About the Jackson County Court Clerk's Office
Tina Swailes serves as the Jackson County Court Clerk. The clerk is a county officer chosen by local voters. The role runs the daily records work of the District Court.
State law sets the core duty of the office. The Court Clerk records, files, and maintains the permanent records of the proceedings of the District Court. That work covers civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic cases filed in the county. The office also collects court costs, fines, and the fees tied to each case.
Jackson County Court Clerk
Clerk: Tina Swailes
Mailing: P.O. Box 616, Altus, OK 73522
Courthouse counter: 311 E. Cypress, Altus, OK 73521
580-482-0448
tina.swailes@oscn.net
Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
What the Jackson County Court Clerk Does
The clerk is the keeper of the court's paper and electronic file. Every petition, motion, order, and judgment lands here first. The office stamps each filing, builds the case docket, and stores the record for the long term. It also issues certified copies and handles the money side of a case.
- File and index District Court petitions, motions, and orders.
- Maintain permanent case records for civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters.
- Issue certified copies of court documents and judgments.
- Collect court costs, fines, and statutory filing fees.
- Process marriage license applications and hold divorce records.
- Accept e-filed documents through the state portal.
Marriage, Divorce, and Probate Records at the Jackson County Court Clerk
The Court Clerk handles more than lawsuits. Marriage licenses are issued through this office, and the clerk holds the county's divorce records. In Oklahoma a divorce is a District Court case, so the decree lives in the court file rather than at the health department.
Probate runs the same way. Jackson County has no separate probate court. Wills, estate administration, and guardianship matters are filed in the District Court and handled through the Court Clerk. The office opens the case, records each order, and keeps the final decree.
Vital records split between two agencies. The state health department issues birth and death certificates, while marriage and divorce records stay with the Court Clerk in the county where the event took place. For a certified marriage license or a divorce decree, the clerk is the right office.
Public Court Records the Jackson County Court Clerk Keeps
Court proceedings and court records are public information in Oklahoma. The Jackson County Court Clerk applies that rule to the files it holds. Anyone may view most case records without giving a reason.
The law carves out a few exceptions. Records tied to juvenile, adoption, guardianship, and mental health cases are not open to the general public. Those files need statutory authority or a court order before the clerk can release them.
Oklahoma's open-records framework sets the baseline for what the clerk can share. The state library keeps a plain reference to the Oklahoma Open Records Act.
The Act explains which government records stay open and which fall under an exemption. For a court file, the clerk still makes the final call on access, above all for sealed or restricted categories.
Note: A record that does not show up in an online search may be sealed, so the Jackson County Court Clerk is the office that confirms whether a case file exists.
How to Request a Certified Copy
A certified copy carries the clerk's stamp and proves a document is a true copy of the court's file. Banks, employers, and other courts often ask for one. A plain copy will not meet that bar.
- Find the case number, the party names, and the document you need.
- Call the Court Clerk at 580-482-0448 to confirm the copy fee and the payment method.
- Submit the request at the courthouse counter, or mail it to P.O. Box 616, Altus, OK 73522.
- Include your contact details and payment so staff can certify and return the copy.
- Pick the copy up at the counter, or wait for it to arrive by mail.
Jackson County Court Clerk Request Form Fields
A clear request helps the clerk pull the right file the first time. Whether you write a letter or fill out a counter form, a few details matter most. The table below lists what to include.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Case Number | Helpful | Speeds the search; call the clerk if you do not have it. |
| Party Names | Yes | List the last name first for each party. |
| Document Type | Yes | Name the order, decree, or filing you want. |
| Number of Copies | Yes | Note how many copies you need. |
| Certified or Plain | Yes | Certified copies carry the clerk's seal. |
| Contact and Payment | Yes | Add a phone number and a confirmed payment method. |
Jackson County Court Clerk Fees
Court fees in Oklahoma come from state law. Title 28 of the Oklahoma Statutes sets District Court filing fees, and the clerk collects them. Copy and certification charges are not posted on the county's Court Clerk page, so confirm the current amount by phone before you mail a request.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| District Court filing fees | Set by Title 28 of the Oklahoma Statutes |
| Plain or certified copy | Call 580-482-0448 to confirm |
| Marriage license | $50, or $5 with qualifying premarital counseling |
| Court-record expungement | No fee for the court record |
| OSBI arrest-record expungement | $150 processing fee paid to OSBI |
Note: The marriage license figures reflect Oklahoma's statewide rule, and the Jackson County Court Clerk has not published a local fee table, so verify the exact charge by phone.
Expunging a Jackson County Court Record
Oklahoma allows two kinds of record cleanup. One seals or updates the court record. The other removes the arrest record held by the state bureau. They are not the same, and they carry different costs.
The court process starts in the District Court. A petitioner files the request, gives notice to the affected agencies, and asks the judge for an order.
- File the expungement petition and proposed order in the Jackson County District Court.
- Serve notice on the agencies that hold the record, such as the state bureau and local law enforcement.
- Attend the hearing and ask the judge to sign the order.
- Deliver certified copies of the signed order to the Court Clerk and each agency so the records are sealed or updated.
The court record itself can be expunged at no charge. Clearing an arrest record through the state bureau carries a $150 processing fee, and a local agency may charge its own fee for its files.
Court Costs and Fines at the Jackson County Court Clerk
The clerk also runs the money side of every case. State law sets court costs, and the office collects them as a case moves. Fines, fees, and restitution all pass through the clerk.
A party can ask about a balance in person or by phone. The office can explain what is owed and how to pay. Oklahoma also runs an online payment site for eligible citations and disposed cases.
Paying a balance online does not clear every problem. A bench warrant tied to a missed payment may still stand, so confirm the status with the clerk before you treat a case as closed.
Searching Jackson County Court Records Online
Two free state systems carry most Jackson County court records. On Demand Court Records, known as ODCR, lists Jackson in its court menu and supports name and case-number searches. The Oklahoma State Courts Network, or OSCN, adds docket search and District Court reports.
Both portals are convenience tools. The official file still lives with the clerk, and a certified copy must come from the office.
Attorneys and parties can also file online. Documents go in through the Oklahoma e-filing portal. The system charges the Title 28 fees tied to the case, and payment can be made online by credit or debit card.
Visiting the Jackson County Court Clerk in Altus
The Court Clerk's counter sits in the Jackson County Courthouse at 311 E. Cypress in Altus. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Call ahead for older or paper-only files so staff can pull them before you arrive.
The city of Altus shares local visitor and downtown details through its official city site.
The courthouse stands in central Altus near the downtown square. Confirm the exact room with the clerk before a hearing, since office locations on the courthouse campus can shift.
Keep in mind that the Court Clerk and the county clerk are two different offices. Deeds, mortgages, and other land records belong to the Jackson County Clerk, not the Court Clerk. Marriage and divorce records, by contrast, are court files held here.