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District Clerk
District clerks are called on to assure that the affairs
of the district courts are maintained objectively with
the full confidence of judicial authorities.
The Texas Government Code states
the duties and powers of the clerk of the district court:
"The clerk of the District Court has custody of
and shall carefully maintain and arrange the records
relating to or lawfully deposited in the clerk's office."
The district clerk shall:
- Record the acts and proceedings of the district
court;
- Enter all judgments of the court under the
direction of the judge;
- Record all executions issued and the returns
issued on the executions;
- Process passport applications;
- Administer child support payments;
- Administer trust accounts for minors ordered
by the courts;
- Keep an index of the parties to all suits filed
in the court, and make reference to any judgment made
in the case; and
- Keep an account of all funds collected by the office,
by way of fines and fees, and the amount due jurors
in district court for service.
County Clerk
Without county clerks, many of government's underlying
responsibilities would go undone.
The main duties of the county clerk
are:
- Administering all county and state elections,
including early voting and primaries, unless the commissioners
court has transferred the function to the tax assessor-collector
or an office of county election administrator;
- Serving as clerk of the county court and the
commissioners court and keep records of the proceedings;
- Acting as recorder of deeds and other instruments;
- Filing and recording birth and death certificates;
- Recording assumed names, wills and probate;
- Issuing marriage licenses; and
- Accounting for all funds paid to the office
by way of fines and fees, and the amount owed to county
court jurors for service.
In Texas counties with a population
of less than 8,000, unless there has been a special
election, the county clerk also serves as the district
clerk, assuming all constitutional and statutory duties
of the district clerk, along with those of county clerk.
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