When it comes to transferring property, most states and jurisdictions require that a deed be completed to document the transaction. A deed is a document that identifies the buyer and the seller, describes the property and begins the process of property title transfer. In most instances, this process is handled by an attorney. Once the deed has been signed, notarized and filed, the new owner legally has title of the property. In Bexar County, Texas, you will need to follow a similar process and file your paperwork with the appropriate authorities.

To complete a Bexar County deed transfer, you will first need to verify that the person you are purchasing or acquiring the property from is the legitimate owner. If you are not sure who currently holds the title on a property in Bexar County, it is possible to search it online. Using the county’s website, navigate to the property search option and enter the address of the parcel in question. Do not include words like street, avenue or boulevard. Recent deed information and title ownership will be provided in the search results. You can also obtain this information directly from the office of the Bexar County Clerk.

In your research, you will also need to verify that the property does not have any outstanding back taxes, liens or other financial burdens that you could inadvertently assume if they were not dealt with prior to the transfer. You can find information regarding back taxes at the Bexar County Tax Office. If a mortgage is involved in the sale of a property, many banks will charge you for and require this sort of search, too, in order to avoid assuming additional liability.

Next, contact your attorney and request that she draw up a deed for the property. It should clearly outline the property details, as well as your information and that of the other party. Depending on the circumstances, your attorney may recommend either a general warranty deed or a special warranty deed. The former defines who has legal ownership and that there are no outstanding liens on the property. The latter serves only to insure against property claims made during the time that the previous owner had the title for the property.

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Before filing your deed with the county, you will first need to have it signed and notarized. Both parties involved in the transaction must sign the deed in the presence of a notary public. Then, and only then, can you turn in the deed at the Bexar County Clerk’s office where it will be filed and become part of the public record.