Flagler County deed records are official documents that show who owns real property within Flagler County, Florida. These records sit in the custody of the Flagler County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller.
Anyone can view them. They include warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, special warranty deeds, and other transfer papers. The records also list the grantor, the grantee, the recording date, and the official record book and page number.
About the Flagler County Recording Office
The Flagler County Clerk of Court runs the official recording desk for the county. The clerk receives documents, checks them for basic formatting, and adds them to the public record index. Once a deed enters the index, it becomes a permanent part of the county land records. The clerk does not decide who owns the property. The clerk only records what the parties file. This step protects buyers, lenders, heirs, and title searchers across Florida.
Office Location and Contact Details
The main recording office sits at 1769 East Moody Boulevard, Building 1, Palm Coast, Florida 32164. This is the only place where you can hand-deliver a deed for recording. The mailing address for document submissions is the same street address with a P.O. box reference on file at the clerk’s office. You can reach the clerk’s main line at 386-313-4000. The official website is https://flaglerclerk.gov. The recording desk email appears on the eRecording page at https://flaglerclerk.gov/records/official-records/erecording/.
Office Hours and Service Windows
The Flagler County clerk office opens Monday through Friday at 8:30 a.m. and closes at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The office closes on state and federal holidays. Most document drop-offs need to arrive before 4:00 p.m. to be recorded the same day. Online services run all day, every day, with a short maintenance window overnight.
Clerk of Court Role in Recording
Tom Bexford serves as the current Flagler County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. His office accepts new deeds, indexes them, and stores the original documents. The clerk does not check ownership claims or legal title. The clerk checks for missing pages, missing signatures, missing notary seals, and unpaid fees. Once a deed clears this basic review, the clerk records it in the official public index.
What Flagler County Deed Records Include
A typical Flagler County deed record contains several data points. These data points include the grantor and grantee names, the property legal description, the parcel number, the documentary stamp tax amount, and the recording stamp. Many older deeds use metes-and-bounds descriptions. Newer deeds use lot, block, and subdivision names. Each instrument also shows the date the deed was signed and the date it was recorded.
Warranty Deeds
A warranty deed is the most common deed type recorded in Flagler County. It carries a full promise from the grantor that the title is clear. The grantor promises to defend the grantee against any past or future title claims. Buyers prefer warranty deeds because they create the strongest protection. Most home sales use this deed type.
Quitclaim Deeds
A quitclaim deed transfers whatever ownership the grantor may have, without any promise about the title. It carries no warranty. Quitclaim deeds are common in family transfers, divorce settlements, adding or removing a spouse from a deed, and clearing up title defects. Flagler County records thousands of quitclaim deeds each year for these purposes.
Special Warranty Deeds
A special warranty deed promises the grantor has not done anything to harm the title during the time the grantor owned the property. The grantor does not promise about the time before that. Commercial sales and bank-owned properties often use special warranty deeds. They appear in Flagler County land records when lenders sell foreclosed homes or commercial buildings.
Other Recorded Instruments
Flagler County deed records also hold mortgages, satisfactions of mortgage, liens, easements, right-of-way vacations, declarations of condominium, and notices of commencement. These instruments live in the same official records series. The same index covers all of them. A searcher looking for a deed may need to rule out these related documents to find the right instrument.
How to Search Flagler County Deed Records
The clerk provides several search tools. You can search by name, by recording date range, by document type, by book and page number, by legal description, or by parcel number. Each method has strengths. Name searches work well when you know the grantor or grantee. Parcel searches work best when you know the property address.
Online Search Portal
The fastest path is the online search portal hosted by the Flagler County Clerk. The portal lives at https://flaglerclerk.gov/records/official-records/erecording/. You can also reach the statewide gateway at https://www.myfloridacounty.com/official_records/index.html. The portal shows instrument images for most deeds recorded after 1990. Older records need a microfilm or office visit request.
Search by Owner Name
To search by owner name, enter the grantor name or grantee name into the name field. Use the last name first. Match spellings exactly. Florida property transfer records often list one party as the grantor and the new owner as the grantee. A search by grantee name helps find current owners. A search by grantor name helps find past sellers and earlier transfers.
Search by Address or Parcel Number
To search by address, type the street number and street name into the address field. The portal matches the address against the property appraiser parcel data. A parcel number search is more exact. Parcel numbers in Flagler County follow a standard format tied to the county property appraiser. You can pull the parcel number from https://www.flaglerpa.com or the Flagler County Property Appraiser site.
Book and Page Number Lookup
If you already have a book and page number, use the book and page lookup field. This method gives the exact deed image without guessing names or addresses. Title companies and attorneys use this lookup most often. Book numbers in Flagler County begin at 1 for the first deed recorded and rise with each new book. Page numbers run from 1 within each book. Modern records use an OR book and OR page format instead of the older format.
Recording Fees and Tax Costs
Florida law sets the base recording fee for the first page of any deed. Each additional page costs extra. The clerk also collects the documentary stamp tax on the deed. Some filings trigger a surtax for additional state services. Always check the latest fee schedule at the clerk’s office before you record. Fees can change with each new legislative session.
