Cottle County Public Records Lookup
Cottle County public records are kept at the county courthouse in Paducah, Texas. The County Clerk and District Clerk offices handle court case files, property documents, marriage licenses, vital records, and all other official records for the county. Cottle County is in the Rolling Plains region of West Texas. Public records are available by written request or in person. Some records are searchable online through the statewide court portal. This guide explains what each office holds and how to get copies.
Cottle County Overview
Cottle County Clerk
The County Clerk in Paducah serves as the official keeper of property records, marriage licenses, assumed name filings, vital records, and county court case files. Deeds, mortgages, liens, and plat maps for all property in the county are filed with this office. The clerk also issues marriage licenses and records vital events.
To search property records or request copies, contact the County Clerk at the Cottle County Courthouse, Paducah, TX 79248. In-person visits during courthouse hours are the most direct way to access records. Plain copies are $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee. A name search fee of $5.00 applies when staff conducts the search.
Vital records from the County Clerk include birth and death certificates for events in Cottle County. The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section is an alternative source for statewide vital records. Birth certificates are $23.00 and death certificates are $21.00 for the first copy through either office.
Cottle County District Clerk and Court Records
The Cottle County District Clerk maintains all district court records. These include civil cases, criminal matters, and family law filings heard in the district court. Cottle County is served by a multi-county judicial district. The District Clerk is at the Paducah courthouse.
Court records for Cottle County can be searched online through the re:SearchTX portal. This free statewide system lets you search by name or cause number across participating Texas courts. Attorneys file electronically through eFileTexas.gov. Written requests for documents can be submitted to the District Clerk by mail or in person in Paducah.
Public Information Requests
Cottle County offices operate under the Texas Public Information Act, Government Code Chapter 552. Any written records request must receive a response within 10 business days. If records are withheld, the agency must seek a ruling from the Texas Attorney General's Open Government division. Federal court records fall under the Northern District of Texas. Use PACER to access those files.
The Texas Public Information Act gives any person the right to request and receive copies of public government records from any county office in the state.
Under the Texas PIA, government agencies including Cottle County offices must respond to written records requests within 10 business days and can only withhold records with a valid legal basis.
Fees and Access
Copy fees are $1.00 per page for plain copies and $1.00 per page plus $5.00 for certified copies. PIA requests from non-court offices cost $0.10 per page under the standard state rate. Online court searches through re:SearchTX are free. Mail requests take 5 to 10 business days. In-person requests at the courthouse in Paducah are usually handled the same day.
Criminal history records are available through the Texas DPS Crime Records Division. Name-based searches cost $3.15 online. The DPS Sex Offender Registry is free to search. The Texas State Library and Archives holds historical records for older research needs.
Cities in Cottle County
Paducah is the county seat and only incorporated city in Cottle County.
The county is rural with a small population. All court and property records go through the Cottle County courthouse in Paducah.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Cottle County in northwest Texas.