Sec. 121.012. RECORD OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT

(a) An officer authorized by law to take an acknowledgment or proof of a written instrument required or permitted by law to be recorded must enter in a well-bound book and officially sign a short statement of each acknowledgment or proof. The statement must contain the date that the acknowledgment or proof was taken, the date of the instrument, and the names of the grantor and grantee of the instrument.

(b) If the execution of the instrument is acknowledged by the grantor of the instrument, the statement must also contain:

(1) the grantor's known or alleged residence;

(2) whether the grantor is personally known to the officer; and

(3) if the grantor is unknown to the officer, the name and residence of the person who introduced the grantor to the officer, if any.

(c) If the execution of the instrument is proved by a witness who signed the instrument, the statement must also contain:

(1) the name of the witness;

(2) the known or alleged residence of the witness;

(3) whether the witness is personally known to the officer; and

(4) if the witness is unknown to the officer, the name and known or alleged residence of the person who introduced the witness to the officer, if any.

(d) If land is charged or conveyed by the instrument, the statement must also contain:

(1) the name of the original grantee; and

(2) the name of the county in which the land is located.

(e) The statements of acknowledgment recorded by the officer are original public records, open for public inspection and examination at all reasonable times. The officer must deliver the book to his successor in office.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 959, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985.