Deaf Smith County Enhanced Life Estate Deed (Lady Bird Deed) (Community Property Grantors) Form

Last validated September 15, 2026 by our Forms Development Team

Formatted for recording in Deaf Smith County, for property anywhere in the county: rural and unincorporated areas as well as Dawn, Hereford.

$3997
One-time purchase. No subscription.
  • 3 documents included
  • Immediate PDF download
  • Formatting guarantee

Deaf Smith County Enhanced Life Estate Deed (Lady Bird Deed) (Community Property Grantors) Form

Deaf Smith County Enhanced Life Estate Deed (Lady Bird Deed) (Community Property Grantors) Form

Fill in the blank Enhanced Life Estate Deed (Lady Bird Deed) (Community Property Grantors) form formatted to comply with all Texas recording and content requirements.

Document last validated 7/18/2026
Deaf Smith County Enhanced Life Estate Deed (Lady Bird Deed) (Community Property Grantors) Guide

Deaf Smith County Enhanced Life Estate Deed (Lady Bird Deed) (Community Property Grantors) Guide

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the Enhanced Life Estate Deed (Lady Bird Deed) (Community Property Grantors) form.

Document last validated 8/27/2026
Deaf Smith County Completed Example of the Enhanced Life Estate Deed (Lady Bird Deed) (Community Property Grantors) Document

Deaf Smith County Completed Example of the Enhanced Life Estate Deed (Lady Bird Deed) (Community Property Grantors) Document

Example of a properly completed Texas Enhanced Life Estate Deed (Lady Bird Deed) (Community Property Grantors) document for reference.

Document last validated 9/15/2026

All 3 documents above included • One-time purchase • No recurring fees

Immediate Download • Secure Checkout

Important: Your property must be located in Deaf Smith County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.

Where to Record Your Documents

Deaf Smith County Clerk's Office

Address:
235 E. Third St # 203
Hereford, Texas 79045-5542

Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 12:00 & 1:00 - 5:00pm

Phone: (806) 363-7077

Recording Tips for Deaf Smith County:
  • Bring your driver's license or state-issued photo ID
  • Ensure all signatures are in blue or black ink
  • Ask if they accept credit cards - many offices are cash/check only
  • Check that your notary's commission hasn't expired
  • Documents must be on 8.5 x 11 inch white paper

Cities and Jurisdictions in Deaf Smith County

Properties in any of these areas use Deaf Smith County forms:

  • Dawn
  • Hereford

View Complete Recorder Office Guide

Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Deaf Smith County

How do I get my forms?

Forms are available for immediate download after payment. The Deaf Smith County forms will be in your account ready to download to your computer. An account is created for you during checkout if you don't have one. Forms are NOT emailed.

Are these forms guaranteed to be recordable in Deaf Smith County?

Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable formatting requirements used for recording in Deaf Smith County, including margin requirements, font requirements, and other layout standards. This guarantee applies to formatting, not to the legal sufficiency of information entered by the user or the suitability of a form for a particular transaction.

Can I reuse these forms?

Yes. You can reuse the forms for your personal use. For example, if you have multiple properties in Deaf Smith County you only need to order once.

What do I need to use these forms?

The forms are PDFs that you fill out on your computer. The free Adobe Acrobat Reader is recommended, and most PDF apps also work. You do NOT enter your property information online - you download the blank forms and complete them privately on your own computer.

Are there any recurring fees?

No. This is a one-time purchase. Nothing to cancel, no memberships, no recurring fees.

How much does it cost to record in Deaf Smith County?

Recording fees in Deaf Smith County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (806) 363-7077 for current fees.

Questions answered? Let's get started!

The Texas lady bird deed occupies an unusual place in Texas conveyancing: no statute creates it and no official form exists, yet it has been a fixture of Texas estate and elder law practice for decades, resting on common law, the general deed statutes, and settled title practice. This form prepares a lady bird deed for two married grantors who hold Texas real property as community property, the default for property acquired during a Texas marriage.

A Conveyance That Gives Up Nothing During Life

The deed works by splitting the title. The grantors convey a remainder interest to the grantees named in the deed, and in the same instrument reserve an enhanced life estate: full possession, use, rents, and income for life, plus the powers that make the life estate enhanced. The grantors keep the power to sell, mortgage, lease, or give away the property without the consent or even knowledge of any grantee, keep all proceeds, and may cancel or revoke the deed by recorded instrument. A traditional life estate deed surrenders those powers to the remainderman; the lady bird deed refuses to.

Built for Community Property and the Second Death

This version of the deed is drafted around the marriage. Both spouses sign as grantors, satisfying the homestead joinder rule of Family Code Section 5.001 on the face of the instrument, and the deed reserves the enhanced life estate to both spouses and to the survivor of them. At the first death nothing is filed or proved: the surviving spouse holds the entire life estate and every retained power alone, including the power to sell or revoke. Only at the second death does the remainder vest in possession, in the grantees who survive that death, entirely outside probate.

