An occupant's paper claim to a DFW house lives or dies in the county records. Search the county clerk's deed records, sign up for the clerk's free property fraud alert, confirm the appraisal district still lists you as owner, and know which justice court hears possession cases for your address.
If someone in a Dallas-Fort Worth house says it is theirs, the answer usually sits in county paperwork, not in what they say at the door. The statewide rules on adverse possession, color of title and the difference between a tenant and a trespasser are in our Texas guide to squatters' rights. This page is the local layer: the clerk records, alerts, appraisal lookups and justice courts a DFW owner can use to test a claim.
Why local records decide most occupant claims
Several of the longer Texas adverse possession periods turn on paper. The five-year period needs a duly registered deed and taxes paid. One 25-year period needs a deed or other instrument recorded in the deed records of the county where the land sits. A co-heir claim under Sec. 16.0265 starts with affidavits filed in those same deed records. So a quick look at what has been recorded against your address tells you a lot about whether a claim has any footing.
It also tells you if someone has filed a forged or homemade deed. That kind of document cannot support the five-year claim, but it can still cloud your title until it is dealt with.
Search the county clerk's deed records
Each county clerk keeps the official public records for land in that county. Start with the clerk for the county your house is in, and if your city spans two counties, confirm which one with the appraisal district first.
- Tarrant County. The County Clerk's real estate records page links to an online official records search, a deed history card search and a property tax account lookup.
- Dallas County. The County Clerk's Recording Division links to an Official Public Record Search. The Records Building is at 500 Elm Street in Dallas.
- Collin County. The County Clerk's site links to a deed search and a historical search.
- Denton County. Check the County Clerk's site for its records search, or call the clerk's office.
Search by your own name and by the property's legal description. Look for any deed, affidavit or lease filed after your purchase that you did not sign.
Turn on a free property fraud alert
Tarrant and Dallas counties each offer owners a free alert that flags new filings, and Collin County's clerk links to an alert service as well.
| County | What the clerk offers |
|---|---|
| Tarrant | Free online Property Fraud Alert. You are notified when your exact name is listed as grantor or grantee on more than 90 document types, by email or by phone call. |
| Dallas | A free property fraud alert sign-up on the Recording Division's property fraud page, open to all property owners. |
| Collin | A Property Fraud Alert link on the County Clerk's site. |
Tarrant County's page is candid that the alert does not stop fraud. It gives early warning so an owner can act. Signing up takes a few minutes and costs nothing, so it is worth doing for any house you own and do not live in.
If a fake deed is already on record in Dallas County
The Dallas County Clerk's property fraud page lists these steps. The affidavit comes from Property Code Sec. 5.0206, added in 2025, and the later court petition from Government Code Sec. 51.9035:
- The owner records an Owner's Affidavit Regarding Purported Conveyance with the clerk, attaching the document the owner believes is fraudulent.
- The owner sends a letter with copies of the recorded affidavit and the suspect deed to both the grantor and the grantee of the purported conveyance, by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested.
- The owner records a Certificate of Mailing with proof of that mailing.
- After 120 days from recording the certificate, the owner may file a Petition for Judicial Review with the district clerk. A judge rules, and the owner records a certified copy of the findings with the county clerk.
The page says neither the clerk recording nor the district clerk filing carries a fee. Tarrant, Collin and Denton County owners should ask their own clerk about the forms. A Texas real estate attorney can confirm the steps for your case and whether this route or a lawsuit fits better.
DFW lookups: Tarrant official records · Dallas official records · Collin deed search · TAD · DCAD · Collin CAD · Denton CAD
Check the appraisal district record
TAD, DCAD and Collin CAD each put a property search on their home pages, and Denton CAD runs its own public portal. Pull up the account for your house and make sure the details, including the owner name, still look right. The five-year period depends partly on the occupant paying the applicable taxes, so an owner who keeps the tax account current removes one leg of that claim.
Where a possession fight is heard in DFW
Property Code Sec. 24.0041, in effect since January 1, 2026, says an eviction suit must be brought in the justice precinct where the property is located. That justice court decides who has the right to possession. Under Sec. 24.004(c) it cannot rule on title, so an occupant's ownership claim has to go to a separate suit.
- Tarrant County has eight justice of the peace precincts and eight constable precincts. The constables' page links a precinct map.
- Dallas County says its justice of the peace districts and constable precincts are the same, with two courts in each precinct, numbered 1-1 and 1-2 through 5-1 and 5-2.
- Collin County has four justice court precincts, an interactive precinct map, and a free Guide and File self-filing program.
- Denton County justice courts post their own pages; Precinct 3, for example, sits in Lewisville and takes civil filings through e-File.
The process an owner follows from there, including criminal trespass reports and the sheriff or constable complaint for unauthorized occupants, is covered in our DFW squatter law guide.
Selling a DFW house that has an occupant question
A clouded title or an unwanted occupant can stall a normal listing. Clear up the legal questions with an attorney, and if you would rather sell than manage the house, you can ask us about it.
Cash Home Advisors is based in Fort Worth and buys houses across DFW. We pay all closing costs, can close in 7–14 days, and you see the closing statement before you sign. Start with a free cash offer, see the cities on our areas we serve page, or read our pages for Fort Worth and Dallas sellers.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I get notified if someone records a deed on my Tarrant County house?
The Tarrant County Clerk offers a free online Property Fraud Alert. You register your name, and you are notified when that exact name appears as grantor or grantee on any of more than 90 document types recorded with the clerk, by email or by phone.
What does Dallas County say to do about a fraudulent deed?
The Dallas County Clerk's property fraud page describes recording an Owner's Affidavit Regarding Purported Conveyance (Property Code Sec. 5.0206), mailing notice to both the grantor and the grantee by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, recording a certificate of mailing, and later filing a petition for judicial review with the district clerk under Government Code Sec. 51.9035. The page says no recording or filing fee applies. An attorney can confirm the steps for your case.
Which justice court hears a possession case for my DFW house?
The one for the justice precinct where the house sits, under Property Code Sec. 24.0041. Tarrant County has eight precincts, Dallas County has two courts in each of its five precincts, and Collin County has four precincts with an interactive map.
Can a Collin County owner search deed records online?
Yes. The Collin County Clerk's website links to an online deed search and to a property fraud alert sign-up for owners who want notice of new filings.
Sources
- Tarrant County Clerk, Property Fraud Alert
- Tarrant County Clerk, Real estate records
- Dallas County Clerk, Recording Division property fraud alert
- Collin County Clerk
- Tarrant Appraisal District
- Dallas Central Appraisal District
- Tarrant County Constables (precincts and precinct map)
- Dallas County Justice of the Peace Courts
- Collin County Justices of the Peace
- Denton County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3
- Texas Property Code, Chapter 24 (Secs. 24.004 and 24.0041)
- Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Chapter 16 (recorded-deed limitation periods)
- Texas Property Code, Chapter 5 (Sec. 5.0206 owner's affidavit)
General information, not legal or tax advice. Talk to a Texas attorney or CPA about your situation.