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Applying for a Passport

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1. What forms of payment can be used to apply for my Passport?

The US Department of State requires either a Check or Money Order to be attached to the passport application.

Check/Money Order should be made out the: US Department of State.

2. Do you take Appointments or Walk-ins for Passports?

We do not take Appointments. We only accept Walk-ins. Typically running Tuesday-Thursday 9:30AM-3:00PM, but please contact the courts for processing times Tuesday-Thursday.

3. Does your office Process Renewals for Adults?

No, the District Clerk's Office does not process adult renewals, UNLESS the passport has been expired for over 5 years.

4. What are the Current Passport processing times?

Routine Service: 10-13 Weeks

Expedited Service: 7-9 Weeks

The Passport Agency sends frequent updates on Processing times, be sure to check for the most current time frames.

5. Can I apply/drop off another Applicants Passport application?

No. Everyone who is applying for said Passport will need to be present. 

6. When applying for a Childs passport, does the Child need to be present?

YES! Everyone who is applying for a Passport must be present, as well as anyone under the Age of 16 will need both Parents to be in attendance.

7. Does your office take Passport Photos?

Yes! As of January 2023, we are now taking Passport Photos. This fee can be paid with any form of payment.

8. Does your office issue Emergency Passports?

No, we do not issue Emergency Passports. You will need to apply through the US Department of State's website to receive 

9. Can the Clerk's Processing Fee be added into the Passport Application fee?

No. The Clerk's Processing Fee and Passport Application fee have to be separate. The Clerk's Fee can be paid with Cash, Check, or Card.

10. What Birth Certificates do the Passport Agencies accept?

The Passport Agency prefers the CERTIFIED Long-Form Birth Certificate. Most Short-Form Texas and California (abstract) versions of Birth Certificates may or may not be acceptable for Passport purposes.

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Birth Certificates

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1. How do I file an amended birth certificate?

An Amended Birth Certificate must be filed with the State Texas Department of Health.

See the form and Instructions.

2. How do I apply for a delayed birth certificate?

A Delayed Birth Certificate must be filed with the State of Texas Department of Health.

See the form and instructions.

3. How do I apply for a delayed birth certificate?

A Delayed Birth Certificate must be filed with the State of Texas Department of Health.

See the form and instructions.

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Development Services

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1. What is OSSF in Kaufman County?

On-Site Sewage Facilities (Septic Systems)

Onsite (or decentralized) wastewater treatment systems are used to treat wastewater from a home or business and return treated wastewater back into the receiving environment.

2. How large of a lot will I need to operate a septic system on my property in Kaufman County?

Kaufman County requires 1 acre of usable space. 

3. Is it legal to install your own septic system in Kaufman County?

ANY work on an OSSF (On-Site Sewage Facilities) must be performed by a licensed installer. 

4. What is required to install septic systems in Kaufman County?

A permit is required to install a septic system in Texas. The Legislature, in the Health and Safety Code, designates the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) or its Authorized Agent to investigate and decide whether to approve a permit request. Kaufman County is an Authorized Agent.

5. Is a maintenance contract required on my septic system?

Kaufman County requires a maintenance contract be kept on all aerobic systems. These are usually annual and must be submitted to Development Services 30 days prior to the expiration of previous contract to avoid any lapse in coverage.

6. Who should I contact if I have a question about my septic system or the permitting process?

Any questions regarding on-site wastewater septic system permitting, inspections, or license transferring can be answered by emailing Publicworks.

If you reside in the city limits of Oak Ridge, then you would need to contact them. They are the only City in Kaufman County that are Authorized Agents. All others residing in City Limits and have a septic question will be handled by Development Services.

Nuisance complaints: violations@kaufmancounty.net

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District Attorney’s Office

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1. What is a district attorney’s office?

What is a District Attorney?

The district attorney analyzes and gathers evidence to determine if there are grounds for criminal prosecution of cases within their districts and presents cases at trial. 

What Does A District Attorney Do in Texas?