Why Elder Law Practice Reaches for This Deed

Texas limits Medicaid estate recovery to the probate estate, and property that passes under a recorded lady bird deed never enters it. State Bar commentary and the state Medicaid handbook both recognize the enhanced life estate deed in this role, including an exception to the transfer-penalty rules for a home conveyed this way. The grantors' retained ownership also preserves the property tax homestead exemption, and practice commentary treats the arrangement as an incomplete gift with a stepped-up basis at death. The guide describes this landscape along with the deed's real limits: no title warranty, no protection from the grantors' own creditors, and a possible due-on-sale issue under an existing mortgage.

Lady Bird Deed or Transfer on Death Deed

Texas offers a statutory cousin, the transfer on death deed under Estates Code Chapter 114, and Section 114.004 expressly preserves the common-law deed alongside it. The statutory deed transfers nothing until death and cannot be created through a power of attorney; the lady bird deed conveys a present remainder and rests on general agency law. The Texas Transfer on Death Deed products document the statutory route; this form documents the common-law one.

The download includes the blank deed as a fillable PDF, a completed example for a realistic Hays County fact pattern, and a plain-language guide covering every section, signing, and recording. The materials are informational and are not legal advice; a Texas attorney can apply these rules to a specific title or benefits situation.

Important: Your property must be located in Deaf Smith County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the county recording office listed above.

This Enhanced Life Estate Deed (Lady Bird Deed) (Community Property Grantors) meets all recording requirements specific to Deaf Smith County.

Our Promise

The documents you receive here are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable Deaf Smith County recording format requirements. If there is a rejection caused by our formatting, we will correct the issue or refund your payment. This guarantee applies to document formatting only and does not extend to information entered by the user, the selection of the form, or the legal effect of the completed document.

Save Time and Money

Get your Deaf Smith County Enhanced Life Estate Deed (Lady Bird Deed) (Community Property Grantors) form done right the first time with Deeds.com Uniform Conveyancing Blanks. At Deeds.com, we understand that your time and money are valuable resources, and we don't want you to face a penalty fee or rejection imposed by a county recorder for submitting nonstandard documents. We constantly review and update our forms to meet rapidly changing state and county recording requirements for roughly 3,500 counties and local jurisdictions.

4.8 out of 5 - ( 4,801 Reviews )

Francine H. 4 out of 5 stars

Somewhat confusing, but I'm really not sure what I need. I have not complete4d the document.

Reply from Staff

We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!

Keli A. 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent site, super fast responses to messages, and great patience with a newbie user. Couldn't be more pleased. Thank you!

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!

Laurie D. 5 out of 5 stars

Comforting that you include an example of a completed TOD Deed form. Just downloaded all forms for my state & county and I'm SURE this will save a paying for a massive attorney fee!

Reply from Staff

We are grateful for your feedback and looking forward to serving you again. Thank you!

Susan T. 5 out of 5 stars

This was perfect for my county I will be recommending your forms to all my clients thank you.

Reply from Staff

Thank you Susan, have a great day!

Jeffrey W. 5 out of 5 stars

You should add a button to cancel a package. I uploaded a document for e-recording, but wanted to cancel because I got a more clear copy.

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Troy B. 4 out of 5 stars

Very pleased with website very simple to navigate through

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!

lamar J. 5 out of 5 stars

Easy to understand and work with Very pleased with the information I Received

Reply from Staff

We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!

Janet W. 5 out of 5 stars

Downloading the forms I needed was quick and helpful.

Reply from Staff

Happy we could assist. Thank you for sharing your experience.

Beverly D. 5 out of 5 stars

Thank You, Job well done. So nice not to have to leave house and drive all over to record these documents. Very satisfied.

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!

Shaaron Z. 5 out of 5 stars

So far, this is working well. However, I don't see a form to change name due to marriage.

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Donald T. 5 out of 5 stars

very user friendly. includes an example you can reference, and explanation of terms, which helps greatly in understanding.

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Linda F. 5 out of 5 stars

I can't recommend working with Deeds.com enough. I had been given incorrect information from another document service. The helpful staff member at Deeds.com that assisted in the submission of the recording was exceptionally helpful in making sure what I was submitting included the necessary elements required by the county. I am very thankful I chose Deeds.com for my eRecording service. Thank you!!

Reply from Staff

Thank you, Linda! We’re so glad our team could assist in making sure your submission met the county’s requirements. It means a lot that you chose Deeds.com after a frustrating experience elsewhere. We appreciate your trust and kind words!

Peggy G. 5 out of 5 stars

This is an easy document to complete and file. Thank you for having the completed sample for review.

Reply from Staff

We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!

donnie p. 5 out of 5 stars

I am very happy with these forms. Very easy to use, A lawyer will charge you $500.00 or more for same enhanced life estate deed.

Reply from Staff

We’re glad you had a positive experience. Thank you.

Donna R. 5 out of 5 stars

This was a seamless process. It probably took one minute to fill out my information and upload the document. It was formatted and sent immediately. It was processed the next day at the county recorders office. I have zero complaints. Before finding this company I spent an entire day calling and leaving messages at other e-filing companies like simplfile and others but they all required subscriptions. I just needed to file a single document now and then so that was not a good fit. (And those companies I found out still require the customer to do all the work!). Deeds.com kept me informed throughout the process every step. I'm happy to write this review. Thank you

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!