Autauga County Deed Records

Autauga County deed records are stored at the Probate Court in Prattville. This office handles all property transfers and land documents for the county.

Autauga County Probate Court

The Probate Court keeps all deed records in Autauga County. This office records new deeds, maintains the index books, and provides copies to the public. Staff can help you search for property records by name or legal description. The office has served Autauga County since 1820.

Recording a deed in Autauga County is simple. Bring your signed and notarized deed to the Probate Court. Staff will review it for the required items. You need the grantor's marital status, a full legal description, and the preparer's name. The RT-1 form is also required. Once accepted, your deed gets a book and page number. This makes it part of the public record.

How to Search Autauga County Deed Records

You can search Autauga County deed records online or in person. The county has an online portal that lets you look up records from your home. In-person searches at the courthouse give you full access to all records including older documents.

The online portal for Autauga County is at altags.com/autauga_probate. This site lets you search deed records by name or book and page number. You can view index records for free. Document images may have a small fee. The system is easy to use and works well for basic searches.

To search deed records in Autauga County, you need:

• Name of the grantor or grantee
• Approximate date of the deed
• Book and page number if you have it
• Legal description or property address

For in-person searches, visit the Probate Court in Prattville. Staff can help you use the index books. Older records may only be on microfilm or in paper form. Bring your ID and be ready to pay for any copies you need. The office is open Monday through Friday.

Autauga County Deed Recording Fees

Autauga County has some of the lowest deed recording fees in Alabama. The base filing fee is just three dollars. Each page costs three dollars more. This makes Autauga County a cheap place to record deeds compared to other counties.

The main fees for deed recording in Autauga County are:

• Filing fee: $3.00
• Per page fee: $3.00
• Certified copy: $1.00 plus page fees
• Plain copy: $0.50 per page

The deed transfer tax also applies. Alabama charges fifty cents per five hundred dollars of property value. Two thirds goes to the state. One third stays with Autauga County. This tax is separate from the recording fees. You pay both when you file a deed.

Autauga County accepts eRecording through approved vendors. This lets title companies and attorneys file deeds online. The same fees apply for electronic filing. Contact the Probate Court for a list of approved eRecording partners.

What Autauga County Deed Records Contain

Deed records in Autauga County show who owned land and when it changed hands. Each deed tells a story about the property. The grantor is the person who sold or gave the land. The grantee is the person who got it. Both names are indexed so you can search either way.

A typical deed record in Autauga County shows:

• Names and addresses of grantor and grantee
• Grantor's marital status
• Full legal description of the property
• Source of title showing prior deed book and page
• Sale price or other consideration
• Date the deed was signed and notarized
• Recording date and book/page number

Autauga County has records going back to 1820. The oldest deeds may look different from modern ones. They still show the key facts about who owned the land. Some early deeds use old handwriting that can be hard to read. Staff at the Probate Court can help with these older documents.

Types of Deeds Filed in Autauga County

Several types of deeds get filed in Autauga County. The most common is a warranty deed. This type says the seller owns the property free and clear. The seller promises to defend the title against any claims. Buyers usually want this type of deed.

Other common deed types in Autauga County include:

• Warranty Deed: Full guarantee of clear title
• Quitclaim Deed: Transfers only what the seller owns
• Deed of Trust: Used to secure a loan
• Mortgage: Also used to secure a loan
• Release of Mortgage: Shows a loan was paid off
• Correction Deed: Fixes errors in a prior deed

The Probate Court records all these document types. Each one gets indexed by grantor and grantee names. You can find them all in the same search system. The recording fees are the same for each type.

Legal Requirements for Autauga County Deeds

Alabama law sets the rules for what a deed must contain. These rules apply in Autauga County and all other counties. Under Code of Alabama Section 35-4-51, deeds must be admitted to record in the Probate Judge's office.

Your deed must meet these requirements to be recorded in Autauga County:

• Written document with original signatures
• Notarized acknowledgment
• Grantor's marital status as required by state law
• Full legal description of the property
• Grantee's mailing address for tax notices
• Preparer statement with name and address
• Derivation clause showing source of title
• RT-1 form showing sale price or value

The Probate Judge can refuse to record a deed that does not meet these rules. Fix any problems before you bring your deed to the courthouse. This saves time and extra trips. An attorney can help make sure your deed is ready to file in Autauga County.

Related Records in Autauga County

The Probate Court handles more than just deeds. Other records may help with your property research. Mortgages show who has a loan on the land. Releases show when loans were paid off. These all get filed at the same office.

The Autauga County Revenue Commissioner handles property tax records. Their office can tell you who pays taxes on a parcel. Tax maps show property boundaries. This info helps when you research land ownership. Visit the Revenue office at the courthouse or check their website.

For historical research, the Alabama Secretary of State has old land records. These include original federal land patents. Many Autauga County parcels trace back to these early grants. You can search them free at sos.alabama.gov.

Cities in Autauga County

All cities and towns in Autauga County record deeds at the Probate Court in Prattville. There is one office for the whole county. No matter where your property is located, you file at the courthouse on 5th Street.

Major cities in Autauga County include Prattville, Autaugaville, Billingsley, and Marbury. Prattville is the county seat and largest city. All property transfers in these areas go through the Autauga County Probate Court.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Autauga County. If your property sits near a county line, check which county it is in. You must file your deed in the right county for it to be valid.