Search Butler County Deed Records

Butler County deed records are stored at the Probate Court in Greenville. Note that the office closes at noon on Wednesdays.

Butler County Probate Court

The Probate Court records all deeds in Butler County. The office is on Court Square in Greenville. Staff handle document recording, maintain indexes, and help with public searches. This office serves all property owners in Butler County.

Butler County has low recording fees compared to other Alabama counties. The first page costs just four dollars. This makes it one of the cheapest places to record deeds in the state. The office provides good service at a fair price.

Important: The office closes at noon on Wednesdays. Plan your visit for another day if you need afternoon service. Call ahead to confirm hours before making the trip.

How to Search Butler County Deed Records

You can search Butler County deed records at the courthouse in Greenville. The office maintains index books for grantor and grantee searches. Staff can help you find records by name, date, or property description. Call ahead to ask about any online access options.

The search process at Butler County Probate Court:

• Visit during office hours (not Wednesday afternoon)
• Ask to search the deed indexes
• Look up names of buyers or sellers
• Note book and page numbers
• Request copies of documents you need

Staff can pull deed books for you to review. Older records are in bound volumes. More recent documents may be on computer. Let staff know the time period you are researching. They can point you to the right resources.

Butler County Deed Recording Fees

Butler County has some of the lowest deed recording fees in Alabama. The first page costs only four dollars. Each additional page is three dollars. A typical two page deed costs just seven dollars to record. This is a great value.

Recording fee schedule for Butler County:

• First page: $4.00
• Each additional page: $3.00
• Certified copies: Additional fee
• Plain copies: Per page charge

The deed transfer tax still applies. Alabama charges fifty cents per five hundred dollars of property value. This tax is the same in all counties. Two thirds goes to the state. One third stays with Butler County. Add this to your recording fees for the total cost.

Requirements for Recording Deeds

Butler County follows Alabama state law for deed requirements. Your document must include certain items. The Probate Court checks each deed before recording. Documents that do not comply get rejected.

Your deed must have these items for Butler County recording:

• Original signatures of all grantors
• Proper notarization with seal
• Marital status of each grantor
• Complete legal description
• Grantee mailing address for taxes
• Name and address of preparer
• Source of title reference
• RT-1 form showing sale price

Under Code of Alabama Section 35-4-73, the marital status is required on all deeds. The Probate Judge can refuse to record without it. Make sure this is on your deed before you visit the courthouse.

Property Records in Butler County

Deed records show who has owned property over time. Each deed lists the grantor who sold the land and the grantee who bought it. The legal description tells exactly which parcel transferred. Recording dates show when the transfer became official.

A Butler County deed typically includes:

• Names and addresses of parties
• Legal description of property
• Sale price or consideration
• Prior deed reference
• Signatures and notarization
• Recording stamp with book and page

The Probate Court also records mortgages, releases, and other property documents. Search all record types for complete title information. A lien from years ago could still affect the property today.

Historical Deed Records

Butler County was formed in 1819 when Alabama became a state. The county has property records going back to that time. These old deeds document over 200 years of land ownership. They are valuable for title research and family history.

Old deeds may look different from modern documents. Handwriting varied by the clerk who recorded them. Legal descriptions often used natural landmarks. Trees, creeks, and old roads marked boundaries. Some of these features no longer exist today.

For the oldest land records, check the Alabama Secretary of State. Their office has original federal land patents. These show who first owned land after it was surveyed. Many Butler County parcels trace back to these early grants. Search them free online at sos.alabama.gov.

Cities in Butler County

Butler County has several small cities and towns. All of them file deeds at the Probate Court in Greenville. There is one recording office for the whole county.

Communities include Greenville, Georgiana, McKenzie, and Chapman. Greenville is the county seat and largest city. It sits along Interstate 65 between Montgomery and Mobile. All property transfers in Butler County record at the courthouse on Court Square.

Nearby Counties

Butler County borders these Alabama counties. Crenshaw County is to the east. Conecuh County is to the south. Confirm your property is in Butler County before filing there.