Motley County Public Records

Motley County public records are kept by the County Clerk and District Clerk at the courthouse in Matador, a small Texas Panhandle county seat in the Rolling Plains region south of Childress. These offices handle property filings, court case files, marriage records, and other official county documents. Some records are accessible online through Texas state portals, and others require a written or in-person request to the Matador courthouse. This page covers how to find and request public records from Motley County offices and through state systems.

County Clerk Records

The Motley County Clerk in Matador keeps the official records for this small county. In rural counties like Motley, the County Clerk often handles both property recordings and court records. Property deeds are filed here when real estate transfers. Mortgages, liens, and release documents are also recorded. The Clerk indexes filings by party name.

Marriage licenses, assumed name certificates, and Commissioners Court minutes are part of the county records on file. County Court matters, including misdemeanor cases and probate proceedings, are also recorded through this office.

Copies cost $1 per page. Certified copies are $1 per page plus $5. Mail requests are accepted with document details and payment included. Since Motley County has a very small staff, it is wise to call ahead before visiting or mailing a request. The office can confirm what records are available and current hours.

District Court Records

The Motley County District Clerk handles records for the district courts. District courts see felony criminal cases, family law matters, and larger civil suits. Records from these cases include filings, orders, and judgments. These are generally public unless sealed by a judge.

Search Motley County court records online at re:SearchTX. This free statewide portal lets you look up cases by name or case number. It is operated by the Texas Office of Court Administration and covers courts from across the state. Using it first saves a trip to Matador for basic case lookups.

For records not found online, contact the District Clerk directly. In small counties, one office may handle both clerk roles.

Property Records

The Motley County Appraisal District sets values for taxable property in the county. Their records show current owners, property type, acreage, and assessed value. These are public. Contact the Appraisal District for parcel searches or ownership lookups. Their data is also useful for verifying tax exemptions or understanding what a parcel includes.

Deed records and other recorded instruments are at the County Clerk's office. Use both offices when doing thorough property research in Motley County. The recorded documents tell you the full chain of title. The Appraisal District tells you who owns the land now and what it is worth for tax purposes.

Texas also maintains state archives with older historical records that may be useful for research on older Motley County properties.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission holds older records and historical documents that may complement what is available in Motley County's local offices.

Open Records Requests

The Texas Public Information Act gives you the right to request records from Motley County government. Submit a written request describing the records. The office must respond in 10 business days. Most government records are public. Agencies can only withhold records in limited cases and must get approval from the Texas Attorney General to do so. For help, visit texasattorneygeneral.gov/open-government.

PIA copy fees are $0.10 per standard page. For court filing and case management in Texas courts, attorneys use eFileTexas.

Vital Records

Birth and death certificates from Motley County are available through Texas DSHS Vital Statistics. Certified birth certificates cost $23 and death certificates cost $21. Marriage licenses are issued at the County Clerk's office in Matador. For statewide vital records orders, visit Texas DSHS Vital Statistics.

Cities in Motley County

Matador is the only incorporated city in Motley County. No cities in the county exceed 100,000 residents.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Motley County.