COLLIN COUNTY COURTHOUSE
RESEARCH:
COUNTY HISTORY.
Collin County was created when Texas became a state, January 1, 1846.
Before statehood what is now
Collin County was part of Fannin County. Any records for before 1846 during the time of the Republic of Texas are in the
Bonham, Fannin County, courthouse. There are quite a few Collin County records in the Bonham
courthouse.
Before the Republic of Texas, before 1836, Collin County was part of Red River County.
Information on Collin McKinney, for whom McKinney and Collin County were named, is in the
Clarksville, Red River County, courthouse.
The courthouse
records are the same throughout the state. Courthouse records are called
primary sources, meaning they are the original records created at the time or
near the time of the event.
DISTRICT CLERK'S
OFFICE
The District Clerk's office in Collin County
is in the current courthouse on McDonald Street or Hwy 5. The District Clerk's
office holds all records where there is a legal matter where one person files
against another person and requires a judge's legal guidance/
direction/decision. This covers Divorces and Civil and Criminal Law Suits.
COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE.
The County Clerk’s office in Collin County is
in what was the County Jail in the 1980s, then the Juvenile Detention facility
in the early 1990s, and is now the Courthouse annex. It is the brick building
next to the current courthouse on McDonald Street or Hwy 5.
The county clerk is responsible for the records of births, deaths, marriages, deeds, plat maps, probate
and wills, and a few others. The more
recent deeds are on computers in the clerk’s office..
Records indices on the computer in the clerk’s office are:
PUBLIC MENU
1 Assumed names
2 Births
3 Deaths
4 Fetal deaths
5. Financial statements
6. Marriages
7. Military discharge
8. Official Bonds
9. Commissioners Court
COMPUTER USE.
Pick the index you want. The computer will ask for a name. Then it will go to that place in the index.
The index will tell you the full name, a date, and a volume and page number. Go to that roll of
microfilm to find the record itself.
Remember that “Less is Better.” For example, if a person’s name is William and you put Bill as his
name, the computer will not find it. If you enter just the last name, you will have a better chance of
finding who you want.
You do not have to fill in all the blanks. You must enter part of a last name. The less information you
give the computer, the better chance you have of finding the information you want.
MARRIAGES
Marriages have been recorded in the county since 1846. They are indexed and on microfilm in the
county clerk’s office.
BIRTHS AND DEATHS
Texas did not start requiring birth and death certificates until 1903. Birth and Death certificates are
indexed and on microfilm in the county clerk’s office. It is
possible, sometimes, to find a birth certificate before 1903. If a person needed
a birth certificate for a passport or social security, he could apply for a
probated birth certificate. This is where someone swore he was present at the
birth of the person. These are on file at the courthouse.
PROBATE AND WILLS
Probate and wills have been moved to what is also called the Courthouse annex - the old McKinney
hospital on the south side of Hwy 380 at North Graves Street. It is about 1/4
mile east of US 75 on University Street or US 380 across from the Walmart. The search procedure is the same for using the other
indices.
DEED RECORDS
Texas deeds use metes and bounds, not townships and ranges. Collin County is divided into the original
land grants. There are a few Spanish land grants in Collin County. These are
generally in the area of Wylie. The city of Wylie is on the de la Pina survey.
(See "Units of Land Measure" under Research Tips.)
There are also land grants given by the state
of Texas to veterans of the Texas War of Independence. These usually contained a
league and a labor of land.
The Peters Colony gave land grants on the
western side of the county. These were generally 640 acres for a married man and
320 acres for a single man. In 1856 preemption claims were given which were for
160 acres.
A deed will say, “On the waters of ____ creek, on the ___ survey, go from this tree to that
creek to another tree to the place of beginning.” Early land measurements
are in varas, which is a Spanish unit of measures. They also used chains and
links.
All of the county deeds are indexed and cross-indexed in books called the Direct Index and the
Reverse Index. The deeds for Collin County start on January 1, 1846.
The Direct Index is the seller’s index. The Reverse Index is the buyer’s index.
DEED INDICES.
The index books are like any other index. There are about 6 books for the entire alphabet. These books
are huge and heavy, 24” x18” x 3.” The first page of the index book states Aa - Ad, page 1. Ae - Ag,
page 2, etc. Be aware that there may be several page 1s and 2s. To the side of the letters is a list of
names that have their own page number. Adams, Anderson, Armstrong, etc.
On page 2 of the index are listings for groups and organizations. In the ‘C’ volume are listings for
Churches, Cemeteries, Collin County, corporations. There are also listings for Lodges, Schools, the
State of Texas.
All of the land grants for Collin County should be listed in the Direct Index under State of Texas.
To see who deeded land for a cemetery, church or school, go to the Reverse Index. They may be listed
only as “church” or “school” and may take some deduction to see which cemetery, church or school is
being deeded.
When you go to the page indicated in the index, it will tell you
• the buyer’s name
• the seller’s name
• the type of deed
• volume and page number
• the date when it was written
• the date when it was filed
• the name of the land grant it is situated on
• the size of the property.
Look up the volume and page number on microfilm. Sometimes it will refer you to previous deed.
Remember: The ladies in the courthouse will help you with your research. However, they are not experts
on Collin County history and may not be able to answer all of your questions. It is not their job to do
your research for you.
Research
tips
Recommended Citation:
"Collin County Courthouse Research Tips," Collin County, Texas History
and Genealogy Webpage by Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries, Inc., <http://www.geocities/genfriendsghl>
[Accessed Fri February 13, 2004 ].
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