Madison County, FL Property Records

    Madison County, FL, has a population of over 18,000 residents, making it one of the least populous counties in the state, according to recent estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. Madison County's average home value declined by 0.2% in recent years to $205,297 and remains below Florida's average of $370,112.

    Typically, it takes up to 59 days for property listings in the county to secure purchase offers. This indicates a real estate market with moderate demand, where sellers may need to adjust listing prices to attract offers from interested buyers. However, Federal Reserve Economic Data shows that approximately 30% of Madison households spend 30% or more of their income on housing, indicating affordability issues despite an average household income of $51,714.

    The Madison County Property Appraiser's Office is in charge of property assessments within the county. You can also access the Property Appraiser's online database to look up detailed parcel data, such as property ownership information, homestead applications, valuation details, parcel maps and sketches, permits, building characteristics, and sales history.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records?

    The Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller in Madison County serves as the custodian of official land records. Typically, official records kept by the clerk include documents relating to real estate transactions in the county.

    You can obtain these records by contacting or visiting the Clerk's Office. The following are the clerk's office's physical address, contact details, and a direct link to its official records search portal:

    • Madison County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller: 125 SW Range Avenue, Madison, FL 32340

    • Phone: (850) 973-1500, Official Records Search

    • Coverage: All municipalities

    What Madison County Property Records Include

    Madison County property records typically include official documents containing information about real estate transactions within the county. Examples of these records include deeds, mortgages, assignments, lis pendens, amendments, restrictive covenants, plats, liens, foreclosure notices, homestead declarations, and satisfactions.

    Property records in the county are available online via the Clerk of Court's Official Records Search portal. You can visit the portal to access official land documents dating back to the 1930s. You can also search and obtain copies of older property documents in person at the Clerk of Court's Office.

    How to Access Madison County Property Records

    You can access Madison County property records maintained by the Clerk of Circuit Court through various channels, including the online portal, in-person visits, email requests, or by mail.

    Online Access (Free)

    You can access Madison County property records online by visiting the Official Records Search portal offered by the Clerk of Circuit Court. The portal has several criteria that you can use to look up these records. You can also combine multiple criteria for a more accurate search.

    You can search for documents using the party name by entering either the first or last name. Alternatively, you can locate property records by entering the property's legal description into the appropriate search field. You can also search records on the portal by selecting a specific document or instrument type from the drop-down box. This allows you to narrow your search to the chosen document category.

    The date range option on the search portal will narrow your search results to a specific period. You can search for property records from the 1930s to the present using this criterion. You can also look up property records using unique identifiers, such as instrument number or book/page, under the “Precise Search” option on the portal. This allows you to find the exact records that correspond with the search entry.

    The search results will display all matching records, including key details for each document, such as party name, party type, recording date, document type, instrument number, book/page, description, and consideration amount. You can search and view property records on the portal at no cost.

    In Person

    You can obtain copies of Madison County property records in person by visiting the Clerk of Circuit Court's office during its operating hours:

    • Madison County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller: 125 SW Range Avenue, Madison, FL 32340

    • Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.

    Requesting records in person typically involves providing the custodian with information about the records you seek, such as names or reference numbers, to facilitate the search and paying any applicable search or copy fees.

    By Phone or Email

    You can contact the Clerk of Circuit Court's Office in Madison County by phone or email to inquire about obtaining copies of property records held in its custody, using the following contact information:

    By Mail/Overnight

    To obtain Madison County property records by mail, you must prepare and submit a written request to the Clerk of Circuit Court's Office. Your request must include relevant information about the sought documents to assist the staff with the search, such as names, instrument numbers, or book/page. You should also include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your request and the appropriate copy fees.

    You can submit your request to the Clerk's office address by mail to P.O. Box 237, Madison, FL 32341.

    E-Recording (Professionals)

    Madison County's Clerk of Circuit Court supports the electronic recording (e-recording) of property documents as an alternative to in-person or mail submissions. However, you can only file official records electronically through an approved vendor.

    You can visit the Clerk of Court's website to view a list of authorized e-recording vendors, with direct links to their websites.

    What's Not at the Registry (But Matters for Property Research)?

    In Madison County, the Clerk of Circuit Court serves as the custodian of legal property records, such as deeds and mortgages. However, some important property-related records and information needed for thorough property research in the county are kept by other agencies, such as the Property Appraiser and the Tax Collector.

    The Madison County Property Appraiser's Office is responsible for handling assessments for all real and tangible personal property within the county. The office also maintains parcel information for all properties, such as sales history, ownership information, assessed values, parcel maps, and detailed property record cards.

    The Madison County Tax Collector's office provides public access to property tax records for all properties located within the county. Property information, such as plans, building permits, and zoning information, can also be obtained from the county's Planning and Zoning Department.

    You can also visit the Florida Department of Revenue website and check for resources to access local and statewide property tax rates and related data.

