La Salle County Property Records
La Salle County property records are filed with the County Clerk in Cotulla, Texas. The office holds deeds, oil and gas leases, mineral deeds, liens, and all other land instruments recorded since the county was organized in 1880. You can search the index through KoFile QuickLinks for older records and through TexasFile for documents filed from 1956 forward. This guide walks you through what is available, where to look, and how to get copies of what you need.
La Salle County Overview
La Salle County Clerk Office
County Clerk Sonia Maldonado also serves as District Clerk for La Salle County, making this a combined office. The clerk's office handles all real property recordings including deeds, oil and gas leases, mineral deeds, assumed names, and court records. The office is located at 101 Courthouse Square, Suite 107, in Cotulla.
La Salle County records go back to 1880, when the county was organized. Land record index books from 1880 through January 1, 1952 are accessible through KoFile QuickLinks. For documents filed from 1956 to present, TexasFile provides access to images. If you need records from the gap years or want to purchase certified copies, contact the clerk's office directly by phone at (830) 483-5120.
| County Clerk | Sonia Maldonado (also District Clerk) |
|---|---|
| Address | 101 Courthouse Square, Ste 107, Cotulla, TX 78014 |
| Phone | (830) 483-5120 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, regular business hours |
| County Website | lasallecountytx.com |
Two main search tools cover La Salle County property records. The KoFile QuickLinks portal provides access to the historical index books from 1880 to 1952. TexasFile covers documents from 1956 forward with document images available. For land records not covered by these platforms, you will need to contact the clerk's office directly to request copies by mail or phone.
Find La Salle County Property Records
Searching La Salle County property records requires knowing which system covers the time period you need. Records fall into three periods: the historical index books (1880 to 1952), a gap period in the middle, and modern records from 1956 forward.
For recent property transactions, go to TexasFile and search by grantor or grantee name. TexasFile covers La Salle County documents from 1956 through the present and includes document images available as PDF downloads. The free index search lets you see what is there before paying for images.
For older records, the KoFile QuickLinks portal gives 24-hour internet access to the historical index books from 1880 to 1952. These books are the original handwritten and typed indexes maintained by the clerk's office over those decades. You can see the index entries and then contact the office to get copies of the actual documents.
To request copies by mail or phone, contact the clerk's office at (830) 483-5120 and provide the document details including volume and page number, names of the parties, and the year filed. Copy fees apply. Under Texas Government Code Chapter 552, you do not need to state a reason for requesting public records.
Note: The clerk's office does not conduct property searches on your behalf. You are expected to use the public search tools or hire a title company.
Types of La Salle County Property Records
La Salle County has a notable concentration of oil and gas records due to Eagle Ford Shale activity in the region. In addition to standard residential property documents, the clerk's office holds a large volume of mineral deeds, oil and gas leases, and related instruments that are critical for mineral rights research.
Common document types filed in La Salle County include warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, special warranty deeds, deeds of trust, mechanic's liens, tax lien filings, lien releases, oil and gas leases, mineral deeds, assignments of oil and gas interests, surface use agreements, right-of-way easements, plat maps, and assumed name certificates. Each document is indexed by the names of all parties and given a unique instrument number.
Under Texas Property Code Section 12.001, a recorded instrument must be in writing and must be properly acknowledged or sworn to. Under Texas Property Code Section 13.001, recording a deed or other instrument gives constructive notice to all subsequent buyers and lenders. That means anyone who later deals with the property is legally considered to have known about the recorded document.
Hunting and recreational land sales are also common in La Salle County given the region's well-known deer and quail hunting. Surface use agreements and hunting lease records may also appear in the property records index, though hunting leases themselves are not always recorded.
La Salle County Appraisal District
The La Salle County Appraisal District maintains appraisal and ownership records for all taxable property in the county. Chief Appraiser Bobby Peregoy oversees the office, which is located at P.O. Box 1530 in Cotulla. The main phone number is (830) 879-4756 and the fax is (830) 879-4067.
The appraisal district's records are separate from the County Clerk's deed records but serve as a useful companion when researching property. The CAD database shows current ownership, appraised value, land area, improvement details, and any exemptions applied. The La Salle County Appraisal District provides online search capabilities where you can look up parcels by owner name, address, or account number.
Texas has no state property tax. Local taxing entities including the county, city, school district, and special districts set rates and collect taxes based on appraised values. La Salle County's mix of agricultural land, Eagle Ford Shale mineral interests, and hunting properties creates a diverse appraisal environment. Agricultural land is often appraised under special use valuation rules rather than market value.
Note: Appraisal records update annually and may lag several months behind a recent deed transfer while the new ownership information is processed.
Recording Fees and How to File
Recording a document with the La Salle County Clerk costs $26 for the first page. Each additional page is $4.00. If more than five parties need to be indexed, there is a charge of $0.25 per additional name over five. These fees are standard across most Texas counties under state law.
You can submit documents for recording in person at the courthouse in Cotulla, by mail with a check or money order payable to the County Clerk, or through eRecording services. Major eRecording vendors like Simplifile and CSC connect directly to many Texas county clerks for fast electronic submission and return of recorded documents. Once a document is recorded, it receives a unique instrument number and is stamped with the recording date and time.
Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee. Non-certified copies are less expensive. For most research purposes like title work or lien verification, uncertified copies are fine. If you need a certified copy for a court filing or government use, ask specifically for a certified copy when placing your request.
Texas Public Information Act
All property records filed with the La Salle County Clerk are public documents. Under Texas Government Code Chapter 552, known as the Public Information Act, any person can request access to government records without giving a reason. You do not need to be a property owner, an attorney, or a party to any transaction.
The clerk's office must respond to your request promptly. If producing the records will take more than ten business days, the office must tell you when to expect them. In most cases, property records are available immediately or within a short wait since they are already indexed and on file. If you believe a request was improperly denied or delayed, the Texas Attorney General's Open Government Division handles disputes and complaints about public records access.
Some personal information may be redacted from online document images. Under Texas Property Code Section 11.008(k)(1-2), financial account numbers and other sensitive identifiers must be removed from public online access. The original paper document in the clerk's files retains all information.
Additional Resources for La Salle County
Beyond the County Clerk and appraisal district, several other resources support property research in La Salle County. The Texas Comptroller's Property Tax Assistance Division provides statewide guidance on exemption forms, protest procedures, and appraisal district oversight. If you have a dispute about an appraised value, the Comptroller's site explains the protest process in detail.
For deep historical research on La Salle County land, the Texas General Land Office maintains over 800,000 historical land grant records. La Salle County was part of original Texas land grants, and some of those early titles may be relevant if you are tracing ownership back to the 1800s. The GLO archive is searchable online and free to use.
The Texas Secretary of State's SOSDirect system covers UCC filings and business entity records. If a lien involves a business or if you need to verify the legal standing of an entity that appears in a property record, SOS is the right place to check.
The Texas State Law Library offers research guides on property topics including recording requirements, title issues, oil and gas interests, and easements. These guides are written for non-attorneys and are a useful starting point for understanding what a document means.
Nearby Counties
If the property is near a county line, confirm you are searching the right county. La Salle County borders several South Texas counties.