File a Memorandum of Contract — and put your interest on record.
You have a residential property under a signed contract. A recorded Memorandum of Contract gives lawful public notice of your equitable interest as the buyer — so future buyers, lenders, and title companies know your deal exists. Jurably files it end to end.
- Instrument
- 2026-0148207
- County
- Harris, TX
- Grantor / Owner
- notified · certified mail
- Cert. of Mailing
- recorded
- Expires
- 90 days · renewable
Plain notice that your contract exists.
A Memorandum of Contract is a short, recordable document that gives public notice a property is already under a purchase agreement. It doesn’t reveal your price or private terms — it simply references the signed contract between buyer and seller and identifies the property by its legal description.
Once it’s recorded in the county real-property records, anyone who searches title — the next buyer, a lender, a title company — is on notice of your equitable interest as the buyer under that contract. That’s what protects your position while you work toward closing.
Texas Property Code §12.020 sets out a defined, lawful path to record that notice for a residential property you have under contract — and pairs it with a required certified-mail notice to the current owner and a sworn certificate of that mailing. Jurably handles that whole filing for you.
One flat filing. Everything the statute asks for.
Not just a document dropped at the clerk — the full §12.020 package, filed, mailed, and tracked to a recorded instrument number.
Recorded Memorandum of Contract
A short §12.020-compliant instrument, filed into the county real-property records. It references your signed contract and identifies the property by legal description — without exposing your price or private terms. You get the official recorded instrument number.
Certified-mail notice to the owner
The statute pairs the filing with written notice to the current owner. We send it by certified mail to the mailing address on the county tax roll — the address you confirm before we file.
Recorded sworn Certificate of Mailing
A notarized certificate swearing the notice was mailed, recorded alongside the memorandum so the record shows the owner was properly notified. Both instruments land together.
90-day term + one-click renewal
Every filing is written to auto-expire in 90 days, so notice never lingers past your deal. Need more time? Renew in one click before it lapses. Done early? Release it.
Six steps, start to recorded.
You verify the facts; we handle the logistics — notarization, certified mail, and county recording. Most metro filings record the same day they’re submitted.
- 01
Upload your contract
Start with your signed residential purchase agreement — the one where you’re the buyer.
- 02
We read the key fields
Jurably pulls the parties, legal description, property address, and closing date from your document.
- 03
You verify every field
Nothing files until you’ve checked each line. You stay in control of what’s on record.
- 04
Confirm the owner’s address
We look up the owner’s mailing address on the county tax roll; you confirm it before we send notice.
- 05
Pay, then notarize online
Flat, itemized price. Complete your online notarization (RON) in minutes from your phone or laptop.
- 06
We mail, record & you track
We certified-mail the notice and record the memo + sworn certificate at the county. Track it to a recorded instrument number.
A real, signed contract. That’s the whole gate.
- A genuine, already-signed residential purchase contract where you are the buyer.
- The property’s legal description (we help you pull it from county records).
- The current owner’s name as it appears on the deed or tax roll.
- About 10 minutes and a webcam for online notarization.
Notice — not leverage.
Jurably files notice of genuine, already-executed contracts only. No signed contract, no filing. We will not record a memorandum to “tie up,” pressure, or cloud a property you don’t actually have under agreement — that isn’t lawful notice, and it isn’t what this service is for.
Every filing notifies the owner by certified mail, is written to expire in 90 days, and can be released on request. That’s what keeps it clean.
It comes off as cleanly as it goes on.
Recorded
Memo + sworn certificate hit the record; the owner is notified by certified mail.
Auto-expires
The filing lapses on its own. Still working the deal? Renew in one click before it does.
Released
Close or walk away, and your Release is ready to record so title clears promptly.
Flat and itemized. No “preparation” fees.
Every charge is ministerial — county recording, certified mail, online notary, and handling. You’ll see the line items before you pay.
- Recorded §12.020 Memorandum of Contract
- Certified-mail notice to the owner
- Recorded sworn Certificate of Mailing
- 90-day term + one-click renewal
- Online notarization + status tracking
- Everything in File
- Your Release prepared in advance
- Ready to record the moment you close or walk
- Clears title promptly — every time
- The clean, buttoned-up way to file
Deal running long? Renew before day 90 for a flat filing fee. Filing in a paper-rail county outside the metros may add a small recording pass-through — always shown up front.
Lawful notice, done the right way.
A memorandum is public notice of a contract that already exists. It is not a lien, not a lis pendens, and not a device to cloud title or force a seller’s hand. Used properly, it’s an ordinary, long-recognized part of how real estate transactions are noticed.
Jurably keeps it that way by design: we require a genuine signed contract, notify the owner by certified mail, record a sworn certificate of that notice, write every filing to expire in 90 days, and release promptly on request.
Jurably is not a law firm, attorney, or title company, and does not provide legal advice. You select, complete, and sign your own document; we handle the notarization, mailing, and recording logistics. For advice about your contract or your rights, consult a licensed Texas attorney.
Straight answers.
Is a memorandum a lien on the property?
No. A memorandum is not a lien, a judgment, or a lis pendens. It is public notice that a purchase contract already exists — nothing more. It references your equitable interest as the buyer under that contract and lets future buyers, lenders, and title companies know to ask about it.
Can I use this to “cloud title” or pressure a seller?
No — and we won’t file it for that. A memorandum is lawful notice of a real, executed agreement. Jurably requires a genuine signed contract, notifies the owner by certified mail, writes every filing to expire, and releases promptly. If you don’t have the property under a legitimate contract, there’s nothing to give notice of.
What is the Certificate of Mailing, and why is it recorded?
It’s a sworn, notarized statement confirming that the required notice was mailed to the owner. Recording it alongside the memorandum makes the record show that the owner was properly notified — which is exactly what §12.020 contemplates for residential filings.
Why does the filing expire in 90 days?
Notice should last only as long as your deal does. Auto-expiration keeps stale filings off the record and keeps the process honest. If your deal is still live at day 90, you renew in one click; if it’s done, you release.
How do I remove the memorandum when I’m finished?
With a Release. Choose the File + Release bundle and your release is prepared and ready to record the moment your deal closes — or the moment you walk away — so title clears promptly. You can also add a Release later.
Do I need a lawyer to file one?
No. This is a self-help filing: you select, complete, and sign your own document, and Jurably handles the notarization, mailing, and recording logistics. Jurably is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. If you have questions about your contract or your rights, talk to a licensed Texas attorney.
Which counties can you file in?
We’re launching in Texas residential, with instant electronic filing in the eight major metros — Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, Bexar, Travis, Collin, Denton, and Hidalgo — plus a paper filing rail everywhere else. See the full map on our coverage page.
More questions? See the full FAQ, check county coverage, or read how the whole process works.
Put your interest on record — today.
Upload your signed contract, verify the facts, and let Jurably file the §12.020 memorandum, mail the notice, and record the sworn certificate. Tracked to an instrument number.
Texas residential · Not legal advice · You sign your own document