A district attorney in Texas has the following duties:

• Represents the state in prosecuting felony criminal cases
• Works with law enforcement officers in the investigation of criminal cases
• Presents cases to the grand jury
• Represents victims of violence in protective orders and represents the state in removing children from abusive households

Duties of the Kaufman County Criminal District Attorney

The Kaufman County Criminal District Attorney's Office is one of the statutory prosecuting authorities in the State of Texas. The primary prosecuting officers are: The County Attorney which generally prosecutes misdemeanor crimes and advises the county on all civil matters; a District Attorney who prosecutes felonies only, and; a Criminal District Attorney which combines the offices of County and District Attorney. Kaufman County has a Criminal District Attorney with the responsibility of prosecuting all misdemeanors and felonies while advising and representing the county in civil matters. The authority of the Criminal District Attorney is extremely broad. Within his/her jurisdiction, in this case Kaufman County, the Criminal District Attorney has sole discretion as to whether or not a case is prosecuted. A prosecutor can dismiss a charge or refuse to accept a charge on his own volition and there is no appeal.

The District Attorney's Office handles civil matters in addition to its criminal responsibilities. In Kaufman County the Criminal District Attorney's Office advises the county on civil issues and represents the county in some civil matters. The Criminal District Attorney handles all mental commitments, protective orders, extraditions, renders legal opinions to all elected officials in the county and reviews all contracts entered into by the county. This office also has the responsibility of representing the state in matters involving child abuse and neglect and all juvenile matters before the court.

The Criminal District Attorney's Office provides a 24 hour on call system for law enforcement. This allows law enforcement to have access to legal advice at any time. Our office encourages such consultation regarding arrests, searches and the filing of appropriate charges to ensure that crimes may be prosecuted and punished. It is only through such cooperation that our legal system can function to serve and protect our community.

2. How do I report a crime?

Any crime should always be reported to your local law enforcement agency. The Criminal District Attorney’s Office is not a direct referral agency.

If you live in a city or town, that report would be made to your local police department. If the crime is committed outside a city or town, or in an area of the county where the Sheriff’s Office patrols, your report should be made to the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office. Of course, if your report is an emergency, call 911.

3. What happens when a law enforcement agency files a case with the Criminal District Attorney’s Office?

Felony: If the case is charged as a felony, a felony prosecutor will review the case to determine if it should be accepted for prosecution. If the case is accepted, it will be presented to a grand jury for consideration. A witness may be required to testify before the grand jury. The grand jury will either return an indictment against the defendant or no-bill the case. If the case is indicted, the prosecution proceeds until there is a resolution of the case. A no-bill means there is not sufficient probable cause to move the case forward.

Misdemeanor: If the case is charged as a misdemeanor, the case is filed in a County Court at Law or Justice of the Peace Court. The prosecution proceeds until there is a resolution of the case.

4. What is a grand jury and what does it do?

Texas law requires action by the grand jury in most instances before a felony case can be brought to trial. If the grand jury believes that there is probable cause to prove that a person has committed a felony, it votes to issue an indictment. A no-bill means that there is not sufficient probable cause to move the case forward. The District Attorney’s Office assists the grand jury in hearing evidence and preparing indictments, but the actual deliberations are secret. Only the grand jurors are present during deliberations and voting on the cases.

5. What is a plea bargain and how does the process work?

Plea bargaining can be a complex procedure, but in general, it occurs when the State and the defendant, through their respective attorneys, agree that the defendant will plead guilty to one or more pending criminal cases in return for a specific sentence, subject to approval by the court.

A prosecutor assigned to a criminal case will evaluate the facts and circumstances of the case and make a determination of what punishment (sentence) to offer to the defendant in return for his plea of guilty to the charge in the case. This recommended punishment is based on the prosecutor's view of the case and its facts and his or her experience in trial with similar cases having similar facts. The defendant's attorney will make a similar assessment and either advise his client to accept or not. If the defendant does not accept the offer, the case is set for trial. If the defendant accepts the punishment recommendation in return for his plea of guilty, a written plea bargain agreement is signed by the attorneys and the defendant, the defendant pleads guilty, and the court accepts the plea and assesses punishment in accordance with the plea bargain agreement.

The court, however, may not accept the plea or the plea bargain agreement, in which case the attorneys and the defendant may reopen negotiations or the case is tried before the court or before a jury.

