Search Garfield County Background Check

Garfield County background check records are held at the courthouse in Enid, the county seat and largest city in the area. Court Clerk Janelle M. Sharp runs the records office on the second floor of the Garfield County Courthouse at 114 West Broadway Avenue. You can search Garfield County court records online for free through the Oklahoma State Courts Network, or visit the courthouse in person during business hours. The County Clerk keeps land records at the same address. Criminal cases, civil lawsuits, marriage files, probate matters, and property documents are all available here. This page walks you through how to find and request background check records in Garfield County.

Garfield County Court Clerk Records

The Garfield County Court Clerk is the main office for court records in the county. Janelle M. Sharp holds the position. The office is on the 2nd floor of the Garfield County Courthouse at 114 West Broadway Ave., Enid, OK 73701. The mailing address is PO Box 404, Enid, OK 73702. Phone is (580) 237-0232. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and the office stays open during the lunch hour. Staff can help with research, case lookup, and copying services.

Copy fees are $1.00 for the first page. Each extra page is $0.50. Certification runs $0.50 per document. In-person requests are usually filled right away. Records older than 10 years may be stored off-site and take a day or two to pull. Mail requests take 1 to 2 days to process because of volume. Email requests can go to garfieldrequests@oscn.net. Include the document you need, the name on the case, and a phone number where you can be reached.

The screenshot below shows the Garfield County Court Clerk website where you can start your background check search.

The Court Clerk handles all district court records for Garfield County, including criminal, civil, family, and probate cases.

Garfield County records are being scanned and uploaded to OSCN.net for older cases. That means the online archive keeps growing. Under the Oklahoma Open Records Act in Title 51, Sections 24A.1 through 24A.29, these court records are open to the public. You do not need to be a party to the case. No reason is required to search.

How to Search Garfield County Records

The Oklahoma State Courts Network is the fastest free tool for a Garfield County background check. Pick Garfield County from the dropdown. Type the person's last name, then first name. Results show case numbers, charges, party names, and docket entries. OSCN is free. No account is needed. Garfield County has comprehensive digital records on the system, so most cases show up with full detail.

On Demand Court Records is another way to look. ODCR covers Garfield County and many other courts across Oklahoma. The basic search is free. A paid plan at $5 per month adds date of birth filters and warrant search tools. Both OSCN and ODCR pull from the same court data. Checking both can help when one shows something the other does not.

In-person searches at the courthouse work well too. Staff can look up cases by name or case number. Bring a valid photo ID. You can view files right there and order copies on the spot.

Garfield County Property and Land Records

The Garfield County Clerk maintains land records at 114 West Broadway Ave., Enid, OK 73701. These records cover deeds, mortgages, liens, and mineral interests. Property records matter for a background check when you want to see what a person owns or what judgments and liens are on their name. Free unofficial copies can be viewed online through the County Clerk's website.

The image below shows the Garfield County Clerk's website used for land record searches.

Official copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies add $1.00 per page on top of that.

An important rule took effect on November 1, 2023 under SB 212. All deeds filed in Garfield County now need an Affidavit for Ownership or Title to Land. This form must be signed, notarized, and attached to every deed at filing. The form is available at the Oklahoma Attorney General's public forms page. This change affects all counties in the state, not just Garfield.

Garfield County Sheriff Records

The Garfield County Sheriff's Office in Enid keeps arrest records, incident reports, and jail data. The office handles law enforcement for all of Garfield County. Arrest logs, warrant files, and inmate records are maintained here. Contact the Sheriff's Office for arrest record requests or warrant checks. A valid ID is needed for in-person visits.

For a statewide criminal history check, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation runs name searches through the CHIRP portal. The fee is $15 for a name search. OSBI covers all 77 counties, including Garfield County. Results that find no match come back fast. Matches that need review are handled during OSBI business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Under Title 74 O.S. Section 150.9, criminal history from OSBI that is not already part of a public court record must be kept confidential.

Garfield County Records Access Rules

Public records in Garfield County follow the Oklahoma Open Records Act. Court files are open. You can look at them. No reason needed. Criminal cases show charges, pleas, and sentences. Civil cases show filings and judgments.

Restricted records include juvenile cases, which are sealed by state law. Adoption files stay private. Expunged records are removed from all public databases, including OSCN and OSBI. Under Title 22 O.S. Section 18, certain records can be expunged if the person meets legal requirements. Once a record is expunged, it will not appear in any search. Cases sealed by a judge are also off limits to the public.

Cities in Garfield County

Enid is the largest city in Garfield County and the county seat. All district court cases for the county go through the Court Clerk at the Garfield County Courthouse in Enid.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Garfield County. If you need records from another area, check the county where the case was filed.