Texas Property Records: How Deeds and Liens Are Recorded and Found
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Last updated November 14, 2026. Citations come from the Texas statutes and official agency pages linked in Sources. Where we could not confirm something on an official page, we say so.
In Texas, the county clerk serves as the county recorder, and deeds and other instruments are recorded in the county where the property is located. Local Government Code Sec. 191.001 says so, citing Article V, Section 20 of the Texas Constitution. This guide covers what the statutes say about recording. Search portals and fees vary by county, and we did not confirm them for the state as a whole.
Where records live
The county clerk records an instrument in a well-bound book, except instruments kept on microfilm or another medium as provided in Chapters 204 and 205 (Local Government Code Sec. 191.002).
Property Code Sec. 11.004 requires the clerk to correctly record, within a reasonable time, any instrument authorized or required to be recorded that is proved, acknowledged or sworn to, to give a receipt, to record instruments for the same property in the order filed and to keep the required indexes.
Deeds from tax sales are also filed with the county clerk (Tax Code Sec. 34.01(m)).
Rules for what can be recorded
- An instrument may not be recorded unless it is in English or complies with Property Code Sec. 11.002.
- An instrument executed after December 31, 1981 conveying an interest in real property may not be recorded unless it shows a mailing address for each grantee, or a penalty filing fee equal to the greater of $25 or twice the statutory recording fee is paid (Sec. 11.003).
- A deed must be acknowledged or sworn, and in-person filers must show photo ID. See Texas warranty deed for those rules.
Finding records
Start with the clerk of the county where the property is located. Many county clerks post a records search on their website, and our county guides link each county’s appraisal district for ownership and value.
We did not confirm a statewide search portal or county fee schedules from an official source for this guide, and we did not open Local Government Code Chapters 192 and 193 or Property Code Sec. 13.001 on the effect of unrecorded instruments.
See our Texas county property tax guides for appraisal district and tax office links, and the affidavit of heirship guide for records in heirship cases.
Why it matters when you sell
A title company searches the records for liens, judgments and unresolved heirs before closing. Unpaid property tax, an old mortgage or a missing heir can delay a sale. We buy houses as-is and work with a title company to clear what can be cleared.
How to sell a house in Texas when there are lien or title questions
- Find out what the title company needs. For an inherited or transferred house, that usually means the recorded document that shows who owns it today.
- Get a payoff for any mortgage and the amount of any unpaid property tax. Both are paid from the sale proceeds at closing.
- Compare offers on what you net after repairs, commissions and closing costs, not on the headline price.
- If you want a fast, simple closing, ask for a written cash offer. We buy houses as-is, with no repairs and no agent commission. See how we buy houses in Texas.
Texas property records FAQ
Who records deeds in Texas?
The county clerk, who serves as the county recorder (Local Government Code Sec. 191.001).
What must a deed show to be recorded?
It must be acknowledged or sworn, in English, and show each grantee's mailing address or the filer pays a penalty fee (Property Code Secs. 11.002, 11.003 and 12.001).
Where do I search for records?
The clerk of the county where the property is located. We did not confirm a single statewide portal.
What is the grantee address penalty?
The greater of $25 or twice the statutory recording fee (Property Code Sec. 11.003).
Sources
- Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 191 (County recorder)
- Texas Property Code, Chapter 11 (Recording of instruments)
- Texas Property Tax Code, Chapter 34
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Laws, forms and fees change, so confirm details with the official office or a Texas attorney or tax professional.