Lea County Clerk

Pat Chappelle

(575) 396-8619
Fax: (575) 396-3293
pchappelle@leacounty.net

Pat Chappelle was elected in 2008 to a four-year term to manage the many duties of the Lea County Clerk's Office. She appointed her predecessor, Melinda Hughes, as her Chief Deputy Clerk.

The Lea County Clerk is the custodian of records for Lea County. The County Clerk serves as secretary to the commission and is responsible for recording meeting minutes and keeping resolutions and ordinances adopted by the Board of County Commissioners.

As the chief administrator of elections, the County Clerk is responsible for the administration of elections. The Clerk's Office receives nominations and petitions of candidates, prepares ballots and voting machines, and trains poll workers.

Any legal document can be filed in the County Clerk's Office, but the Clerk's Office primarily records deeds, mortgages, leases and other real estate documents. The office also issues and records marriage licenses for marriages inside Lea County. Birth and death certificates are handled by New Mexico Vital Records & Health Statistics.

The office also issues permits for parties and events, and licenses for liquor-serving establishments.