Comanche County Public Records
What Are Public Records in Comanche County?
Public records in Comanche County are official documents and information created, received, or maintained by county government agencies that are accessible to the public under Oklahoma law. According to the Oklahoma Open Records Act § 24A.3, public records include "all documents, including, but not limited to, any book, paper, photograph, microfilm, data files created by or used with computer software, computer tape, disk, record, sound recording, film recording, video record or other material regardless of physical form or characteristic, created by, received by, under the authority of, or coming into the custody, control or possession of public officials, public bodies, or their representatives in connection with the transaction of public business, the expenditure of public funds or the administering of public property."
Comanche County maintains numerous types of public records, including:
- Court records - civil, criminal, family, and probate cases maintained by the Court Clerk's office
- Property records - deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and plats maintained by the County Clerk
- Vital records - marriage licenses (County Clerk) and divorce decrees (Court Clerk)
- Business records - including fictitious name registrations and trade name certificates
- Tax records - property tax assessments, payments, and delinquencies
- Voting and election records - voter registration, election results, and campaign finance reports
- Meeting minutes and agendas - County Commission and other boards and committees
- Budget and financial documents - county expenditures, contracts, and financial reports
- Law enforcement records - arrest logs, incident reports (with certain restrictions)
- Land use and zoning records - permits, variances, and planning documents
The Comanche County Clerk's office serves as the primary custodian for many county records, including land records, marriage licenses, and official county documents. The Court Clerk maintains all judicial records, including criminal records and case files.
Is Comanche County an Open Records County?
Comanche County fully complies with the Oklahoma Open Records Act § 24A.1 et seq., which establishes the public's right to access government records. The Act explicitly states that "the people are vested with the inherent right to know and be fully informed about their government" and that "the purpose of this act is to ensure and facilitate the public's right of access to and review of government records so they may efficiently and intelligently exercise their inherent political power."
Under current Oklahoma law, all records of public bodies and public officials are open to any person for inspection, copying, or mechanical reproduction during regular business hours, unless specifically exempted by statute. The Oklahoma Open Records Act § 24A.5 further requires that "a public body must provide prompt, reasonable access to its records."
Comanche County has implemented policies to ensure compliance with these state sunshine laws. County offices maintain procedures for responding to records requests in a timely manner, typically within a reasonable timeframe as required by state law. The county does not require individuals to state a purpose or reason for requesting public records, in accordance with state statute.
How to Find Public Records in Comanche County in 2026
Members of the public seeking records in Comanche County may follow these steps to obtain the information they need:
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Identify the appropriate county office that maintains the desired records:
- For land records, marriage licenses, and county documents, contact the County Clerk's office
- For court records, divorce decrees, and criminal records, contact the Court Clerk's office
- For property tax information, contact the County Assessor's office
- For law enforcement records, contact the Sheriff's Department
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Submit a records request using one of these methods:
- In person at the appropriate county office
- Through the county's online records request portal
- By mail to the specific department
- By email to the records custodian (for departments that accept email requests)
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Provide sufficient information to identify the records being sought:
- For court cases: case number, party names, and approximate date
- For land records: book and page number, property address, or owner name
- For marriage records: names of parties and approximate date
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Pay any applicable fees for copies or certified documents (see fee section below)
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Receive records in the requested format (paper copies, electronic files, or certified copies)
For land records, the County Clerk maintains an online search system that allows users to access certain property records without visiting the courthouse. Similarly, the Court Clerk provides access to court dockets and case information through the Oklahoma State Courts Network.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Comanche County?
