Independence County Clerk, Karen Wooldridge

The County Clerk is the official bookkeeper of the county government. The duties of the County Clerk include serving as the Clerk for the County Court and Probate Division of the Circuit Court; Secretariat to the Quorum Court; Secretary to the Equalization Board and Voter Registrar.

As Clerk of the County Court, it is the County Clerk’s duty to keep an accurate account of all financial transactions within the County. The Clerk prepares and files the Final Settlement and files all documents pertaining to accounts in which the County is involved.

As Clerk of the Quorum Court, the County Clerk’s duties include keeping a complete permanent record of the proceedings of the Quorum Court including minutes, ordinances, resolutions and an index to provide easy access to the information.

As Clerk to the Probate Court, it is the duty of the County Clerk to file all instruments making them a matter of record in decedent estate cases and is responsible for swearing in of all witnesses in contested estates. The Clerk, also in this capacity maintains all records relative to adoptions and guardianship cases within the County.

The County Clerk serves as the secretary of the Board of Equalization and records the minutes of their meetings.

The Voter Registration lists are maintained by the County Clerk. The County Clerk is also the custodian of the absentee ballots and early voting ballots for any early voting conducted by the County Clerk in the Courthouse. The County Clerk has all powers and duties concerning the application for, the issuance of, and the voting of absentee and early voting ballots required by law.

The County Clerk issues and maintains Marriage Licenses.

The County Clerk has application available for use in obtaining Birth and Death Certificates from the Bureau of Vital Records.