Dallas County Genealogy Records

Dallas County genealogy records are held at the County Clerk's office in downtown Dallas, and the county maintains one of the most extensive public records collections in Texas. The county was formed in 1846 and has grown into the second most populous county in the state, meaning its records reflect waves of migration from across the country and around the world. Birth and death records, marriage licenses, land deeds, probate files, and civil court documents are all available through county and state sources. This page explains where to search and what to expect from each type of record.

Dallas County Clerk and Vital Records

The Dallas County Clerk is located at the Records Building, 500 Elm Street, Suite 2100, Dallas, TX 75202. Phone: (214) 653-7099. The clerk holds birth and death records for areas outside the Dallas city limits but within the county, covering 1903 to the present. An online public records search covers documents from 1964 to present, accessible through the county website.

Dallas County was formed in 1846 from Nacogdoches and Robertson Counties and named for George Mifflin Dallas, who was serving as U.S. Vice President at the time. A courthouse fire in 1860 destroyed some early records, so researchers tracing families from the 1840s and 1850s may find gaps. Records surviving from before the fire include some deed books and court filings. Marriage records at the county clerk go back to the county's founding and are among the best early sources for genealogy data.

The city of Dallas maintains its own vital records office at Dallas City Hall. The Dallas City Secretary Vital Statistics office at 1500 Marilla Street handles birth and death records for events within city limits from 1903 to present. If your ancestor was born or died within the city limits, this is the correct office to contact rather than the county clerk.

The county clerk portal shown above is the primary starting point for Dallas County genealogy searches, with online access to deed indexes, vital records, and other public filings.

Dallas Public Library Genealogy Collection

The Dallas Public Library Genealogy Division at 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX 75201, phone (214) 670-1433, is one of the premier genealogy research libraries in Texas. The collection includes over 111,700 volumes, 64,500 microfilms, 89,000 microfiche, and 700 maps. The military records collection is one of the most complete in the nation, covering Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War records including Confederate pension indexes.

The library is a FamilySearch Affiliate Library, which means researchers can access the full FamilySearch catalog and request microfilm from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Texas county records, census records, and vital indexes are available on site. The genealogy division holds materials covering not just Dallas County but the broader United States, making it a strong resource for tracing Dallas families back to their origins in other states.

Dallas County's main web portal links to the clerk, district clerk, and other offices that maintain records useful for family history research.

Land, Probate, and Court Records

Land records in Dallas County go back to 1846 and are among the richest genealogical sources available. Deed books, mortgage records, and plat maps document property transfers across generations. The county clerk's online search covers recorded documents from 1964 forward. For earlier records, researchers can visit the Records Building in person or access microfilmed records through the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Probate records at the county clerk include wills, estate inventories, guardian files, and heirship determinations. Dallas County probate records from the mid-1800s onward can be especially detailed for urban families, documenting property, business interests, and the names of all heirs. Court filings and civil case records are held by the Dallas County District Clerk, which handles divorce records and civil case archives as well.

The Portal to Texas History at the University of North Texas has digitized the Dallas Morning News Historical Archive and other local newspapers. Obituaries, legal notices, and news items in these archives frequently provide genealogical details not found in official records.

Dallas Genealogical Societies and Research Groups

Dallas County has active genealogical organizations that support local research. The Dallas Genealogical Society is based at 391 Las Colinas Blvd E, Suite 130, Irving, TX 75039, and publishes "The Dallas Journal," a quarterly with research articles, index abstracts, and contributed family records. Membership includes access to the society's library holdings and research assistance.

The National Archives at Fort Worth holds federal census records, military pension files, land entry documents, and immigration records covering Texas. Dallas County residents appear in all federal censuses from 1850 onward, with census records being one of the best tools for tracking family movements into and around the Dallas area.

The Texas State Genealogical Society offers research guides, seminars, and a quarterly journal covering all Texas counties. Their annual seminar often focuses on records and methods relevant to major Texas counties including Dallas. The TXGenWeb Project maintains a Dallas County page with volunteer-contributed indexes and research resources.

Note: The Dallas County District Clerk handles divorce, civil, and criminal court records separately from the County Clerk office.

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