Recorder Offices
Contact the recorder's office directly for its records, copies, and recording requirements.
County Clerk Precinct 2 Substation
County Clerk's Main Office
County Clerk Substation - Precinct 3
County Clerk Substation - Precinct 4
About the Hays County Clerk
Land records in Hays County are recorded by the County Clerk. The office is held by Elaine H. Cárdenas, MBA, PhD.
Official public records from 1848 to the present can be viewed and purchased online through the Self-Service portal and on lobby computers. Archived books are available in the office for viewing or research.
Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Staff Directory • County Clerk · Records Division | Hays County, TX · Tex. Prop. Code Section 11.004, Duty of Recorder
Recording Fees
These government fees are separate from any Deeds.com service fees. Confirm current charges with the recorder's office.
| Deeds and other conveyances | $5.00 first page, $4.00 each additional page (Real property records filing; additional page counted if it has visible marks) |
|---|---|
| Mortgages and deeds of trust | $5.00 first page, $4.00 each additional page (Real property records filing; additional page counted if it has visible marks) |
| Releases and satisfactions | $5.00 first page, $4.00 each additional page (Real property records filing; additional page counted if it has visible marks) |
| Other standard documents | $5.00 first page, $4.00 each additional page (Real property records filing; each 8-1/2 x 14 attachment or rider $4) |
Added at recording
| Records Management and Preservation Fee | $10.00 Not more than $10; the county clerk may set and collect it; paid when the document is filed (Loc. Gov't Code §§ 118.011(b)(2), 118.0216) |
|---|---|
| Records Archive Fee | $10.00 Not more than $10; collected if the commissioners court adopts it as part of the county's annual budget; not charged to state agencies (Loc. Gov't Code §§ 118.011(f)(1), 118.025) |
Other charges
| Additional names indexed | $0.25 each beyond the 5 included (Each name over five that must be indexed) |
|---|---|
| Copies, per page | $1.00 |
| Certification | $5.00 |
Fee schedule effective January 1, 2024.
StatewideA page of a legal paper that fails one or more of the requirements of Local Government Code § 191.007(b) through (g) is charged twice the regular filing or recording fee for that page. Type size, and a missing heading where the paper complies with Property Code § 11.008(c), do not trigger the increase. An instrument conveying an interest in real property that lacks a mailing address for each grantee may be recorded on payment of a penalty filing fee equal to the greater of $25 or twice the statutory recording fee (Property Code § 11.003).
Plats (must be approved by County or City): $70.00 first page, $50.00 each additional page. State tax liens: $15.00, each additional page $4.00 (exempt from Archive Fee). Federal tax liens: $30.00 (Prop. Code 14.001-14.007). UCCs filed in the real property records (fixture filings only) carry the same filing fee as standard documents. The office lists a $25 penalty fee in addition to recording fees when a deed has no grantee address.
Paying the office
| Accepted | Cash, Check, Money order, Credit card |
|---|---|
| Checks payable to | Hays County Clerk’s Office |
| Card fee | There is a 2.3% convenience fee added to the payment for using this card service. |
For online card payments, call 512-393-7738 first for a quote, then pay through Certified Payments using Bureau Code 5925183 for the Property Records/Vitals Division. Include your name, date of birth, and Drivers License/ID # on the check.
Transfer tax
No transfer tax. None is collected when a document is recorded. (statewide, Tex. Const. art. VIII, § 29)
Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: 89(R) SB 1547 - Enrolled version · Hays County Clerk Fees - Records Division · Records Division | Hays County, TX · Tex. Local Gov't Code Section 118.011, Fee Schedule · Tex. Local Gov't Code Section 191.007 · Article VIII, Section 29 of the Texas Constitution (Texas Legal Guide)
Document Requirements
Confirm current requirements with the recorder's office before submitting documents.
| Paper size | White, no larger than 8.5 x 14 inches, and no smaller than 8.5 x 11 inches |
|---|---|
| First page top margin | 3 in |
| Minimum type size | 8 pt (statewide, Tex. Loc. Gov't Code § 191.007(b)(3)) |
| Ink and paper | Paper of sufficient weight and substance that printing, typing, or handwriting will not smear or bleed through; reproductions must have black printing, typing, or handwriting on a white background (statewide, Tex. Loc. Gov't Code § 191.007(b)(2), (f)) |
| Grantee address required | Yes (statewide, Tex. Prop. Code § 11.003) |
| Printed names under signatures required | Yes (statewide, Tex. Loc. Gov't Code § 191.007(e)) |
Paper documents: leave 3 inches in the top margin for a file mark. Electronically recorded documents: leave a 1-inch top margin for the recording sticker.
StatewideA page is one side of a sheet of paper. A clearly identifying heading must be placed at the top of the first page to identify the type of legal paper. Riders and attachments must meet the page size limit, and only one may be attached to a page. An instrument transferring an interest in real property to or from an individual must carry the Notice of Confidentiality Rights at the top of the first page in 12-point boldfaced type or 12-point uppercase letters. The clerk may not refuse to record a legal paper for failing the § 191.007 specifications.
Must include the original signature of each current owner (grantor); copies of signatures will not be accepted. Notary seals must be legible and current. Filings from a Texas court must be a complete, original, court-issued certified copy. Documents with sensitive data or poor image quality receive a courtesy rejection.
Submitting documents
| In person | Accepted |
|---|---|
| Electronic recording | Accepted |
| Processing time | Electronically recorded documents will be processed within a 24-hour period. |
StatewideA county clerk shall require a person presenting a document in person for filing in the real property records to present a photo identification, and shall copy it or record information from it, without charging a fee. An instrument conveying real property may not be recorded unless any individual presenting it in person presents a photo identification.
E-Recording is available Monday through Friday, 8 am to 3:30 pm, and requires a current MOU on file. Bonds to indemnify, notices of foreclosure posting, assumed name certificates, and plats cannot be eRecorded. The Precinct 2, 3, and 4 substations record real property except plats and bonds to indemnify.
Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: 89(2) SB 16 - Enrolled version · Records Division | Hays County, TX · Tex. Local Gov't Code Section 191.007 · Tex. Prop. Code Section 11.003, Grantee's Address
Deeds.com Resources & Services
Using Deeds.com is optional. Contact the recorder's office directly for its services and submission options.
How to Get a Copy of Your Deed
Read Deeds.com's guide to requesting document copies from the recorder's office.
Deeds.com eRecording
Not available through Deeds.com
Deeds.com does not currently offer eRecording in Hays County. Contact the recorder's office about its submission options.
Recorder Offices
Contact the recorder's office directly for its records, copies, and recording requirements.
County Clerk Precinct 2 Substation
County Clerk's Main Office
County Clerk Substation - Precinct 3
County Clerk Substation - Precinct 4
Deeds.com Forms
Blank legal forms sold by Deeds.com, not by the recorder's office.
Supplemental Document Resources
Recording-related forms and instructions for reference. Confirm which documents apply with the recorder's office.
Deeds.com Customer Care
For help with Deeds.com products, services, or your account. This does not contact the recorder's office.
Contact Deeds.com