King County Property Records
King County property records are filed with the County Clerk in Guthrie, Texas. King County is one of the least populous counties in Texas, covering a large expanse of rolling plains ranching country in Northwest Texas. The clerk's office records deeds, liens, oil and gas leases, and other land instruments for all real property in the county. If you need to research ownership on a ranch tract, check for a recorded lien, or pull a deed copy, the County Clerk in Guthrie is the starting point.
King County Overview
King County Clerk Office
The King County Clerk is the official custodian of all property records filed in the county. The office is in the courthouse in Guthrie, the county seat. King County has a very small population, and the vast majority of the county's land is made up of large cattle ranches. Ranch sale transactions, oil and gas lease recordings, and water rights agreements are the most common types of instruments filed here. Despite the low volume of recordings compared to larger counties, the clerk's records provide an unbroken chain of title going back to the county's organization.
Documents are indexed by grantor and grantee name. Because the county is so small, the index may be relatively manageable to navigate even for older records. Instrument numbers are assigned at recording and can be used to retrieve specific documents.
| Address | Courthouse Square, Guthrie, TX 79236 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (806) 596-4412 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, regular business hours |
| Website | kingcountytexas.us |
Because King County is extremely small and remote, calling the clerk's office before visiting or sending a mail request is strongly recommended. The office may have limited staff and irregular availability for walk-in visits.
Searching King County Property Records
The King County Clerk maintains the official index for all land documents filed in the county. Online access may be limited for such a small county, so in-person or mail access may be necessary for most requests.
The King County Appraisal District is a useful starting point. Search by owner name or address to get the account number and legal description before going to the deed records at the clerk's office.
Third-party services like TexasFile may cover King County records for remote researchers. Given the county's size and remote location, these services can be especially valuable for researchers who cannot easily make the trip to Guthrie.
Note: King County is entirely ranch land. Property here is almost exclusively large tracts. If you are researching a specific pasture or survey, having the legal description in hand before you search will save significant time.
Types of Property Records in King County
The King County Clerk records all instruments that create or affect interests in real property within the county. Under Texas Property Code Section 12.001, recording gives constructive notice to all later parties. Once filed, a document is considered known to anyone who later deals with that property.
Common document types in King County include warranty deeds, special warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, mineral deeds, deeds of trust, mechanic's liens, lien releases, oil and gas leases, surface use agreements, pipeline right-of-way documents, water rights agreements, agricultural easements, and federal tax lien filings. Ranch sale transactions in King County often involve multiple instruments filed together, including mineral deed reservations, surface use agreements, and water rights documents. Oil and gas lease recordings reflect historic petroleum exploration activity in the county. Because King County is almost entirely ranch land, these types of large agricultural and mineral transactions are the core of the county's recorded instruments rather than residential deeds or construction liens.
King County Appraisal District
The King County Appraisal District maintains property tax appraisal records for all taxable property in the county. You can search the CAD database at kingcad.com by owner name or account number. Results show current ownership, assessed value, legal description, and exemptions. In a county this size, the number of distinct property accounts is small, making the CAD search straightforward.
Agricultural use valuations cover virtually all of King County's land given its exclusive ranching character. These designations appear in the CAD records. Mineral interests may be held separately from surface rights, and the CAD may track surface and mineral accounts separately. The appraisal district updates ownership rolls based on deed filings at the clerk's office but may lag by several months after a transaction. For current deed information, the clerk's index is the authoritative source.
Recording Fees and Procedures
The King County Clerk charges $26 for the first page of a recorded instrument and $4 per additional page. State law sets these fees. An extra $0.25 per name applies when more than five names are indexed in a single document.
Documents can be submitted in person or by mail with a check payable to the King County Clerk. Include a self-addressed return envelope for mail submissions. Because King County is remote, mail submission is the most practical method for most out-of-area filers. eRecording is unlikely to be available for a county this size, but confirm by calling the clerk's office. Title companies and land men handling ranch transactions in this part of Texas typically know how to work with the King County clerk system.
Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee. Uncertified copies cost less and are adequate for most research purposes.
Texas Public Information Act
King County property records are public under Texas Government Code Chapter 552. Any person may request access without giving a reason. The clerk must respond promptly. Because this is a very small office, allow extra time for responses. The Texas Attorney General's Open Government Division handles disputes and provides guidance on public records access rights.
Additional Resources for Property Research
The Texas Comptroller's Property Tax Assistance Division provides statewide guidance on agricultural exemptions, appraisal procedures, and protest rights. For King County's large ranch operations, the productivity valuation and wildlife management exemption rules are especially relevant. The Texas General Land Office holds early land grant records for Northwest Texas. The Texas Secretary of State's SOSDirect covers business entity records. The Texas State Law Library offers research guides on Texas real property law.
Nearby Counties
King County is in Northwest Texas. Several surrounding counties border it. Verify the correct county before searching for properties near county lines.