Fort Bend County Recorder Mechanics Lien Filing

File your Texas Mechanics Lien in Fort Bend County without any hassle. Do it electronically in minutes.

File Lien in Fort Bend County

Fort Bend County
Recorder Contact

Main Address:

Fort Bend County Clerk
301 Jackson Street
Richmond, TX 77469
281-341-8652

County Recorder Website

Does Fort Bend County Have Electronic Recording

E-File Your Lien with Levelset

Guide to filing a mechanics lien in Fort Bend County

Just like Texas itself, Fort Bend County is big. Since time is an important factor when you file a mechanics lien, it’s important to make sure you meet all the prerequisites to file, include all the necessary information in your lien claim, and understand the Fort Bend County Clerk’s recording requirements. Failure to do all of this could mean a long and drawn out process riddled with hassles and hiccups.

Here are a few tricky areas regarding the Texas preliminary notice requirements:

Contractors who don’t have a contract with the owner need to send monthly preliminary notices to keep their lien rights. Moreover, there are multiple different types of notices, and each one must be sent at the right time throughout the construction project.
Homesteads have special rules. If you’re not directly contracted with the property owner, you rely on the general contractor to maintain their lien prerequisites. If they can’t do that, then you could lose your lien rights.
Mechanics lien and preliminary notice deadlines aren’t always straightforward in Texas. Generally, lien claimants must file before the 15th day of the fourth month after the last month that work or services were furnished for the construction project. However, that doesn’t always apply.

To learn more about these common pain points, check out the 4 common Texas Notice Missteps here.

Despite the convoluted lien laws in Texas and the complexity of the construction industry, recording your lien should be a relatively straightforward process. If you’re planning to file a lien claim in Fort Bend County, this page helps you orient yourself with the Fort Bend County Clerk. You can use this page as a reference for useful information such as the Fort Bend Clerk’s recording requirements, page and margin requirements, and recording fees. You’ll also find info regarding preliminary notices, lien deadlines, and filing methods such as filing by mail and eFiling with Levelset.

If you’re looking for a complete breakdown of the filing process and a description of the necessary lien documents, check out our step-by-step guide to Filing A Texas Mechanics Lien.

Where is the Fort Bend County Clerk's Office that files mechanic liens?

You can file your mechanics liens with the Fort Bend County Clerk in person or by E-Recording.

In Person

The Fort Bend County Clerk has four locations where you can go to file your mechanics liens.

You can visit any of the following office locations:

Richmond

301 Jackson Street, Richmond, TX 77469
Vitals: Suite #136
Official Public Records: Suite #144

Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
(OPEN during lunch)
Email: cclerk@fortbendcountytx.gov

Katy

22333 Grand Corner Drive, Katy, TX 77494
Suite #104

Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
(OPEN during lunch)
Email: cclerk@fortbendcountytx.gov

Missouri

307 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, TX 77489
Suite #102

Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
(OPEN during lunch)
Email: cclerk@fortbendcountytx.gov

5855 Sienna Springs Way, Missouri City, TX 77459
Suite #118

Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
(OPEN during lunch)
Email: cclerk@fortbendcountytx.gov

E-Recording

The following entities per Texas Local Government Code Chapter 195.003, may use E-Recording to electronically file documents with the County Clerk’s office:

– An attorney licensed in this state
– Mortgage Lenders, banks, and credit unions
– State agencies
– State licensed Title Companies and agents

Texas Local Government Code Chapter 195.003 prohibits us from offering
E-Recording services to the general public.

Authorized Submitter Process
To become an E-Recording authorized submitter, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) must be signed and submitted. For more information, contact cclerk@fortbendcountytx.gov

What is Fort Bend County's Recording Backlog?

The Fort Bend County Clerk does not publicly disclose information on recording backlog.

Should my mechanics lien be filed in Fort Bend County, or some other county?

If the project is located in Fort Bend county, then yes, you will want to record your lien with the Fort Bend County, Texas Clerk’s office.

What are Fort Bend County's requirements for recording a mechanics lien?

