What is the primary purpose of the "after-acquired title" doctrine in Texas?

The "after-acquired title" doctrine serves to validate a previous defective title transfer. This legal principle states that if a grantor conveys property without holding valid title at the time of the transfer, any title the grantor subsequently obtains will automatically pass to the grantee, provided the interest conveyed was greater than the interest held by the grantor at the time of the transfer.

In practical terms, this means that even if a title transfer initially appears flawed due to defects in the grantor's ownership, the grantee will eventually receive legal title once the grantor rectifies their ownership status, such as through further acquisition or legal means. This doctrine provides a form of relief for the grantee, allowing them to claim a valid ownership interest that they might not have originally possessed due to the grantor's prior deficiencies.

The other options focus on different aspects of property law. Protecting the grantor from liability or exempting recorded interests from challenges does not encapsulate the essence of the after-acquired title doctrine. Furthermore, establishing new ownership for unrecorded transfers reflects a different legal concern and does not align with the primary purpose of this doctrine.