Comanche County charges fees for copies of public records in accordance with the Oklahoma Open Records Act § 24A.5(3), which permits reasonable fees for record retrieval, review, and copying. Current standard fees include:
- Regular paper copies: $0.25 per page
- Certified copies: $1.00 per page plus certification fee
- Land record copies: $1.00 per page
- Marriage license copies: $5.00 per certified copy
- Court records: $1.00 per page for regular copies, $10.00 for certified copies
- Electronic records: Varies by department and file size
Additional fees may apply for:
- Research time: $25.00 per hour (after first 15 minutes, which is typically free)
- Specialized searches: Fees vary based on complexity
- Expedited service: Additional charges may apply
- Media conversion: Fees for converting records to different formats
Accepted payment methods include:
- Cash (in-person requests only)
- Credit/debit cards (subject to processing fees)
- Money orders
- Checks (made payable to the specific county office)
Under state law, agencies may waive fees when the release of records is in the public interest. Additionally, pursuant to Oklahoma Statutes § 24A.5(4), "if the request is solely for commercial purpose or would clearly cause excessive disruption of the public body's essential functions, then the public body may charge a reasonable fee to recover the direct cost of record search and copying."
Does Comanche County Have Free Public Records?
Comanche County provides free inspection of public records during regular business hours in accordance with the Oklahoma Open Records Act. While copying fees apply as outlined above, individuals may examine records at no cost by visiting the appropriate county office.
The following free public record resources are currently available:
- In-person inspection of all non-exempt public records at county offices
- Online access to certain court case information through the Oklahoma State Courts Network
- Basic property ownership information through the County Assessor's website
- County Commission meeting agendas and minutes on the county website
- Voter registration verification through the Oklahoma State Election Board website
The Comanche County Clerk's office provides public computer terminals for searching land records at no charge, though printing fees apply. Similarly, the Court Clerk offers terminals for reviewing court dockets and case information without charge for viewing.
Who Can Request Public Records in Comanche County?
Under the Oklahoma Open Records Act § 24A.5, "all records of public bodies and public officials shall be open to any person for inspection, copying, or mechanical reproduction during regular business hours." This means:
- Any person, regardless of citizenship or residency status, may request public records
- Requestors are not required to state a purpose or reason for their request
- Identification is generally not required for most record requests
- No distinction is made between Oklahoma residents and non-residents
- Media organizations have the same access rights as individuals
- Commercial requestors have equal access, though different fee structures may apply
Certain restrictions apply to specific record types:
- Vital records (birth and death certificates) are restricted to qualified individuals with a direct interest
- Juvenile court records have restricted access under Oklahoma Statutes § 10A-1-6-102
- Records containing personal identifying information may be redacted before release
- Some law enforcement investigative records may have limited access
When requesting your own records versus records about others, different standards may apply. For example, individuals requesting their own court records may need to provide identification, while this may not be necessary when requesting public court documents about others.
What Records Are Confidential in Comanche County?
While Oklahoma law presumes that government records are open to the public, certain records are confidential by statute and exempt from disclosure. In Comanche County, the following record types are generally not available for public inspection:
- Records specifically required by law to be kept confidential, as outlined in Oklahoma Statutes § 24A.5(1)
- Personnel records revealing personal information, evaluations, or disciplinary actions
- Juvenile court records and proceedings under Oklahoma Statutes § 10A-1-6-102
- Sealed court records, including expunged criminal records
- Records related to ongoing criminal investigations
- Medical records protected under HIPAA
- Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and other personal identifying information
- Adoption records and proceedings
- Child welfare and protective services records
- Attorney-client privileged communications
- Educational records protected under FERPA
- Trade secrets and proprietary business information
- Critical infrastructure information and security plans
- Certain law enforcement personnel records and information
When a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, county officials will redact the confidential portions and release the remainder, as required by Oklahoma Statutes § 24A.5(2).
Oklahoma law also provides for a balancing test in certain circumstances, where the public interest in disclosure is weighed against privacy interests or potential harm from release. This determination is made on a case-by-case basis by the records custodian.
Comanche County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Comanche County Clerk's Office
315 SW 5th Street, Suite 300
Lawton, OK 73501
580-355-5214
County Clerk
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays
Comanche County Court Clerk's Office
315 SW 5th Street, Suite 305
Lawton, OK 73501
580-355-5214
Court Clerk
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays
Comanche County Assessor's Office
315 SW 5th Street, Suite 301
Lawton, OK 73501
580-355-1448
County Assessor
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays
Lookup Public Records in Comanche County
County Clerk records and document filing information
Court records, dockets, and case information
Property deeds, mortgages, and land records