Galveston County Recorder

The County Clerk is responsible for recording and maintaining real property records.

Abstracts of Judgment and Releases; Deeds, Deeds of Trust, Oil and Gas Leases, Mechanic Liens, Releases of Liens, Affidavits, Powers of Attorney, Lis Pendens, Bills of Sale, State Tax Liens and Releases; Tax Certificates, are some of the general documents filed in the Official Public Records

$25.00 - first page of a Real Property Record (includes all surcharges)
$4.00 - each additional page
$0.25 - each additional name to be indexed in excess of 5

Federal Tax Lien/Release of Lien
Recording Fee Property Code 14.005--$10.00
Record Management Local Government Code 118.011(b)(2)--$10.00
Record Archive Local Government Code 118.011(f)(1)--$10.00
TOTAL $30.00

State Tax Lien/Release of Lien
Recording Fee Local Government Code 118.011(a)(2)--$5.00
Records Management Local Government Code 118.011(b)(2)--$10.00
(Archive Fee cannot be charged to State) TOTAL (first page)--$15.00

FEES FOR RECORDING:
Pages.....................Fees
1----------------$25.00
2----------------$29.00
3- --------------$33.00
4- --------------$36.00
5----------------$40.00

If the grantee's address is not listed on the document, a fee of $25 or twice the regular filing fee, whichever is greater, will be charged.

Non certified copy per page or part of a page LGC 118.0145---$1.00
Non Certified 11 x 17 Double Letter per page-LGC 118.011(c)---$2.00
Non Certified 24 x 36 Plat or Map per page-LGC 118.011(c)---$5.00
Certification Fee for whole document -LGC 118.014---$5.00 (plus additional $1.00 per page)
Military Discharge -DD214 (Plain or CC)-LGC 192.002(b)---No Charge

If a rider or attachment does not meet the size requirements, it will also be charged twice the regular filing fee.

Fees are subject to change without notice. For the most current fees, contact the County Clerk directly.

* A page is considered to be one side of a sheet of paper. Documents should be no wider than 8.5 inches and no longer than 14 inches. It should be of sufficient weight (20 pound) so that printing, typing, or handwriting will not bleed through or smear. Paper sized 8.5 x 11 can also be used.

* The font size should be at least 8 point. For best results, black ink should be used. Printing, typing, or handwriting must be clearly legible.

* A clearly identifying label or heading must be at the top of the first page.

* Names must be legibly printed or typed beneath signatures.

* All photocopies, Photostats, and other types of reproduction must have black printing, typing, or handwriting on a white background. These are commonly known as positive prints.

* Riders and attachments included with a document must comply with the size requirements. Only one rider or attachment may be included in or attached to a page.

* Instruments must be signed and acknowledged by the grantor in the presence of two or more credible witnesses or acknowledged or sworn to before and certified by an officer authorized to take acknowledgments or oaths.

* Instruments executed after December 31, 1981 that convey an interest in real property must have the mailing address of each grantee that appears in the instrument, or in a separate writing signed by the grantor or grantee and attached to the instrument.

* A seller of residential real property comprising not more than one dwelling unit in the state shall give to the purchaser of the property a written notice as prescribed by section 5.008 of the Texas Statutes. The purchaser and the seller need to sign this form.

* Any document that transfers an interest in real property must include the following "Notice of Confidentiality Rights:" NOTICE OF CONFIDENTIALITY RIGHTS: IF YOU ARE A NATURAL PERSON, YOU MANY REMOVE OR STRIKE ANY OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION FROM ANY INSTRUMENT THAT TRANSFERS AN INTEREST IN REAL PROPERTY BEFORE IT IS FILED FOR RECORD IN THE PUBLIC RECORDS: YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER.


Sec. 5.022. FORM. (a) The following form or a form that is the same in substance conveys a fee simple estate in real property with a covenant of general warranty:
"The State of Texas,
"County of ____________________.
"Know all men by these presents, That I, __________________, of the __________________ (give name of city, town, or county), in the state aforesaid, for and in consideration of __________________ dollars, to me in hand paid by __________________, have granted, sold, and conveyed, and by these presents do grant, sell, and convey unto the said __________________, of the __________________ (give name of city, town, or county), in the state of __________________, all that certain __________________ (describe the premises). To have and to hold the above described premises, together with all and singular the rights and appurtenances thereto in any wise belonging, unto the said __________________, his heirs or assigns forever. And I do hereby bind myself, my heirs, executors, and administrators to warrant and forever defend all and singular the said premises unto the said __________________, his heirs, and assigns, against every person whomsoever, lawfully claiming or to claim the same, or any part thereof.
"Witness my hand, this __________________ day of __________________, A.D. 20___.
"Signed and delivered in the presence of ____________________"
(b) A covenant of warranty is not required in a conveyance.
(c) The parties to a conveyance may insert any clause or use any form not in contravention of law.