Are you someone who is wondering where to look for the deed copy in Florida? Do you wonder what steps you must take to get a full copy of your deed? If that is the case, continue reading, as this is just the right article for you.
Here, we will be taking a look at how you can get a copy of the deed to your property in the State of Florida. So, without further ado, let’s dive right into how to get the deed to your house.
Understanding Property Deed
Now, if you are someone who does not know what a deed is, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. In simple words, a deed is a legal document that allows you the transfer and complete ownership of a specific property either through a will process where the decedent has written your name in a will or through another process.
So, a property deed is a written document that officially and legally indicates who owns a certain piece of real estate. It’s similar to a receipt for a significant purchase but for property. This document is used to transfer the ownership of the property from one party (the grantor) to another (the grantee).
Property deeds contain critical information, including:
- The legal description of the property: This might be in the form of an address for urban properties or coordinates for rural lands.
- The names of the grantor and grantee: These are the parties involved in the transfer of ownership.
- The signature of the grantor: This validates the transfer.
- The date of the transaction.
It must be kept in mind that there are different types of deeds in the state of Florida, and it is important to know these types before you start filling out the forms. The use of a deed is important because a person can use it to have ownership or title to property legally and formally.
Signing conveys the transfer, and the property is thus handed over to the rightful owner or person. Now, you might be asking yourself how a person can get a copy of the property deed in Florida. Well, it might be a bit of a complicated procedure that requires time, but you can easily do it with all the right steps and documentation.
So why would someone need a property deed?
1. To Confirm Ownership
The most obvious reason is to establish legal ownership of a property. For example, if you buy a house, the property deed proves that you own that house.
2. For Legal Protection
A property deed can offer legal protection in case of disputes over property ownership. For instance, if someone else claims they own your property, your deed is legal evidence of your ownership.
3. For Selling or Transferring Property
If you decide to sell or transfer your property to someone else, you’ll need the property deed to complete the transaction. In this scenario, a new deed is created, transferring ownership from you to the new legal owner.
4. For Estate Planning
Property deeds are also essential in estate planning. If you wish to leave your property to someone in your will, the deed will help facilitate this process.
So, a property deed is one of the most important legal documents in real estate transactions. It’s the key to establishing and transferring property ownership, protecting legal rights, and ensuring smooth property transactions.
People often say, “I need to find deed to my house,” or “How to find deed to house.” So, the main question is how to get your house deed. Let’s see how to get the deed to your house or other property.
County Recorder’s Office
The primary method is through the County Recorder’s office, where your property is located. Property deeds are public land records, so they are accessible to anyone who requests them. You can visit the recorder’s office in person to request a certified copy of your deed.
Most property records offices have a form to complete, such as a Title Deed Request. When you need to request a Title Deed from a property records office, most offices will provide you with a form to fill out. The exact form may vary slightly from location to location, but generally, this is the standard process. It’s important to note that the fees associated with obtaining a Title Deed can also vary based on the specific records office you are working with and the location of that office. It’s always a good idea to check the fees and any other requirements before submitting your request.
In some counties, you may even be able to request a copy by phone or mail.
For example, the Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts allows you to request official property records, including deeds, online, by mail, or in person.
Property Appraiser’s Websites
In addition to the county recorder’s office, some county property appraiser’s websites also provide access to property deeds. This can be a quick way to find your deed if you know the specifics of your property recorded document using these steps:
- Visit the Property Appraiser’s Website: Start by visiting the property appraiser’s website for the county where the property is located. You can typically find these websites by searching “[County Name] Florida property appraiser” in a search engine like Google.
- Search for the Property: Once you visit the site, look for a “Property Search” or “Record Search” option. You’ll usually be able to search by the property owner’s name, address, or parcel number.
- Find the Property Record: After you’ve entered your search criteria, you should be presented with a list of matching records. Click on the correct property to view its record.
- Look for Deed Information: On the property record page, look for a section that contains deed information. This section might include the deed book and page number or provide a direct link to the deed itself.
- Access the Deed: If the website provides a link to the deed, you should be able to click on it to view the deed directly. If it only provides the book and page number, you might need to visit the County Clerk of Courts’ website to view the deed.
