTX - Statewide court records portal
- Texas DPS FACT Clearinghouse - Criminal history name search
- TDCJ Offender Search - State prison database
- Texas Sex Offender Registry - DPS offender registry
Note: Name-based searches may return multiple results for common names. Use date of birth and full legal name to narrow results and confirm the right person's record.
Nearby Counties
Smith County is the hub of the Tyler metro area in East Texas. These surrounding counties each have their own court systems and clerk offices.