6. How can charges be dropped in a criminal case?

The decision to dismiss a pending criminal case can be made only by a prosecutor. Prosecutors make independent professional judgments within the bounds of the policies of the Criminal District Attorney’s Office as to whether a case merits prosecution. If the prosecutor decides to file a motion to dismiss a case, the dismissal must be approved by a judge. A victim’s wishes will be considered in the decision to file, try, or dismiss a prosecution. A victim’s thoughts are always welcomed by the prosecutor assigned to a case.

7. Can a witness refuse to testify?

A subpoena will be issued directing a witness to appear in court on a specific day and time for the purpose of testifying. If a witness refuses to appear after the subpoena is delivered, the prosecutor will ask that a warrant (called “an attachment”) be issued for the witness’s arrest and confinement in jail until the witness testifies. Willful failure to obey a lawful order of a court, such as a subpoena, is an act of contempt for which the witness may be punished by the court. After all of that, a witness will still have to testify. A witness must testify truthfully. False testimony as to important facts while under oath in an official proceeding (such as a trial) is a very serious felony offense.

8. When a case goes to trial, who determines if the defendant is guilty or innocent?

In the State of Texas, a defendant can elect to have a jury or judge determine if he is guilty or innocent. If the defendant decides to have the judge make the determination, the State must agree or the trial will be by a jury.

9. The defendant has been found guilty, now what?

Once a defendant has been found guilty, he must have some punishment assessed. Again, the defendant can elect to have either the judge or jury determine his punishment. Both sides can put on more evidence at that time. There are times when the State and the defendant agree on punishment and there is no hearing.

10. Once the defendant’s punishment had been decided, is that the end of the case?

A defendant has the right to appeal his case. In Texas, there are two stages of appeal in a criminal case. The first stage is to a court of appeals. For Kaufman County, the appellate court is the 5th Court of Appeals in Dallas. The defendant can further appeal his case to the Court of Criminal Appeals in Austin.

11. Are all cases argued before the appellate court?

No. The appellate court may choose not to entertain argument by either the defendant or this office and will advise the parties that no argument will be permitted. The appellate court decides the vast majority of cases on the briefs and records without oral argument. Following the submission of the case, with or without oral argument, the appellate court will issue a written opinion either affirming (upholding) the conviction or reversing (overturning) the conviction as to the guilt and punishment assessed against the defendant. Occasionally the court will only overturn the punishment assessed.

12. If the defendant’s conviction is affirmed, may he seek other relief?

Yes. The defendant may file a petition for writ of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court or in federal district court by filing a writ of habeas corpus. He may also file a writ of habeas corpus for relief in the Court of Criminal Appeals.

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District Clerk - FAQ

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1. What are the District Clerk's Office Days/Hours of Operation?

We are open Monday thru Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

2. Do you have Documents/Forms in Office for filing a suit?

No. We do not provide any forms in office. You can visit www.Texaslawhelp.org for information and Forms for filing a suit.

3. Does this Office Process Passports?

Yes! We do Process Passports. Tuesday-Thursday 9:30AM-3:00PM, but we do suggest calling to verify our current hours of operation. 

4. What forms of Payment can I use in Office?

We take Cash, Check, or Card. Please note, if you use a card, you will be charged a convenience fee.

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Elections

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1. When is the 2022 Joint Joint Election?

The election is Tuesday, November 8, 2022 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. See times and locations here. 

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Emergency Management

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1. Where can I get a COVID-19 test?

To get a COVID-19 test please call your healthcare physician or pharmacy.

2. How do I sign up for the County's Emergency Alert Notification System?

Please visit Office of Emergency Management | Kaufman County, TX webpage and click the tab on the left side that reads "Get Notified" and follow the prompts.

3. Does Kaufman County have public tornado shelters?

No. Due to traffic congestion and hundreds or thousands of other residents trying to get to public shelters, it could have tragic consequences.

Have a plan to get to the nearest well-constructed building to take shelter during a tornado.  

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Hand-Delivering Your Ballot

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1. Who can hand deliver a ballot?

