Texas is a one-party consent state: it’s legal to record your own phone conversations without telling the other person, as long as you’re a participant in the call. You don’t need their knowledge or permission.
That said, admissibility in court is a separate question from legality — check your state’s current wiretapping statute and rules of evidence, since they can be specific about format and authentication. Some judges only accept recordings with a clean, word-for-word written transcript attached. It’s also illegal to record calls you’re not a party to, or to tap someone else’s line.
Improve the odds a recording gets admitted
State your name, the date and time, and who you’re calling at the start of the recording, before you finish dialing. Once the other party answers, use their name and identify yourself early in the conversation (“Hi Mary, this is Joe”) — it helps authenticate the recording later.
This is general information, not legal advice — confirm the current law in your state and county before relying on a recording in court.