Knox County Public Records Search

Knox County public records are maintained at the courthouse in Benjamin, a small North Texas county seat located north of Abilene in the Rolling Plains region. The County Clerk and District Clerk hold property deeds, court case files, and marriage records at the local level, while Texas state databases provide access to criminal history and vital records statewide. Some records are searchable online, and others require a direct request to the courthouse. This page covers how to find and request Knox County public records online and in person.

Knox County Clerk

The Knox County Clerk's office in Benjamin records all real property instruments for the county. Deeds, deeds of trust, liens, easements, and releases are indexed here and available for public inspection. Most of Knox County is agricultural, so farm and ranch transactions make up a good portion of the land records. Name searches are $5.00 per name. Copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies add a $5.00 fee per document.

Marriage licenses are issued and recorded by the County Clerk. Certified copies of Knox County marriage records are available in person or by mail with prepayment. Given the small size of the county, call ahead to confirm staffing before visiting Benjamin. The clerk's office also holds commissioners court minutes and older administrative records.

For certified birth and death records, use the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Unit at dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics. Birth certificates are $23 and death certificates are $21.

Knox County District Court Records

The Knox County District Clerk handles records for the 50th Judicial District Court. This multi-county district also serves other small West Texas counties. The court handles felony criminal cases, civil matters above the county threshold, and family law proceedings including divorce and custody. The District Clerk in Benjamin is where you request certified copies of court orders, divorce decrees, and criminal case files from Knox County.

The free re:SearchTX portal provides online access to the statewide case index. Search by name or case number to get basic case information. For actual court documents, contact the Knox County District Clerk directly. New filings submitted through eFileTexas.gov appear in the portal after processing.

Federal cases for Knox County residents fall under the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. Search federal civil, criminal, and bankruptcy records through PACER.

Requesting Records Under Texas Law

The Texas Public Information Act requires Knox County government bodies to provide public records on request. This includes county departments, local school districts, and other public entities. Submit a written request to the agency that holds what you need. No reason is required. The agency has 10 business days to respond.

Copy fees are $0.10 per page for paper documents. If an agency claims an exemption, it must get a ruling from the Texas AG's Open Government division before withholding. In a small county like Knox, a phone call first can often save time compared to going straight to a formal written request.

Note: The 10-day response period starts when the agency receives your written request. Weekends and state holidays do not count toward the 10 days.

Criminal History and State Databases

Statewide criminal history including Knox County cases is available through the Texas DPS Crime Records Service. Name-based searches pull arrest and disposition data from all Texas jurisdictions. For a certified copy of a specific Knox County criminal case file, contact the District Clerk in Benjamin.

Historical records from Knox County may be available through the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Business entity and UCC records are maintained statewide by the Texas Secretary of State.

The Texas Office of Court Administration coordinates case records and efiling across all Texas courts, including the small rural courts in Knox County.

The OCA maintains the re:SearchTX portal and supports the efiling system used for Knox County court filings, making records accessible online even from remote counties.

Cities in Knox County

Benjamin is the county seat. Knox City is another community in the county. All county records are filed at the Benjamin courthouse regardless of where in the county the underlying event took place.

No city in Knox County meets the population threshold for a dedicated records page. All residents across the county use the clerk offices in Benjamin.

Nearby Counties

Knox County is in North Texas between Abilene and Wichita Falls. Several neighboring counties are also rural with small county seats.