Only the voter who voted the ballot can hand-deliver their ballot. The voter must present an acceptable form of identification when delivering their ballot. If a voter does not possess and cannot reasonably obtain an acceptable form of photo identification, the voter may show a List B identification and complete a reasonable impediment declaration (RID). (Sections 86.006, 63.001, 63.0101).

2. What does the voter need to give to the early voting clerk’s office?

The voter must execute (sign) their Carrier Envelope as if they were preparing for it to be mailed (except for postage). The marked ballot must be enclosed in the Carrier Envelope. The carrier-envelope must be signed, as the ballot will be sent to the early voting ballot board to verify the voter’s signature pursuant to Section 87.041.

3. What is the procedure for hand-delivery of marked ballots?

The following steps should be followed when a voter hand-delivers their marked ballot to the early voting clerk's office: 

1. The voter will bring the marked ballot enclosed in the executed Carrier Envelope to the early voting clerk's office
2. The voter must present a List A form of photo identification (or List B identification with a reasonable impediment declaration [RID]) to the election official taking the ballot.
3. The election official will add the voter's name to the "Signature Roster - Hand Delivery of Ballot by Mail" and instruct the voter to sign the signature column on the corresponding numbered line.
4. The election official will indicate on the roster whether the voter provided an approved form of photo identification or executed a RID, and the official will note the date and time that the ballot was delivered.
5. The election official will print the name of the official who received the ballot from the voter.
6. The election official will write "Hand Delivered" on the Carrier Envelope and note the date and time that the ballot was delivered.
7. Upon receipt of the Carrier Envelope, the election official must secure the ballot (in the same manner that the early voting clerk secures ballots received by mail) until the ballot is delivered to the early voting ballot board.

4. What if a voter refuses to present an ID?

The election official should notify the voter that presenting an acceptable form of identification is required when hand-delivering a marked ballot. If the voter refuses to present an acceptable ID, the election official should inform the voter that if they do not present an acceptable ID and insist on leaving the ballot, the ballot will be treated as improperly delivered and will not be sent to the early voting ballot board. The election official should also notify the voter that they can mail the ballot and as long as the envelope is postmarked by 7 pm on election day and received by the early voting clerk no later than 5 pm the next business day after election day, the ballot will be sent to the early voting ballot board for processing.

Note: The Election Code sets later deadlines for the receipt of ballots by mail from certain military and overseas civilian voters using a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) or ABBM. (Sections 86.007(d), 101.057)

5. What if someone other than the voter attempts to drop off the ballot?

The election official should notify the person dropping off the ballot that only the voter can hand-deliver their ballot. If an individual insists on dropping off someone else’s ballot, the ballot will be treated as improperly delivered and will not be sent to the early voting ballot board for counting.

6. Can we use a dropbox so voters can deposit their ballot after hours or without having to interact with election officials?

No. The law does not authorize the use of drop boxes for the in-person delivery of marked mail ballots. As described above, only the voter can drop off their own ballot; through this process, the voter must present an acceptable form of identification and sign the “Signature Roster – Hand Delivery of Ballot by Mail” form. These procedures require the voter to interact with an election official.

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Home - FAQs

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1. How do I pay my city water bill?

Answer goes here...

2. How do I get a new trash can lid?

Answer goes here...

3. How do I apply for a job with the City?

Answer goes here...

4. My trash didn't get picked up, what should I do now?

Answer goes here...

5. How do I get a garage sale permit?

Answer goes here...

6. How can I see the agenda for an upcoming City Council or Board meeting?

Answer goes here...

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Hot Check Division

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1. How do I find out how much money I owe and what checks the District Attorney has for me in your office?

You will have to call our office.  The Hot Check Department phone number is 469-376-4771.

2. How do I make a payment? Do you take credit cards, debit cards, cash?

Payments can be made in person, by mail or on our website. Make hot check payments online!

Our mailing address is:
Kaufman County District Attorney's Office
Attn: Hot Check Department
100 W Mulberry
Kaufman, TX 75142

The Hot Check Department accepts cashier checks, money orders, cash, and debit/credit card.

