Search Lowndes County Deed Records

Lowndes County deed records are filed at the Probate Court in Hayneville. The office offers online access to records from 2002 and later through the Ingenuity portal.

Lowndes County Probate Office

The Lowndes County Probate Judge records all deeds. This office handles land transfers, estate matters, and other probate work. Staff index documents by grantor and grantee names. Records are tracked by book and page number. The courthouse is on South Washington Street in Hayneville.

Lowndes County is a small, rural county in Alabama's Black Belt region. The county played an important role in the Civil Rights Movement. Hayneville, the county seat, is a small town with about 900 people. The Probate Office serves the entire county population of under 10,000.

How to Search Lowndes County Deed Records

Lowndes County offers online access through the Ingenuity portal. Records from 2002 forward are in the system. You can search by name, date, or document type. Index searches are typically free. Viewing full documents may cost a fee per page.

To search deed records, try to have:

• Name of the buyer or seller
• Property address or legal description
• Approximate date of recording
• Book and page number if known

For records before 2002, you need to visit the office or call for help. Staff can search the older deed books. They charge fees for copies. Since Lowndes County is small, the office may be able to help quickly even with limited information.

Title companies and attorneys search records here as part of real estate closings. For personal research, the online portal is a good starting point for recent deeds.

Lowndes County Recording Fees

Lowndes County charges fees to record deeds. These fees cover staff work and document storage. The first page fee is nine dollars and fifty cents.

Current fees in Lowndes County:

• First page: $9.50
• Each additional page: $3.00
• Transfer tax: $0.50 per $500 of value

The deed transfer tax applies to most sales. Under Code of Alabama Section 40-22-1, two thirds goes to the state. One third stays in Lowndes County. Family transfers and spouse transfers may be exempt.

The office accepts cash and checks. Call ahead about credit cards. Fees can change, so confirm amounts before filing.

Recording Requirements

Alabama law tells what deeds must include. The Lowndes County Probate Judge checks every document. Deeds missing required items get rejected. Check your deed before you submit.

A deed in Lowndes County must have:

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

The marital status rule is in Code of Alabama Section 35-4-73. The deed must say if the grantor is married, single, widowed, or divorced. If married, the spouse may need to sign. Missing this can stop recording.

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

Types of Deeds

Several deed types are used in Lowndes County. All types go through the same recording process and cost the same.

Common deeds filed here:

• Warranty deed: Seller guarantees clear title
• Quitclaim deed: No warranties, just transfer
• Special warranty deed: Limited guarantees
• Personal representative deed: From estates
• Tax deed: From county tax sales
• Timber deed: For timber rights only

Warranty deeds give buyers the most protection. The seller promises clear title. Quitclaim deeds offer no promise. They transfer whatever the grantor has. Use these for family transfers or to fix title issues.

Timber deeds are common in rural counties like Lowndes. They transfer timber rights without selling the land itself.

Other Property Records

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

Other records in Lowndes County:

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

Tax records are at the Revenue Commissioner. Check there for property assessments and unpaid taxes. Tax liens can lead to property loss at tax sales.

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

Historical Records

Lowndes County was formed in 1830 from parts of Butler, Dallas, and Montgomery counties. The county is named after William Lowndes, a South Carolina congressman. For records before 1830, check the parent counties.

Lowndes County has civil rights history. The Selma to Montgomery marches passed through here in 1965. This history affects how some people view land ownership and property records in the area.

For federal land patents, check the Alabama Secretary of State. They have original land grants. Search them free online.

Cities in Lowndes County

Lowndes County has a few small towns. All deed recordings happen at the county Probate Court in Hayneville. The town where land sits does not change where you record.

Hayneville is the county seat with about 900 people. Other communities include Fort Deposit, Lowndesboro, and Gordonville. None have populations over 100,000. All deed records go through the Lowndes County Probate Office.

Nearby Counties

Lowndes County borders these Alabama counties. Check which county your property is in before recording a deed.