Coke County, TX Property Records

    Coke County is a West Texas county on the Edwards Plateau, northwest of San Angelo. Its population at the 2020 U.S. Census was 3,285, with 2025 estimates placing it near 3,412. The county seat is Robert Lee, named for Robert E. Lee, who commanded U.S. Army forces at Fort Mason in nearby Mason County before the Civil War. Bronte and Silver are small communities. The county was created in 1889 and named for Richard Coke, the 15th Governor of Texas and later a U.S. Senator. The median age of county residents is 50.1 years, among the oldest.

    Coke County was one of Texas's dry counties until 2005, when voters approved the sale of beer and wine. E.V. Spence Reservoir (O.H. Ivie Reservoir is nearby), formed by the O.C. Fisher and Twin Buttes Dams, provides limited recreation and water supply but has been significantly affected by drought cycles. The economy is based on ranching, oil and gas, and services. Hunting lease income is significant.

    The County Clerk and District Clerk functions are combined in a single office. Clerk Carolla Orcutt heads the office. The office operates on an unusual schedule: Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., with a lunch closure on Thursday from noon to 1:00 p.m., and Friday, 8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. closing at 1:00 p.m. on Fridays.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records

    All official land records in Coke County are maintained by the Coke County Clerk / District Clerk. Clerk Carolla Orcutt. The office is located at the Coke County Courthouse in Robert Lee, Texas.

    What County Property Records Include

    The County Clerk maintains all instruments affecting the ownership and encumbrance of real property. Recorded documents include:

    • Deeds: Warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, special warranty deeds, trustee deeds, and correction deeds.

    • Deeds of Trust: The primary mortgage instrument in Texas conveys a security interest to a trustee on behalf of a lender.

    • Releases and Reconveyances: Discharge instruments releasing liens or deeds of trust once obligations are satisfied.

    • Oil and Gas Leases: Mineral leases, assignments, ratifications, and releases.

    • Easements and Rights-of-Way: Pipeline easements, utility easements, and access rights.

    • Mechanic's and Materialman's Liens: Filed under Chapter 53, Texas Property Code.

    • Powers of Attorney: Including durable and real-property-specific instruments.

    • Assignments: Including assignments of leases, rents, and mineral interests.

    • Lis Pendens: Notices of pending litigation affecting title.

    • Subdivision Plats: Plat maps of subdivisions within the county.

    How to Access Coke County Property Records

    Online Access

    Search Texasfile and select Coke County.

    In Person

    Visit the Coke County Courthouse at 13 E. 7th Street, Robert Lee, TX 76945. Friday hours are 8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. only. Thursday has a noon-to-1:00 p.m. lunch closure.

    By Phone, Fax, or Email

    • Phone: (325) 453-2631. Fax: (325) 453-2157. Email: carolla.orcutt@co.coke.tx.us.

    By Mail

    Mail requests to Coke County Clerk, 13 E. 7th Street, Robert Lee, TX 76945. Include instrument details, payment, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

    What's Not at the County Clerk's Office

    • Property Appraisal: Coke County Appraisal District.

    • Property Taxes: Coke County Tax Assessor-Collector. Contact through the courthouse at (325) 453-2641.

    • Texas RRC: RRC for oil and gas activity.

    Step-by-Step: How to Pull a Deed Online

    To research a property deed using online resources:

    • Search TexasFile: Go to Texasfile and select the county. Search by grantor/grantee name, document type, and date range.

    • Identify the instrument: Note the volume and page number or instrument number and recording date.

    • Retrieve a copy: Download images if available. If not, contact the County Clerk at (325) 453-2631 or mail a request to 13 E. 7th Street, Robert Lee, TX 76945.

    • Verify appraisal data: Cross-reference the parcel at the county appraisal district for assessed value, ownership, and exemption status.

    • Check mineral interests: Search the Texas RRC for well locations and production data.

    • Confirm tax status: Verify current tax payment history with the County Tax Assessor-Collector.

    Cities & Towns in Coke County

    • Robert Lee: County seat. Population approximately 1,027. Named for Robert E. Lee. Location of the county courthouse. Median age 48.4.

    • Bronte: Small community in the north of the county. Population approximately 900. Named for Charlotte Brontë.

    • Silver: Very small community.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    • Coke County Appraisal District

    • Coke County Tax Assessor-Collector: Contact through the courthouse at (325) 453-2641.

    • Texas Comptroller

    County-Specific Nuances

    • Friday closes at 1:00 p.m. Thursday lunch closure: The Coke County Clerk closes at 1:00 p.m. on Fridays, one of the earliest Friday closures. The office also closes for lunch on Thursdays from noon to 1:00 p.m. Plan in-person visits for Monday through Wednesday to ensure full access.

