Winkler County, TX Property Records

    Winkler County is a Permian Basin oil county in far West Texas. Its population at the 2020 U.S. Census was 7,791, with 2026 estimates placing it near 7,249. The county seat is Kermit; Wink is the smaller of the two incorporated cities. The county was organized in 1910 and named for Clinton McKamy Winkler, a Confederate general and Texas legislator. The county seat, Kermit, was named for Kermit Roosevelt, who once visited a nearby ranch to hunt pronghorn before the town was named in his honor.

    Production in Winkler County dates to the 1920s and has continued through the Permian Basin's modern resurgence. The county's median household income of approximately $86,900 reflects oil field wages that far exceed what the local retail and service economy alone would produce.

    The housing market is modest. The median home value is approximately $113,050, well below the Texas statewide average of approximately $298,000. The market is thin: Kermit and Wink together have fewer than 7,500 residents. According to Federal Reserve Economic Data, an estimated 22–26% of households are cost-burdened, a contained figure reflecting the income support from oil field employment. Property records are maintained by the County Clerk at the courthouse in Kermit.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records

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

    Online Access

    Search Texasfile and select Winkler County. Index and document image availability vary by year of recording.

    In Person

    Visit the Winkler County Clerk at 100 East Winkler, 1st Floor, Kermit, TX 79745 during office hours.

    By Phone

    Call (432) 586-3401 during business hours.

    By Mail

    Mail requests to P.O. Box 1007, Kermit, TX 79745 with instrument details, payment, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

    What's Not at the County Clerk's Office

    • Property Appraisal: Winkler County Appraisal District (WCAD), 11 CR 121, Kermit, TX 79745. Phone: (432) 586-6338.

    • Property Taxes: Winkler County Tax Assessor-Collector. Contact through the courthouse at (432) 586-3401.

    • Texas RRC: RRC for well records, production histories, and GIS maps for Winkler County's extensive 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 online. If not, contact the County Clerk at (432) 586-3401 or mail a request with instrument details and applicable fee to P.O. Box 1007, Kermit, TX 79745.

    • 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 Winkler County

    • Kermit: County seat. The population is approximately 6,000. Named for Kermit Roosevelt.

    • Wink: Smaller city, population approximately 1,370.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    • Winkler County Appraisal District: 11 CR 121, Kermit, TX 79745. Phone: (432) 586-6338.

    • Winkler County Tax Assessor-Collector: Contact through the courthouse. Phone: (432) 586-3401.

    • Texas Comptroller

    County-Specific Nuances

    • Active Permian Basin production, extensive mineral instrument volume: Winkler County has been a producing oil county since the 1920s. The volume of recorded mineral instruments is substantial relative to the county's small population. Any thorough title search must include a comprehensive search of all mineral-related instruments.

    • Income driven by oil field wages: The median household income of approximately $86,900 reflects oil and gas sector employment rather than a diversified economy. Income levels are volatile and track closely with commodity prices and drilling activity.

    • Roy Orbison's birthplace in Wink: Wink is the birthplace of Roy Orbison (1936). This is a point of local identity but has no bearing on property records or title research.

    • 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 Winkler 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

      • Pugh clause if applicable.

    • Division Orders:

      • Operator.

      • Interested owner.

      • Working interest or royalty interest percentages for a specific well or lease.

    • Easements:

      • Pipeline easements

      • Utility easements

      • Parties, description

      • Permitted use.

      • 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. 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 Winkler County, TX

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

    • Cities: Kermit, which is the county seat, and Wink.

    • Unincorporated Communities: Cheyenne, Cowden Place, Magwalt, and Vesrue.

    Appendix B Key Contacts & Portals