Angelina County Records

An instrument may not be recorded if it is not in the English language, unless a correct English translation is recorded with the original and the accuracy of the translation is sworn to before an officer authorized to administer oaths.

A page must be no larger than 8.5 x 14 inches and no smaller than 8.5 x 11 inches and should have printing on one side of the page only. Use paper of a sufficient weight and substance so that printing or typing will not smear or bleed through. Printing or typing should be at least 8 point. All printing, typing, or handwriting must be clearly legible.

All real property instruments must be acknowledged, sworn to with a proper jurat, or proved according to law. The instrument must be signed and acknowledged or sworn to by the grantor in the presence of two or more credible subscribing witnesses or acknowledged or sworn to before and certified by an officer authorized to take acknowledgements or oaths, as applicable. Signatures must be original. Names must be legibly printed or typed immediately under each signature.

The mailing address of each grantee must be included in the instrument or in a separate writing attached to the instrument that is signed by the grantor and grantee. If this is not included, a penalty fee equal to the greater of $25 or twice the statutory recording fee.

An instrument transferring an interest in real property to or from an individual must have a notice on the top of the first page in 12 point boldface type or 12 point uppercase letters that reads substantially as follows: "NOTICE OF CONFIDENTIALITY RIGHTS: IF YOU ARE A NATURAL PERSON, YOU MAY 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."

A clearly identifying heading, similar to the headings on most commercially supplied forms, must be at the top of the first page to identify the type of legal document being submitted.

All Photostats, photocopies, and other types of reproduction must have black printing, typing, or handwriting on a white background.

All riders and attachments must comply with size requirements. Only one rider or attachment can be attached to a page.

Documents in this county no longer require 3 inches of blank space at the bottom of the last page.

Effect of Recording:

A conveyance of real property, an interest in real property, a mortgage, or a deed of trust is void as to a creditor or subsequent purchaser for a valuable consideration without notice unless the instrument has been acknowledged, sworn to, or proved and filed for record as required by law.

An unrecorded instrument is binding on a party to the instrument, on the party's heirs, and on a subsequent purchaser who does not pay a valuable consideration or who has notice of the instrument.

A properly recorded instrument will be notice to all persons of the existence of the instrument and will be subject to inspection by the public.

To be effectively recorded, a real property instrument must be eligible for recording and must be recorded in the county in which part (or all of) the real estate is situated.