Smith County Preliminary Notice to Owner and Original Contractor Form

Last validated July 8, 2026 by our Forms Development Team

Smith County Preliminary Notice to Owner and Original Contractor Form

Smith County Preliminary Notice to Owner and Original Contractor Form

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

Document Last Validated 6/4/2026
Smith County Preliminary Notice to Owner and Original Contractor Guide

Smith County Preliminary Notice to Owner and Original Contractor Guide

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the Preliminary Notice to Owner and Original Contractor form.

Document Last Validated 7/8/2026
Smith County Completed Example of the Preliminary Notice to Owner and Original Contractor Document

Smith County Completed Example of the Preliminary Notice to Owner and Original Contractor Document

Example of a properly completed Texas Preliminary Notice to Owner and Original Contractor document for reference.

Document Last Validated 6/11/2026

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

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

Where to Record Your Documents

Smith County Clerk

Address:
200 East Ferguson St, Suite 300
Tyler, Texas 75702

Hours: 8:00am - 4:45pm M-F

Phone: (903) 590-4670

Recording Tips for Smith County:
  • Ask if they accept credit cards - many offices are cash/check only
  • Both spouses typically need to sign if property is jointly owned
  • Recording fees may differ from what's posted online - verify current rates
  • Recorded documents become public record - avoid including SSNs

Cities and Jurisdictions in Smith County

Properties in any of these areas use Smith County forms:

  • Arp
  • Bullard
  • Flint
  • Lindale
  • Troup
  • Tyler
  • Whitehouse
  • Winona

View Complete Recorder Office Guide

Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Smith County

How do I get my forms?

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

Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable formatting requirements used for recording in 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 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. You'll need Adobe Reader (free software that most computers already have). 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 Smith County?

Recording fees in Smith County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (903) 590-4670 for current fees.

Questions answered? Let's get started!

Texas Third Month Notice

Under 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(a).

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.

Texas requires prelien notice to be served on the owner and other interested parties before filing and recording a mechanic's lien. The type of project (whether residential or commercial) determines what kind of prelien notice must be served. 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.

If the lien claim arises from a debt incurred by the original contractor, the claimant must give notice to the owner or reputed owner, with a copy to the original contractor, in accordance with 53.056(b). TEX. PROP. CODE 53.056(c). The document identifies the parties, the project, date and type of service/materials, amount billed, and balance due. Attach an invoice to clarify more specific details.

Deliver the notice to the original contractor must be given 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 notice is also known as a "Second Month Notice." The claimant must give the same notice to the owner or reputed owner and the original contractor NO LATER than the 15th day of the third month following each month in which all or part of the claimant's labor was performed or material or specially fabricated material was delivered. Id. This notice is called a "Third Month Notice."

The notice must be sent by registered or certified mail and must be 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, with specific questions the required preliminary notice, or any other issue related to mechanic's liens.

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

This Preliminary Notice to Owner and Original Contractor meets all recording requirements specific to Smith County.

Our Promise

The documents you receive here are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable 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 Smith County Preliminary Notice to Owner and 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.

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