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Newcomers 2007

Sunday, October 28, 2007

County clerk keeps records,

issues marriage licenses

deeds; filing and recording birth and

From staff reports

death certificates; recording assumed

names, wills and probates; issuing mar-

Behind every government, there is a

riage licenses; and accounting for all

trail of paperwork, and while those who

funds paid to the office by way of fines

handle the organization of such duties

and fees, and the amount owed to county

receive little glory their work is none-

,

court jurors for service.

theless important to those who run the

A person also can conduct a search

governments.

through civil, criminal or probate re-

The office of the county clerk han-

cords at the county clerk's office for $5

dles a wide variety of duties, includ-

per name per record service. To record

ing administrative support of the com-

anything in the land records, it must be

missioners' court and three county

notarized and be an original, unless it is

courts-at-law.

a certified copy from some other county

For 19 years, the office of Bell County

clerk's office. The cost to record is $14

clerk was held by Vada Sutton, who re-

for the first page and $4 for each addi-

tired in September 2005 after suffering

tional page.

a stroke that summer. A lifelong Demo-

Marriage licenses may be obtained

crat, Sutton worked for the county for

from the county clerk's offices at the

52 years.

county courthouse annexes in Killeen,

Republican Shelley Coston beat out

Belton and Temple for $30.

Democrat Rosa Hernandez in the Nov.

A person must be 18 years old or must

7, 2006, election and has taken over the

have at least one parent present to sign

top role in an office she has worked in

for consent along with the applicant's

for more than 16 years.

birth certificate. There is a three-day

The Bell County clerk's primary du-

waiting period prior to the marriage

ties are administering county and state

and after the license has been given, un-

elections, including primary elections

less waived by a district judge.

and early voting; acting as recorder of