Find Property Records in Garland
Garland property records are kept by the Dallas County Clerk, the official office responsible for recording and maintaining real estate documents in Dallas County. If you are trying to find a deed, a lien, a deed of trust, or any other instrument that affects property in Garland, the Dallas County Clerk's recording system is where those documents are stored. Garland is a large city in northeast Dallas County with a population close to 235,000. The county clerk's public search portal covers records going back many years, and you can access them online or visit the records office in downtown Dallas for in-person searches and copy requests.
Garland Overview
Where Garland Property Records Are Held
Since Garland is entirely within Dallas County, the Dallas County Clerk is the office that records and holds all real property documents for the city. Under Texas law, a deed or other real property instrument must be recorded in the county where the land is located. That makes the Dallas County Clerk the starting point for any property title search in Garland.
The Dallas County Clerk's real property records division handles thousands of filings each week from across the county. All of those recordings are indexed by grantor and grantee name, which means you can trace who sold property to whom all the way through the chain of title. Dallas County has also made many of its records available through an online portal, which is convenient for initial research before deciding whether you need to visit the office in person.
| Office | Dallas County Clerk - Real Property Records |
|---|---|
| Address | 509 Main Street, Suite 200 Dallas, TX 75202 |
| Phone | (214) 653-7099 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | dallascounty.org |
The records building is in downtown Dallas, about 20 miles from central Garland. If you prefer not to make the trip, the online search portal covers most filings from recent decades. Call ahead to confirm what is available digitally before visiting.
How to Search Garland Property Records
Searching for property records in Garland starts with the Dallas County Clerk's online index. You can access it at dallascounty.org. The search tool lets you look up instruments by grantor name, grantee name, or document number. When you find a document in the index, you can see the document type, the date it was recorded, the book and page number, and in many cases view the scanned image of the original instrument.
The Dallas Central Appraisal District at dcad.org is a helpful companion tool. Searching by property address there gives you the current owner of record, the legal description, the account number, and the appraised value. That ownership name can then be used in the county clerk's system to find recorded deeds and liens. Between these two systems, you can usually piece together a reasonably complete picture of a property's ownership and encumbrance history.
For in-person research, visit the Dallas County Records Building at 509 Main Street. Public search terminals are available in the records room. Staff can help pull microfilm or older physical records that have not been digitized. Bring the property address or the owner's name to start your search.
Note: If the search turns up a gap in the chain of title or an open lien you can't explain, a licensed title company or real estate attorney can help you interpret the records and determine what steps to take.
Types of Garland Property Records
The Dallas County Clerk records a wide range of instruments for Garland properties. Understanding what each one does helps you know what you are looking for and what it means when you find it.
Warranty deeds transfer ownership from one party to another and include a guarantee that the seller holds clear title. Quitclaim deeds transfer only whatever interest the grantor holds, without any guarantee. Deeds of trust are the security instrument used in Texas mortgage transactions. When a borrower pays off a loan, the lender records a release of lien to show the debt is cleared. If a contractor or supplier was not paid for work on a property, they can file a mechanic's lien against it.
- Warranty deeds and quitclaim deeds
- Deeds of trust (mortgage security instruments)
- Release of lien documents
- Mechanic's and materialman's liens
- Easements and access agreements
- Subdivision plats and replats
- Affidavits of heirship and muniments of title
Dallas Central Appraisal District for Garland
All property in Garland is appraised by the Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD). DCAD sets the assessed value used to calculate property taxes each year. Their records are available online at dcad.org and are free to search. You can find any parcel by address, owner name, or account number. The results show the owner's name and mailing address, the property's legal description, the appraised land and improvement values, and the tax account history.
The appraisal district is not the same as the county clerk. DCAD does not record deeds or keep the official title record. But it is updated as deeds are recorded, so the ownership shown in DCAD records is generally current within a month or two of a recent sale. It is a quick way to confirm who owns a Garland property before you do a full deed search at the county clerk.
If you believe your Garland property's assessed value is incorrect, you have the right to protest. The protest deadline is May 15 each year or 30 days after the notice of appraised value is mailed, whichever is later. You can file online at dcad.org or in person at the DCAD office.
Recording Fees at Dallas County Clerk
The recording fee for a real property instrument at Dallas County is set by the Texas Legislature. Under Texas Local Government Code Section 118.011, the standard fee is $26 for the first page and $4 for each page after. This applies to deeds, deeds of trust, releases, and similar documents. A typical two-page deed costs about $30 to record.
Certified copies of recorded documents cost more than plain copies. The Dallas County Clerk's office publishes its current fee schedule online at dallascounty.org. If you need a certified copy to submit to a court or lender, ask the clerk to confirm the exact fee for the number of pages in the document you need.
Texas Public Information Act and Property Records
Property records held by the Dallas County Clerk are public records. The Texas Public Information Act, Government Code Chapter 552, guarantees the right of any person to inspect and copy public government records. You do not need to give a reason, and you do not have to be a Texas resident. Most property records are already available through the county's public counter and online portal, so a formal written request is usually not required.
Some information may be redacted before documents are released. Social security numbers must be removed from instruments before they are made public under Texas Property Code Section 11.008. The redacted versions are still available and still useful for title research. Only the sensitive personal identifiers are removed.
Additional Resources for Garland Property Research
The City of Garland has its own planning and development department that handles zoning, permits, and platting within city limits. If you need building permit history for a Garland property, that information is held at the city level, not the county. You can reach Garland's planning and development team through the city's website at garlandtx.gov. For permit records and inspection reports, contact the city's development services division.
The Dallas County Tax Office processes property tax payments and maintains records of delinquent taxes. A tax lien on a property is a serious encumbrance that can affect a sale or refinancing. You can check tax status at dallascounty.org. If taxes are delinquent, the county can pursue a tax sale to collect what is owed.
For legal help with a property issue in Garland, Lone Star Legal Aid provides free services to qualifying individuals in Dallas County. Call (800) 733-8394 or visit lonestarlegal.org. The State Bar of Texas can connect you with a private real estate attorney through its referral service at (800) 252-9690 or at texasbar.com.
Dallas County Property Records
Garland is in Dallas County, and all property documents for the city are recorded at the Dallas County Clerk. For more information on the county's recording system, online search tools, and other resources, visit the Dallas County property records page.
Nearby Cities
Other cities in the Dallas area with property records pages include: