Access Cleburne County Deed Records

Cleburne County deed records are kept at the Probate Court in Heflin. Online access is available through the Ingenuity portal system.

Cleburne County Probate Court

The Probate Court handles all deed recording in Cleburne County. The office is on Vickery Street in Heflin. Staff record documents, keep indexes, and help with public searches. This office serves all property owners in the county.

Cleburne County is in east Alabama near the Georgia border. The county was named after Confederate General Patrick Cleburne. Heflin is the county seat and sits along Interstate 20. The area attracts visitors to Cheaha State Park, Alabama's highest point.

How to Search Cleburne County Deed Records Online

Cleburne County offers online access to deed records through the Ingenuity portal. You can search property documents from your home or office. This is convenient for basic research and finding recent recordings.

The online portal is at ingprobate.com/Cleburne_Probate. Search by name, date range, or document type. Create an account to access full features. Index searches may be free. Document images often have a small per-page fee.

To search Cleburne County deed records online:

• Visit the Ingenuity portal
• Create a user account
• Enter search criteria
• Review index results
• View or download document images

For complex searches or historical records, visit the courthouse. Staff can help with documents not available online.

Recording Deeds in Cleburne County

To record a deed in Cleburne County, bring your document to the Probate Court. Staff will review it for required items. You pay the recording fee and transfer tax at the time of filing. Your deed gets a book and page number once recorded.

Contact the Probate Court for current recording fees. Most Alabama counties charge a first page fee plus per page charges for extras. Call ahead to get the exact cost for your document. Ask about payment methods too.

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

Requirements for Recording

Cleburne County follows Alabama state requirements for deeds. Your document must include certain items. The Probate Court reviews each deed before accepting it for recording.

Every deed recorded in Cleburne 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 35-4-73, the grantor's marital status is required on all deeds. The Probate Judge can refuse to record without it.

Property Research in Cleburne County

Complete property research involves multiple record types. Deeds show ownership transfers. Mortgages show loans on property. Releases show paid loans. The Probate Court keeps all these documents.

For thorough Cleburne County property research:

• Search deed records for ownership chain
• Check mortgage records for loans
• Look for release records
• Review tax records at Revenue Commissioner
• Check court records for liens

The Revenue Commissioner has tax and assessment records. They can tell you who pays taxes on a parcel. Tax parcel numbers help identify the exact property. These records work with deeds to confirm ownership.

Historical Deed Records

Cleburne County was formed in 1866. Property records go back to that time. The courthouse holds these historical documents. They show how land ownership changed over the generations.

Old deeds may use different formats. Handwriting varied by clerk. Legal descriptions used landmarks like trees and creeks. Some of these no longer exist. A surveyor can help interpret old boundaries.

The Alabama Secretary of State has original land patents. These show who first owned land after federal surveys. Search them free at sos.alabama.gov.

Cities in Cleburne County

Cleburne County has several small communities. All file deeds at the Probate Court in Heflin. One office serves the whole county.

Communities include Heflin, Ranburne, Fruithurst, and Edwardsville. Heflin is the county seat and largest town. All property transfers in Cleburne County record at the courthouse on Vickery Street.

Nearby Counties

Cleburne County borders these Alabama counties. Calhoun County is to the north. Talladega County is to the west. Georgia is to the east.