Shelby County Preliminary Notice to Original Contractor Form

Last validated September 24, 2026 by our Forms Development Team

Formatted for recording in Shelby County, for property anywhere in the county: rural and unincorporated areas as well as Center, Joaquin, Shelbyville, Tenaha, Timpson.

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

Shelby County Preliminary Notice to Original Contractor Form

Shelby County Preliminary Notice to Original Contractor Form

Fill in the blank Preliminary Notice to Original Contractor form formatted to comply with all Texas recording and content requirements.

Document last validated 9/24/2026
Shelby County Preliminary Notice to Original Contractor Guide

Shelby County Preliminary Notice to Original Contractor Guide

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.

Document last validated 9/17/2026
Shelby County Completed Example of the Notice to Original Contractor Document

Shelby County Completed Example of the Notice to Original Contractor Document

Example of a properly completed form for reference.

Document last validated 9/2/2026

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

Immediate Download • Secure Checkout

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

Where to Record Your Documents

Shelby County Clerk

Address:
124 Austin St / PO Box 1987
Center, Texas 75935

Hours: 8:00 to 4:30 Monday through Friday

Phone: (936) 598-6361

Recording Tips for Shelby County:
  • Bring your driver's license or state-issued photo ID
  • Ensure all signatures are in blue or black ink
  • White-out or correction fluid may cause rejection
  • Ask about their eRecording option for future transactions
  • Avoid the last business day of the month when possible

Cities and Jurisdictions in Shelby County

Properties in any of these areas use Shelby County forms:

  • Center
  • Joaquin
  • Shelbyville
  • Tenaha
  • Timpson

View Complete Recorder Office Guide

Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Shelby County

How do I get my forms?

Forms are available for immediate download after payment. The Shelby 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 Shelby County?

Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable formatting requirements used for recording in Shelby 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 Shelby 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 Shelby County?

Recording fees in Shelby County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (936) 598-6361 for current fees.

Questions answered? Let's get started!

Texas Second Month Notice

According to Texas lien law, all claimants other than the original contractor must provide preliminary notice to establish a claim for a valid mechanic's lien. TEX. PROP. CODE 53.056. Use the preliminary notice form under 53.056(b) when lien claim arises from a debt incurred by a subcontractor.

A mechanic's lien is an encumbrance on an owner's title, used to guarantee payment to builders, contractors, and construction businesses which build or repair structures, by using the property where the work was completed as a form of collateral. Suppliers of materials and subcontractors may also claim a mechanic's lien. The lien ensures that the workmen are paid before anyone else if the property subject to the lien is eventually foreclosed upon.

The law states that before filing and recording a mechanic's lien, the claimant must give written notice of the unpaid balance to the original contractor. Texas requires prelien notice to be served on the owner and other interested parties. Prelien notices serve two purposes: to protect the interests of subcontractors and suppliers, and to give property owners a defense against having to pay twice for parts of the same project.

Deliver the notice to the original contractor no later than the 15th day of the second month following each month in which all or part of the claimant's labor was performed or material delivered. Id. This is also known as a "Second Month Notice." It identifies the parties, dates, materials/services, and amount due. For reference, include an invoice or statement to clarify billing details.

Send it by registered or certified mail, addressed to the original contractor at his or her last known business or residence address. TEX. PROP. CODE 53.056(e).

Remember that each case is unique and the mechanic's lien law in Texas can be complicated and unforgiving of mistakes. Therefore, contact an attorney for complex situations or with specific questions about the preliminary notice to the original contractor or about any other issues related to liens.

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

This Preliminary Notice to Original Contractor meets all recording requirements specific to Shelby County.

Our Promise

The documents you receive here are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable Shelby 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 Shelby County Preliminary Notice to Original Contractor 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 - ( 4,807 Reviews )

Melody L. 3 out of 5 stars

Beware, you cannot save the information you typed and change it later. It will be a PDF upon saving. So if you need corrections...you have to start all over!

Reply from Staff

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

Essence L. 5 out of 5 stars

Ordered and filled out the quitclaim forms. Had no issues with preparing or recording, smooth process.

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Susan K. 5 out of 5 stars

They were unable to complete the task and my money was immediately refunded.

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback Susan, sorry we were unable to assist.

Harry B. 5 out of 5 stars

I received exactly what I was looking for on Deeds.com. Not only that, but this website provided instructions for form completion, and an example of a completed form. I'm certainly glad I chose this website.

Reply from Staff

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

Robert K. 5 out of 5 stars

Very user friendly - I found the affidavit I needed right away together with the guide to filling it out.

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Roger M. 5 out of 5 stars

Great package it was nice to be able to get everything required for recording this deed in one place.

Reply from Staff

Thanks Roger, we appreciate your feedback.

Dan L. 4 out of 5 stars

The only suggestion I have is to include sample of putting quitclaim into a revocable trust.

Reply from Staff

Your insights are invaluable to us and help us strive for better service. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.

Stuart P. 5 out of 5 stars

Easy and fast. I'll use this service for all my recordings

Reply from Staff

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

Michael S. 5 out of 5 stars

So convenient.

Reply from Staff

Knowing our customers are happy is our top priority. Thank you for the wonderful feedback!

Rita T. 5 out of 5 stars

This is the first time I use this site, and it was very easy and user friendly. I was able to fill out what i needed with the help of their example. quick download. like it. The price was reasonable. Definitely will use again. Highly recommend!

Reply from Staff

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

THOMAS C. 5 out of 5 stars

Thank you for the fine, easy to implement service.

Reply from Staff

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

Emelinda C. 5 out of 5 stars

Quick download, hassle-free, no forced membership-just a straight-forward transaction. Thank you!

Reply from Staff

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

Frederick S. 5 out of 5 stars

The process of using and understanding the requirements of Deeds.com was fairly easy The final results were as expected.

Reply from Staff

We truly value your business and appreciate your review.

Amber H. 3 out of 5 stars

after typing in the information, the printing is not in alignment - looks disorganized on the page and hard to read

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback. We will flag the document for review.

Elizabeth S. 5 out of 5 stars

Easy to download. I like the fact that it gives me an example of how to fill it out and also the instructions. Thank you so much.

Reply from Staff

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