3. I have paid my checks but there is still a warrant out for my arrest. How do I take care of this?

You need to call our office at 469-376-4771. It is possible you could have a Theft By Check Charge or Court Costs and Fines due at a Justice of the Peace Court or a number of other reasons.

4. How do I get on a payment plan?

You must appear in person and have a driver's License or a state-issued ID with your picture on it.

5. I cannot make a payment this month, can I get an extension on my payment plan?

All payments are due on the 15th of each month unless otherwise noted when you came to get on the payment plan.

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Protective Orders

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1. Who qualifies for a Protective Order?

• Members of a dating relationship
• Members of the same household:
  • Individuals living together in the same dwelling unit without regard to whether they are related
  • Individuals who previously lived in a household
• Members of the same family
  • Individuals related by blood
  • Individuals related by marriage
  • Individuals who are former spouses of each other
  • Individuals who are the parents of the same child without regard to marriage
  • Foster child and foster parent without regard to whether those individuals live together
• Every victim of sexual assault

2. Who is entitled to a Protective Order?

Whoever qualifies and who the court finds that family violence has been committed against them and is likely to be committed against them in the future.

3. Who can file for a Protective Order?

Any adult member of the family or of a dating relationship.

4. Can a minor file for a Protective Order?

No.

5. Who can file for a minor?

Any adult may apply for a Protective Order to protect a child from family violence.

6. How much does it cost?

There is no fee for someone who applies for a Protective Order. If a court grants an application for a Protective Order, then the court can order the Respondent, the one who committed the family violence, to pay court costs and the District Attorney’s Office attorney’s fees.

7. How does the Texas Family Code and the courts refer to someone who files for a Protective Order?

The Applicant or in some instances the Protected Person.

8. How does the Texas Family Code and the courts refer to someone who a Protective Order is filed against?

They refer to them as "the Respondent".

9. What is family violence?

• An act by a member of a family or household against another member of the family or household that is intended to result in physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault; or
• An act by a member of a family or household that is a threat that reasonably places the member in fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault

10. What is an imminent threat?

Imminent means near at hand; mediate rather than immediate; close rather than touching; impending; on the point of happening; threatening; menacing; perilous.

A threat of imminent bodily injury requires a present rather than a future threat.

11. In which County do you file a Protective Order?

• Where the Applicant lives
• Where the Respondent lives

12. Who represents you in a Protective Order?

As long as you do not have any pending criminal cases with the District Attorney’s Office in the County, the District Attorney’s Office of the County you qualify for a Protective Order in can file a Protective Order for you on your behalf without any cost to you.

You can hire any attorney licensed in the State of Texas to represent you in a Protective Order.

13. How long does it take to get a Protective Order?

If you qualify for a Protective Order and the District Attorney's Office agrees to take the case, then an Application for a Protective Order and a Temporary Ex Parte Protective Order. If the Judge signs the Temporary Ex Parte Protective Order, then a date must be set within 20 days.

If an extension of the Temporary Ex Parte order is ever needed after the first court setting, then the next court date must be set within 14 days if the Respondent had not been served. Otherwise, you can ask for the rescheduled setting to be within 20 days.

14. What can you do to kick the Respondent out of the house?

• If you qualify for a Protective Order,
• If you have lived at your residence within the last 30 days,
• If family violence has occurred within the last 30 days,

then you must:

• File a sworn affidavit of the facts that took place requiring the Respondent’s exclusion of the residence
• Appear before the presiding Judge to testify to those facts

And if the Presiding Judge finds that there is a clear and present danger that the person to excluded likely to commit family violence against a member of the household.

15. If the Respondent is excluded from the residence, does that mean he is off the title of the house and is no longer responsible for house payments?

No, an exclusion paragraph in a Protective Order does not affect the title of the property.

