Harris County Recorder: Deeds & Records

Open the Official Real Property Search

Visit the Harris County Clerk Real Property Document Search.

Do not select County Civil, Probate, Marriage Licenses or Assumed Names when searching for a recorded deed.

Search the Grantor or Grantee

The official form labels Grantor, Grantee and Trustee searches as Last Name First — No Punctuation.

Try the current owner’s name under Grantee and the previous owner’s name under Grantor when investigating an ownership transfer.

Use a File Number or Film Code When Available

If you have a recording reference from closing papers, a title commitment or an older deed, use the File Number or Film Code field.

A file-number search is often more precise than searching a common surname.

Use Subdivision, Lot and Block Information

The portal also includes Subdivision or Description, Section, Lot, Block, Unit, Abstract, Outlot, Tract and Reserve.

If a name search returns too many documents, use the known legal-description clues and an appropriate date range to narrow the search.

Verify the Document Before Using It

Compare party names, recording date, document type, file or film code and the property’s legal description.

For a deed of trust, also look for later releases or assignments. A deed of trust does not necessarily mean the loan remains unpaid.

View or Order a Copy

The Clerk provides watermarked unofficial copies through its website. For copies without the watermark, create a portal account, find the record and follow the shopping-cart process.

If an agency requires a certified paper document with a raised seal, contact the Public Records Department instead of assuming an emailed certification is sufficient.

Prepare the Original Document

The Harris County Clerk generally requires the original instrument for paper recording. A certified copy of an appropriate court document may be accepted, but ordinary Xerox copies are not accepted as original filing instruments.

Check the correct grantor, grantee, legal description, signatures and notarization where applicable.

Include the Grantee’s Mailing Address

Texas Property Code §11.003 generally requires the mailing address of each grantee for instruments conveying real-property interests executed after December 31, 1981, unless the statutory alternative filing-fee requirements are satisfied.

The Clerk explains that omitting the address can trigger a penalty fee equal to the greater of $25 or twice the statutory recording fee.

Check the Names, Return Address and Recording Space

The Clerk’s recording guidance calls for typed or printed names beneath signatures, identification of the signer’s capacity where relevant and a return address.

Leave appropriate space at the top and left of the document for recording information, and check page size before filing.

Calculate the Recording Fee

For a typical standard-size instrument, start with $25 for the first page, add $4 for each additional page and 25 cents per indexed name beyond five.

Maps, plats, penalties and other specialized filing types can have different charges.

Choose In-Person, Mail or Eligible Electronic Filing

In-person real-property filers should bring photo identification. For U.S. Postal Service filing, send the original and accepted payment to the County Clerk’s real-property P.O. box.

Electronic filings must go through a participating e-recording provider and are subject to Texas statutory eligibility rules.

Save and Verify the Recording Reference

Once the document is recorded, retain its filing details and check the official portal after processing. Match the parties and legal description before using it for HCAD ownership updates, a title matter or other transaction.