Search Montgomery County Property Records

Montgomery County property records are kept by the County Clerk in Conroe, Texas. The office holds all recorded deeds, deeds of trust, liens, releases, and other instruments affecting real property in the county. Records go back to 1837, making this one of the richer county archives in Texas for historical land research. Whether you are closing on a home, checking for liens, or tracing a chain of title, the Montgomery County Clerk's office and its online portal are your primary resources.

Montgomery County Clerk Office

The Montgomery County Clerk is the official custodian of all real property records filed in the county. The main office is at 210 W Davis St in Conroe. The clerk maintains deeds, mortgages, liens, lien releases, plat maps, oil and gas leases, assumed name certificates, and UCC filings. Records go back to 1837, and online search is available for current documents. The office also has multiple branch locations throughout the county to serve residents across this large and growing county.

The county's property fraud alert service is a notable feature. Property owners in Montgomery County can sign up to receive notifications if a document is filed using their name. This free service helps detect fraudulent deed filings early. Contact the clerk's office or check the website to enroll. eRecording is accepted through authorized vendors, and the clerk processes recordings for lenders, title companies, and private individuals.

Online property records search is available through the county's official portal. You can search by grantor or grantee name, document type, or date range. Document images are available online for current records. For older historical records from 1837 forward, the clerk's office can assist or direct you to the archived index system. Third-party vendor TexasFile also provides access to Montgomery County deed records.

How to Search Montgomery County Property Records

Montgomery County's official online records search lets you look up documents by grantor name, grantee name, document type, or recording date. This is the most direct way to find a recorded deed or lien without visiting the courthouse. The system returns results with document details and images. Free basic name searches are available. Certified copies require a request to the clerk's office.

For in-person searches, visit the main office at 210 W Davis St in Conroe or one of the branch locations. Staff can direct you to the right system but do not conduct searches on your behalf. You search the index yourself or hire a professional. Title companies that operate in Montgomery County do this regularly and can produce a full chain of title report.

UCC filings and federal tax liens are also recorded with the County Clerk. If you are researching a commercial property or checking for federal tax claims against a property or its owner, the clerk's index covers those as well. Assumed name certificates, which DBA registrations, are filed here too and are searchable in the same system.

Types of Montgomery County Property Records

The County Clerk records all instruments affecting real property in Montgomery County. Common document types include warranty deeds, special warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, mechanic's liens, materialman's liens, lien releases, oil and gas leases, easements, right-of-way agreements, subdivision plat maps, and assumed name certificates. Under Texas Property Code Section 12.001, instruments must be recorded to provide constructive notice to third parties.

Montgomery County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Texas, so new subdivision plats are filed frequently. These plat maps show lot boundaries, street layouts, drainage easements, and utility easements for new developments. If you are buying in a subdivision, reviewing the plat can tell you a lot about what easements affect your lot. The clerk stores the originals and can provide copies on request.

Marriage licenses from 1837 and birth and death certificates from 1903 are also on file at the clerk's office. While not property records in the strict sense, these vital records sometimes come up in estate and probate proceedings that affect real property ownership.

Montgomery County Appraisal District

The Montgomery County Central Appraisal District (MCAD) maintains appraisal records for all taxable property in the county. Chief Appraiser Tony Belinoski oversees the office. The CAD database shows current ownership on the tax rolls, appraised value, exemptions, and detailed property characteristics. Online property search at mcad-tx.org lets you look up parcels by owner name, address, or account number at no cost.

MCAD offers online protest filing. If you think your appraised value is higher than the market value, you can file a notice of protest by the May 15 deadline and present your evidence. The district also offers interactive maps showing property boundaries and comparable sales data. Exemption applications for homestead, over-65, and disability exemptions are available on the MCAD website. Email notifications for value updates are also available for property owners who sign up.

Note: Appraisal district ownership records update annually. If a property sold recently, the CAD may show the prior owner for several months until the new deed is processed into the tax rolls.

Recording Fees in Montgomery County

Recording a document with the Montgomery County Clerk costs $26 for the first page and $4.00 for each additional page under Texas Local Government Code Section 118.011. If a document names more than five parties to be indexed, there is an additional $0.25 charge per name over five. These fees are set by the state and apply uniformly.

Documents can be submitted in person, by mail, or through eRecording vendors. eRecording is the fastest and most common method used by lenders and title companies. Simplifile and CSC are two widely used eRecording services that work with Montgomery County. Mail submissions need a check or money order payable to the County Clerk and a return address for the recorded document. Once recorded, the document gets a permanent instrument number and is available online within a few business days.

Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee. Plain uncertified copies cost less. For most research needs, an uncertified copy works fine. Request a certified copy specifically if you need it for court or a government agency.

Texas Public Information Act

Property records filed in Montgomery County are public documents. Under Texas Government Code Chapter 552, the Public Information Act, anyone can request copies of government records without stating a reason. You don't need to be an owner or party to access deed records, lien filings, or any other recorded instrument.

The clerk's office must respond promptly. If the records request will take more than ten business days, the office must notify you of the expected timeline. Most property records are readily available since they are already indexed and stored in a searchable system. The Texas Attorney General's Open Government Division handles disputes and provides guidance on your rights as a requestor. Some personal identifiers in documents are redacted online under Texas Property Code Section 11.008, but the originals remain on file with the clerk.

Additional Resources for Montgomery County

The Texas Comptroller's Property Tax Assistance Division provides statewide resources on exemptions, appraisal district operations, and tax rates. The Comptroller's site also lets you look up local tax rates for taxing entities in Montgomery County, including the county, school districts, and municipal utility districts. MUDs are common in Montgomery County due to the large number of newer subdivisions.

The Texas General Land Office holds the original land grant records for Texas, including grants covering what is now Montgomery County. If you are researching a parcel's deep history, the GLO archive is an important source. The Texas Secretary of State's SOSDirect covers business entity records and UCC filings. The Texas State Law Library offers free property law research guides relevant to all Texas counties.

For city-level property information in the county seat, see the Conroe property records page.

Nearby Counties

Montgomery County borders several counties in the greater Houston area. If a property is near a county line, confirm which county it falls in before searching records.