Florida Property Records: Official Records, Recording and Fees

Last updated November 14, 2026. Citations come from the Florida statutes and official agency pages linked in Sources. Where we could not confirm something on an official page, we say so.

In Florida the clerk of the circuit court is the recorder of deeds, mortgages, liens and other instruments, and those Official Records stay open to public inspection. Recording a conveyance protects against later purchasers and creditors.

The clerk and the records

• The clerk of the circuit court is the recorder of all instruments the clerk is required or authorized by law to record in the county, and records all instruments in one general series called 'Official Records'. (Fla. Stat. Sec. 28.222(1)-(2))
• The clerk keeps a register with the filing number, date and hour of filing, kind of instrument and names of parties, and maintains a general alphabetical index, direct and inverse. (Fla. Stat. Sec. 28.222(2))
• Deeds, leases, mortgages, claims of lien, satisfactions, lis pendens notices and judgments are among instruments the clerk records. (Fla. Stat. Sec. 28.222(3))
• Instruments recorded in the Official Records must remain open to the public for inspection and copying; the clerk need not perform services without the service charges in s. 28.24. (Fla. Stat. Sec. 28.222(7))

Recording rules and fees

• No conveyance, transfer or mortgage of real property (or lease of 1 year or longer) is good against creditors or subsequent purchasers for valuable consideration without notice unless recorded according to law. (Fla. Stat. Sec. 695.01(1))
• Grantees by quitclaim are deemed bona fide purchasers without notice within the meaning of the recording acts. (Fla. Stat. Sec. 695.01(2))
• A governmental lien for an improvement, service, fine or penalty (other than taxes, non-ad valorem or special assessments, or utilities) is valid against creditors and subsequent purchasers only if recorded in the county official records. (Fla. Stat. Sec. 695.01(3))
• Recording fee for an instrument not more than 14 inches by 8.5 inches: first page or fraction $5.00; each additional page $4.00 (plus any other charges the clerk imposes; this is the s. 28.24(13) line). (Fla. Stat. Sec. 28.24(13))
• To be recorded, an instrument must include printed names and addresses and reserve a 3 inch by 3 inch space on the first page for the clerk. (Fla. Stat. Sec. 695.26(1))

What we could not confirm

• County clerk online search portals were not opened.
• Time limit for marketable record title (Ch. 712, 30 years) not opened.
• Additional recording surcharges (for example $1 per page historical preservation and $4 per page courts under s. 28.24 or ss. 28.2221, 201.15) were not opened.

How to sell a house in Florida when this applies to you

1. Find out what the title company needs. For an inherited or transferred house, that usually means the recorded document that shows who owns it today.
2. Get a payoff for any mortgage and the amount of any unpaid property tax. Both are paid from the sale proceeds at closing.
3. Compare offers on what you net after repairs, commissions and closing costs, not on the headline price.
4. If you want a fast, simple closing, ask for a written cash offer. We buy houses as-is, with no repairs and no agent commission. See how we buy houses in Florida.

Florida Property Records FAQ

Who records deeds in Florida?

The clerk of the circuit court, as recorder (Sec. 28.222).

What does recording cost?

For an instrument up to 14 by 8.5 inches the fee is $5.00 for the first page and $4.00 for each additional page, plus other charges (Sec. 28.24).

Can I sell my Florida house as-is?

Yes. A cash buyer purchases as-is, and the title company pays any mortgage and unpaid property tax from the proceeds at closing.

Sources

• Fla. Stat. Sec. 695.26(1)
• Fla. Stat. Sec. 28.222(1)-(2)
• Fla. Stat. Sec. 695.01(1)
• Fla. Stat. Sec. 28.24(13)

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Laws, forms and fees change, so confirm details with the official office or a Florida Florida attorney or tax professional.