In Texas, each time a land title transaction takes place, the transfer instrument is recorded in the County Real Property Records located in the Texas county where the land lies. The instrument is then indexed by the names of the grantor (transferor) and the grantee (transferee) and photographed so it can be found and examined by anyone who wants to see it. The failure by the grantee to record the transfer instrument may void it as to bona fide purchasers (subsequent purchasers of the property who don’t actually know of its existence).
Under this system, determining who owns the title requires the examination of the indices in the recorders’ offices, scrutinizing the instruments to which they refer and making the determination of how they affect the title under Texas law. The final arbiters of title matters are the courts that make decisions in suits brought by parties having disagreements.