Gaines County Property Records Search
Gaines County property records are kept by the County Clerk in Seminole, Texas. The office has document copies going back to 1881, available online through TexasFile. Records include deeds, deeds of trust, loan and lien documents, building permits, and purchase history. eRecording is accepted through CSC, making it easy to submit documents without visiting the office. This guide covers how to find property records in Gaines County, what the clerk's office provides, and other research resources.
Gaines County Overview
Gaines County Clerk Office
The Gaines County Clerk is the official custodian of all property records in the county. County Clerk Terri Berry maintains the office at 101 S. Main, Rm. 206, Seminole, TX 79360. You can reach the office by phone at (432) 758-4003, fax at (432) 758-1442, or email at terri.berry@co.gaines.tx.us. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Document copies are available through TexasFile from 1881 to 2025. This covers a long span of Gaines County land activity. The office accepts mail, email, and in-person requests. For payment, cash, check, and money order are accepted. Checks submitted by mail must include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return of your original document.
| County Clerk | Terri Berry |
|---|---|
| Address | 101 S. Main, Rm. 206, Seminole, TX 79360 |
| Phone | (432) 758-4003 |
| Fax | (432) 758-1442 |
| terri.berry@co.gaines.tx.us | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
An online marriage license application is available through the county. eRecording through CSC is accepted for document submissions. The District Clerk, Susan Murphree, is a separate office located at 101 S. Main, Rm. 311, reachable at (432) 758-4013.
Search Gaines County Property Records
The Gaines County Clerk has property records going back to 1881, with online access available through TexasFile.
To search online, go to TexasFile and select Gaines County. You can search by grantor name, grantee name, document type, or date range. Results cover 1881 to 2025. Free basic searches are available. Document image purchases are handled through the TexasFile platform.
For in-person searches, visit the clerk's office at Room 206 of the courthouse in Seminole. Staff can point you to the right indexes but do not conduct searches on behalf of the public. Under state AG guidance, you are expected to search the indexes yourself or hire a title professional. For email requests, contact terri.berry@co.gaines.tx.us with the party names and date range you need.
Types of Gaines County Property Records
The County Clerk records a wide range of property documents in Gaines County. Under Texas Property Code Section 12.001, instruments must be recorded to give constructive notice to third parties. The types of records held by the clerk include property ownership documents, deed records, deeds of trust, loan and lien records, tax lien filings, and UCC filings. The clerk also keeps building permits and purchase history records.
The detailed fee schedule for Gaines County gives some insight into the range of instruments recorded here. Federal Tax Liens require a $30.00 filing fee. State Tax Liens run $14.00 to $16.00. Plats cost $100.00. UCC financing statements are $26.00 for the first page plus $4.00 per additional page. Brands are $26.00. Wills for safekeeping are $16.00. Assumed name certificates are $23.00. These fees are set by the Texas Local Government Code and apply uniformly.
Lien search fees also give a useful picture of what the office tracks: full lien searches are $20.00, UCC searches are $10.00, federal tax lien searches are $5.00, state lien searches are $5.00, and abstract judgment searches are $5.00. These are the only searches the clerk is required to perform by statute.
Gaines County Appraisal District
The Gaines County Appraisal District maintains tax appraisal records for all taxable property in the county. Chief Appraiser Gayla Harridge oversees the office at P.O. Box 490, Seminole, TX 79360. You can reach the CAD by phone at (432) 758-3263 or fax at (432) 758-3674.
The CAD shows current ownership based on the tax rolls, appraised values, exemptions applied, and property characteristics. Online searches let you look up parcels by owner name, property address, or account number. If you disagree with your appraised value, you can file a formal protest by May 15 under Texas Tax Code Chapter 41. Homestead, over-65, and disability exemption applications are available through the CAD office. The CAD and the County Clerk are separate offices; use both for a complete picture of any property in Gaines County.
Recording Fees and Procedures
The recording fee schedule in Gaines County is detailed and set by state law. For instruments recorded in the Official Public Records, the fee is $26.00 for the first page and $4.00 for each additional page under LGC 118.011. Each name to be indexed beyond the first five costs $0.25. Plat filings are $100.00 under LGC 118.011(c). UCC financial statements are $26.00 plus $4.00 per additional page, with $5.00 per additional debtor for indexing.
Documents can be submitted in person at 101 S. Main, Rm. 206, by mail, by email (terri.berry@co.gaines.tx.us), or through eRecording via CSC. For mail submissions, include a check or money order payable to the County Clerk. Copies cost $1.00 per page under LGC 118.011. Certification is $5.00 per document. Trustee sale filings are $2.00 under Property Code 51.002(b)(1).
Texas Public Information Act
Property records in Gaines County are public documents. Under Texas Government Code Chapter 552, anyone can request government records without giving a reason. Deeds, liens, and other filed instruments are available to any member of the public.
The clerk's office must respond promptly. For records that are already indexed and online through TexasFile, you can access them right away. For older documents or bulk requests, contact the office by email or visit in person. The Texas Attorney General's Open Government Division handles disputes about record access and publishes guidance on what agencies must provide. Under Texas Property Code Section 11.008, certain personal identifiers must be redacted from online document images, but the original paper records at the clerk's office contain the full information.
Additional Property Research Resources
The Texas Comptroller's Property Tax Assistance Division provides resources on exemptions and appraisal protest procedures that apply in Gaines County. For historical land research, the Texas General Land Office archives cover early Texas land grants. Gaines County was created from the Bexar Land District in 1876, and those original survey records are searchable through the GLO.
The Texas Secretary of State's SOSDirect covers business entity records and state-level UCC filings. If a lien involves a business entity, SOS records help verify the correct legal name. The Texas State Law Library offers online research guides on Texas property law, recording requirements, and title issues useful for Gaines County transactions.
Nearby Counties
Verify the correct county before searching. Gaines County borders several West Texas and South Plains counties.