WASHINGTON CO. CLERK’S OFFICE TO REQUIRE PHOTO ID FOR RECORDING DOCUMENTS, BEGINNING OCT. 1

  

The Washington County Clerk’s Office has announced that, effective on Wednesday, October 1^st, individuals who wish to record documents into the official public record will be required to present a valid, government-issued photo identification at the time of filing.

The office of County Clerk Nicholas Prenzler said in a release that the change is being implemented in accordance with Senate Bill 16, which amended Texas Local Government Code §191.010(b) to require clerks to verify the identity of persons presenting documents for recording.

Prenzler said, “This measure is designed to safeguard both the public and the integrity of the county’s records.  By verifying the identity of those who submit documents for recording, we can better protect property owners and maintain confidence in our official records.”

Acceptable forms of identification include a state-issued driver’s license, state-issued identification card, U.S. passport or other government-issued photo ID.  Copies, faxes or digital images of identification will not be accepted; the original ID must be presented in person.

The requirement applies to all individuals recording documents in person at the Washington County Clerk’s Office.  Mail-in filings will continue to be accepted as usual, provided all statutory requirements are met.

The Washington County Clerk’s Office emphasizes that photo identification presented for recording purposes will only be used to verify identity as required by law.  The office says copies or information recorded from the identification will be securely maintained and will not be made public or included in the official public record, ensuring that sensitive personal information remains confidential while meeting state requirements.

As amended, Texas Local Government Code §191.010(b) states: “A County Clerk shall require a person presenting a document in person for filing in the real property records of the county to present a photo identification to the clerk. The clerk shall copy the photo identification or record information from the photo identification. The clerk may not charge a person a fee to copy or record the information from a photo identification.”

Anyone with questions can contact the Washington County Clerk’s Office at 979-277-6216.