- Download or Print the Deed: Once you’ve found the deed, there should be an option to download or print it for your records.
Title Company
A title company primarily serves to verify the legitimacy of real estate titles, facilitate transactions, and ensure that transactions are conducted legally and correctly. They play a crucial role in closing a property sale or purchase. Here are some of their key responsibilities:
- Title Search and Examination: They conduct a detailed search of public records to ensure that the property title is valid and free of any encumbrances such as liens or judgments.
- Title Insurance: The title company provides title insurance to protect the lender and owner against any claims or legal fees that may arise from disputes over the ownership of the property.
- Escrow Services: They often serve as an escrow agent, holding funds and documents until all transaction conditions are met.
- Closing Agent: In many cases, this company also acts as the closing agent, coordinating the final steps of the transaction, ensuring all documents are signed and recorded, and disbursing funds.
Because their responsibilities include recording documents that need to be recorded, such as deeds and mortgages in the local area, once the title is confirmed to be clear and insurance has been purchased, the company’s experts will draft and file the deed.
Searching Online
You may be surprised to find out this, but in the state of Florida, you can search deed entry online in the comforts of your very home. If you have tried contacting lawyers, mortgage lenders, and other people of interest and still have not gotten the title deed, then it is worth giving an online search a shot.
To do so, you would need to determine the name of the city or county where the property is located. After you have entered the location, you would need to search through the county public records website.
There are countless ways you can search up for these documents under country names. For instance, you could search by the name of the granter, document type, address or data recorded under the correct county location.
After you have put in the right information, you will be presented with a list of deeds you can go through individually. Once you find the rightful deed of your interest, you can easily save it as a copy and get a print of it. In such a way, you will get your deed online.
Contacting Mortgage Company
Many people do not know this, but the land registry usually holds the digital land records and any property records when it is first registered. The originals of the data are sent by mail to the person who lodged them.
So, if you are trying to get a copy of the deed to your property, it is best that you first try to contact the mortgage lender people. It must be mentioned that if the property you are trying to get the title of has been bought and sold many times, it may be relatively difficult to get an original copy of the document. Still, if it has been sold one or two times, then you can easily get a copy of this document.
In the state of Florida, the law states that if the property you own is already registered with the land registry office, you absolutely do not need to show proof of ownership, but in some other cases, you may need to.
Changing Title Deeds
There may be times when you might need to have a copy of the deed to your property in Florida, for instance, if you need to clarify the extent of your property and its rightful boundaries under your ownership.
There have been many cases where a property has initially been in joint ownership, but after a person entirely buys the property, the title deed needs to be changed. In such cases, it is extremely pertinent to have the original form of the title deed of your company so that you can present it before the court of your ownership.
When doing so, it is always a good option to work with a solicitor who will work on your behalf to make all sorts of necessary changes to the title deed. If the joint property you and your partner owned was bought and sold many times, and you cannot find the original deed, then you can contact the property company under which the title was bought.
Suppose you feel like you need help from an experienced lawyer who will work on your behalf to prepare, review, and present documents related to deed transfer and ownership. In that case, you should definitely click here as they have some of the best lawyers and other professional services and experienced workers who could help you.
Type of Deed Used in Florida
You may remember earlier, we mentioned how many different types of property deeds exist with different purposes and benefits. Although there are countless types, the most common type of deed used in real estate in the state of Florida is the General Warranty deed, also known as the statutory warranty deed.
This type of deed is most common because it provides a full and complete warranty of the title of the property being sold or transferred. Due to its immense benefits, this type of deed is most commonly used in the state of Florida.
Suppose you are someone who is looking for the right type of property deed. In that case, it is worth choosing a General Warranty deed as you would not have to spend extra fees or time wasted looking for information regarding previous owners, titles, the value of the mortgage that needs to be paid, etc.
The Takeaway
So that is all when it comes to knowing how you could get a copy of your deeds to property in Florida. It may seem like a difficult task to handle. Still, with proper guidance from a legal attorney or a solicitor, you can easily get a formal copy of your deeds and present it to the courts to have complete autonomy and ownership of your property.
