Find Loving County Public Records

Loving County in West Texas is the least populated county in the United States, with a population near 100 people. The county seat is Mentone, located in the Permian Basin oil region. Despite its small size, Loving County maintains public records like any other Texas county, including property deeds, court filings, marriage licenses, and vital records through the County Clerk and District Clerk. The county is part of the 143rd Judicial District. This page covers how to access and request public records from Loving County offices in Mentone and through Texas state online systems.

County Clerk Records in Loving County

The Loving County Clerk keeps official county records. These include property deeds, liens, plats, assumed name filings, marriage licenses, and birth and death records for events in the county. The courthouse is in Mentone. Because the county is so small, staffing is minimal and it is strongly recommended that you call ahead before visiting.

To request copies, contact the County Clerk at the Loving County courthouse in Mentone, TX. Plain copies are $1 per page. Certified copies cost $1 per page plus a $5 certification fee. Birth certificates are $23 and death certificates are $21. Mail requests are often the most practical option given the remote location. Send a check or money order along with a clear description of the records you need.

Property in Loving County is often large ranch or oil and gas acreage. Deed records and mineral rights filings are part of the county record. The Loving County Appraisal District also maintains ownership and valuation data for property tax purposes. These records are separate from the County Clerk's deed index but can help identify current ownership.

District Court Records

Loving County is served by the 143rd Judicial District Court, which it shares with neighboring Ward and Reeves counties. The District Clerk handles felony criminal and district civil case filings. Because case volume is very low in Loving County, the District Clerk's records are limited but follow the same rules as any Texas county.

re:SearchTX covers Texas district and county courts statewide, including Loving County. Search by name or case number to find any cases on file. Given the tiny population, you may find few results, but the portal works just as it does for any other Texas county.

Electronic filing through eFileTexas is required for most civil filings in Texas district courts. Attorneys filing in the 143rd Judicial District for Loving County cases use this system. Contact the District Clerk for filing requirements specific to this court.

Federal cases involving Loving County fall under the Western District of Texas. Federal records are available through PACER at pacer.gov.

Public Information Act Requests

Under the Texas Public Information Act, you can request records from any Loving County government office. Submit a written request by email or mail to the relevant department. The county must respond within 10 business days.

If Loving County wants to withhold records, it must seek guidance from the Texas Attorney General's Open Government division before doing so. PIA copy fees are $0.10 per page for paper records. The small size of county government here means fewer records exist overall, but your rights under the PIA are the same as in any other Texas county.

Because Loving County has very limited staff, response times may sometimes be slower in practice. If you do not hear back within 10 business days, follow up by contacting the office again. If still no response, you can file a complaint with the AG's office.

Fees and Statewide Resources

Standard fees for Loving County records:

• Plain copies: $1.00 per page
• Certified copies: $1.00 per page plus $5.00 certification
• PIA copies: $0.10 per page
• Birth certificates: $23.00
• Death certificates: $21.00

For vital records, using the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office is often more practical than traveling to Mentone. The state office can issue certified copies of records for events that occurred in Loving County.

Criminal background checks are handled by the Texas DPS Crime Records Service at the state level. For court records, re:SearchTX is the best starting point. The Texas State Library and Archives also holds some older county records that may not be available locally.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission holds historical records from across the state, which can be valuable for older filings from small counties like Loving County where local archives may be limited.

Cities in Loving County

Mentone is the only community in Loving County and serves as the county seat. With a total population near 100, Loving County has no cities meeting the 100,000-population threshold. All records requests go through the county offices in Mentone.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Loving County.