Dallam County, TX Property Records

    Dallam County is the northwesternmost county in Texas, occupying the corner where Texas meets New Mexico and Oklahoma. Its population at the 2020 U.S. Census was 7,115, with 2025 estimates placing it near 7,500. The county seat is Dalhart, the only incorporated city of significant size. A smaller community, Texline, sits at the New Mexico border. The county was created in 1876 and organized in 1891.

    The housing market is modest and slow. The median home value is approximately $120,150, well below the Texas statewide average of approximately $298,000. Homes sell after roughly 130 days on the market. The median household income is approximately $69,444. According to Federal Reserve Economic Data, an estimated 24–28% of households are cost-burdened, spending 30% or more of their income on housing.

    Property records are not available online for Dallam County. The County Clerk relies on in-person visits, mail, and email requests. This is administratively simple but requires planning for researchers who cannot travel to Dalhart.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records

    The Dallam County Clerk maintains all official land records in Dallam County. The office is located at the Dallam County Courthouse in Dalhart.

    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 Dallam County Property Records

    Dallam County does not offer online access to property records.

    In Person

    Visit the Dallam County Clerk at 414 Denver Ave #201, Dalhart, TX 79022 during office hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.). Staff can assist with index searches.

    By Mail

    Mail requests to P.O. Box 1352, Dalhart, TX 79022. Include the instrument description, a check for applicable fees, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

    By Email

    Send requests to clerk@dallam.org. Include the grantor/grantee names, approximate date, and document type. The office will advise on fees and turnaround.

    What's Not at the County Clerk's Office

    • Property Appraisal: Dallam-Hartley Counties Appraisal District (DHCAD), 1001 Finance St., Dalhart, TX 79022. Phone: (806) 244-2864. Website: www.dharad.org.

    • Property Taxes: Dallam County Tax Assessor-Collector. Contact through the courthouse at (806) 244-4751.

    • Texas RRC: No significant oil and gas production. However, verify at RRC for any permitted wells.

    Step-by-Step: How to Pull a Deed in Dallam County

    Because Dallam County has no online records portal, the process is entirely manual:

    • Contact the Clerk: Call (806) 244-4751 or email clerk@dallam.org to describe the property and instrument you need.

    • Provide identifying details: Give grantor/grantee names, approximate recording date, and document type. Staff will search the index.

    • Request copies: Ask for the volume and page number, then request copies by mail or pick up in person. Include payment.

    • Verify appraisal data: Check the Dallam-Hartley Counties Appraisal District

    • Confirm tax status: Contact the Tax Assessor-Collector through the courthouse.

    Cities & Towns in Dallam County

    • Dalhart: County seat. Population approximately 8,000 (city proper, including adjacent Hartley County residents). All recorded instruments for Dalhart properties are filed with the Dallam County Clerk.

    • Texline: Small community at the New Mexico border. The population is approximately 500.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    County-Specific Nuances

    • No online records access: Dallam County relies entirely on in-person, mail, and email requests. Plan research timelines accordingly. There is no remote index search available.

    • Shared appraisal district with Hartley County: The Dallam-Hartley Counties Appraisal District serves both counties. Confirm you are searching in the correct county when using appraisal district data.

    • Feedlot and agricultural operations dominate: Many transactions involve agricultural leases, water rights, and feedlot facility easements. Search for these instruments in addition to standard deed and mortgage records.

    • 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, even if the title is in only one spouse's name.

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

    • Agricultural land exemptions: Much of the land in this county qualifies for ag appraisal under the Texas Tax Code, valued on productive capacity rather than market value. Assessed values may be substantially lower than market value.

    Typical Contents of a Dallam County Property Record

    • Deeds: Grantor and grantee names; full legal description referencing survey and abstract; consideration; warranty covenants; acknowledgment; recording volume and page.

    • Deeds of Trust:

      • Borrower.

      • lender, and trustee name.

      • loan amount.

      • legal description.

      • power of sale clause.

      • recording date.

    • Agricultural Leases:

      • Lessor and lessee names;

      • Description of leased premises;

      • Term;

      • Rental rate;

      • Permitted use (grazing, cultivation, feedlot).

    • Easements:

      • Parties.

      • legal description of the easement corridor.

      • permitted use.

      • term.

    • Releases:

      • Reference to the original deed of trust,

      • Statement of satisfaction,

      • Lender signature and notarization.

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

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

    Documents must satisfy the following requirements:

    • Acknowledgment: The instrument must be acknowledged before a notary public. The acknowledgment must identify the acknowledging party by name and be dated on or after the execution date.

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

    • Legibility: Pages must be 8.5 x 11 inches, clearly printed, with a 3-inch top margin on the first page for the clerk to record notations and 1-inch margins elsewhere.

    • 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 by owner name, document type, and date.

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

    • Search for encumbrances: Search for deeds of trust, mechanic's liens, lis pendens, and other recorded encumbrances against the property and all prior owners.

    • Review oil and gas instruments: Conduct a separate search of mineral-related instruments, including leases, assignments, ratifications, and pooling agreements. Determine whether the mineral estate has been severed.

    • Check Texas RRC records: Visit RRC for active wells, permitted locations, operators, and production data.

    • Verify appraisal and tax status: Confirm current assessed value, exemption status, and tax payment history at the appraisal district and Tax Assessor-Collector.

    • Confirm homestead status: Determine whether the property carries a homestead exemption, which affects conveyance and lien requirements.

    • Review plat records: For subdivided properties, confirm plat recording and verify the legal description matches the recorded plat.

    • Obtain certified copies: Request certified copies from the County Clerk for closing or litigation. Fees: $5.00 first page, $1.00 per additional page.

    Appendix A Municipalities in Dallam County, TX

    Dallam County has 2 incorporated cities that are served by the Dallam County Clerk of Deeds. They include:

    • Cities: Dalhart, which is the county seat, and Texline.

    • Unincorporated Communities: Bolin, Buffalo Springs, Bunker Hill, Chamberlin, Coldwater, Conlen, Corlena, Hitt, Irwin, Kerrick, Perico, Thompson Grove, Ware, and Windy Hill.

    Appendix B Key Contacts & Portals