Goliad County, TX Property Records
Goliad County is in South Texas, between San Antonio and Corpus Christi. Its population at the 2020 U.S. Census was approximately 7,210, with 2024 estimates placing it near 7,221. The county seat is Goliad, and it is the only incorporated city in the county. The county was created and organized in 1836 as one of the original Texas counties. It is named for the city of Goliad, which itself was formed as an anagram of Hidalgo, in honor of Miguel Hidalgo Costilla, the Mexican independence leader.
The economy is based on agriculture, ranching, and oil and gas. The county produces beef cattle, cotton, and sorghum, and has active oil production. The housing market is thin and slow. The median home value is approximately $118,250. Monthly transaction volumes are very small, making aggregate statistics unreliable. The median household income is approximately $58,208. According to Federal Reserve Economic Data, an estimated 26–30% of households are cost-burdened.
In Goliad County, the County Clerk and District Clerk functions are handled through a combined or closely coordinated office structure. Confirm the specific filing location for the instrument type you need when contacting the office.
Who Keeps the Official Land Records
All official land records in Goliad County are maintained by the Goliad County Clerk / District Clerk. The office is located at the Goliad County Courthouse in Goliad, 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.
Goliad County's long recorded history dates back to 1836, which means the index extends back further than almost any other Texas county.
How to Access Goliad County Property Records
Online Access
Search Texasfile and select Goliad County.
In Person
Visit the Goliad County Courthouse at 127 N. Courthouse Square, Goliad, TX 77963 during office hours.
By Phone
Call (361) 645-3294 during business hours.
By Mail
Mail requests to the Goliad County Clerk, 127 N. Courthouse Square, Goliad, TX 77963, with instrument details and payment.
What's Not at the County Clerk's Office
Property Appraisal: Goliad County Appraisal District. GIS and appraisal access.
Property Taxes: Goliad County Tax Assessor-Collector. Contact through the courthouse at (361) 645-3294.
Texas RRC: Texasfile for oil and gas well records and production data.
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 online. If not, contact the County Clerk at (361) 645-3294 or mail a request with instrument details and applicable fee to 127 N. Courthouse Square, Goliad, TX 77963.
Verify appraisal data: Cross-reference the parcel at the county appraisal district for assessed value, ownership, and exemption status.
Check mineral interests: For properties with oil and gas activity, search the Texas RRC GIS for well locations, operators, and production data.
Confirm tax status: Verify current tax payment history with the County Tax Assessor-Collector.
Cities & Towns in Goliad County
Goliad: County seat and only incorporated city. Population approximately 1,650 city proper; the greater county area population is approximately 7,200. Location of the Presidio La Bahía, the Goliad State Park, and the Mission Espíritu Santo. All recorded instruments for Goliad County are filed with the County Clerk.
Unincorporated communities: Berclair, Fannin, and other small rural communities. All property instruments are recorded with the Goliad County Clerk regardless of location.
City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes
Goliad County Appraisal District: GIS and appraisal access
Goliad County Tax Assessor-Collector: Contact through the courthouse at (361) 645-3294.
County-Specific Nuances
One of Texas's oldest recorded counties, Goliad County, was organized in 1836. Its index includes some of the earliest recorded instruments in Texas, including Spanish land grant materials and Republic-era conveyances. Researchers dealing with historical chains of title should expect older recording formats and may need to examine instruments predating standard Texas recording conventions.
Presidio La Bahía and historic district: A significant portion of Goliad's built environment is subject to historic preservation guidelines. Researchers and buyers dealing with properties in the historic district should verify applicable restrictions through the city's planning office before proceeding.
Combined Clerk structure: The County Clerk and District Clerk functions in Goliad County are closely coordinated. Confirm the correct filing location for the specific instrument type you need when contacting the courthouse.
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 Goliad County Property Record
Deeds: Grantor and grantee names; full legal description; consideration; warranty covenants; acknowledgment; recording volume and page.
Deeds of Trust: Borrower, lender, and trustee names; loan amount; legal description; power of sale clause.
Oil and Gas Leases: Lessor and lessee names; description of leased premises; primary term; royalty rate; bonus consideration.
Historical Instruments: Spanish land grant confirmations, Republic-era deeds, and early statehood conveyances for historical title research.
Easements: Pipeline easements, access easements; parties, description, permitted use, term.
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. 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 Goliad County, TX
Goliad County has 1 city that is served by the Goliad County Clerk of Deeds. They include:
City: Goliad (Which is the county seat).
Unincorporated Communities: Ander, Angel City, Berclair, Charco, Cologne, Fannin, Kilgore, Melo, Melrose, O'Donnell Place, Riverdale, Sarco, Schroeder, Scurlock, Weesatche, and Weser.
Appendix B Key Contacts & Portals
Goliad County Recorder of Deeds (County Clerk's Office)
Goliad County Appraisal District
Address: 161 N. Welch Street, P.O. Box 34, Goliad, TX 77963
Phone: (361) 645-2507
Website: http://goliadcad.org
Goliad County Tax Assessor-Collector
Address: Franklin Street Annex, 329 W. Franklin Street, P.O. Box 800, Goliad, TX 77963
Phone: (361) 645-3354
Website: https://www.co.goliad.tx.us
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (statewide property tax and assessment data):