    • Named clerk with direct email: Clerk Carolla Orcutt can be reached at carolla.orcutt@co.coke.tx.us. Chief Deputy is Cindy Sawyer (cindy.sawyer@co.coke.tx.us). Direct email contact is useful for confirming fees and record availability before making a trip to Robert Lee.

    • Formerly a dry county until 2005, Coke County permitted only beer and wine beginning in 2005. Historical commercial leases predating 2005 may reflect this in their permitted use provisions.

    • Named for a Texas governor, county seat for a Confederate general: Coke County is named for Richard Coke, the 15th Governor of Texas, who served 1874–1876, and the county seat is named for Robert E. Lee, who commanded at Fort Mason before the Civil War. The town of Bronte is named for Charlotte Brontë, making this county seat one of the more literarily named in Texas.

    • Texas uses a County Clerk, not a Recorder of Deeds: The County Clerk is the statutory custodian of all recorded land instruments under the Texas Local Government Code.

    • Texas uses deeds of trust, not traditional mortgages: Search for "deed of trust" rather than "mortgage" when examining encumbrances.

    • Severed mineral estates are common: A deed to the surface does not convey mineral rights unless explicitly stated. Mineral ownership must be traced through a separate chain of instruments.

    • Texas homestead rights: Both spouses must sign a deed or deed of trust conveying or encumbering the homestead.

    • Community property state: Property acquired during marriage is generally owned equally by both spouses.

    • Agricultural land exemptions: Land qualifying for ag appraisal is valued on productive capacity rather than market value. Assessed values may be substantially lower than market value.

    Typical Contents of a Coke County Property Record

    • Deeds:

      • Grantor and grantee names

      • full legal description

      • Consideration

      • warranty covenants

      • Acknowledgment

      • Recording volume

    • Deeds of Trust:

      • Borrower,

      • Lender and trustee names

      • Loan amount

      • Legal description

      • Power of sale clause.

    • Oil and Gas Leases:

      • Lessor and lessee names

      • Leased premises

      • Primary term

      • Royalty rate

      • Bonus consideration.

    • Ranch and Hunting Leases:

      • Lessor and lessee names

      • Description of leased premises

      • Term

      • Hunting rights

      • Annual payment.

    • Reservoir Easements:

      • E.V. Spence Reservoir-related easements for water supply and access.

    • Releases:

      • Reference to the original deed of trust

      • Statement of satisfaction

      • Lender signature.

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

    All instruments affecting real property must be recorded with the County Clerk in person, by mail, or through an approved e-recording service.

    Documents must satisfy the following requirements:

    • Acknowledgment: Must be acknowledged before a notary public; dated on or after execution.

    • Legal Description: Complete legal description referencing the appropriate survey, abstract number, and block/lot designations.

    • Legibility: 8.5 x 11 inches, clearly printed, with a 3-inch top margin on the first page.

    • Grantor/Grantee Names: All parties identified by full legal name.

    Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

    • Identify the parcel: Obtain the legal description from the deed, tax records, or the county appraisal district.

    • Search the grantor/grantee index: Use TexasFile or the County Clerk's in-office index.

    • Retrieve deed documents: Trace all deeds in the chain of title. Review for legal description accuracy, warranty covenants, and reservations.

    • Search for encumbrances: Search for deeds of trust, mechanic's liens, lis pendens, and other recorded encumbrances.

    • Review oil and gas instruments: Search for mineral-related instruments. Determine whether the mineral estate has been severed from the surface estate.

    • Check Texas RRC records: Visit RRC or active wells, operators, and production data.

    • Verify appraisal and tax status: Confirm assessed value, exemption status, and tax payment history.

    • Confirm homestead status: Determine whether the property carries a homestead exemption.

    • Review plat records: For subdivided properties, confirm plat recording.

    • Obtain certified copies: Confirm the current fee schedule with the Clerk before mailing payment.

    Appendix A - Municipalities in Coke County, TX

    Coke County comprises 3 incorporated cities and numerous unincorporated communities.

    • Cities: Robert Lee, which is the county seat and largest city, Bronte, and Blackwell (partly in Nolan County).

    • Unincorporated Communities and Census-Designated Places: Edith, Fort Chadbourne, Pecan Mott, Sanco, Shawville, Silver, and Tennyson.

    Coke County also has several unincorporated communities that do not have separate municipal governments. (Wikipedia).

    Appendix B - Key Contacts & Portals