TREC 20-19 initials: which pages need them, and how to check fast

A missing initial is easy to miss when you're scrolling 12 pages, and it's quick to fix.

Where the initials lines are

At the bottom of these pages of the TREC 20-19 (the page numbers are printed in each page's footer as "Page X of 12"):

• Pages 1 through 9 of 12, every one of them
• Not pages 10–12: those carry the signatures, broker information and receipts instead

Each line reads "Initialed for identification by Buyer ___ ___ and Seller ___ ___", which gives four slots per page: two for buyers and two for sellers. Only the slots for parties actually named in Paragraph 1 need initials, so with one buyer and one seller, two slots stay blank, and that's correct. If a TREC 40-11 Third Party Financing Addendum is attached, it has the same line on its first page.

Why they get missed

• The line is small and sits in the footer, where eyes skip.
• E-signature tools sometimes place initials on some pages but not others, especially when a template was built on an older version of the form.
• With two buyers, it's common for one buyer to initial and the other to be skipped.

How to check fast

1. Go to the footer of pages 1 through 9. Check every page, including 2, 3 and 7.
2. Count the slots on each one: one per buyer and one per seller who's party to the contract.
3. Then check the 40-11's first page if it's attached.
4. If your e-sign template is older than the current form (mandatory since July 1, 2026), rebuild it so the initials fields land on the right pages.

General information about the form, not legal advice.

See the full TREC 20-19 pre-title checklist →

General information only, not legal advice. TxtAnOffer is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC). Terms · Privacy