Recording
Entering a deed or other instrument into the county public records, which gives constructive notice and establishes priority.
Recording is the act of filing a deed, mortgage, or other instrument in the official records of the county where the property sits. Recording gives constructive notice to the public and generally establishes the priority of competing claims by the order in which they are recorded.
An instrument does not have to be recorded to be valid between the parties, but recording protects the holder against later claims.
On the exam
Exam trap
Tested in
Ownership & Title (8% of the exam)
From definition to recall
See this term inside a real exam question.
Pass Texas gives you Texas-specific practice, diagnostics across the 14 exam areas, Trap Library, Math Coach, offline access, and one $59.99 purchase. No subscription. No copied exam questions.
Try 5 free questionsRelated terms
- Constructive Notice
The legal presumption that the public is aware of a fact, such as ownership, because a document is recorded in the public record.
- Deed
The written instrument that transfers title to real property from the grantor to the grantee.
- Lien
A monetary claim against property that secures payment of a debt. It can be voluntary, like a mortgage, or involuntary, like a tax or judgment lien.
This definition is Texas real estate exam-prep education, not legal, tax, or professional advice. Verify current rules against the official source before relying on them for a real transaction. Back to the full glossary.