Search Madison Deed Records
Madison deed records are filed at the Madison County Probate Court in Huntsville. The city of Madison is the ninth largest in Alabama and uses the same Probate Court as neighboring Huntsville for all property records.
Madison Quick Facts
Where Are Madison Deed Records Kept?
The Madison County Probate Court handles all deed records for the city of Madison. Do not confuse the city with the county. Madison is a city in Madison County. The county seat is Huntsville. So you go to Huntsville to file or search Madison deed records.
The city of Madison and the county of Madison share a name but are different things. Madison County covers a large area including Huntsville, Madison, and other communities. The city of Madison is one of the fastest growing cities in Alabama. All of its property records go through the same county Probate Court as the rest of Madison County.
The Probate Court is in Huntsville on Memorial Parkway. This is about a ten to fifteen minute drive from most parts of Madison. The office handles deed recording, searches, and copies for all properties in Madison and the surrounding area.
Madison County Probate Court
The Madison County Probate Court serves city of Madison residents who need to file or search deed records. The office is in Huntsville on Memorial Parkway, separate from the main courthouse. Staff handle all property records for Madison and the rest of the county.
| Office | Madison County Probate Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 1918 Memorial Parkway NW Huntsville, AL 35801 |
| Phone | (256) 532-3330 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | madisonprobate.countygovservices.com |
The building has free parking. Security screens visitors at the entrance. Bring a valid photo ID when you visit to search Madison deed records. The recording window is on the first floor where you can file documents or request copies.
Search Madison Deeds Online
Madison County offers free online deed searches. The Probate Court portal lets you search by name or legal description. Index results are free. This is one of the better online systems in Alabama for finding deed records.
To search Madison deed records online:
- Go to madisonprobate.countygovservices.com
- Click on "Recording" then "Document Search"
- Enter a name or legal description
- View results showing book, page, and recording date
Index searches are free. Viewing document images may cost a small fee per page. You can also order certified copies online and have them mailed. This saves a trip to Huntsville for Madison residents who just need copies of their deeds.
The online system covers records from the 1990s forward. Older Madison deed records may require an in-person visit. Staff can search the older books that are not yet digitized. Call ahead at (256) 532-3330 if you need historical records.
Deed Activity in a Growing City
Madison is one of the fastest growing cities in Alabama. New subdivisions pop up regularly. Construction keeps pace with demand. This growth creates a lot of deed activity. New home sales, lot transfers, and subdivision plats all get recorded at the Probate Court.
The city has an ISO Class 1 fire rating. This is the best possible rating. Only a small percentage of cities in America achieve this. The rating affects homeowner insurance costs. It also reflects the quality of city services. Buyers consider this when purchasing property in Madison.
Growth means the Probate Court handles many Madison transactions. New construction creates builder deeds when lots sell to home buyers. Resales create another round of deeds. The volume of Madison deed recordings stays high year after year. Staff are experienced with the city's many subdivisions and developments.
If you are researching a newer Madison property, records are likely in the online system. Older properties with longer histories may require more digging. The chain of title gets longer the older the property. Newer subdivisions have shorter, simpler deed histories.
Madison Deed Recording Fees
Madison County has some of the higher recording fees in Alabama. The cost to record a deed starts at over twenty-five dollars for the first page. Each additional page adds about three dollars. These fees apply when you file a new deed, not when you search records.
Typical fees for Madison deed filings:
- First page recording: $25.00 or more
- Each additional page: $3.00
- Deed transfer tax: $0.50 per $500 of value
- Certified copies: varies by page count
The deed transfer tax is set by Code of Alabama Section 40-22-1. You pay fifty cents for every five hundred dollars of property value. Some transfers are exempt, including transfers between spouses. Call the Probate Court at (256) 532-3330 to confirm current fees.
Filing a Deed in Madison
Alabama has specific requirements for deeds. The Madison County Probate Court will reject documents that do not meet these standards. Make sure your deed is complete before you bring it to Huntsville.
Every deed filed in Madison must include:
- Full legal description of the property
- Grantor name, address, and marital status
- Grantee name and mailing address
- Derivation clause showing prior ownership
- Name of person who prepared the deed
- Notarized signatures of all grantors
- RT-1 Real Estate Sales Validation Form
The marital status rule comes from Code of Alabama Section 35-4-73. The RT-1 form is required by the Alabama Department of Revenue for all transfers. Your closing company handles these items during a normal property sale in Madison.
Madison County Deed Records
The city of Madison is in Madison County, and all deed filings go through the Madison County Probate Court in Huntsville. The county covers Huntsville, Madison, and other communities in the Tennessee Valley. For more on the county system and additional resources, visit the county deed records page.
Nearby Cities
These major Alabama cities are near Madison. Each uses its county Probate Court for deed records. Click a city to learn about deed records in that area.