County Clerk's Office Services

Assumed Name Certificate (DBA) Each person who regularly conducts business or renders professional services other than as a corporation, limited partnership, registered limited partnership, or limited liability company in a particular county must file an assumed name certificate with the county clerk so that a record is availableas to the business. An assumed name certificate is effective for ten years from the date of the filing of the certificate. At the end of the ten-year time period, the certificate becomes null and void unless within six months prior to the expiration date, a renewal certificate is filed with the county clerk. A registrant who has filed an assume name certificate which ceases to transact business or render professional services under the assumed name stated in the certificate may file a statement of abandonment with the county clerk.

Cattle Brands Each person who has cattle, hogs, sheep, or goats shall have and may use one or more earmarks, brands, tattoos or electronic devices differing from those of the person's neighbors. These earmarks, brands, tattoos and electronic devices must be recorded with the county clerk of the county in which the animals are located. A person may record any earmark, brand, tatoo or electronic device that the person desires to use if no other person has recorded it, without regard to whether that person has previously recorded an earkmark, brand, tattoo or electronic device.

Certified Copies The county clerk is often called upon to provide a certified copy (also known as an "attested copy") of an instrument. These certified copies are often used to prove ownership of property, personal identity, and other important matters. The clerk, by affixing his or her seal and signature, swears that the copy is a true and exact replica of the recorded instrument in its entirety.

Deed Records Instruments that can be categorized as deed records include the following: power of attorney, lease, contract of sale, oil lease, royalty deed, agreemnt, release of lien, easement, gas lease, etc.

Deeds of Trust A deed of trust is a deed conveying title to real property to a trustee as security until the granto repays a loan.

Land Records coming soon

Liens and Abstracts A lien is an instrument evidencing a legal interest that a creditor has in a debtor's property. A lien generally lasts until a debt that the lien secures is satisfied.

Military Discharge Records The county clerk is to record, without charging a fee, the official discharge of person who after 1915 have served as members of the United States armed forces, the United States armed forces reserve, or an armed forces auxiliary.

Plats Plats are maps showing legal descriptions and boundaries of subdivided land. The owner or proprietor of the tract or the owner's or proprietor's agent must acknowledge the plat in the manner required for the acknowledgement of deeds. The plat must be filed and recorded with the county clerk of the county in which the tract is located. The county clerk may not record a plat unless it has been approved by the appropriate municipal authority.