Columbia County Recorder Information

About Columbia County Recorder

The Clerk is the recorder of all instruments required or authorized to be recorded in one general series of "Official Records" books. Upon payment of the statutory fees the Clerk records and indexes a variety of important documents which in most cases are related to real estate. Examples of such documents include deeds, mortgages, liens, contracts, affidavits, subdivision plats, surveys, declarations of condominium, bills of sale, judgments, certificates of military discharge, and declarations of domicile.

Recording Fees

First page: $10.00
Each additional page: $8.50

For indexing instruments recorded in the official records which contain more than four names, per additional name: $1.00

DOCUMENTARY STAMP TAX:
On real estate conveyance, per $100.00 consideration: $0.70 (Formula: .0070 x Total Purchase Price = Amount of Doc Stamps)
On obligations to pay money, per $100.00 indebtedness: $0.35 (Formula: .0035 x Amount Financed = Amount of Doc Stamps)
Intangible tax on promissory notes, written obligations to pay money (mortgages, etc.): $0.002 x total

The documentary tax stamp is due on total consideration (including cash, any unpaid balance on existing or new mortgages, plus anything having a monetary value).

If special services are requested or if there are unusual circumstances affecting fees or taxes due, clear instructions should be provided.

If taxes are not due or have been paid on another document, indicate this on the face of the new document: "Documentary Stamp Tax paid on document recorded under ______________ or Book ________ and Page no. ______." For exempt documents: "In accordance with (Exemption Number), taxes are not due on this recording." This information will not only assist in recording, but may also prevent penalties and interest from being levied by the Department of Revenue.

County recording fees are subject to change without notice. For the most current fees and further information, contact the local clerk's office directly.

Document Formatting Requirements

* To ensure photographic clarity when documents are imaged, use white 8.5x11 inch paper of standard copy weight. Black ink and a font size of at least 12 point will help ensure legibility. Typewritten documents are consistently more legible and reproducible than handwritten documents.

* The document should be dated.

* All pages of the same document can be stapled together, as it can be difficult to tell whether certain documents are intended to be recorded on their own or as riders or attachments to other documents. If multiple documents are submitted, do not staple them together if they are to be recorded separately.

* Include the name and address of each person signing an instrument affecting real property.

* All names are indexed, except persons executing as Attorney in Fact under a Power of Attorney. If the same name appears as grantor and grantee, it will be counted twice.

* The grantor must sign the document and have his signature acknowledged by two witnesses.

* On all documents conveying an interest in real property, include the name and address of the person receiving the property.

* The names as signed and typed must be in agreement. The name of each person who executed, witnessed, and acknowledged the instrument should be legibly printed or typed on the document.

* A notary acknowledgment must be included. The notary acknowledgment should include a statement that the signer personally appeared before the notary public and the specific type of identification that was used to identify the signer.

* The notary public seal and expiration date should be affixed.

* If applicable, a corporate seal should be affixed.

* Provide the name and address of the person who prepared the instrument or under whose supervision it was prepared. This can be formatted as follows: "Prepared by: (name and address)" and can be in the top left corner on the first page.

* The document title can be given after the preparer's information, centered on the page.

* After the document title, provide the Property Appraiser's parcel Identification number.

* On the top of the first page, provide a 3 x 3 inch square in the upper right corner. In the upper right corner of all subsequent pages, provide a 1 x 3 inch space. These spaces will be used by the clerk. All other margins should be at least 1 inch.