Lee County Property Records

Lee County property records are held by the County Clerk in Giddings, Texas. The clerk maintains deeds, mortgages, oil and gas leases, liens, assumed names, and all other instruments affecting real property in the county going back to 1874. TexasFile provides online access to documents and images. This page covers where to search, what types of records are available, how to request copies, and what fees apply.

Lee County Clerk Office

County Clerk Denise Kelty is the official custodian of all property records in Lee County. The office is at 843 E. Industry in Giddings and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Phone is (979) 542-3684 and fax is (979) 542-2623. The clerk can be reached by mail at 843 E. Industry, Giddings, TX 78942.

Lee County has continuous land records going back to 1874. Marriage records also date from 1874. The county was named for Robert E. Lee and has a notable German and Wendish heritage, particularly in the Serbin community. Those cultural ties mean some early records reflect German Lutheran church records and Wendish surnames that are less common in other Texas counties. No major record losses have been reported, making the Lee County record set fairly complete.

Online access to Lee County property records is available through TexasFile. The free index search lets you find documents by name without a subscription. Document images are available for download as PDFs through a TexasFile account. The Lee County Clerk's official page also provides information about in-person and mail requests for records not accessible through TexasFile.

Searching Lee County Land Records

For recent transactions, TexasFile is the fastest way to search Lee County property records online. Search fields include grantor or grantee name, document type, date range, and instrument number. Legal description search is also available. The free index shows document details. PDF images are available for a per-page fee.

For records that go back to 1874, you may need to search in person or request copies by mail. Visit the clerk's office at 843 E. Industry in Giddings during business hours. Public access to the index is available during office hours. Staff can direct you to the right index but cannot conduct searches under AG Opinion WW-607.

One useful note about Lee County: foreclosure trustee sale notices are posted at 843 E. Industry on the west side of the clerk's office. If you are researching a property for a potential purchase at a foreclosure auction, check that location to see if any posted notices relate to the property you are interested in.

Note: The clerk's office does not conduct property searches. Use TexasFile, visit in person, or hire a title company for a full title search.

Types of Lee County Property Records

Lee County holds a full range of property document types in its official records. The county covers agricultural land, residential property in and around Giddings, and oil and gas territory. Real property records, deeds and mortgages, oil and gas leases, liens, assumed names, marriage licenses, birth and death certificates, and probate records are all maintained in the same clerk's office.

Specific document types include warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, special warranty deeds, deeds of trust, lien releases, mechanic's liens, hospital liens, federal tax liens, state tax liens, judgment liens, oil and gas leases, mineral deeds, easements, right-of-way grants, plat maps, and assumed name certificates. Each document is indexed under both grantor and grantee names with a recording date, instrument number, and legal description reference.

Under Texas Property Code Section 12.001, instruments must be written and acknowledged to be recorded. Under Section 13.001, a recorded instrument gives constructive notice to all parties who later deal with the property. This means if a deed or lien is in the Lee County records, a buyer cannot claim they did not know about it.

The Texas Wendish Heritage Museum in Serbin holds additional historical records that complement the clerk's records for families in the Wendish community. If you are doing genealogical research alongside property research, the museum's archives may be worth a visit.

Lee County Appraisal District

The Lee County Appraisal District is at 822 E. Industry in Giddings, just down the street from the clerk's office. The mailing address is P.O. Box 386, Giddings, TX 78942. Chief Appraiser Darrell W. Wenzel oversees the district. Phone is (979) 542-3060, fax is (979) 542-3064, and email is leecad@leecad.org.

The CAD online search at leecad.org lets you look up properties by owner name, address, or account number. Property records show current ownership, the property address, legal description, land area, improvement details, appraised value, and any exemptions. Standard Texas exemptions apply including homestead, over-65, disability, disabled veteran, agricultural use, and timber land exemptions.

Agricultural and timber land in Lee County may qualify for special use valuation that significantly reduces the tax burden compared to market value appraisal. If you own rural land in the county and are not receiving agricultural or timber exemptions, check with the CAD about eligibility. New owners of qualifying land should apply promptly since exemptions are not automatically transferred when land changes hands.

Recording Fees and Procedures

Recording a document with the Lee County Clerk costs $26 for the first page. Each additional page is $4.00. Names beyond five that need to be indexed cost $0.25 each. Certified copies are $5.00 per document. Non-certified copies are $1.00 per page.

Documents can be filed in person at 843 E. Industry in Giddings, by mail to the same address, or through eRecording services. For mail submissions, include a check payable to the County Clerk and a return address. eRecording through vendors like Simplifile or CSC allows electronic submission and fast turnaround for regular filers. Once a document is recorded, the clerk stamps it with the recording date, assigns an instrument number, and returns the original to the submitter.

Copy requests by mail should include the specific document details (grantor name, grantee name, date, document type), your return address, and payment. The office processes mail requests as received. For urgent needs, in-person visits or TexasFile account access provide faster results.

Texas Public Information Act

Property records in Lee County are public documents. Under Texas Government Code Chapter 552, the Public Information Act, anyone can request access to filed instruments without giving a reason. The clerk cannot require you to show ownership interest or legal standing before you can view or copy a recorded deed or lien.

The clerk's office must respond promptly to records requests. If it takes more than ten business days to produce the records, the office must notify you of the delay and give you an expected timeline. The Texas Attorney General's Open Government Division handles complaints about access and publishes guidance on requestor rights. The AG also issues rulings when governmental bodies believe certain records should be withheld.

Some information in online document images may be redacted under Texas Property Code Section 11.008(k)(1-2). Financial account numbers and similar identifiers are removed from public online access. The original paper document in the clerk's office contains the full unredacted text.

Additional Research Resources

The Texas Comptroller's Property Tax Assistance Division provides statewide guidance on the property tax system, exemption forms, and appraisal district procedures. If you want to understand how Lee County property taxes are structured or need forms for exemption applications, the Comptroller's site is a good place to start.

For historical land research, the Texas General Land Office maintains over 800,000 historical land grant records including original patents from the Republic of Texas era. Lee County land traces back to these original grants, and the GLO database is searchable online at no cost. This is particularly useful if you are tracing ownership all the way back to the original survey.

The Texas Secretary of State's SOSDirect covers UCC filings and business entity records. If a lien or encumbrance involves a business, check SOS to confirm the entity's legal name and current standing. The Texas State Law Library provides free guides on Texas property law topics including deed restrictions, easements, and recording requirements.

Nearby Counties

Double-check the county before you search. Lee County is in Central Texas and borders several other counties.