16. If a final Protective Order is granted, what is the Respondent generally prohibited from doing?

• Directly communicating in a threatening or harassing manner with Applicant or to any member of the family or household
• Communicating a threat through any person to Protected Person/Applicant or to any member of the family or household
• Going within 200 yards of Protected Person/Applicant's place of residence or any subsequent place of residence
• Removing the children from Protected Person/Applicant's custody
• Going within 200 yards of the Protected Person/Applicant's place of employment
• Going within 200 yards of the Protected Person/Applicant's children's child care facility or school
• Engaging in conduct directed specifically toward a person who is a member of the family or household following the person that is reasonably likely to harass, annoy, alarm, abuse, torment, or embarrass that person
• Transferring, encumbering or otherwise disposing of, destroying, or harming of any real or personal property mutually owned or leased the parties except in the ordinary course of business
• Engaging in conduct directed specifically toward a person who is a member of the family or household, including following the person that is reasonably likely to harass, annoy, alarm, abuse, torment, or embarrass the protected person
• Possessing a firearm or ammunition unless the Respondent is a peace officer, as defined by section 1.07 of the Texas Penal Code, actively engaged in employment as a sworn, full-time paid employee of a stock agency or political subdivision. The Protective Order will suspend the Respondent's license to carry a concealed handgun issued under section 411.177 of the Texas Government Code.

17. Can you keep the Respondent from getting your current address, telephone number, and place of employment?

Yes. You or your attorney can request the court to exclude this information. If granted, the court will order the clerk to stride the information from public records and maintain a confidential record of the information for use only by the court.

18. What is the difference between a Temporary Ex Parte Protective Order and a Final Protective Order after a Hearing?

A Temporary Ex Parte Protective Order is only good for 20 days unless there is a request for an extension of the order.

No hearing is required for it to be signed by a Judge unless you are trying to exclude the Respondent from the residence.

If the Respondent violates the order, he is in contempt of court and the Judge can have the Respondent arrested and fined.

A Final Protective Order after a hearing is good for up to 2 years.

The Respondent must be served with notice of the hearing at least 48 hours prior to the court setting. He is entitled to a hearing if he chooses.

If the Judge grants the Final Protective Order after a hearing and the Respondent violates the Protective Order, then he has committed a criminal offense and can be arrested.

19. Why would an extension be needed?

The Applicant of a Protective Order is responsible for making sure the Respondent has been served at least 48 hours before the court setting.

If the Respondent has not been served, then an extension will be needed.

If the Respondent was not served with notice at least 48 hours before the court setting, then he can ask for a rescheduling date an then the applicant can request an extension.

20. Does the Respondent have to be served again if they ask for the hearing to be rescheduled?

No. As long as they are the one asking for the rescheduling and they have already received notice, they do not have to be served with notice again.

21. If the Respondent violates a final Protective Order, what are consequences?

Violation of a Protective Order is a Class A misdemeanor with a punishment range of up to 1 year in the county jail and a fine up to $4,000.

22. Will the Police or the Sheriff’s Office have a copy of your Protective Order on file at their office?

Yes, a distribution sheet is given to the District Clerk’s office designating who the Protective Order is to be sent to the agency that would respond to the 911 call at the Protected Person/Applicant’s residence is on the Distribution Sheet. These agencies should keep them on file for the duration of the Protective Order.

23. How long is a final Protective Order good?

Up to 2 years.

24. What happens if the Respondent has been served notice of the hearing for a final Protective Order and does not show up for court?

Then it is considered to be a Default Judgment and the Protective Order will be granted.

25. Can I get another final Protective Order after the first one expires?

If the Protective Order has been violated or if there is a threatened harm that reasonably places the Protected Person/Applicant in fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault, then you can get another final Protective Order.

26. What happens if the Respondent agrees to the final Protective Order?

Then a hearing is not needed.

27. Are the consequences less if the Respondent agrees?

No. If the Respondent violates a Final Protective Order that was agreed to by all parties, the criminal consequences are the same as if the Judge had granted the Final Protective Order after a hearing.

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Tax Assessor

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1. When are tax statements mailed and due?

ax notices are usually mailed in early October. Taxes are due upon receipt of the statement and must be paid by January 31st. If payment is mailed in late January, please be sure to have the envelope postmarked by the postal service no later than January 31st.

2. When are my taxes delinquent?

Penalty/Interest begins to accrue at the statutory rate of 7% on February 1st and will increase on the 1st day of each month thereafter. Additionally, 15% to 20% attorney fees are added on July 1st.

