Martin County, TX Property Records

    Martin County is a Permian Basin county in West Texas, approximately 40 miles north of Midland. Its population at the 2020 U.S. Census was 5,237, with 2025 estimates placing it near 5,284. The county seat is Stanton; Ackerly is a smaller incorporated community. The county was created in 1876 and organized in 1884. It is named for Wylie Martin, a prominent figure in early Texas land and government affairs.

    Despite this production scale, Martin County has a residential population of just over 5,000, meaning that the bulk of extraction employment is transient or commuter-based. The median household income is approximately $93,734, reflecting oil-field wages.

    The ACS-derived median property value is approximately $174,800. The housing market is thin; the County Clerk maintains an online records search portal at 301 N. St. Peter St., Stanton, and the office charges $1 per page with $5 for certification.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records

    The Martin County Clerk maintains all official land records in Martin County. The office is located at the Martin County Courthouse in Stanton, 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 Martin County Property Records

    Online Access

    The Martin County Clerk's Online Records Search portal provides direct access. Also search Texasfile and select Martin County for index and document image access.

    In Person

    Visit the Martin County Courthouse at 301 N. St. Peter St., Stanton, TX 79782 during office hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.).

    By Phone

    Call (432) 756-3412 during business hours.

    By Mail

    Mail requests to P.O. Box 906, Stanton, TX 79782. Include instrument details, $1.00 per page plus $5.00 for certification, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

    What's Not at the County Clerk's Office

    • Property Appraisal: Martin County Appraisal District.

    • Property Taxes: Martin County Tax Assessor-Collector. Contact through the courthouse at (432) 756-3412.

    • Texas RRC: RRC for Permian Basin well records, production histories, and GIS maps. Martin County's production data is among the most actively updated in the RRC database.

    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 (432) 756-3412 or mail a request to P.O. Box 906, Stanton, TX 79782.

    • Verify appraisal data: Cross-reference the parcel 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 Martin County

    • Stanton: County seat. Population approximately 2,800. Founded by German Catholic settlers in the 1880s as Marienfeld and renamed Stanton in 1890. All county government services are located here.

    • Ackerly: Small community straddling Martin and Dawson County lines. Population approximately 200 in the Martin County portion.

    • Grady: Very small community in the northeast of the county. Home of Grady School, a high-performing small district.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    • Martin County Appraisal District

    • Martin County Tax Assessor-Collector: Contact through the courthouse at (432) 756-3412.

    • Texas Comptroller

    County-Specific Nuances

    • Texas's top oil-producing county highest mineral instrument volume: Martin County produces approximately 20.6 million barrels of crude oil per month, ranking it at or near the top of Texas counties by production. The volume of recorded mineral instruments is correspondingly enormous relative to the county's small population. Every rural title search must include a comprehensive search of all mineral-related instruments. Multiple layers of assignment, ratification, and pooling may exist for a single parcel.

    • Surface use agreements are standard instruments: Permian Basin operators routinely record surface use agreements (SUAs) governing pad locations, access routes, pipeline corridors, and surface damage compensation. These instruments run with the land and affect surface property rights independently of the mineral lease. They must be identified and reviewed in any surface title search.

    • Income driven by oil field wages, not a diversified economy: The median household income of approximately $93,734 reflects oil and gas extraction wages at an average of $140,274 per worker. The underlying civilian service economy is modest. Income and housing market statistics are subject to sharp cyclical volatility tied to commodity prices and drilling activity.

    • Copy fees: $1 per page, $5 for certification: The Martin County Clerk charges $1.00 per page for standard document copies and $5.00 for certification. Confirm current fees before mailing payment.

    • 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 Martin 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;

      • Leased premises;

      • Primary term;

      • Royalty rate (commonly 1/4 in modern Permian leases);

      • Bonus consideration;

      • Pugh clause;

      • Depth clause.

    • Surface Use Agreements:

      • Operator and surface owner

      • Permitted uses

      • Pad locations

      • Pipeline routes

      • Compensation and damage provisions

      • Term.

    • Pipeline Easements:

      • Grantor and grantee

      • Easement corridor

      • Pipe specifications

      • Compensation

      • Term.

    • 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 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: Fees vary by county; confirm with the Clerk before mailing payment.

    Appendix A Municipalities in Martin County, TX

    Martin County has 2 incorporated cities and several unincorporated municipalities, including the following.

    • Cities and Towns: Ackerly and Stanton, which is the county seat.

    • Unincorporated Communities and Census-Designated Places: Brown, Courtney, Dix, Flower Grove, Grady, Lenorah, Merrick, Tarzan, and Three Leagues.

    These communities do not have independent governments. They exist only for mailing or statistical purposes. (Wikipedia).

    Appendix B Key Contacts & Portals

    • Martin County Clerk of Court Office

      • Address: 301 N. St. Peter Street, Stanton, TX 79782

      • Mailing Address: P.O. Box 906, Stanton, TX 79782

      • Phone: (432) 756-3412

      • Fax: (432) 607-2212

      • Website: http://www.co.martin.tx.us

    • Martin County Appraisal District

      • Street Address: 308 N. St. Peter, Stanton, TX 79782-1349

      • Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1349, Stanton, TX 79782-1349

      • Phone: (432) 756-2823

      • Fax: (432) 756-2825

      • Email: admin@martincad.org

      • Website: www.martincad.org

    • Martin County Tax Assessor-Collector

      • Street Address: 301 N. Saint Peter Street, Stanton, Texas 79782

      • Mailing Address: P.O. Box 998, Stanton, Texas 79782-0998

      • Phone: (432) 756-3397

      • Fax: (432) 756-2992

      • Email: lpardue@co.martin.tx.us

      • Website: www.co.martin.tx.us

    • Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (statewide property tax and assessment data):

    • Martin County Geographic Information Services (GIS)