Loving County Civil Court Records

Loving County civil court records are kept by a single combined clerk office in Mentone, Texas. The county is known as the smallest by population in the entire state, which means one office handles both county and district functions. If you need to find civil court filings, property records, or case documents from Loving County, the clerk's office is your main point of contact. You can search records online through the county's records portal or reach out to the clerk directly. Most civil filings go through the 143rd Judicial District, which serves this remote West Texas county.

Loving County Clerk and District Clerk

Loving County runs a combined clerk office that serves both county court and district court functions. The clerk, Mozelle Carr, handles all civil court records, property documents, marriage licenses, and case filings. Because the county has under 100 residents, there is no need for separate offices. The courthouse is at 100 Bell Street in Mentone.

The office operates Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and on Fridays from 8:00 AM to noon. The shortened Friday hours are worth noting if you plan to visit or call. County Court sessions are held only on the second Wednesday of each month, given the extremely low volume of cases. The 143rd Judicial District Court handles civil cases that exceed $200,000 in dispute, along with felony criminal matters.

The county also has a second website maintained by the Texas county government system at co.loving.tx.us. Either site can help you locate basic contact information or find out about upcoming court dates.

Search Loving County Civil Court Records Online

Loving County offers online access to civil court records and property documents through the EagleWeb records portal. The portal at lovingtx.countygovernmentrecords.com lets you search by document number, volume and page, recording date, or grantor and grantee name. Free registration is required to view document copies.

The portal covers documents from January 1, 1854 to the present day. That is a long span of records, which is notable given the county's remote history. It includes land records, deeds, assumed names, marriage records, and marks and brands. If you need civil court case filings specifically, you may also check the statewide re:SearchTX system, which indexes e-filed court documents from across Texas. Note: Records before 1931 may be stored in Reeves County due to Loving County's brief reorganization history.

The Loving County Clerk and District Clerk website at lovingcountyanddistrictclerk.com serves as the primary contact point for records requests and court filings.

The EagleWeb records portal for Loving County allows free registration and document searches going back to 1854, covering deeds, liens, and official public records.

Civil Court Records in Loving County

The combined clerk office maintains all civil court records for Loving County. County court handles civil cases up to $200,000 and misdemeanor criminal matters. The District Court handles civil cases over $200,000, along with felony cases and family law matters including divorce and custody. Both sets of records are kept at the same courthouse in Mentone.

Beyond civil court filings, the clerk keeps real property records such as deeds, mortgages, and liens. Probate records, including wills and estate filings, are also on file. The office issues marriage licenses and maintains marks and brands registrations used in the region's cattle industry. Commissioners Court minutes are stored here as well. If you want document copies, the fee is $1.00 per page, and certification of a document costs an additional $5.00.

Filing fees follow a standard Texas schedule. Recording an official public record costs $25.00 for the first page and $4.00 for each additional page. A Records Management Fee of $10.00 and a Restoration and Preservation Fee of $10.00 apply to filings. There is also a $1.00 Courthouse Security Fee.

Note: Electronic filing through eFileTexas is available for attorneys and may be used by self-represented parties as well.

Texas Civil Court Laws and Filing Rules

Civil court filing procedures in Loving County follow Texas Government Code Chapter 51, which sets out the duties of district clerks across the state. County court civil jurisdiction is governed by Texas Government Code Chapter 25 and related provisions. These statutes define which court handles which type of case based on the dollar amount in dispute and the nature of the claim.

Public access to court records in Texas is generally allowed under the Texas Public Information Act, codified at Texas Government Code Chapter 552. You do not need to be a party to a case to request copies of most civil court documents. Some records may be sealed by court order or restricted under specific statutes, but most civil filings remain open to the public.

Self-represented litigants can find court forms and guides at TexasLawHelp.org, which covers civil cases, family law, and small claims. The State Bar of Texas also offers a lawyer referral service if you need legal help navigating a civil case in Loving County.

Court Structure in Loving County

The 143rd Judicial District Court has jurisdiction over Loving County, along with Reeves and Ward counties. The District Attorney serving Loving County is Sarah Stogner, reachable at (432) 445-2010. The County Attorney is Stephen Simonsen. Justice of the Peace services are handled by Angela Medlin at (432) 286-9544.

County Court meets only once per month, on the second Wednesday. This is consistent with the county's status as the least populous in Texas. Civil disputes requiring district court action follow the same filing procedures used across Texas, but given the low volume, case processing can sometimes be faster than in larger jurisdictions. The clerk's office staff can answer questions about which court handles a specific type of case.

For records in neighboring counties that may be relevant to your case, Reeves County to the south and Ward County to the east both have more robust court systems. Some historical Loving County records from before 1931 are located in Reeves County due to the county's disorganization period in the late 1800s.

Cities in Loving County

Loving County has no incorporated cities that meet the qualifying population threshold. Mentone serves as the county seat and is the main community in the county. All civil court cases for residents of Loving County are handled at the courthouse in Mentone.

Nearby Counties

These counties border or are near Loving County. If you are not sure which court handles your civil case, check the county where you live or where the matter occurred.