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Recorder Office
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Probate Office: Recording
About the Houston County Judge of Probate
Land records in Houston County are recorded by the Judge of Probate. The office is held by Patrick H. Davenport.
Searching and viewing land records online is free; downloaded copies are $1.00 per page.
Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Probate - Houston County, Alabama · Online Real Property Records Access - Probate - Houston County, Alabama · Alabama Code § 40-22-1 (Justia)
Recording Fees
These government fees are separate from any Deeds.com service fees. Confirm current charges with the recorder's office.
| All documents | $3.00 per page |
|---|
Added at recording
| Filing Fee | $13.00 Each recorded document; made up of an $8.00 Clocking Fee, $3.00 Preservation Fee (special additional filing fee, Ala. Code § 45-35-83.21) and $2.00 Filing Fee (special additional filing fee, Ala. Code § 45-35-83.20) |
|---|
Other charges
| Additional names indexed | $1.00 each beyond the 2 included (each name over two indexed) |
|---|---|
| Copies, per page | $1.00 |
| Certification | $3.00 |
Fee schedule effective August 1, 2019.
StatewideCode of Alabama § 12-19-90(b)(22) sets a general-law fee for filing and recording of $3.00 per page, and § 12-19-90(b)(24) sets $1.00 for indexing each name beyond two. Section 12-19-90(b)(25) sets $1.00 per page for a copy of an instrument, and § 12-19-90(b)(31) sets $3.00 for each satisfaction of a mortgage. Section 12-19-90(d) leaves in place local laws that set fees for judges of probate, so recording fees differ by county. Under § 12-19-90(e), the Act 2000-108 increases do not apply to Category 2 counties or to Cullman County.
Plats: $28.00, plus $1.00 for each lot. When the Department of Revenue form is used with a deed, the office records it as part of the instrument, and an additional page is included in the filing fees.
Paying the office
| Accepted | Cash, Check, Money order |
|---|---|
| Checks payable to | Probate Judge |
No personal out-of-state checks are accepted. Documents sent without exact fees are returned for the correct amount.
Transfer tax
Recordation Tax (deeds). Deeds – $.50 per $500 of value or fraction thereof. (Also bills of sale.) The tax is collected when the document is recorded. (statewide, Sections 40-22-1 through 40-22-12, Code of Alabama 1975)
StatewideA mortgage recordation tax is also collected at recording: Mortgages – $.15 per $100 of indebtedness or fraction thereof (also deeds of trust, conditional sale contracts, etc.), under Sections 40-22-1 through 40-22-12, Code of Alabama 1975 (mortgage tax at § 40-22-2). Distribution of recordation tax: two-thirds to the General Fund, one-third to the county.
Checked September 2026 against official publications. Sources: Recordation Tax - Alabama Department of Revenue · Recording and Fees - Probate - Houston County, Alabama · Recording Guidelines - Probate - Houston County, Alabama · Recording Requirements - Probate - Houston County, Alabama · Alabama Code § 12-19-90 (Justia)
Document Requirements
Confirm current requirements with the recorder's office before submitting documents.
| Paper size | 8.5x11 inch paper, not to exceed 8.5x14 inch paper |
|---|---|
| Minimum type size | 10 pt |
| Return address required | Yes |
| Prepared-by statement required | Yes (statewide, Ala. Code § 35-4-110) |
| Grantee address required | Yes |
| Printed names under signatures required | Yes |
A blank space of 3x3 inches in the top right corner of the first page is reserved for the recorder's stamp.
Documents should not be stapled. Documents should be legible originals or certified copies. The checklist lists marital status of grantors or mortgagors and a complete legal description including Plat Book or the Section, Township, Range.
Forms filed along with a transfer
- Form RT-1 Real Estate Sales Validation Form Statewide Alabama Department of RevenueIf the conveyance document presented for recordation contains all of the required information referenced above, the filing of this form is not required.
Submitting documents
| In person | Accepted |
|---|---|
| By mail | Accepted |
| Electronic recording | Accepted |
| eRecording through Deeds.com | Available for this office |
| Stamped, self-addressed return envelope | Required |
| How recorded documents come back | Mailed documents are returned in the self-addressed stamped envelope provided. |
| Processing time | Documents are returned the day after being recorded. |
Multiple documents or large packages must be in earlier to ensure recording for that day.
Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Form RT-1 Real Estate Sales Validation Form · Recording Guidelines - Probate - Houston County, Alabama · Recording Requirements - Probate - Houston County, Alabama · eRecording Resources - Probate - Houston County, Alabama · Records and Recordings - Tuscaloosa County
Report an error or send an update
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Deeds.com Resources & Services
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How to Get a Copy of Your Deed
Read Deeds.com's guide to requesting document copies from the recorder's office.
Deeds.com eRecording
Available through Deeds.com
Use Deeds.com's paid service to submit documents electronically to the recorder's office. Deeds.com service fees are separate from government recording fees and taxes.
Recorder Office
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Probate Office: Recording
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Supplemental Document Resources
Recording-related forms and instructions for reference. Confirm which documents apply with the recorder's office.
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