Standard Recording Fees
The standard recording fee for the first page of a deed in Flagler County is $10. Each additional page costs $8.50. A satisfaction of mortgage costs a flat $10. Mortgage filings have their own fee schedule. The clerk accepts cash, check, money order, and most major credit cards for in-person recording. Online eRecording vendors handle payment through their own billing systems.
Documentary Stamp Tax Rates
The documentary stamp tax on a deed in Florida runs $0.70 for every $100 of consideration, rounded up to the nearest $100. A $250,000 home sale triggers a $1,750 documentary stamp tax. The grantor typically pays this tax on the deed. Mortgages carry a separate documentary stamp tax of $0.35 per $100 of the loan amount. The clerk collects both taxes at recording.
Additional Service Charges
Certified copies of a deed cost $1 per page plus a $2 certification fee. Plain copies cost $1 per page. Real-time printouts at the counter may have an extra handling charge. Credit card payments carry a small convenience fee. Records that need staff research beyond a basic search may carry a research fee, set by the clerk under Florida law.
Florida Laws That Govern Flagler County Deeds
Florida statutes set the rules for deed recording across the state. These rules apply to Flagler County and every other county clerk. The statutes cover document format, signature requirements, public access, indexing, and fees. Title professionals, attorneys, and recording officers all rely on these statutes. Recording a deed that breaks the rules can lead to a rejection at the recording window.
Florida Statute Chapter 695
Florida Statute Chapter 695 governs recording instruments affecting real property. It spells out signature rules, acknowledgment rules, and the legal effect of recording. Section 695.01 requires deeds to be signed by the grantor and acknowledged before a notary. Section 695.28 sets the standards for electronic recording. These rules let Flagler County accept both paper and electronic deeds.
Florida Statute Chapter 119
Florida Statute Chapter 119 is the Florida Public Records Act. It gives every person the right to view and copy public records. Deed records are public records under this law. The clerk can only redact limited personal data, such as Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and similar sensitive data points. Most other parts of a deed stay open to public view.
Florida Statute Section 28.222
Florida Statute Section 28.222 spells out the clerk’s duty to keep official records. The clerk must maintain the official records series, provide copies, certify copies, and index documents. Flagler County follows this statute for every recorded deed. This statute is the legal reason every county keeps a single official records series for deeds and related instruments.
eRecording and Vendor Options
eRecording is the fastest way to submit a deed for recording in Flagler County. The clerk accepts eRecorded deeds through approved vendors. Vendors charge a small fee per document. Most title companies and law firms use vendors rather than hand-deliver documents. eRecording gives faster turnaround, digital receipts, and image copies returned by email.
Approved eRecording Vendors
Flagler County accepts eRecordings through Simplifile, CSC, and File and Go. Simplifile can be reached at 800-460-5657. CSC can be reached through its website at https://erecording.com. File and Go can be reached at 386-845-8638 and focuses on Notices of Commencement. Each vendor requires account setup before you submit a deed. New users need to create an account, sign a user agreement, and fund the account.
Benefits of eRecording
eRecording cuts the wait time from days to hours. Most eRecorded deeds in Flagler County return stamped the same business day. eRecording removes the need to drive to the clerk office, the need to print paper copies, and the risk of mail delays. eRecorded deeds also feed straight into the online search index, so the public sees them faster.
Certified Copy Requests and Document Retrieval
Many buyers, sellers, and lenders need a certified copy of a recorded deed. Certified copies carry the clerk’s seal and serve as proof of the original. Certified copies are accepted by title companies, courts, and government agencies. Plain copies work for personal records, genealogy, and research, but lack the clerk’s certification.
In-Person Requests
Visit the Flagler County Clerk office at the address above to request a certified copy in person. Bring the book and page number or the instrument number. Pay the certified copy fee at the counter. The clerk prints the copy, applies the seal, and hands it to you on the spot in most cases. The clerk may need a few hours for older records that sit in offsite storage.
Mail and Online Copy Requests
Mail requests work for deeds recorded in the clerk’s main archive. Send a written request, the book and page number, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and the fee to the clerk’s mailing address. Online copy requests run through the same online search portal. The portal lets you pull images and certified copies for a fee, paid by credit card.
Common Issues and Solutions
Flagler County deed records have a long history. Records stretch back over 100 years. Older records may have faded images, handwritten legal descriptions, and names spelled in old styles. These quirks trip up modern search tools. A patient search strategy works better than a single quick lookup.
Missing Data in Old Records
Older Flagler County deed records may show a faded grantor name, an old street name, or a missing parcel number. Use the legal description to cross-check against the property appraiser. The appraiser’s parcel data links to a current address and owner. A name search plus a parcel search gives the strongest match for old records.
Name Search Variations
Names change over time. Marriages, divorces, and misspellings can change how a name appears on a deed. Search for known name variations. Look for the same property in the property appraiser site. Match the legal description to confirm you found the right deed. A partial name match with a strong parcel match beats an exact name match on the wrong property.
Legal Description Problems
A legal description in a deed may be short, vague, or tied to a subdivision that no longer exists. A short description may match a single parcel in the appraiser data. A subdivision description needs the lot, block, and plat book reference. Old metes-and-bounds descriptions need a surveyor to map back to a modern parcel.
