Jefferson County Recorder Information

About Jefferson County Recorder

The County Clerk is responsible for recording and maintaining real property records.

Recording Fees

DEED AND MORTGAGE INSTRUMENTS:
$91.00 First page (one title or transaction, one document reference)
$ 5.00 Each additional page
$ 5.00 Each additional title or transaction (Example: Deed of Reconveyance and Substitution of
Trustee -- two titles/transactions)
$ 5.00 Each additional document reference

LIEN INSTRUMENTS:
$76.00 First page
$ 5.00 Each additional page

The certification fee is $3.75 per instrument.
Certified copies are $7.75 for the first page and $0.25 for each additional page.

A non-standard document will be charged an additional $20.

Make checks payable to Jefferson County Clerk. If you need to record a document but are not sure about the fees, contact the Jefferson County Clerk directly.

Document Formatting Requirements

FIRST PAGE REQUIREMENTS

1. Name of the transaction(s): An instrument required or permitted by law to be recorded shall be clearly labeled in sufficient detail to enable the clerk to record it in sufficient detail. An instrument describing two or more transactions must involve the same properties. Each transaction listed in a document is subject to a $5 recording fee.

2. Names of the parties: The names of all affected parties must be listed on the first page.

3. Return to address: The name and mailing address of the person (or company) the instrument will be returned to after recording.

4. Consideration: For instruments conveying or contracting to convey fee title to any real estate, the true and actual consideration paid for the transfer must be listed.

5. Tax statement address: For instruments conveying or contracting to convey fee title to any real estate, a statement in substantially the following form shall be on the first page (followed by the applicable party's name and address): "Until a change is requested, all tax statements shall be sent to the following address."

6. County Clerk Lien Records: For instruments recorded in the Clerk's Lien Records, the lien amount or the full or partial satisfaction, if any, of the lien claim created by order of the warrant must be on the first page.

7. Mortgage or Trust Deed assignments: For instruments assigning a mortgage or trust deed, list the name and address of the mortgagee/assignee.
If an instrument presented for recording does not contain the required information on the first page, a cover sheet may be prepared that contains all the needed information. The cover sheet must be prepared by the person presenting the instrument and will be recorded as part of the instrument. The required information should be given below the margin on the first page.

IF the required information is not on the first page, a cover page will be added and a non-standard fee will apply.

FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS

Instruments should be typed, written, or printed in 8 point type or larger on white paper that is at least 8.5x11 inches (but no larger than 8.5x14 inches). Any highlighting of text or other information will result in rejection. Flaps or riders must be attached to a page on at least two sides. Anything under the flap or rider will not be recorded.

Provide a space for the recording label on the first page. This should be in the upper right corner or lower right corner and needs to be at least 4.25 inches wide and 1.75 inches high.

Documents submitted for recording must be in the English language or accompanied by an accurate translation.

Signatures and notary stamps must be original; photocopies or faxed copies cannot be recorded.

Notary seals must not cover text or signatures on the document. A blurred or faint notary stamp cannot be accepted for recording. Information may be written outside the seal border, or a new seal/acknowledgment can be affixed to compensate.

An acceptable legal description of real property should include 1) a subdivision name with lot and block or 2) a metes and bounds description or 3) a partition plat recording and parcel number. A tax lot number or street address is not an acceptable legal description.