NOTES FOR RECORDING: Please double check your fees on recording documents to make sure you have the correct amount. Documents sent without exact fees will be returned for correct amount. We may not be able to call you about correcting a fee due to the number of documents received. Documents being hand delivered must be in the office by 4:30 p.m. Multiple documents or large packages must be in earlier to insure recording for that day. We accept checks, money orders or cash. Please note that no personal out of state checks are accepted. We ask that your office send a self addressed stamped envelope large enough to hold your documents with the correct postage on it for returning all mailed documents.
General Fees
Page Fees ($6.00 1st page, $3.00 each additional)
Extra Indexing Fee – extra book/page reference ($1.00 each)
Copies ($1.00 per page)
Certified Copies ($3.00 certification fee plus $1.00 per page)
Additional Names on Documents – after 2nd name ($1.00 each)
Deeds
Deed Tax – Minimum of $500 or $0.50 ($1.00 per $1,000 of value)
NOTE: Beginning August 1, 2012, any deed, bill of sale, or other instrument of like character which conveys any real or personal property within the state or which conveys any interest in any such property presented for record in the Probate Judge’s office to be accompanied by proof of the actual purchase price paid or if not sold proof of the actual value of the property conveyed.
THIS FORM MUST BE FILLED OUT COMPLETELY WHEN THE DEED IS PRESENTED FOR RECORDING. If there is not a sale price, you must put an approximate value for the property on the form. Contact the Tax Assessors office either via phone at (251) 275-3376 or through their website: www.alabamagis.com/clarke.
If the conveyance document presented for recording contains all of the necessary information and is attested, the conveyance document will constitute compliance with the provisions of the Act and the filing and submitting of the form will not be required. However, in order for the form to not be required, the following information MUST be on the document: grantor AND grantees names and mailing addresses, the physical address of the property being conveyed, the actual purchase price paid or the actual value of the property being conveyed. Our office will record the form as part of the instrument recording, so please note that an additional page will be included in all filing fees when utilizing the form provided by the Department of Revenue.
We have received instructions from the state that even if this is a tax-exempt recording, the information and/or form will still be required for filing.
This will be required of ALL deeds recorded with mortgages as well as deeds, etc. recording on their own. The form will be required to show that the mortgage covered the purchase price of the property and that no deed tax would be due on the filing of the deed. If the purchase price is over and above the mortgage amount, deed tax will be due on the difference between the purchase price and the amount financed through the mortgage.
If you have any questions about this new procedure, please contact our office at (251) 275-3251.
Click here to download the RT-1 (pdf)
Mineral Tax – Minimum of $1.00 or $1,000 ($0.15 per net mineral acre)
***Document must state if minerals are producing. If minerals are producing, then deed tax must be paid on value of minerals conveyed. If minerals are not producing, then the mineral tax is paid and the minimum amount for deed tax is due, unless there was a consideration paid for the mineral, in which event you would use the deed tax amount based on the consideration paid.
Mortgages
Recording Tax ($0.15 per $100 of indebtedness)
If amount is not an even hundred amount, you MUST round UP to the next $100
UCC Filings
All UCC Filings Except Cancellations ($20.00 for up to two pages)
Each Additional Page After 2nd Page ($2.00)
UCC-3 (Terminations) (No fee if standard form used)
Non-Standard Form Fee ($5.00)
Request for Information (UCC-11) ($20.00 for each debtor name)
Copies ($1.00 per page)
Certified Copy Request ($5.00 per file #, plus $1.00 per page)
PER THE CODE OF ALABAMA, 1975, the Probate Office no longer accepts UCC filings unless the lien is for real estate or attachments to real estate, such as timber, minerals, etc. The UCC must have a description of the real estate. All other filings are solely with the Office of Secretary of State.
Leases
Lease tax is calculated by multiplying the annual rental amount by the term of lease to get the amount of taxable rent, then multiplying that amount by the percentage (an 8% discount factor) to get the amount for determining deed tax. Percentage sheet and calculation forms are available upon request from clerks.
Corporations
(varies depending on type – check with office for list of specific fees)
All corporate filings must have separate checks made payable to Probate Court and the Secretary of State’s office for appropriate fees.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE:
(251)275-3251, (251) 275-8427- fax, or email the recording clerk at sfuller@clarkecountyal.com
**Please note that it is state law that a preparer’s statement be on every document.**