The Fort Bend County Clerk’s recording requirements are as follows:

Texas Property Code 11.003: Requires that each grantee’s mailing address be in or attached to any document conveying real property executed after December 31, 1981. If address of each grantee is not included, the payment of a penalty filing fee equal to the greater of (1) $25.00 or (2) twice the statutory filing fee for the filing of such document with the County Clerk will be required. This fee is in addition to regular filing fees LGC 191.007(c) (h): Provides double the filing fee for that page if there is not a clearly identifying heading, similar to the headings on most printed forms, must be placed at the top of the first page to identify the type or kind of legal paper. LGC 191.007(e) (h): Provides double the filing fee for that page if names are not legibly typed or printed immediately under each signature. Property Code 52.004: a mailing address for each plaintiff or judgment creditor must appear on the abstract of judgement, or a penalty filing fee equal to the greater of $25 or twice the statutory recording fee for the abstract is required.

What are the margin & page size requirements to file a lien in Fort Bend County?

The margin requirements for filing a lien in Fort Bend County are 2 inch margins at the top of the first page with .5 margins on all other sides. All other pages must have .5 inch margins on all sides. Your lien claim should be filed on Letter size 8.5 x 11 inch paper. Not following these margin and paper size requirements may invalidate your lien claim.

How can I make payment to the Fort Bend County Clerk?

The Fort Bend County Clerk accepts check payments. Note that payment by check requires name, address, phone number on check plus date of birth and driver license number of person signing the check.

What are the filing fees to record a mechanics lien in Fort Bend County?

The Fort Bend County Clerk’s recording fee is $13.00 for the first page and $4.00 for each additional page.

Additional Recording Fees

Indexing Fees: $4.00 for each additional name to be indexed in excess of five (5)

Lien Fees

Federal Tax Lien/Release of Lien: $18.00

Copy Fees

Copies of Records (Paper or email) $1.00 per page
Certification Fee: $5.00

How do I get a recorded copy of my lien from Fort Bend County's Clerks Office?

You can obtain a recorded copy of your lien in person at any of the Fort Bend County Clerk’s office locations listed below:

Richmond

301 Jackson Street, Richmond, TX 77469
Vitals: Suite #136
Official Public Records: Suite #144

Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
(OPEN during lunch)
Email: cclerk@fortbendcountytx.gov

Katy

22333 Grand Corner Drive, Katy, TX 77494
Suite #104

Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
(OPEN during lunch)
Email: cclerk@fortbendcountytx.gov

Missouri

307 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, TX 77489
Suite #102

Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
(OPEN during lunch)
Email: cclerk@fortbendcountytx.gov

5855 Sienna Springs Way, Missouri City, TX 77459
Suite #118

Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
(OPEN during lunch)
Email: cclerk@fortbendcountytx.gov

You can also search Fort Bend County’s Official Public Records online at http://ccweb.co.fort-bend.tx.us/

Noted that the images that you may copy off of this site have not been certified as being true and correct copies of the instruments filed and recorded with the Fort Bend County Clerk’s Office.

For certified copies, fees are $1.00 per page and $5.00 per document certification fee.

Certified copies of these documents can be purchased in person at the Fort Bend County Clerk’s Office or by mail, sending a check for the correct fees to:

The Fort Bend County Clerk’s Office
301 Jackson Street, Suite 101
Richmond, TX 77469-3108

How can I get the property's legal description from the Fort Bend County Clerk's office or assessor's office?

You can get the property’s legal description in person from any of Fort Bend County Clerk’s office locations that provide property recording services.

You can also search for property legal descriptions online with the Fort Bend Central Appraisal District at: https://fbcad.org/

Do I have the right to file a mechanics lien in Fort Bend, Texas?

Determining if you have the right to file a lien in Fort Bend County, Texas can be complicated. Texas has one of the most complex lien laws in the U.S. and filing a lien in Fort Bend is no different. Generally, construction contractors who

1) furnish labor or materials

2) send all required documents before filing a lien, such as monthly notices

3) if a homestead, have a proper written contract

4) and meet any state deadlines and fees for your lien claim.

You can learn more about Mechanics Liens in Texas and more specific requirements for filing a lien overall in our step by step guide.

Do I have to send a monthly notice to file a lien in Fort Bend County,Texas?

Yes, you will need to have sent a Texas Preliminary Notice (monthly notices) to be able to file a lien in Fort Bend County, TX. Not sending the correct Texas Monthly Notice may result in an invalid lien claim at the time of filing with the [County Name] County Clerk / Assessor.