Access Cherokee County Deed Records

Cherokee County deed records are stored at the Probate Court in Centre. Online access is available through the county portal.

Cherokee County Probate Court

The Probate Court handles all deed recording in Cherokee County. The office is on Cedar Bluff Road in Centre. Staff record documents, maintain indexes, and help with public searches. This office serves all property owners in the county.

Cherokee County is in northeast Alabama near the Georgia border. The county is named after the Cherokee people who lived here before removal. Weiss Lake is a major feature. The area attracts anglers and outdoor enthusiasts. Property near the lake sees good activity.

How to Search Cherokee County Deed Records Online

Cherokee County offers online access to deed records. You can search property documents from home using their web portal. This saves time and lets you do basic research without visiting the courthouse.

The online portal is at cherokeeprobate.countygovservices.com. You can search by name, date, or document type. Index searches may be free. Viewing document images often has a small fee. Create an account to save searches and access more features.

To search Cherokee County deed records online:

• Go to the county portal
• Select the land records section
• Enter the name you are searching
• Set date ranges if needed
• Review the search results
• Click to view full documents

For older records or complex research, visit the courthouse. Some historical documents may not be online. Staff can help with records that are only in paper form.

Cherokee County Deed Recording Fees

Recording a deed in Cherokee County costs thirteen dollars for the first page. Each additional page adds three dollars. These fees match most Alabama counties. A typical deed costs sixteen to nineteen dollars to record.

Fee schedule for Cherokee County:

• First page: $13.00
• Each additional page: $3.00
• Certified copies: Additional charge
• Plain copies: Per page fee

The deed transfer tax applies to all property sales. Alabama charges fifty cents per five hundred dollars of value. This tax is separate from recording fees. Two thirds goes to the state treasury. One third stays with Cherokee County.

Requirements for Recording

Cherokee County follows Alabama state law for deed recording. Your document must meet certain standards. The Probate Court checks each deed before accepting it. Fix any problems before your visit.

Every deed recorded in Cherokee County must have:

• Original signatures of all grantors
• Proper notarization with seal
• Marital status of grantors
• Complete legal description
• Grantee mailing address
• Preparer name and address
• Derivation clause
• RT-1 form

Under Code of Alabama Section 35-4-51, deeds and other conveyances must be recorded in the Probate office. Recording gives notice to the world of your ownership.

Historical Deed Records

Cherokee County has property records going back to the 1800s. The county was formed in 1836. Some early records were lost in courthouse fires over the years. The surviving documents show the history of land ownership in the area.

Old deeds look different from modern ones. Handwriting styles varied. Legal descriptions used landmarks that may be gone now. Boundaries often referenced trees, rocks, and creeks. A surveyor can help interpret old descriptions.

For the oldest land records, check the Alabama Secretary of State. Their office has federal land patents showing original ownership. Many Cherokee County parcels trace to these early grants. Search them free at sos.alabama.gov.

Property Research in Cherokee County

Complete title research involves more than deeds. Other records affect property rights. The Probate Court keeps many of these. Other offices have the rest.

Records to check when researching Cherokee County property:

• Deed records for ownership history
• Mortgage and deed of trust records
• Release records for paid loans
• Tax records at Revenue Commissioner
• Plat maps for lot boundaries
• Court records for liens

The Revenue Commissioner keeps property tax records. They can tell you who pays taxes and the assessed value. Tax parcel numbers help identify the exact property. These records confirm ownership alongside deeds.

Cities in Cherokee County

Cherokee County has several cities and towns. All file deeds at the Probate Court in Centre. One office serves the whole county.

Communities include Centre, Cedar Bluff, Leesburg, Gaylesville, and Sand Rock. Centre is the county seat and largest town. Many towns are near Weiss Lake. All property transfers in Cherokee County record at the courthouse.

Nearby Counties

Cherokee County borders these Alabama counties. DeKalb County is to the north. Etowah and Calhoun Counties are to the west. Georgia is to the east.