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Tex. Prop. Code § 13.001 (2026)

Validity Of Unrecorded Instrument

✓ current as of May 2026
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Sec. 13.001. VALIDITY OF UNRECORDED INSTRUMENT. (a) A conveyance of real property or an interest in real property or a mortgage or deed of trust is void as to a creditor or to a 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.

(b) The 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.

(c) This section does not apply to a financing statement, a security agreement filed as a financing statement, or a continuation statement filed for record under the Business & Commerce Code.

Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3495, ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984. Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 162, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 161 cases (25 in the last 5 years), 1984–2026 · leading case: Ron Sommers, as Chapter 7 Tr. for Alabama & Dunlavy, Ltd., Flat Stone II, Ltd., & Flat Stone, Ltd., & as Successor in Interest to Jay Cohen, Individually & as Tr. of the Jhc Trusts I & Ii v. Sandcastle Homes, Inc., 521 S.W.3d 749 (Tex. 2017).
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Ron Sommers, as Chapter 7 Tr. for Alabama & Dunlavy, Ltd., Flat Stone II, Ltd., & Flat Stone, Ltd., & as Successor in Interest to Jay Cohen, Individually & as Tr. of the Jhc Trusts I & Ii v. Sandcastle Homes, Inc., 521 S.W.3d 749 (Tex. 2017). · cites it 3× “It states to the contrary in subsection (f)(2) that after a court takes the affirmative step of expunging a notice of lis pendens, the recording of that order protects purchasers like Sandcastle and NewBiss “regardless of whether the purchaser or lender knew of the lis pendens…”
Hahn v. Love, 321 S.W.3d 517 (Tex. App. 2009). · cites it 2× “See Tex Prop.Code Ann. § 13.001 (Vernon 2004).”
Realty Portfolio, Inc. v. Hamilton, 125 F.3d 292 (5th Cir. 1997). · cites it 4× “See Tex. Prop. Code Ann. § 13.001 (a). Under section 544, the actual knowledge of the trustee is not relevant.”
Green v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 937 F. Supp. 2d 849 (N.D. Tex. 2013). · cites it 4× “Texas Property Code § 13.001 thus remains in full force and continues to provide that an assignment binds the parties to the assignment, whether or not it is recorded.”
Noble Mortg. & Investments, LLC v. D & M Vision Investments, LLC, 340 S.W.3d 65 (Tex. App. 2011). · cites it 2× “[[Image here]] Tex. Prop.Code Ann. § 13.001 (a)-(b) (Vernon 2004).”
Jones v. Smith, 291 S.W.3d 549 (Tex. App. 2009). · cites it 2× “See Tex. Prop.Code Ann. § 13.001(b) (Vernon 2004) (“The 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.”
Texas Dep't of Transp. & City of Edinburg v. A.P.I. Pipe & Supply, L.L.C. & Paisano Serv. Co., Inc., 397 S.W.3d 162 (Tex. 2013). “Tex. Prop.Code § 13.001(a). . API does not argue, and we do not consider, whether the 2004 Judgment is a "correction instrument” under recently enacted sections 5.”
Omohundro v. Jackson, 36 S.W.3d 677 (Tex. App. 2001). · cites it 4× “The trial court rendered judgment in favor of Jackson and entered findings of fact and conclusions of law, stating that: (1) Mercantile Bank was a “creditor” as that term is defined in Texas Property Code Section 13.001; (2) Mercantile Bank’s recorded deed of trust was superior…”
Dallas Cnty., Texas v. MERSCORP, Incorpora, 791 F.3d 545 (5th Cir. 2015). “See Tex. Prop.Code Ann. §§ 13.001(a), 13.002.”
Sun Expl. & Prod. Co. v. Benton, 728 S.W.2d 35 (Tex. 1987). “See TEX.PROP. CODE ANN. § 13.001(b) (Vernon 1984).”
Day & Co., Inc. v. Texland Petroleum, Inc., 718 S.W.2d 384 (Tex. App. 1986). · cites it 4× “Therefore, they say, being unrecorded, and thus, they reason, void as to appellants, the ratification did not cut off Day & Co.”
Mullane v. Chambers, 333 F.3d 322 (1st Cir. 2003). “552, 554-55 (Bankr.M.D.Tenn.1995) (construing Tenn.”
Show all 161 citing cases →
— Tex. Prop. Code § 13.001(A) — 1 case
David Young v. Trails End Homeowners Ass'n, Inc. TLS Props., Ltd. TLS Operating Co., LLC Van Keene & Rick Durapau (Tex. App. 2015).
— Tex. Prop. Code § 13.001(a) — 64 cases
Ron Sommers, as Chapter 7 Tr. for Alabama & Dunlavy, Ltd., Flat Stone II, Ltd., & Flat Stone, Ltd., & as Successor in Interest to Jay Cohen, Individually & as Tr. of the Jhc Trusts I & Ii v. Sandcastle Homes, Inc., 521 S.W.3d 749 (Tex. 2017). “It states to the contrary in subsection (f)(2) that after a court takes the affirmative step of expunging a notice of lis pendens, the recording of that order protects purchasers like Sandcastle and NewBiss “regardless of whether the purchaser or lender knew of the lis pendens…”
Hahn v. Love, 321 S.W.3d 517 (Tex. App. 2009). “See Tex Prop.Code Ann. § 13.001 (Vernon 2004).”
Realty Portfolio, Inc. v. Hamilton, 125 F.3d 292 (5th Cir. 1997). “See Tex. Prop. Code Ann. § 13.001 (a). Under section 544, the actual knowledge of the trustee is not relevant.”
Texas Dep't of Transp. & City of Edinburg v. A.P.I. Pipe & Supply, L.L.C. & Paisano Serv. Co., Inc., 397 S.W.3d 162 (Tex. 2013). “Tex. Prop.Code § 13.001(a). . API does not argue, and we do not consider, whether the 2004 Judgment is a "correction instrument” under recently enacted sections 5.”
Dallas Cnty., Texas v. MERSCORP, Incorpora, 791 F.3d 545 (5th Cir. 2015). “See Tex. Prop.Code Ann. §§ 13.001(a), 13.002.”
— Tex. Prop. Code § 13.001(b) — 23 cases
Green v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 937 F. Supp. 2d 849 (N.D. Tex. 2013). “Texas Property Code § 13.001 thus remains in full force and continues to provide that an assignment binds the parties to the assignment, whether or not it is recorded.”
Jones v. Smith, 291 S.W.3d 549 (Tex. App. 2009). “See Tex. Prop.Code Ann. § 13.001(b) (Vernon 2004) (“The 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.”
Sun Expl. & Prod. Co. v. Benton, 728 S.W.2d 35 (Tex. 1987). “See TEX.PROP. CODE ANN. § 13.001(b) (Vernon 1984).”
Dallas Cnty. v. MERSCORP, Inc., 2 F. Supp. 3d 938 (N.D. Tex. 2014).
Noell v. Crow-Billingsley Air Park Ltd. P'ship, 233 S.W.3d 408 (Tex. App. 2007).
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