Dallas County Deed Records Search

Dallas County deed records are kept at the Probate Court in Selma. Limited online access is available through the Syscon system.

Dallas County Probate Court

The Probate Court records all deeds in Dallas County. The office is on Lauderdale Street in Selma. Staff handle document recording, maintain indexes, and help with public searches. This office serves about 38,000 residents.

Dallas County is in the Black Belt region of central Alabama. Selma is the county seat and has major historical significance. The Edmund Pettus Bridge and other civil rights sites are here. Dallas County is one of Alabama's oldest counties, formed in 1818.

How to Search Dallas County Deed Records

Dallas County has limited online access to deed records through the Syscon system. Not all records may be online. For complete searches, plan to visit the courthouse in Selma.

To search Dallas County deed records:

• Try the Syscon online portal first
• Visit the courthouse for full access
• Ask staff to help with index books
• Search by grantor or grantee name
• Note book and page numbers
• Request copies of documents

Staff at the Probate Court know the records well. They can help with both recent and historical documents. Call ahead if you have a large research project.

Recording Deeds in Dallas County

To record a deed in Dallas County, bring your document to the Probate Court. Staff will review it for required items. You pay the recording fee and transfer tax at 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. Call ahead to get the exact cost. Ask about accepted payment methods too.

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

Requirements for Recording

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

Every deed recorded in Dallas 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.

Historical Deed Records

Dallas County was formed in 1818 before Alabama became a state. This is one of Alabama's oldest counties. Property records go back to the early days. The courthouse holds over 200 years of land records.

Old deeds may look different from modern ones. Handwriting varied by clerk. Legal descriptions used landmarks. Some early records reference plantations and enslaved labor. These documents show the history of the area.

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.

Property Research in Dallas County

Complete property research uses several record types. Deeds show ownership changes. Mortgages show loans. Releases show paid loans. The Probate Court keeps all these documents.

For thorough Dallas County property research:

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

The Revenue Commissioner has property tax information. Tax records help confirm ownership when combined with deed searches.

Cities in Dallas County

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

Communities include Selma, Valley Grande, and Orrville. Selma is the county seat and largest city. All property transfers in Dallas County record at the courthouse on Lauderdale Street.

Nearby Counties

Dallas County borders these Alabama counties. Autauga County is to the northeast. Wilcox County is to the south. Perry County is to the west.