Search Taylor County Background Check Records

Taylor County background check records are maintained by three offices in Abilene: the County Clerk, the District Clerk, and the Sheriff's Office. All three offices are located at 300 Oak St. in Abilene, which serves as the county seat. Taylor County is home to over 143,000 residents and has an active court system with multiple district courts. You can search records in person, by mail, or through state-level online tools that cover Taylor County criminal history.

Taylor County Clerk Records

The Taylor County Clerk is the primary custodian for misdemeanor criminal records, civil court filings, probate matters, real property records, vital records, and assumed name registrations. Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases from the county court are stored here. The clerk also maintains marriage licenses, birth and death certificates, and land records going back to the county's formation.

The County Clerk's office is located at 300 Oak St. in Abilene. Hours are Monday through Friday. Copy fees follow the standard Texas schedule: $1.00 per page for standard copies and a $5.00 certification fee on top for certified copies. Recording fees are $26 for the first page and $4 for each page after that. In-person requests require a valid photo ID. Mail requests need a written request, payment, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

The statewide re:SearchTX portal provides free online access to many Taylor County court dockets. Check re:SearchTX first to see if the records you need are available online before making a trip to Abilene. Property records and some older files may require an in-person or mail request directly from the clerk's office.

Taylor County District Clerk Felony Records

The Taylor County District Clerk handles felony criminal records, civil district court filings, and family law cases. Three district courts serve Taylor County: the 104th, 350th, and 419th District Courts. These courts handle the full range of felony cases including state jail felonies, third-degree, second-degree, and first-degree felonies. Family law cases including divorce, custody, and child support also flow through the district courts and are kept by the District Clerk.

The District Clerk's office is at 300 Oak St. in Abilene, same building as the County Clerk. Background check searches for felony records can be done in person or by mail. The office handles expunctions and nondisclosures as well. When the court grants an expunction, the District Clerk sends notice to all agencies that hold the record, which removes it from public access. Nondisclosures seal records from the public but not from law enforcement. Both processes affect what shows up in a Taylor County background check.

Note: E-filing is required for all civil, family, and probate cases in Taylor County. Submit new filings through eFileTexas.gov.

Taylor County Sheriff Arrest Records

The Taylor County Sheriff's Office manages arrest records, incident reports, and the county jail serving Abilene and surrounding communities. Arrest records in Texas are public and can be requested under the Texas Public Information Act. Submit a written request to the Sheriff's Office. The office has 10 business days to respond. Copy fees apply for staff time and document copies.

For inmate information, contact the Sheriff's Office directly. The Abilene Police Department handles city-level arrest records for incidents within city limits. Both the Sheriff and APD may have relevant records depending on where an arrest took place.

All registered sex offenders in Taylor County appear in the Texas DPS Sex Offender Registry. This statewide database lets you search by name or location for offenders registered in Abilene and anywhere else in Taylor County.

Taylor County Court System

Taylor County has three active district courts: the 104th, 350th, and 419th. All three handle felony criminal cases, civil matters, and family law. The county courts at law handle Class A and B misdemeanor cases and lower civil matters. These records go to the County Clerk. Justice of the Peace courts handle Class C misdemeanors, traffic violations, and small claims for Abilene and the surrounding area.

The re:SearchTX portal from the Texas Office of Court Administration often has Taylor County district court dockets available online. This is a free tool and worth checking before going to the courthouse. Search by party name or case number. It covers district and county-level courts across Texas, though coverage varies by county and time period.

For statewide criminal history, the Texas DPS Criminal History Name Search is a good starting point. It costs $3.00 per search and pulls conviction and deferred adjudication data from the DPS database for all Texas counties.

Online Background Check Tools for Taylor County

Taylor County does not have a dedicated county-level public records portal. The best online options are statewide tools. The Texas DPS Criminal History Name Search pulls conviction data for $3.00 per search. The re:SearchTX portal gives free access to court dockets. Together, these two tools cover most court-level background check data for Taylor County without a trip to Abilene.

For a certified background check, the Texas DPS FACT Clearinghouse provides fingerprint-based searches that give verified results. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice offender search is useful for anyone who served time in a Texas state prison, including those with Taylor County felony convictions.

The re:SearchTX portal provides online access to Taylor County court dockets and case records, allowing you to search by party name or case number without visiting the Abilene courthouse.

This statewide tool is free to use and is updated regularly with new case information from district and county courts across Texas.

Note: Name-based searches may return results for multiple people with the same name. Use the FACT fingerprint system when verified identification is required.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Taylor County or sit close by in West Texas. Each maintains its own court records and clerk offices.