Fisher County, TX Property Records

    Fisher County is a Rolling Plains county in northwest Texas, west of Abilene. Its population at the 2020 U.S. Census was 3,672, with 2025 estimates placing it near 3,692 and essentially stable. The county seat is Roby; Rotan, with a population of approximately 1,332, is the county's largest city. The county was created in 1876 and organized in 1886. It is named for Samuel Rhoads Fisher, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence who served as Texas's first Secretary of the Navy.

    The economy is based on wheat, cotton, and cattle ranching. Oil was discovered in the county in 1928, and production continues today, though at modest levels. The Double Mountain Fork and Clear Fork of the Brazos River drain the county's rolling prairies.

    The housing market is very affordable. The median home value is approximately $72,550. The median household income is approximately $56,527. Days on market range widely; the market is thin enough that monthly transaction statistics are unreliable. According to Federal Reserve Economic Data, an estimated 26–30% of households are cost-burdened.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records

    All official land records in Fisher County are maintained by the Fisher County Clerk. The office is located at the Fisher County Courthouse in Roby, 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 Fisher County Property Records

    Online Access

    Search Texasfile and select Fisher County. Also access through www.fishercounty.org.

    In Person

    Visit the Fisher County Courthouse at 109 N. Angelo, Roby, TX 79543.

    By Phone, Fax, or Email

    By Mail

    Mail requests to P.O. Box 368, Roby, TX 79543. Include instrument details, $1.00 per page plus $5.00 certification if needed, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

    What's Not at the County Clerk's Office

    • Property Appraisal: Fisher County Appraisal District.

    • Property Taxes: Fisher County Tax Assessor-Collector. Contact through the courthouse at (325) 776-2401.

    • Texas RRC: RRC for oil and gas well records since 1928.

    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) 776-2401 or mail a request to P.O. Box 368, Roby, TX 79543.

    • 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 Fisher County

    • Roby: County seat. Population approximately 590. Named for county seat election winners M.L. and D.C. Roby.

    • Rotan: Largest city, population approximately 1,332. Located 9 miles north of Roby on U.S. Highway 70.

    • McCaulley and Sylvester: Small census-designated places within the county.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    • Fisher County Appraisal District:

    • Fisher County Tax Assessor-Collector: Contact through the courthouse at (325) 776-2401.

    • Texas Comptroller

    County-Specific Nuances

    • County seat won by a dog vote: In the 1886 county seat election, Roby defeated the town of Fisher in a ballot that was later discovered to include a vote cast by a dog whose owner lived near Roby. The vote stood. The town of Fisher is now called North Roby. This is the kind of county history worth knowing. It has no bearing on property records.

    • Oil production since 1928 mineral instrument history predates most current ownership: Fisher County has had active oil production since 1928, nearly a century of mineral leasing, assignment, and severance activity. Any rural title search must include a comprehensive mineral instrument search extending back through multiple decades of ownership.

    • 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 Fisher 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.

    • Agricultural Leases:

      • Lessor and lessee names

      • Leased premises

      • Permitted use

      • Term

      • Annual payment.

    • Releases:

      • Reference to 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 mineral-related instruments. Determine whether the mineral estate has been severed from the surface estate.

    • Check Texas RRC records: Visit RRC for 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 current fee schedule with the Clerk before mailing payment.

    Appendix A - Municipalities in Fisher County, TX

    Fisher County, TX, has 2 incorporated cities and numerous unincorporated communities.

    • Cities: Rotan Which is the largest city, and Roby - Which is the county seat.

    • Unincorporated Communities and Census-Designated Places: Busby, Claytonville, Eskota, Hobbs, Longworth, McCaulley, Palava, Royston, Sylvester, and other communities.

    Fisher County also has several hamlets and census-designated places. These communities do not operate as independent municipalities; instead, they fall under the governance of Fisher County or remain unincorporated areas within the county. (Wikipedia).

    Appendix B - Key Contacts & Portals