Is it legal to record a conversation in Texas?

Short answer: Texas is a one-party consent state. As long as you are part of the conversation, you can legally record it without the other person's permission — your own consent is enough (Texas Penal Code §16.02; this also lines up with U.S. federal one-party consent).

What "one-party consent" means in practice

You can record any conversation you're a participant in — a call you're on, a meeting you're in — without announcing it.
You cannot record a private conversation you're not part of (secretly bugging a room you've left, tapping someone else's call). That's illegal interception.
It applies to phone calls and in-person conversations you take part in.

Things to keep in mind

Recording lawfully isn't the same as it being useful later. The other side can claim a recording was edited or taken out of context.
Purpose matters. Recording to commit a crime or a tort (blackmail, etc.) is not protected just because you were a party.
If a call crosses state lines into a two-party state (like California or Florida), the safer move is to follow the stricter rule.

How to record a conversation in Texas the right way

Confirm you're a participant in the conversation you're recording.
Keep the original, and keep it provable. Vocert seals each recording with a tamper-evident receipt and a trusted timestamp so it can be independently verified later — turning a lawful recording into something that actually holds up. See how verification works.
Note the date, place, and who was there.

FAQ

Is Texas one-party or two-party consent? One-party — your consent alone is enough if you're part of the conversation.

Do I have to tell the other person I'm recording in Texas? No, not if you're a party to the conversation.

Can I record a phone call in Texas? Yes, if you're on the call.

Can I record someone else's conversation I'm not in? No — that's illegal interception.

This is general information, not legal advice. Recording laws have exceptions and change over time, and your situation may differ. Consult a qualified attorney before relying on this. Consent classification reflects Vocert's jurisdiction data (v3); Vocert reminds you of local rules but you are responsible for recording lawfully.