Pickens County Deed Records

Pickens County deed records are kept at the Probate Court in Carrollton. Limited online access is available through the county tax search portal for basic property information.

Pickens County Probate Court

The Pickens County Probate Judge records all deeds in the county. This office on Courthouse Square in Carrollton handles property recordings and searches. The historic courthouse is well known for the story of Henry Wells, whose face is said to appear in one of the courthouse windows.

Pickens County is along the Mississippi border in west Alabama. The county has a rural character with no large cities. Carrollton is the county seat where you go to record deeds or search property records. Staff maintain deed books going back to the 1830s when the county was organized.

Searching Pickens County Deed Records

Pickens County has limited online access to deed records. A tax search portal at taxes.pickensalabama.com/taxSearch provides basic property information. However, this is mainly for tax data, not full deed searches.

For deed records, you generally need to contact the Probate Court directly. Call (205) 367-2010 to ask about a specific property or deed. Staff can search the index books and provide information over the phone for simple requests. More complex searches may require an in-person visit.

When you visit the Probate Court in Carrollton, staff can help you search the deed indexes. These list grantors and grantees with the book and page numbers where deeds are recorded. Once you find an entry, staff can pull the actual document for you to view and make copies.

Records available at the Pickens County Probate Court include:

• Warranty deeds and quitclaim deeds
• Mortgage documents and releases
• Tax liens and judgment liens
• Easements and rights of way
• Plats and property surveys
• Powers of attorney

Pickens County Deed Recording Fees

Pickens County charges $14.00 to record the first page of a deed. Each additional page costs $3.00. These fees are typical for smaller Alabama counties. Your total cost depends on the length of your document.

The deed transfer tax also applies. Alabama charges $0.50 per $500 of property value. Two thirds goes to the state treasury. One third stays in Pickens County. Some transfers are exempt, such as those between husband and wife or certain family gifts.

Recording fees in Pickens County are:

• First page: $14.00
• Additional pages: $3.00 each
• Deed tax: $0.50 per $500 value
• RT-1 form: no charge
• Certified copies: additional fee

Every deed requires an RT-1 form. This Real Estate Sales Validation Form shows the sale price or fair market value. The Alabama Department of Revenue requires it on all deed recordings. Without the RT-1, Pickens County will not record your deed.

How to Record a Deed in Pickens County

Recording a deed in Pickens County means following Alabama's requirements. Your document must have certain information or the Probate Court cannot accept it. Having everything in order saves time at the courthouse.

Alabama requires every deed to include:

• Grantor name, address, and marital status
• Grantee name and complete mailing address
• Legal description of the property
• Derivation clause citing the prior deed
• Name of who prepared the deed
• Notarized signatures of all grantors

Bring your completed deed to 50 Courthouse Square in Carrollton. The Probate Court is in Suite 106. Staff review the document and calculate your fees. You pay the recording fee and any deed tax that applies. The clerk stamps your deed with the recording date and book and page number.

Pickens County is a small operation, which often means faster service. You can usually wait for your original deed or come back later the same day. Keep the recording information for your records.

Title Searches in Pickens County

Title searches in Pickens County mostly happen at the Probate Court. Without full online access, you need to use the paper index books. Start with the current owner and trace backward through prior deeds. Each deed should reference the earlier one.

A complete title search also checks for mortgages and liens. These show up in the same index as deeds. You want to know about any claims against the property. A thorough search covers many years of records, sometimes decades.

Most buyers hire a title company or attorney to search records. They know how to find everything that might affect title. Their work forms the basis for title insurance. If they miss something, insurance covers the loss.

A Pickens County title search should check:

• Chain of ownership through prior deeds
• Outstanding mortgages
• Tax liens from unpaid taxes
• Judgment liens from court cases
• Easements on the property

Property Tax Records in Pickens County

The Pickens County Revenue Commissioner handles property taxes. This is separate from the Probate Court. The tax search portal at taxes.pickensalabama.com/taxSearch shows property values and tax information.

Tax records help identify property before searching deeds. Each parcel has an ID number that connects to ownership and tax data. You can use this information to find properties and then search for deed records at the Probate Court.

Unpaid taxes create liens on property. These liens show up in the Probate Court records. Check tax status before buying land in Pickens County. Tax sales happen when owners fall far behind on payments.

Legal Resources in Pickens County

Real estate attorneys can help with property matters in Pickens County. The Alabama State Bar has a lawyer referral service at (800) 392-5660. They can connect you with an attorney who handles deeds and closings.

Legal Services Alabama provides free help to low-income residents. They serve Pickens County through their regional office. Call (866) 456-4995 to see if you qualify for assistance with property questions.

The Probate Court staff can answer questions about recording procedures. They cannot give legal advice but can explain what documents you need and how the process works in Pickens County.

Nearby Counties

Pickens County is in west Alabama along the Mississippi border. These counties share borders with Pickens County. Make sure your property is in Pickens County before searching here.