Access Fort Worth Genealogy Records
Fort Worth genealogy records are held at the Tarrant County level, not by the city itself. Birth certificates, death records, marriage licenses, and probate files are all filed with the county. For researchers tracing family history in Fort Worth, this page covers the county clerk office, local library collections, historical societies, and the main online databases for Texas genealogy.
Fort Worth Overview
Tarrant County Records for Fort Worth Families
Fort Worth is in Tarrant County, and the Tarrant County Clerk is where you find most genealogy records for families who lived here. The clerk holds birth and death records from 1903, marriage licenses going back further, deed records, and probate files. These records cover the entire county, including Fort Worth and surrounding communities.
The Tarrant County genealogy records page covers the clerk's office address, hours, phone number, and online access tools in detail. Land records and deed books are among the oldest records in the county and can trace property ownership through multiple generations. Probate files are especially rich for genealogy, often listing heirs, ages, and family relationships.
For records before 1903, the county may have earlier marriage registers, deed books, and some probate files. The exact start date depends on when Tarrant County was organized. For events in the Spanish or Mexican period, check the Texas General Land Office for land grant records and the Catholic Archives of Texas for sacramental records.
Vital Records for Fort Worth Genealogy
Texas vital records are maintained at two levels. The state holds the master collection at the Texas Department of State Health Services. The county clerk holds a local copy. For genealogy purposes, both sources can be useful. The state collection is more complete for modern records. The county collection may include older documents not in the state system.
Birth records are sealed for 75 years in Texas. Death records are sealed for 25 years. After those periods, the records become available to the public through the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC). If you are researching a recent death or birth, you need to be a qualified requester such as a direct family member or their authorized representative.
Marriage records in Texas have no statewide confidentiality period. You can request marriage record verifications from the Texas Department of State Health Services. Copies of the original license are held by the county clerk. The county clerk's records often go back further than the state's marriage index, so check both sources.
Note: For records of births and deaths that occurred in Fort Worth before the county or state system was established, check church records, family bibles, and cemetery transcriptions held by local historical societies.
Library Genealogy Resources in Fort Worth
The Fort Worth Public Library - Genealogy and Local History offers genealogy resources covering Tarrant County and North Texas, including newspapers, city directories, and census collections. It is one of the key resources for researchers tracing Fort Worth and Tarrant County families.
| Library | Fort Worth Public Library - Genealogy and Local History |
|---|---|
| Address | 500 W 3rd St, Fort Worth, TX 76102 |
| Phone | (817) 392-7323 |
| Website | https://www.fortworthlibrary.org/ |
Public libraries in Texas typically offer free access to genealogy databases like Ancestry Library Edition and HeritageQuest Online during library hours. These databases include U.S. census records, military records, immigration files, and digitized newspapers. Check the library's website for current hours and available resources.
State Resources for Fort Worth Genealogy Research
Several state-level resources support genealogy research for Fort Worth families. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) holds the largest collection of Texas genealogy materials in the state. Their archives include county records on microfilm, city directories, newspapers, census materials, and published family histories. Texas residents can access Ancestry.com free through their local library or TSLAC account.
The Portal to Texas History from the University of North Texas has digitized historical newspapers, photographs, maps, and some county records. Searching Fort Worth and Tarrant County in that database often turns up obituaries, legal notices, and community announcements that supplement official records.
The National Archives at Fort Worth holds federal records relevant to Fort Worth families, including census records from 1850 through 1940, military pension files, land entry records, and naturalization papers. Federal census records are especially valuable for locating families and tracking them across generations.
The Texas Historical Commission maintains a statewide database of historic cemeteries and markers. If you know where an ancestor was buried in or near Fort Worth, this database can help you locate the cemetery and find additional burial records.
Fort Worth Genealogy Records Online
Several online portals provide access to Fort Worth area genealogy records. The Tarrant County Clerk's website is the first stop for deed indexes, marriage records, and some vital records. The Texas Department of State Health Services handles vital records orders online through VitalChek.
Fort Worth City Secretary - an online resource for Fort Worth genealogy research.
The resource shown above is one of the key starting points for Fort Worth area genealogy research, providing access to records and search tools for Tarrant County families.
Tarrant County Genealogy Resources
Fort Worth is in Tarrant County. The county clerk holds the primary genealogy records for all communities in the county. For detailed information on the clerk's office, courthouse address, record availability, and online tools, see the Tarrant County genealogy records page.
Nearby Texas Cities
These nearby cities also have genealogy resource pages. Each page covers the county clerk and local resources for that area.