Flagler County Clerk Contact Details
The Flagler County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller runs the recording desk and the official records search portal. Use the contact points below for recording, certified copies, and search questions. The clerk also runs the court records, marriage licenses, and tax deed auctions, but the deed recording side runs through the same main line and website.
Office Address: 1769 East Moody Boulevard, Building 1, Palm Coast, FL 32164
Main Phone: 386-313-4000
Official Website: https://flaglerclerk.gov
Official Records Page: https://flaglerclerk.gov/records/official-records/erecording/
Statewide Records Gateway: https://www.myfloridacounty.com/official_records/index.html
Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Mailing Address: Flagler County Clerk of Court, P.O. Box 1967, Bunnell, FL 32110
FAQ About Flagler County Deed Records
The questions below cover the most common topics that buyers, sellers, heirs, and title searchers ask about Flagler County deed records. Each answer points to the right statute, the right office, or the right search tool. Use these answers to skip the trial-and-error stage and get straight to the right record. The clerk’s office can also help if any question goes beyond the scope below.
How do I look up a deed by address in Flagler County?
Type the street address into the property appraiser search at https://www.flaglerpa.com first. The appraiser gives you the parcel number, the current owner, and the legal description. Then open the official records portal at https://flaglerclerk.gov/records/official-records/erecording/ and search by parcel number. The portal will list every recorded deed tied to that parcel. You can open each image, read the deed, and save a copy. If the address search fails, fall back to a name search for the current owner. The grantee name on an older deed becomes the grantor name on a newer deed, so a chain of names will lead you through the full history. Always match the legal description to confirm you found the right instrument.
What is the difference between warranty and quitclaim deeds in Florida?
A warranty deed in Florida carries a full title guarantee from the grantor. The grantor promises the title is clear and agrees to defend the grantee against any past claims. A quitclaim deed carries no promise at all. The grantor only transfers whatever ownership interest may exist, even if that interest turns out to be zero. Title companies require warranty deeds for most sales because of the stronger protection. Quitclaim deeds appear in family transfers, divorce cases, estate fixes, and clearing up small title defects. Florida courts treat both deed types as valid recordable instruments under Florida Statute Chapter 695, but the difference in title protection makes warranty deeds the safer choice for a buyer paying full market value for a home or land parcel.
How much does it cost to record a deed in Flagler County?
The base recording fee for the first page of a deed is $10. Each additional page costs $8.50. A typical single-page deed costs $10 to record. A long warranty deed with several pages may cost $35 to $50 to record, depending on the page count. You also pay the Florida documentary stamp tax at the time of recording. The documentary stamp tax runs $0.70 per $100 of consideration, rounded up. A $300,000 home sale triggers a $2,100 documentary stamp tax on the deed. A mortgage at the same price triggers an extra $0.35 per $100 stamp tax on the loan amount. Add the recording fee, the stamp tax, and any vendor or convenience fee to set your true cost of recording.
Can I view Flagler County deed records for free?
Yes, you can view most Flagler County deed records for free through the official records search portal. The portal lets you search by name, parcel number, recording date, and book and page without paying a fee. You can open and read each instrument image at no charge. You only pay when you need a printed copy, a certified copy, or a bulk data export. In-person visits to the clerk’s office also let you search and view records for free. The clerk charges only when you request certified copies or formal research help. The free search tools cover most personal research needs, genealogy, and basic title chain checks.
How long does recording take at the Flagler County clerk’s office?
Paper deeds handed in at the counter typically get recorded the same day if the clerk receives them before 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Deeds received after the cutoff sit in the queue and get recorded the next business day. eRecorded deeds through Simplifile, CSC, or File and Go usually get recorded within a few hours. The clerk returns a stamped image to the vendor the same business day in most cases. Mail-in deeds take the longest, often 3 to 7 business days, depending on mail volume and staff workload. The clerk posts recorded documents to the online search portal as soon as the recording stamp goes on the instrument.
What is the documentary stamp tax on a Florida deed?
The documentary stamp tax on a deed in Florida runs $0.70 per $100 of consideration, rounded up to the next $100. The grantor pays this tax on the deed, and the clerk collects it at recording. A $250,000 sale triggers a $1,750 documentary stamp tax. A gift deed where the grantor claims no consideration still pays a minimum documentary stamp tax of $0.70 on the deed. The clerk also collects a separate documentary stamp tax on new mortgages at $0.35 per $100 of the loan amount. The grantor and grantee can agree in writing who pays the tax, but the deed shows the tax as part of the recording data.
How do I correct an error on a recorded Flagler County deed?
To correct a minor error, record a corrective deed. A corrective deed states the original recording data, the error, and the corrected text. Both parties sign the corrective deed and have it notarized. The clerk records the corrective deed and links it to the original through the record index. To correct a major error, such as the wrong legal description or the wrong grantor, you may need to record a new deed and confirm the old deed is voided. Florida Statute Chapter 695 supports corrective deeds for scrivener errors. Talk to a real estate attorney for any error that affects the chain of title, the legal description, or the parties’ ownership share.