Payne County
Payne County, founded in 1907, encompasses approximately 697 square miles in north-central Oklahoma and has a population of around 81,000 residents. The county seat is Stillwater, known as the home of Oklahoma State University. Other major cities in Payne County are Cushing, Drumright, Perkins, and Yale.
Payne County's court system comprises the District and Municipal Courts. The District Court typically has general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters arising within the county. Civil cases in the District Court include disputes related to personal injury, property, contracts, mortgages, property damage, and eminent domain—essentially, non-criminal cases. On the other hand, criminal cases handled by this court involve traffic criminal offenses, felonies, misdemeanors, and extradictions. Other matters under the jurisdiction of the Payne County District Court include small claims, probate, juvenile, and domestic relations cases. Additionally, Payne County has six municipal courts that handle all traffic, non-traffic, and violations of city ordinances within their respective cities.
The Payne County Court Clerk and Municipal Clerks manage public court records generated during legal proceedings at the District and Municipal Courts in the county. These records encompass several documents and case files, including motions, judgments, petitions, and court orders. The Payne County Courthouse and municipal clerks' offices serve as repositories for public court records in the county. Likewise, most court records are available online via official databases that provide public access to case information. However, certain records may be restricted from public disclosure in compliance with court orders or state laws.
Interested persons may access the following public court records in Payne County:
- Civil Court Records
- Criminal Court Records
- Small Claims Court Records
- Probate Court Records
- Traffic Court Records
- Domestic Relations Court Records
Payne County offers various options for individuals to search for court cases or docket information. For example, they may request court documents or files by mailing a self-addressed stamped envelope containing a written request to the District Court Clerk. The request should include details about the public court records needed, such as the party's name, date of birth, and the year for the search. Along with a $5 search fee, requests can be sent to:
Payne County Courthouse
606 S. Husband Street
Suite 207
Stillwater, OK 74074
Record seekers can visit the courthouse or email the Clerk to access public court records in Payne County. Users can also search for Payne County docket information on the OSC Dockets portal.
