How to Access Property Records in Alabama

Alabama property records are essential for the property and its owners. They contain valuable information for attorneys, realty professionals, title companies, appraisers, inspectors, and others who work with real estate. In Alabama, there are two main avenues for finding property records: government sources, and commercial.

Government Sources

Unlike many states, Alabama uses the courts to file and maintain its property records. The probate court handles real property records such as deeds, mortgages, and liens, as well as birth certificates, marriages, and divorces.

In Alabama, older records are stored and maintained on microfilm. However, all current records are kept and publicly available online through the county's probate court website.

Online

The public has the right to access any public property records in Alabama. You can do so easily by using the court's probate website. For example, Mobile County has one of the state's largest property records and information libraries. The trick is knowing which probate court you need. Here are a few counties to help you get started:

• Baldwin County
• Jefferson County
• Montgomery County
• Morgan County
• Shelby County
• Washington County

It can be fun to look up the property history of a specific piece of land. You can do so easily by visiting the Alabama Historical Commission (AHC) to find records about the history and landmarks within the state.

In Person

Finding the correct records means knowing which probate court to contact. You can find the correct one using this county resource prepared by the Alabama Department of Revenue.

Alabama property records contain information about real property within state lines. Some are legal documents, like deeds and building permits, and others, like appraisals, are informational. Each type of property record serves a specific purpose, such as transferring ownership or providing a value.

The Alabama Secretary of State office has a government resource for finding and viewing land records. These records are more historical and do not contain current information about new owners or updated specs of the real property. Alabama property records contain much more information, such as the value, taxes, insurance, liens, assessments, appraisals, and foreclosures.

During a property history search, you may come across many different types of property records. Each one is important and contains valuable information you can use when dealing with real property. They come in very handy when buying or selling homes in Alabama.

Within property records, you will find varying degrees of information. Some of the more common types of property records you can expect to see are:

Homeownership is amazing; you own your own piece of land and a home. However, it also comes with responsibilities like upkeep, paying mortgage, interest, and property taxes. It's also important to note that your name will appear in property records as the current owner.

Ownership History Records

Because owner names are posted publicly with property records, you can easily look up the owner of a specific piece of property. Look back through deeds, and you will see every property owner going back to the beginning.

Property changes hands through real estate sales and other means. Sometimes, people leave property to others in their wills. Additionally, a person may sign over the deed to their house to pay off a debt or gift the property to a friend.

What is the Alabama Chain of Title?

The chain of title is the trail of owners for a specific property. It can be documented through deeds and other records and must remain unbroken. Title companies research the chain of title to avoid any legal claims on the property after the sale.

When you borrow money to buy a house in Alabama, your lender will require you to purchase title insurance. This protects both you and the lender from any title defects or legal claims on the property after the sale. A title company representative or attorney will perform a property title search to look for any issues before the closing.

Real estate transactions involve using, creating, and replacing property records. Before the transaction, buyers, sellers, title companies, appraisers, inspectors, attorneys, and others research the property. During the process, new records are created to replace old ones.

Before buying any property in Alabama, you should find out as much as possible about it. You can do so easily by perusing property records. The internet makes it easy to find and review them quickly. You can even order copies or visit the office in person and pick them up. Pay close attention to taxes, fair market value, insurance, liens, and foreclosures.

When selling property in Alabama, sellers must disclose any material defects they know about the property, especially those that pose a safety or health risk. For example, you must disclose whether the house has ever had lead paint or asbestos. If you have gaps in your knowledge, you can consult property records to fill in the blanks.

Many people are curious about when a specific house was built. You can find out easily by searching for building permits to find the original one that allowed the building to be built. Then, you can review others to see how it was renovated throughout the years.

Why Property Values Are Important in Real Estate Transactions

Property values can change on a dime. You've seen markets where real estate is high and suddenly plummets due to changes in interest rates, demand, or other economic factors. Before buying a property, it is essential to research the value and how it has changed over time.

Assessments and appraisals determine the value of a property. They consider many factors. County tax officials use assessments to value property for tax reasons. The value may not always match the fair market value (FMV).

Mortgage companies use appraisals to ensure that the property's value supports the loan if they must foreclose and sell the house to recover their money.

You never know when you might need your property records. Therefore, it's essential to keep them updated and correct. No one will know to automatically update your records when changes occur. It's up to you.

People create property records, and people make mistakes. If your records have errors on them, you can correct them pretty easily. Just visit the probate court in your county and request a correction. The judge may ask you for documentation proving the error.

You might also have to update property records when someone dies. You can do that easily by visiting the probate court and bringing the will and death certificate. The county will create a new deed for the house with the new owner's name on it.

You may want to change your property records after getting married or divorced. You can change the deed to your house by visiting the county probate court. Bring your marriage certificate or divorce decree. If you need to change other records, like the name on your taxes, you can bring the same paperwork and ask them to change it.

Alabama is proud to operate differently than other states. It has some unique laws and practices. For example, deeds are handled by the courts rather than a local government office within the county. If you need to record/file a deed, you will bring it to the county Judge of Probate within the county where the property lies. Madison County has a website with specific instructions on how to do that. If you have an issue with your property taxes, you will take that up with the county commissioner. The Alabama Department of Revenue oversees all county commissioners. If you need help getting a building permit, contact the city or county building official.

The probate courts and local county government offices welcome the public and will provide you with records upon request. You may have to wait and pay a fee, and you can only visit during regular business hours.

It's your legal right to embark on a property history search. You can access public property records by using online and in-person resources. There are no restrictions except that you may have to pay a small per-page fee.

Property records are public to provide a transparent chain of title showing who owned what property and when. Public records also prevent any single government agency from having too much power over its people.

You cannot fully remove all your information from property records. However, you can try to remove anything beyond your name and address. You will want to minimize your exposure to so much fraud and identity theft in the news daily. Contact any government offices that hold your records and ask that they remove your email, phone number, or any other sensitive details.