The Texas general warranty deed with a vendor's lien is the instrument of a seller-financed sale. The Grantor conveys real property to the buyer with the broadest title warranty Texas recognizes and retains a vendor's lien and superior title to secure the buyer's purchase-money note. The seller keeps that security interest in the property until the buyer pays the note in full, when the deed becomes absolute. This package prepares the deed for a single Grantor, with a fillable form, a completed example, and a section by section guide.

What a vendor's lien does

A vendor's lien is the security a seller keeps for the unpaid purchase price when the seller carries the financing. Texas recognizes two forms. An implied vendor's lien arises by operation of law when a seller conveys land without receiving the full price, but it is comparatively weak and can be lost to a later buyer who has no notice of the debt. An express vendor's lien is written into the deed, as this form does, and reserves to the Grantor not only the lien but superior title to the property until the note is paid. That retained superior title is the distinctive feature of the Texas vendor's lien, supporting the seller's remedies on a default. Most sellers also sign a separate deed of trust, which adds the power to foreclose without going to court.

What the form covers

The deed is organized into numbered sections that track the order of a recorded Texas conveyance:

A Grantor block and a grantee block, with marital status and the form of co-ownership where it applies
The legal description of the property and its street address
The source of title, identifying the recorded instrument by which the Grantor holds
Reservations and exceptions, which carve matters out of both the conveyance and the warranty
The consideration recital and the operative general warranty language
A purchase-money note recital and the retained vendor's lien and superior title

Signing and recording

The Grantor signs the deed before a notary public, who completes the acknowledgment certificate. Where the property is the homestead of a married Grantor, the Grantor's spouse joins under Texas Family Code Section 5.001 by signing the second block to convey the homestead interest; where the property is not homestead or the Grantor is unmarried, that block stays blank. The buyer does not sign the deed, but signs the separate note and any deed of trust. The deed is then recorded with the county clerk of the county where the property is located, placing the retained vendor's lien in the public record. The confidentiality notice required by Property Code Section 11.008 appears at the top of the first page, and Senate Bill 16 added a photo identification requirement at the recording counter for instruments filed in person on or after December 4, 2025.

What the package includes

The package contains a blank fillable deed, a completed example, and a guide that explains each section, the vendor's lien and superior title doctrine, and the recording process. The guide also describes the Texas General Warranty Deed for a cash sale and the Texas Special Warranty Deed, Texas Deed Without Warranty, and Texas Quitclaim Deed for other conveyances. The materials are informational and are not legal advice.

How to Use This Form

Select your county from the list above
Download the county-specific form
Fill in the required information
Have the document notarized if required
Record with your county recorder's office

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Common Uses for General Warranty Deed with Vendor Lien (Individual Grantor)

Convey real estate as part of an estate plan
Transfer property held in joint tenancy
Transfer ownership to a living trust
Add a family member to a property title
Transfer real estate between siblings

Compare other Texas deed forms and documents

General Warranty Deed (Individual Grantor) General Warranty Deed (Joint Grantors) General Warranty Deed with Vendors Lien (Third-Party Lender) Deed Without Warranty Gift Deed Without Warranty Gift Deed Special Warranty Special Warranty Deed (Individual Grantor) Special Warranty Deed (Joint Grantors) Grant Deed (Individual Grantor) Grant Deed (Joint Grantors) Quitclaim Deed Correction Deed Transfer on Death Deed (Individual) Transfer on Death Deed (Joint Owners with Right of Survivorship) Transfer on Death Deed (Community Property with Right of Survivorship) Community Property Survivorship Agreement Revocation of Community Property Survivorship Agreement Enhanced Life Estate Deed Revocation of Transfer on Death Deed (Individual) Revocation of Transfer on Death Deed (Joint Owners) Affidavit of Death (Transfer on Death Deed Beneficiary) Easement Deed Termination of Easement Executor Deed Administrator Deed Affidavit of Heirship Trustee Deed Certificate of Trust Disclaimer of Interest Mineral Deed Mineral Quitclaim Deed Specific Power of Attorney for the Purchase of Property Specific Power of Attorney for the Sale of Property Statutory Durable Power of Attorney Demand for Payment Notice of Contractual Retainage Notice of Specially Manufactured Materials Preliminary Notice to Original Contractor Preliminary Notice to Owner and Original Contractor Affidavit of Lien Request for Information from Owner Request for Information from Subcontractor Request for Information from Original Contractor Conditional Waiver and Release on Progress Payment Conditional Waiver and Release on Final Payment Unconditional Waiver on Progress Payment Unconditional Waiver on Final Payment Release of Lien Contract for Deed Memorandum of Contract Deed of Trust and Promissory Note Release of Lien - by Deed of Trust and Note Appointment of Substitute Trustee for Deed of Trust Assignment of Deed of Trust Collateral Assignment of Note and Liens (Security Agreement) Release of Collateral Transfer of Note and Lien Collateral Assignment of Leases, Rents and Rights Release of Collateral Assignment of Leases and Rents Lis Pendens Lis Pendens Release

Important: County-Specific Forms

Our general warranty deed with vendor lien (individual grantor) forms are specifically formatted for each county in Texas.

After selecting your county, you'll receive forms that meet all local recording requirements, ensuring your documents will be accepted without delays or rejection fees.

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