3. May I pay my taxes by phone or online?

Yes. There will be a fee charged if using credit card. By phone, call 1-866-549-1010. At the prompt, enter Bureau Code 5499044.  After authorization of your payment, you will be given a confirmation number that you should keep for your records.

 Pay online via the Kaufman County Tax Office by selecting Pay Your Taxes by Credit Card.

4. What do I do if I received a tax statement and my mortgage company escrows (pays) my taxes?

If your taxes are to be paid by a mortgage company and you received the statement, write your loan number on the tax notice and send it immediately to your mortgage company.

5. What if I did not receive a tax statement and my account goes delinquent? Will I still have to pay penalties?

If you do not receive a tax statement before November 1st of each year, contact the Kaufman County Tax Office and request a statement to be mailed. However, failure to receive a tax notice does not affect the validity of the tax, penalty, interest, the due date, the existence of a tax lien, or any procedure instituted to collect a tax (section 31.01[g] Texas Property Tax Code). It is the property owners’ responsibility to make sure that the correct name and address are listed for each property owned.

6. What type of payment options do you accept?

This office accepts cash, checks, money orders, cashier’s checks, MasterCard, Visa and Discover. There is a convenience fee added if paying with MasterCard, Visa or Discover.

7. What is the mailing address to send my tax payment?

Send payments to:
Brenda Samples
Kaufman County
P.O. BOX 339
Kaufman, TX 75142-0339

8. How can I find out what exemptions I am eligible for?

Contact your local County Appraisal District and they will be able to assist you with any exemption qualification questions. Contact information for the following County Appraisal Districts (CADs) are as follows:

• Kaufman County Appraisal District: call 972-932-6081 or visit the Kaufman County Appraisal District website.
• Henderson County Appraisal District: call 903-675-9296 or visit the Southwest Data Solutions website.
• Hunt County Appraisal District: call 903-454-3510 or visit the Hunt County Appraisal District website.
• Van Zandt County Appraisal District: call 903-567-6171 or visit the Southwest Data Solutions website.
• Dallas County Appraisal District: call 214-631-0910 or visit the Dallas County Appraisal District website.

9. How do I get more information regarding property taxes?

For information regarding tax rates and tax bills, contact your County Tax Office. For information regarding property values, exemptions, protests, etc., contact your County Appraisal District.

10. What if I can’t pay the total tax amount? Do you accept partial payments?

Yes. This office does accept partial payments, but does not make formal payment arrangements other than the Over 65 Homestead Plan (see next question). However, any remaining balance not paid by January 31st will begin to accrue penalty and interest. Should you wish to make a partial payment, please write your property ID/account number on your check/money order with the words partial payment.

11. How do I initiate the quarterly payment plan to pay my property taxes?

This option applies only to property the person occupies as a residence homestead, and only to those persons who are disabled or 65 years of age or considered totally disabled under Supplemental Security Income (SSI). If you are qualified for over 65 or disabled exemptions, you may make your payments in four equal installments without incurring penalty and interest, if paid in the following manner:

• 1st payment paid by January 31
• 2nd payment paid by March 31
• 3rd payment paid by May 31 and
• 4th payment paid by July 31

The U.S. Postal Service postmark is used to determine the timeliness of mailed payments. If you fail to make a payment before the due date, the unpaid amount is delinquent and incurs penalty and interest as provided by Texas Tax Code section 31.031 (b) and 33.01 (c).

12. I have sold my property but I continue to receive statements. How can I remove my name from this account?

You will need to contact your local Appraisal District at 972-932-6081 to make any changes to your account. The Appraisal District will direct you regarding name changes and/or address changes.

13. When I purchased my home, the sale was handled through an attorney or title company who collected my taxes at closing. Why am I receiving a delinquent statement?

Check your closing papers or contact the title company. It is possible that the title company may have collected from the seller and credited you at the time of closing which would mean that you, as the new owner, are responsible for paying the tax when due.

14. Why are my taxes so high?

Your tax statement is based on the appraised value less any exemptions. Values are set by the Kaufman County Appraisal District. The tax rates are set by each entity. Contact the Kaufman County Appraisal District for more information.