Please double-check your fees on recording documents to make sure you have the correct amount. Documents sent without exact fees will be returned for the correct amount. We may not be able to call you about correcting a fee due to the number of documents received. Documents being hand delivered must be in the office by 5:30 p.m. Multiple documents or large packages must be in earlier to ensure recording for that day. We accept checks (see Check Acceptance Policy), money orders, or cash. Please note that no personal out-of-state checks are accepted. We ask that your office send a self-addressed stamped envelope large enough to hold your documents with the correct postage on it for returning all mailed documents.
General Fees
- Page Fees: $16.00 1st page, $3.00 each additional
- Copies: $1.00 per page
- Certified Copies: $3.00 certification fee plus $1.00 per page
- Additional Names on Documents: $1.00 each, after 2nd name
Deeds
We have received instructions from the State that even if this is a tax-exempt recording, the information and/or form will still be required for filing.
Minimum of $500 or $0.50 ($1.00 per $1,000 of value)
Beginning August 1, 2012, any deed, bill of sale, or other instrument of like character which conveys any real or personal property within the state or which conveys any interest in any such property presented for record in the Probate Judge's office to be accompanied by proof of the actual purchase price paid or if not sold proof of the actual value of the property conveyed.
This form must be filled out completely when the deed is presented for recording. If there is not a sale price, you must put an approximate value for the property on the form. Contact the Houston County Tax Assessors office at (334)677-4755.
If the conveyance document presented for recording contains all of the necessary information and is attested, the conveyance document will constitute compliance with the provisions of the Act and the filing and submitting of the form will not be required. However, in order for the form to not be required, the following information MUST be on the document: grantor AND grantees' names and mailing addresses, the physical address of the property being conveyed, the actual purchase price paid or the actual value of the property being conveyed. Our office will record the form as part of the instrument recording, so please note that an additional page will be included in all filing fees when utilizing the form provided by the Department of Revenue.
This will be required of ALL deeds recorded with mortgages as well as deeds, etc. recording on their own. The form will be required to show that the mortgage covered the purchase price of the property and that no deed tax would be due on the filing of the deed. If the purchase price is over and above the mortgage amount, deed tax will be due on the difference between the purchase price and the amount financed through the mortgage.
If you have any questions about this new procedure, please contact our office at 334-677-4723.
