Houston County Deed Records

Houston County deed records are filed at the Probate Court in Dothan. This is the youngest county in Alabama, created in 1903, but it has grown into one of the more populous counties in the Wiregrass region.

Houston County Probate Office

The Houston County Probate Judge records all deeds. This office sits on North Oates Street in downtown Dothan. Staff handle land transfers, estate matters, and other probate functions. They index documents by grantor and grantee names and track records by book and page number.

Houston County has a unique schedule. The office is open Monday through Thursday only. They are closed on Fridays. The work days are longer to make up for the shorter week. Plan your visit with this in mind. Showing up on Friday means waiting until Monday.

How to Search Houston County Deed Records

Houston County offers one of the better online systems for deed searches. Searching is free. You can look up records by name, date, or document type without paying. Downloading document images costs $1 per page. This is one of the cheapest rates in Alabama.

To search deed records, you need:

• Name of the grantor or grantee
• Property address or legal description
• Approximate date of recording
• Book and page number if available

The free search feature makes Houston County records easy to access. You can confirm a deed exists before paying to download it. This saves money if you are not sure what you are looking for. The $1 per page download fee is very reasonable compared to other counties.

For certified copies, you still need to contact the office. Online downloads are not certified. If you need a document for legal purposes, you may need the official stamped version from the Probate Court.

Houston County Recording Fees

Houston County charges fees to record deeds. These fees cover staff work and document storage. The state sets base amounts, and counties can add local fees.

Current recording fees include:

• First page: Base recording fee
• Each additional page: $3.00
• Transfer tax: $0.50 per $500 of value
• Online document download: $1.00 per page

The transfer tax is required on most property sales. Code of Alabama Section 40-22-1 sets this rate. Two thirds goes to the state treasury. One third stays in Houston County. Family transfers and spouse transfers may be exempt.

The office accepts cash and checks. Ask about credit cards before you visit. Remember they are closed Fridays. Plan your visit for Monday through Thursday.

Recording Requirements

Alabama has rules for what deeds must contain. The Houston County Probate Judge checks each document. Deeds missing required items get rejected. Review your deed before you submit.

A deed filed in Houston County needs:

• Full legal description of the property
• Grantor name, address, and marital status
• Grantee name and mailing address
• Derivation clause with source of title
• Name of the person who prepared the deed
• Notarized signatures of all grantors
• Completed RT-1 form

Marital status must be on every deed. Code of Alabama Section 35-4-73 requires it. If the grantor is married, the spouse often needs to sign too. The Probate Judge can refuse deeds without this information.

The RT-1 form reports the sale price or value to the state. Required since August 2012. Get it from the Alabama Department of Revenue. No deed can be recorded without it.

Types of Deeds

Different deeds serve different purposes. The type you use depends on your situation. All types go through the same recording process at the Probate Office.

Common deeds in Houston County:

• Warranty deed: Seller guarantees clear title
• Quitclaim deed: Transfers only what grantor has
• Special warranty deed: Limited guarantees
• Personal representative deed: From estates
• Tax deed: From county tax sales

Warranty deeds give buyers the most protection. The seller promises the title is good and will defend it against claims. Quitclaim deeds offer no such promise. They just transfer whatever interest the grantor owns. Use these for family transfers or fixing title problems.

A lawyer can help you pick the right deed. The Probate Office cannot give legal advice. They only handle recording.

Other Property Records

The Probate Office records more than deeds. Other documents affect property rights too. A full title search looks at all these records.

Other records at the Houston County Probate Office:

• Mortgages and deeds of trust
• Mortgage satisfactions and releases
• Liens against property
• Easements and restrictions
• Plat maps and surveys
• Powers of attorney

Tax records are at the Revenue Commissioner office. This is separate from the Probate Court. Check there for property assessments and unpaid taxes. Tax liens can lead to loss of property.

Court records are at the Circuit Clerk. Lawsuits over land, divorce decrees, and money judgments are filed there. Judgments can attach to real estate as liens.

Historical Records

Houston County is the youngest county in Alabama. It was created in 1903 from parts of Dale, Geneva, and Henry counties. The county is named after George Houston, a former Alabama governor. Records only go back to 1903.

For older records, check the parent counties. If the land was transferred before 1903, the deed may be in Dale, Geneva, or Henry County. The Alabama Secretary of State also has federal land patents from territorial times.

Houston County has preserved its records well despite being only about 120 years old. Many documents are available online through their free search portal.

Cities in Houston County

Houston County includes several cities. All deed recordings happen at the county Probate Court in Dothan. The city where land sits does not change where you record.

Dothan is the major city in Houston County with over 71,000 people. It is known as the Peanut Capital of the World. Other towns include Ashford, Cowarts, and Columbia.

Nearby Counties

Houston County borders these Alabama counties. Make sure you know which county your property is in before recording a deed.