Clay County Property Records
Clay County property records are filed with the County Clerk in Henrietta, Texas. The clerk records deeds, liens, mortgages, easements, and other instruments that affect real property in the county. You can search records online or visit the courthouse in Henrietta. This guide covers the clerk's office details, the appraisal district, how to search online, recording fees, and other resources for Clay County property research.
Clay County Overview
Clay County Clerk Office
The Clay County Clerk in Henrietta is the official custodian of all property records filed in the county. The clerk records and indexes deeds, deeds of trust, liens, releases, easements, and plats. Every instrument filed with the clerk becomes part of the permanent public record and gives constructive notice to all future buyers and lenders.
The courthouse is in Henrietta and is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours. The county provides online access to recorded instruments through its official records portal. You can search by party name, instrument number, or document type. Staff can help with general questions but cannot conduct title searches on your behalf.
| Office | Clay County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 N. Bridge St., Henrietta, TX 76365 |
| Phone | (940) 538-4561 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, regular business hours |
| Website | claycountytexas.com |
For online access, the county records portal lets you search by grantor or grantee name, document type, or date range. Document images are viewable online for most current records. For older historical records, some documents may only be accessible in person at the courthouse.
Search Clay County Property Records
The Clay County Appraisal District provides a public property search that is a useful starting point. The CAD database shows current ownership, appraised values, and parcel details based on the tax rolls. Use this when you have an address but need the legal description or owner name before digging into the deed index.
To search deed records, use the County Clerk's online portal. Search by grantor or grantee name, document type, or date. Free basic searches are available to the public. For in-person research, visit the clerk's office in Henrietta during business hours. Public terminals are available at the courthouse.
Note: TexasFile also provides access to Clay County deed records and is a useful alternative search tool.
Types of Property Records in Clay County
The County Clerk records all instruments that affect real property in Clay County. Under Texas Property Code Section 12.001, recording gives constructive notice to the public. Anyone who later buys or lends against a property is assumed to know what is in the recorded public record.
Common document types in Clay County include warranty deeds, special warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, mortgage releases, mechanic's liens, materialman's liens, tax liens, oil and gas leases, easements, right-of-way agreements, subdivision plats, and assumed name certificates. Each document is assigned an instrument number when filed and indexed under all party names in the instrument.
Clay County has a mix of agricultural land and ranch property in North Texas near the Red River. Oil and gas activity in the region means mineral leases and royalty interest deeds are a regular part of the filing record. Separate the surface and mineral ownership chains when researching rural property in Clay County.
Clay County Appraisal District
The Clay County Appraisal District maintains appraisal records for all taxable property in the county. The CAD is publicly searchable online and shows current ownership, assessed values, exemptions, and property details for each parcel.
Search by owner name, address, or account number. Results include property type, acreage, improvement data, and the appraised value used for tax calculations. If you disagree with your appraised value, the CAD office provides protest forms and information about annual deadlines. The appraisal review board hears protests each spring.
CAD records update on an annual basis. A recent deed transfer may not appear immediately. For current ownership based on filed documents, check the County Clerk deed index in addition to the CAD.
Recording Fees and Procedures
The recording fee at the Clay 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 additional name. State law sets these fees uniformly across Texas counties.
Documents can be filed in person at the Henrietta courthouse, by mail with a check or money order payable to the County Clerk, or through an eRecording vendor. For mail submissions, include a return envelope for the recorded original. eRecording through services like Simplifile or CSC is the fastest method and provides electronic tracking. After recording, each document gets an instrument number and a recording timestamp, and the original is returned to the submitting party.
Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee. Uncertified copies cost less and are sufficient for research and due diligence purposes when court-certified documents are not required.
Texas Public Information Act
Clay County property records are public records open to anyone. Under Texas Government Code Chapter 552, you can request copies of government records without giving a reason. You do not need to own the property or be a party to the document.
The clerk must respond promptly. For property records already in the index, requests are usually handled quickly. If production will take more than ten business days, the office must notify you. For disputes about access, the Texas Attorney General's Open Government Division handles complaints and publishes guidance on your rights.
Some personal information is redacted from online document images. Social security numbers and financial account numbers are removed before online posting. The full original record is on file with the clerk.
Additional Resources for Clay County Research
The Texas Comptroller's Property Tax Assistance Division provides statewide guides on property tax exemptions, appraisal districts, and protest procedures. For historical land research, the Texas General Land Office holds original land grant records. Clay County was organized in 1857, and early land titles in the area trace to state land surveys and grants searchable in the GLO archive at no cost.
The Texas Secretary of State's SOSDirect provides business entity and UCC records at the state level. Verify any business names in documents through SOS before relying on them. The Texas State Law Library offers free research guides on Texas property recording and real estate law.
Nearby Counties
Clay County is in North Texas near the Red River. Check the right county for properties near a county border before you start your search.