The Register of Deeds is an office established by the State constitution as the official record keeper of legal documents pertaining to real property. These documents include warranty deeds, deeds of trust, releases, power of attorneys, liens, and many other miscellaneous documents designated by the state law to be recorded by the Register of Deeds. The Register of Deeds is responsible for maintaining public records and documents relating to real estate ownership.
Services offered in the Register of Deeds Office
You may come to the Register of Deeds office at any time and get a copy of your deed, mortgage, power of attorney, plat, lien releases, and many other documents. We can mail, fax, or e-mail any of the above information that is requested along with certified copies. We record documents in a timely manner and then return the original documents to their owners.
A misunderstanding is that we keep the original documents. Everything sent to our office must be the original. We then scan the original document into our computer system, creating an image, and our system backs up the information every 15 minutes. A backup of all information is stored both locally and with our computer vendor, ensuring protection in the event of an emergency or natural disaster.
The Register's office has information accessible online from October 1999 to the present. We have back-scan all deeds dating back to 1829. With today's technology, you can go online and view the image of the deeds with our vendor, ustitlesearch.net. This is a paid subscription service.
Register of Deeds Frequently Asked Questions
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How do I add or put someone else's name on my deed?
A copy of your deed or your original deed must be taken to an attorney's office so that the attorney can see the description of the property and the name on the original deed. The attorney will then prepare a new document, and then the new document is brought to the Registrar's office for recording.
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After I pay off my mortgage (deed of trust), will you send me my original deed?
We do not keep original documents in our office except for federal and state liens. The original deed is given back to the customer after the document is recorded. The only thing kept in our office is a copy.
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Can I register my will?
No, a will is only registered after a person is deceased and when the will is probated in Chancery court and pertains to real estate.
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How do I get a copy of a deed?
You may call or come by our office with the name of the current owner of the property. If you do not know the current owner, start with the assessor's office if you know the address or can locate the property on a map. They can tell you the name of the owner. Then come to the register's office for assistance. We will be happy to mail, fax, or email and give you a copy in person.
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Can I see what a previous owner gave for some property?
Everything in the Register's office is public record. This is a constitutional law.
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Does this deed transfer have to be published in the local newspaper?
Everything in the register's office is public record.
Register of Deeds Fee Schedule
Standard Fees for Trust Deed, Deeds releases, and Miscellaneous Documents:
- Military Discharge: No charge
- Plat, map, or Survey: $15.00
- For each document (up to 2 pages): $10.00
- For each document (over 2 pages): $5.00 per page
- For each instrument within the document: $5.00 per page
- Certified copy of documents: $1.00 per page
- Fixture filing with one name: $15.00
- Fixture filing with more than one name: $15.00 per name
- Charter up to five pages: $7.00
- Charter over five pages: $0.50 per page
- Data processing fee for all documents: add $2.00
- Clerk fee to all documents that are taxable (with mortgage tax or state transfer tax ) to the total of each document: add $1.00
All UCCS other than fixture filings are filed with the Secretary of State. The Register of Deeds is now accepting e-files through the following vendors: Simplifile, CSC, EPN, Mylandalert.com
Mylandalert.com
Barbara Davidson, Gibson County Register of Deeds, is offering an online free subscription service that enables the public to monitor their name/business within the Register's office for potential fraudulent activity.
Subscribers will be notified when the name they have submitted is used in any recording activities with the office. Protecting consumers' information and real estate property is a top priority for Register Davidson and her staff. While My Land Alert does not prevent fraud from happening, it does provide an early warning system for property owners to take appropriate actions should they determine possible fraudulent activity has taken place.
My Land Alert is now available by free subscription on the web at: mylandalert.com
