Find Background Check Records in Cochran County

Cochran County background check records are kept by the County Clerk, the District Clerk, and the Sheriff's Office, all located in Morton. This small West Texas county uses the 142nd District Court for felony cases. Most records are accessed in person at the courthouse on N. Main St. or by mailing a written request. There is no dedicated online search portal for Cochran County, so statewide tools are the main option for remote searches.

Cochran County Clerk Background Check Records

The Cochran County Clerk keeps misdemeanor criminal records, civil court filings, probate records, real property documents dating back to 1876, marriage licenses, vital records, and assumed name filings. County Clerk Eileen M. Zamora runs the office at 100 N. Main St., Morton, TX 79346. The mailing address is PO Box 309, Morton, TX 79346. Call (940) 266-5450 to reach the office. Fax is (806) 266-5451. Email is cochranclerk@suddenlink.net. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with a lunch break from noon to 1:00 PM.

If you need a copy of a misdemeanor case that went through Cochran County's county court, this is the office to contact. Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases end up in the County Clerk's records. The clerk also keeps civil cases handled by the county court, probate filings, and all real property records. Property records from Cochran County can be useful when doing a thorough background review that involves checking for liens or judgments attached to a person's name.

Copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies add a $5.00 certification fee. Birth certificates are $23.00. Death certificates are $21.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for each additional one. Marriage licenses cost $82.00. Pay by check or money order for mail requests. In-person requests can often be paid by cash or card. Always bring a photo ID when visiting in person.

Cochran County District Clerk Felony Records

The Cochran County District Clerk manages felony criminal records, civil district court cases, and family law filings under the 142nd District Court. District Clerk Melody Herrera is at the same courthouse address: 100 N. Main St., Morton, TX 79346. The mailing address is PO Box 309, Morton, TX 79346. Phone is (806) 266-5450. Fax is (806) 266-5451.

The 142nd District Court serves several counties in the South Plains region. Felony indictments, trial records, and sentencing documents for Cochran County cases are kept by the District Clerk. If someone was charged with a felony in Cochran County, you can request those records from this office. You will need the person's full name and ideally a date of birth to narrow down the search. The office does not do phone searches. Requests must be in writing.

Family law cases like divorce and child custody also go through the District Clerk. These records are generally public unless sealed. If you want to confirm whether a divorce decree or custody order was filed in Cochran County, you can submit a written request to the District Clerk. The same copy fees apply as with the County Clerk: $1.00 per page plus $5.00 for certification.

Cochran County Sheriff Arrest Records

The Cochran County Sheriff's Office manages arrests, jail bookings, and incident reports. Sheriff Candelario "Candy" Ayala leads the department. The main address is 100 N. Main St., Morton, TX 79346. Mailing is PO Box 265, Morton, TX 79346. Call (806) 266-5450 for non-emergency matters. Fax is (806) 266-5451. For emergencies, call 911.

Arrest records are public records in Texas. To get them from the Cochran County Sheriff, send a written Public Information Act request to the office. Include the name of the person you are searching for, the approximate date range, and your contact information. The office has 10 business days to respond. Fees may apply for copies. Jail booking records show the charges at the time of arrest, not the final court outcome. For final case dispositions, you need to check with the County Clerk or District Clerk.

Sex offender registration for Cochran County residents is tracked through the state system. You can search all registered sex offenders in Texas through the Texas DPS Sex Offender Registry. The registry is free and searchable by name or address. State prison inmates can be found through the Texas Department of Criminal Justice at tdcj.texas.gov.

Cochran County Court System

Cochran County uses the 142nd District Court for felony and major civil cases. The county court handles Class A and Class B misdemeanors, smaller civil cases, and probate matters. Justice of the Peace courts handle Class C misdemeanors, traffic cases, small claims, and evictions. Each court level has its own records kept either with the County Clerk or the District Clerk.

The statewide re:SearchTX portal is the best free online option for searching Cochran County background check records remotely. This system indexes district and county court dockets statewide. You can search by name and pull up case numbers, hearing dates, and basic filing information. It does not always show full document images, but it confirms whether a case exists and lets you follow up with the right clerk's office.

For a broader statewide criminal history search, the Texas DPS Criminal History Name Search covers convictions from across all Texas counties. The cost is $3.00 per search. If you need certified results, the FACT fingerprint system at the Texas DPS secure portal provides a more complete and certifiable result. Federal criminal records for Cochran County cases appear on PACER since the county falls under the Northern District of Texas federal court system.

The Texas DPS Criminal History Name Search is the main statewide tool for looking up background check records from Cochran County and all other Texas counties.

This $3.00 search covers convictions statewide and is a good way to check for criminal history across multiple counties at once.

The re:SearchTX portal provides free access to court dockets for Cochran County district and county court cases.

Search by name or cause number to find Cochran County case filings without visiting the courthouse in Morton.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Cochran County in West Texas. Each has its own court records and clerk offices.