Quicklinks
Texas Counties Deliver – learn how county government serves you
County Clerk
County Clerk
Brook Bussell

Office Hours: 
Monday - Thursday 8:15 – Noon and 1:00 – 4:30
Closed for Lunch Noon to 1:00 

Fridays 8:15 – 3:30
We do not close for lunch on Fridays.

 

Phone: 903-537-8357
Fax: 903-537-2962
Contact: countyclerk@co.franklin.tx.us

200 North Kaufman Street
Mount Vernon, TX 75457

Franklin County Clerk's office now offers eRecording through CSC, Simplifile and ePN.

Need help with a legal problem? See See Self-Help Notice.

Texas Court Help 

Online Records:

Effective November 3, 2025: Our new Records Public Access website is LIVE! Please visit https://countyclerkrecords.co.franklin.tx.us/web/ to get started today!

The Franklin County Clerk's office offers FRAUD NOTIFY to protect your property.  This is a FREE service for Franklin County property owners.  All you need to do is visit HERE to sign up. By registering, you will receive email notification any time a document with your name is filed in the property records.

You may search and view records online for free. Images are clear and not distorted.  To print online copies, pay with credit or debit card.  The UNOFFICIAL wording will be removed after purchasing.  Monthly subscriptions are available for unlimited printing of documents or you may purchase copies as you go. You will need to register a user name and password.

Deed records are online (indexed and imaged) from 1843 forward. Contract and Lien / Oil and Gas Lease Records are online (indexed and imaged) from 1910 forward.  If you find a document that does not have an image, please let us know and we will correct the problem.

Please contact the County Clerk's office if you need assistance.  903-537-8357

The Texas Legislature recently amended the Property Code to provide a streamlined procedure for addressing discriminatory provisions in real property records. Although state law already declared restrictions and provisions in real property records that prohibit the use, sale or transfer of real property to a person based on race, color, religion, or national origin to be void and unenforceable, Senate Bill 30, which took effect on September 1, 2021, establishes a  process for a property owner, or another person that the owner authorizes, to request a judicial  review of specific property records to  determine whether they contain prohibited discriminatory provisions.  The bill sets out the contents of the documents required to be submitted to the court as well as a suggested format for the court’s findings and order. Under certain circumstances, the court may issue its determination without conducting a hearing. No filing fees may be charged under the statute.

To view the language of the bill and the format for filing with the court as well as the format for the court’s findings and order, use the link: 87(R) SB 30 - Enrolled version (texas.gov)

Important Notices & Deadlines: 

Deadline to Record Documents:  Monday-Thursday 4:00 PM, Fridays 3:00 PM
      
Marriage License: Monday-Thursday 8:15 AM-11:30 AM & 1:00 PM-3:30 PM, Fridays 8:15 AM-3:30 PM

 

  • PHOTO ID is required to obtain a certified copy of a birth or death record and you must be an immediate family member.  If you need your birth certificate to get your ID, please have a qualified applicant apply for your birth certificate.

    PROPERLY QUALIFIED APPLICANT:  the registrant; a member of his or her immediate family either by blood or marriage, including parent, grandparent, sibling, child, spouse, etc.; his or her legal guardian (must show written proof); his or her legal representative or agent (must show written proof).

    EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 3, 2025: YOU MAY NOW SECURELY REQUEST VITAL RECORDS ONLINE!  Please visit https://countyclerkrecords.co.franklin.tx.us/web/ to get started! Don't be tricked into paying HIGH PRICES for your VITAL RECORDS from an unofficial website. Always purchase from your local County Clerk's Office.

    Birth Certificate: 
    Certified Copy Fee- $23.00 
    Application by Mail
    We can issue certified birth certificates if you were born in the State of Texas.  Please call 903-537-8357 before you come in person to verify we can issue your out-of-county birth certificate.

    Death Certificate: 
    Certified Copy Fee- $21.00 for the first and $4.00 for each additional if purchased at the same time.
    Application by Mail


  • Marriage License Issuance Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:15 AM-11:30 AM & 1:00 PM-3:30 PM; and Fridays 8:15 AM-3:30 PM. It takes approximately 20 minutes to issue the license. Licenses are not issued after 3:30 unless prior arrangements have been made (pending availability). Appointments are not required, but are encouraged. 
     
    Marriage License- $81.00 (without TWOGETHERINTEXAS certificate)
          $21.00 (with TWOGETHERINTEXAS certificate)
          Marriage License Application 

    Declaration of Informal Marriage- $51.00
          Informal Marriage Application 

    The provided application (above) may be filled out in advance to assist our clerks.  The clerks will input your information into our computer system and all signatures will be executed in front of the clerks. Both parties still need to appear as well as present driver's license and social security cards.  The provided applications are for convenience purposes only.  These applications are not the official applications that will be sent in to the State.

    WARNING: IT IS A FELONY TO FALSIFY INFORMATION ON THIS DOCUMENT. THE PENALTY FOR KNOWINGLY MAKING A FALSE STATEMENT ON THIS FORM OR FOR SIGNING A FORM WHICH CONTAINS A FALSE STATEMENT IS 2 TO 10 YEARS IMPRISONMENT AND A FINE OF UP TO $10,000. (HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE, CHAPTER 195, SEC. 195.003)

    What do I need to do to get a marriage license?
    Must be applied for in person.  Bring your Driver's license (photo id) and your social security card or number.  Neither party can be presently married, and both parties must be divorced for more than 30 days (unless you are remarrying or waived in the divorce decree). The marriage license will expire if not used within 90 days. You must wait at least 72 hours after the purchase of the marriage license to marry unless a waiver has been obtained from a Judge.  We do not issue marriage license after 3:30 PM unless prior arrangements have been made.
    Please call 903-537-8357 if you have any questions.

    Marriage education courses are being offered by TWOGETHER IN TEXAS.  Visit www.twogetherintexas.com for more information. If both parties complete a qualified education course, $60 of the $81 marriage license fee will be waived as well as the 72-hour waiting period.  An original certificate from Twogether in Texas MUST be presented at the time of the purchase of the marriage license.  We will not accept a copy of the certificate.  The certificate must be the original.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

Cash, *Checks, **Credit/Debit Cards, Cashier's Check, or Money Order

*No out-of-state checks accepted.  All checks must have the driver's license and phone number of signer otherwise your documents may be returned unrecorded. We do not accept checks for birth certificates, death certificates, or marriage licenses.   If you have questions about us accepting your check, please contact us at 903-537-8357. Return check fee $30. Returned checks will not be re-deposited.
**A convenience fee will be assessed for all card payments. Credit/ Debit cards accepted: Discover, Visa, or MasterCard. We do not accept American Express. Payments may not be made over the phone. A link and instructions for our online payment option can be emailed upon request by calling 903-537-8357.