    Step-by-Step: How to Pull a Deed Online

    You can follow these steps to access Madison County deeds online:

    • Visit the Madison Clerk of Court and Comptroller Official Records Search portal.

    • Enter the appropriate search criteria, such as party name, legal description, document/instrument type, book/page, date range, or instrument number.

    • To search for only deeds, select “Deed' under the document type drop-down box. People can also combine this with other criteria to narrow down their search.

    • The search results will include a list of deeds that match a person's search entry. Users can click the “View Image” button under the description column to view images of the selected document.

    • Deed documents can be downloaded or printed directly from the portal free of charge.

    Cities & Towns in Madison County (and Their Registry Districts)

    The Clerk of the Court and Comptroller's Office serves all Madison communities, including the following cities and towns:

    • Madison County Municipalities: Madison, Greenville, and Lee.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    In Madison County, the Property Appraiser's Office handles property assessments across all municipalities. You can visit the office's Property Search portal to obtain property assessment information and other parcel details, including ownership, legal description, homestead application status, parcel maps, assessed values, sales history, and building features.

    You can also access property tax information from the county Tax Collector's Office by using its Property Tax Search portal. You can look up taxes by property owner name, address, parcel ID, or tax bill number to view an account's payment history and any delinquent taxes.

    You can also visit the Florida Department of Revenue website to access statewide and local tax rates and other finance data.

    Madison County County-Specific Nuances

    Madison County, FL, has several important features that you should note for your property research:

    • Official property records for all Madison County municipalities are maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller's Office. You can visit or contact the office to obtain these records.

    • You can obtain property assessment details from the Property Appraiser's Office in the county, while the Tax Collector's Office maintains property tax records.

    • Madison County offers an online portal to access digitized official property records dating back to the 1930s. You can search and view such historical records on the portal for free.

    Typical Contents of a Madison County Property Record

    Madison County property records are official documents that contain information on real estate activity within the county, including ownership details, financial transactions, and encumbrances on real and personal property. You can check these records to review the following details:

    • Deeds (proof of ownership transfer)

      • Grantor and grantee names

      • Witnesses names and addresses

      • Preparation statement

      • Legal description of the property

      • Consideration (sale price)

      • Book and page number

      • Signature and notarization

    • Mortgages and Discharges (evidence of debt)

      • Mortgager and mortgagee names

      • Mortgage servicer (if applicable)

      • Loan amount and repayment terms

      • Recording date

      • Satisfaction or release certificate details

    • Plans (visual maps)

      • Survey or plan number

      • Subdivision references

      • Lot dimensions and layout

      • Zoning information and permits

      • Sketches

      • Aerial images

    • Encumbrances (claims and restrictions)

      • Easements

      • Restrictions or covenants

      • Leases

      • Lis pendens notices

      • Rights of way or shared access agreements

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

    Users can record changes to property titles in Madison County, such as new conveyances, deeds, mortgages, and other instruments, with the Clerk of Circuit Court. The process typically involves preparing and submitting the appropriate documents in line with the county's recording guidelines and other legal requirements.

    People can submit documents for recording in person at the Clerk's Office on Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Alternatively, mail the documents to the office or file them electronically with any approved e-recording vendors. Recording fees typically include $10 for the first page and $8.50 for each additional page of the instrument.

    Extra charges may apply depending on the type of documents filed. Users can visit the Madison County Clerk of Circuit Court's website for more information on official recording guidelines, business hours, and e-recording details.

    Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

    You can follow this checklist to conduct property research in Madison County, FL:

    • Visit/contact the Clerk of Circuit Court's Office to make inquiries: You can obtain property records in the county by requesting them in person or via other channels from the Clerk of Court's Office.

    • Search and note reference numbers: Property records typically have unique identifiers, such as book/page or instrument numbers, that you can note and use to search for such documents.

    • Search for records on the county's official search portal: The county's official records search portal provides online access to property records. You can look them up by name, instrument number, legal description, or other criteria.

    • Trace the chain of title: The Property Appraiser's online portal offers a sales history section for properties searched on the platform, showing the chain of title. You can also access the deed for every documented sale on the portal.

    • Review plans and encumbrances: Review property plans and related documents to check for liens, covenants, restrictions, or other encumbrances affecting the property.

    • Verify parcel data with the Property Appraiser's Office: You can contact the Madison Property Appraiser's Office or visit its online property search portal to verify parcel information, such as assessed values, building descriptions, permits, and parcel maps.

    Appendix A - Municipalities in Madison County

    Madison County, FL, has three incorporated municipalities: a city and two towns*.

    • Cities: Madison.

    • Towns: Greenville, Lee

    *Madison County also has several unincorporated communities, such as Cherry Lake, Hamburg, and Hanson.

    (Wikipedia)

    Appendix B - Key Contacts & Portals