Find Deed Records in Clarke County

Clarke County deed records are stored at the Probate Court in Grove Hill. The county offers online access and e-Recording services.

Clarke County Probate Court

The Probate Court handles all deed recording in Clarke County. The office is on Court Street in Grove Hill. Staff record documents, maintain indexes, and assist with public searches. This office has property records dating back to 1820.

Clarke County is in southwest Alabama between Mobile and Meridian, Mississippi. The county covers a large area with many rural communities. Grove Hill is the county seat. The Probate Court serves residents from across this spread out county with modern services.

How to Search Clarke County Deed Records

Clarke County offers online access to deed records. A free account is required to use the system. You can search property documents from home and view index information. This saves a trip to Grove Hill for basic research.

To search Clarke County deed records online:

• Visit the county Probate Court website
• Create a free account
• Search by name, date, or document type
• Review index results
• View or order document copies

For complex searches or very old documents, visit the courthouse. Some historical records may not be online. Staff can help with records going back to 1820. The office has paper records, microfilm, and digital files.

Clarke County Deed Recording Fees

Recording a deed in Clarke County costs six dollars for the first page. Each additional page is three dollars. These are low fees compared to many Alabama counties. A typical deed costs nine to twelve dollars to record.

Fee schedule for Clarke County:

• First page: $6.00
• Each additional page: $3.00
• Certified copies: Additional fee
• Plain copies: Per page charge

The deed transfer tax also applies. Alabama charges fifty cents per five hundred dollars of property value. This goes to the state and county. Add the transfer tax to your recording fees for the total cost.

Electronic Recording in Clarke County

Clarke County accepts electronic deed recording. Title companies and attorneys can file documents online through approved vendors. This speeds up the process and eliminates travel to Grove Hill.

Approved eRecording vendors include Simplifile and CSC. These services connect directly to the county system. Documents get recorded quickly during business hours. You receive confirmation right away. The same fees apply for e-filed documents.

Individual property owners cannot use eRecording directly. You would need to go through a title company or law firm. Contact the Probate Court for details on eRecording options and requirements.

Requirements for Recording Deeds

Clarke County follows Alabama state requirements for deeds. Your document must include certain items to be recorded. The Probate Court reviews each deed before accepting it.

Every deed recorded in Clarke County must have:

• Original signatures of grantors
• Notarized acknowledgment
• Marital status of grantors
• Complete legal description
• Grantee mailing address
• Preparer name and address
• Derivation clause
• RT-1 form

Under Code of Alabama Section 35-4-60, recorded deeds are public records. Anyone can view them during office hours. The Probate Judge must provide access and copies for a fee.

Historical Deed Records

Clarke County has deed records from 1820. This makes it one of the oldest record collections in Alabama. The courthouse has preserved these documents carefully. They show over 200 years of land ownership in the area.

Old deeds look different from modern ones. Handwriting was done by hand with quill pens. Legal descriptions used landmarks like trees and creeks. Some of these features no longer exist. A surveyor may help interpret old boundary calls.

The Alabama Secretary of State has original land patents. These show who first owned land after federal surveys. Many Clarke County parcels trace to these early grants. Search them free at sos.alabama.gov.

Cities in Clarke County

Clarke County has several small cities and towns. All file deeds at the Probate Court in Grove Hill. One office serves the whole county.

Communities include Grove Hill, Jackson, Thomasville, and Coffeeville. Grove Hill is the county seat. Jackson is the largest city by population. All property transfers in Clarke County record at the courthouse on Court Street.

Nearby Counties

Clarke County borders these Alabama counties. Monroe County is to the east. Washington County is to the west. Mobile County is to the south.