Coke County Public Records

Coke County public records are maintained by government offices in Robert Lee, the county seat, and include property deeds, court case files, marriage documents, and other official records. As a small, rural Texas county, most public records access in Coke County is handled in person at the courthouse in Robert Lee. This page covers the primary record types, the offices that hold them, how to request copies, and the online tools that can help you search before making the trip out to West Texas.

County Clerk and Property Records

The Coke County Clerk in Robert Lee is the primary office for land and vital records in the county. All property deeds, deeds of trust, mortgage liens, releases, and plat maps filed in Coke County are indexed and maintained here. Title researchers, land buyers, and attorneys working in Coke County use the clerk's records to trace chain of title and identify any encumbrances on a property. The index goes back to the county's founding.

Marriage licenses issued in Coke County are on file at the county clerk's office. Certified copies of marriage records cost $1.00 per page plus $5.00 for certification. Assumed name (DBA) filings for businesses operating in Coke County are also public records held by the county clerk. Access is available during business hours at the Coke County Courthouse in Robert Lee.

Birth and death certificates for Coke County are available through the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office. The state office charges $23.00 for birth certificates and $21.00 for death certificates. Requests can be submitted online, by mail, or in person at the Austin office.

District Court Records

Coke County is served by the 51st Judicial District. The District Clerk maintains court records for felony criminal cases, civil suits, and family law matters. These records are public unless sealed by the court. Divorces, civil judgments, and felony case files are all part of the district court index in Robert Lee. The district clerk's office is at the Coke County Courthouse.

County court records for misdemeanor cases are maintained by the County Clerk. In a small county like Coke, it is common for the county clerk to serve dual functions. If you are looking for a case and are not sure whether it was filed in district or county court, the clerk's office can usually point you in the right direction.

Note: Given Coke County's small size and rural character, some records may be available only in paper format. Call ahead to confirm availability before making the drive to Robert Lee.

Online Records Search Tools

The re:SearchTX portal from the Texas Office of Court Administration is a free statewide court records search tool. You can search Coke County cases by party name or case number. The portal shows docket information and case status for courts that participate. Smaller Texas counties may have partial coverage, so it is best to check and then follow up with the local clerk if needed.

For cases filed electronically, the public portal at eFileTexas allows free searches of recently filed matters. Civil and family law cases filed through the state's e-filing system should appear here. If a Coke County case does not show up online, it was likely filed in paper format, which is still common in smaller counties.

Historical records for Coke County may be held at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Some older county records have been transferred to state custody and digitized. Checking the state archives is a good step for research into events from earlier decades.

Federal records for Coke County are in the Northern District of Texas. Search those through PACER.

Public Information Requests

All Coke County government offices are subject to the Texas Public Information Act. Submit a written request to the office that holds the records you need. The office must respond within 10 business days by providing the records, citing an exemption with a legal basis, or notifying you that they are seeking an AG ruling. You do not need to give a reason for your request.

PIA copy fees are $0.10 per page for standard paper. Larger requests requiring significant staff time may have added charges. The Texas AG Open Government division handles complaints and provides guidance for requests involving any Coke County office.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics portal is the official statewide resource for obtaining birth and death certificates, including records for Coke County events.

Birth and death records from Coke County are held at the state level and are most efficiently requested through the DSHS Vital Statistics website or office.

Criminal History and Additional Record Sources

Statewide criminal history in Texas is maintained by the Texas DPS Crime Records Service. Coke County law enforcement agencies, including the Coke County Sheriff's Office, submit arrest and disposition records to the DPS database. Name-based searches are available online through DPS. Fingerprint-based searches provide more reliable identification results.

The Coke County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the county. For local arrest records, jail information, or warrant searches in Coke County, the sheriff's office in Robert Lee is the primary contact. Local data is also reported to the DPS statewide system, but local records may have more detail about individual incidents.

Property tax and appraisal records for Coke County are maintained by the Coke County Appraisal District. These public records show current ownership, assessed value, and exemption status for all parcels in the county and are a useful supplement to deed records when researching real property in Coke County.

Cities in Coke County

Robert Lee is the county seat and largest community in Coke County. All county records are filed and accessible there.

Bronte is another small community in Coke County. Neither community meets the population threshold for a dedicated records page. All public records for Coke County are held at county offices in Robert Lee.

Nearby Counties

Coke County is surrounded by West Texas counties, each with their own public records offices.