Search Burnet County Property Records
Burnet County property records are filed with the County Clerk in Burnet, Texas. The office records deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other land instruments for all property in the county. You can search records online through the county's portal or visit the courthouse in person. This page covers how to find Burnet County property records, the offices that hold them, recording fees, and other research resources.
Burnet County Overview
Burnet County Clerk Office
The Burnet County Clerk is the official custodian of all property records filed in the county. The clerk's office records and indexes deeds, deeds of trust, liens, releases, plats, and other instruments affecting real property. Once a document is recorded, it becomes part of the permanent public record and is searchable by anyone.
The courthouse is located in Burnet. Office hours are Monday through Friday during regular business hours. For online access to property records, the county provides a search portal where you can look up documents by party name, instrument number, or document type. Staff can help with general guidance but cannot perform title searches on your behalf.
| Office | Burnet County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 220 S. Pierce St., Burnet, TX 78611 |
| Phone | (512) 756-5406 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, regular business hours |
| Website | burnetcountytexas.org |
Search Burnet County Property Records
Online property searches in Burnet County start with the County Clerk's records portal. You can search by grantor or grantee name, document type, or recording date range. Most results include a digital image of the filed document. Free basic searches are available to the public.
The Burnet Central Appraisal District maintains a separate but complementary database. It shows current ownership, tax values, and parcel details for all property in the county. This is a good tool when you have an address or a general area but need to identify the specific parcel or current owner before digging into deed records.
For in-person searches, visit the clerk's office in Burnet. Public access terminals are available in the courthouse. For historical records going back to the county's founding in 1852, some early documents may only be fully accessible in person through the physical index books.
Note: TexasFile indexes Burnet County deed records and can serve as a backup if the county portal is temporarily unavailable.
Types of Burnet County Property Records
The County Clerk records all instruments affecting real property in Burnet County. Under Texas Property Code Section 12.001, recording a document in the county where the property is located gives constructive notice to the public. Any party dealing with that property later is assumed to have knowledge of what is in the public record.
Common types of property records filed in Burnet County include warranty deeds, special warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, mortgage releases and discharges, mechanic's liens, materialman's liens, tax liens, easements, right-of-way agreements, oil and gas leases, subdivision plats, and assumed name certificates. Each document receives a unique instrument number and is indexed under the names of all parties listed in the document.
Burnet County has significant lakefront and rural property along the Highland Lakes area. Water access easements and lake-related restrictions are often part of the deed record for properties near Lake Buchanan and Inks Lake. Check the deed index carefully for any easement or restriction language when researching waterfront properties.
Burnet County Appraisal District
The Burnet Central Appraisal District maintains appraisal records for all taxable property in the county. The CAD database shows current ownership, appraised values, exemptions, and property characteristics for each parcel. These records are public and searchable online at no cost.
Search by owner name, address, account number, or legal description. Results include property type, acreage, improvement details, and the annual appraised value. If you disagree with your appraised value, you can file a protest with the appraisal review board before the annual deadline. The CAD office can provide the forms and the specific deadline each year.
Appraisal district data updates on an annual cycle. A property that sold recently may still reflect the prior owner's name until the new deed is processed. For confirmed current ownership based on recorded deeds, check the County Clerk deed index in addition to the CAD records.
Recording Fees and Procedures
The fee for recording a document with the Burnet County Clerk is $26 for the first page and $4.00 for each additional page. Documents naming more than five parties for indexing carry an extra $0.25 per name over five. These fees are set by Texas state law.
You can submit documents for recording in person, by mail, or through an eRecording vendor. Mail submissions should be accompanied by a check or money order payable to the County Clerk. Include a return envelope if you want the original mailed back after recording. eRecording through services like Simplifile or CSC is the fastest method and provides electronic tracking of the submission.
After recording, each document gets an instrument number and a stamp showing the recording date and time. The original is returned to the submitting party. The document then becomes searchable in the online index within a few business days. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee. Plain uncertified copies cost less and are suitable for most research needs.
Texas Public Information Act
Property records in Burnet County are public records open to anyone. Texas Government Code Chapter 552 gives the public the right to access government documents without stating a reason. You do not need to own the property or be party to the document to request a copy.
The clerk's office must respond promptly to public records requests. Since most property records are already indexed, the wait is usually short. If it will take more than ten business days to produce the records, the office must notify you of the expected timeline. Disputes about access are handled by the Texas Attorney General's Open Government Division.
Some personal identifiers are redacted from online document images. Social security numbers and financial account numbers are removed before posting online. The original complete document is kept on file with the clerk and is available for in-person review.
Additional Resources for Burnet County Research
The Texas Comptroller's Property Tax Assistance Division provides statewide resources on property taxes, exemptions, and appraisal protest procedures. For historical land research, the Texas General Land Office holds original land grant records going back to the Republic of Texas era. Burnet County was created in 1852, and original titles frequently trace to Republic-era grants searchable in the GLO archive.
The Texas Secretary of State's SOSDirect system provides business entity records and UCC filings. If a lien or deed involves a business entity, verify the legal name and status through SOS before relying on a document. The Texas State Law Library offers free online research guides covering property recording, title chains, and easement law in Texas.
Nearby Counties
Burnet County is in the Texas Hill Country. Properties near county lines may have records in a neighboring county. Confirm the correct county before searching.