Palm Beach County, FL Property Records

    According to recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, over 1.5 million people reside in Palm Beach County, FL, making it the state's third-most populous county. The average home cost in the county is $460,550, approximately 22.3% higher than the statewide average home value of $374,697. However, Palm Beach County's housing market has experienced a 6% decrease over the past year.

    On average, it takes 63 days for property listings in the county to go under agreement, with 6.3% of listed homes selling above the list price. This highlights a less competitive real estate market compared to previous years, but with active demand.

    According to the Federal Reserve Economic Data, approximately 39.6% of households in the county spend 30% or more of their income on housing, indicating rising affordability challenges despite the median household income of $84,789.

    In Palm Beach County, property assessment and parcel inventories are handled at the county level by the County Property Appraiser's Office. You can obtain specific information or reports regarding properties located within any municipality in the county from this office, including property ownership details, valuations, GIS data, and property tax records.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records?

    The Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller in Palm Beach County is responsible for keeping official land records. The clerk provides access to recorded land documents, including deeds, liens, mortgages, and other records relating to real estate in the county.

    Official land records in Palm Beach County are generally accessible online through the clerk's records search portal. However, some records may be unavailable online due to privacy laws, but you may obtain copies of such documents in person at the main county courthouse location:

    • Palm Beach County Circuit Court (Main Courthouse): 205 North Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, Landmark Web Official Records Search

    • Phone: (561) 355-2996

    • Coverage: All municipalities.

    What Palm Beach County Property Records Include

    Palm Beach County property records include official documents related to real estate within the county, which are recorded with the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Such documents include deeds, mortgages, discharges, liens, bills of sale, agreements, easements, covenants, homestead declarations, Lis Pendens, and foreclosure notices.

    Most Palm Beach County property records before 1968 are not accessible online, but you can get copies of older records from the clerk's office in person, via email, or by mail.

    How to Access Palm Beach County Property Records

    You can access Palm Beach County from the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller's Office in several ways, including online access, in-person visits, mail requests, and email.

    Online Access (Free)

    You can access official property records online using the Palm Beach County Landmark search portal. The portal allows you to view land documents recorded in official records, including deeds, liens, satisfactions, notices, and mortgages.

    To access recorded documents, select any of the search options on the portal, like name search, document type search, book and page search, consideration search, parcel ID search, record date search, instrument number search, or legal description search.

    You can also print uncertified copies of property documents you search on the portal directly from your browser for free. For certified copies, order online through the E-Certify portal.

    In Person

    You can obtain official property records in Palm Beach County by requesting copies in person at any of the county courthouses:

    • Main Courthouse: 205 North Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, FL 33401

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

    • North County Courthouse: 3188 PGA Boulevard, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410

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

    • Royal Palm Beach Branch: Suite 400, 200 Civic Center Way, Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411

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

    • South County Courthouse: Room 1S-124, 200 West Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach, FL 33444

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

    • West County Courthouse: Room S-100, 2950 State Road 15, Belle Glade, FL 33430

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

    When going to the courthouse, take along information about the documents users wish to obtain, such as the instrument number or book and page numbers, to facilitate the search. Copies of records are typically $1 per page, but people may pay an additional $2 fee for certification (per instrument). The court also charges a $1 fee for a cover page that contains a unique code that can be scanned to authenticate a certified copy.

    By Phone or Email

    You can contact the Clerk of the Circuit Court by phone or email to obtain property records in Palm Beach County using the following details:

    You will need to provide the following information to search for property records by phone or email:

    • Full name or legal description of the document.

    • Date of recording (You can include the exact year or an approximate date).

    By Mail/Overnight

    You can also get copies of Palm Beach County property records by mailing a written request or a completed request form to the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. Your request must include the applicable fees (check the Copies and Records Research Fees Schedule) and a self-addressed stamped return envelope.

    Mail requests must also include some information about the sought records, including the exact names to search, your name, and the specific book or page number.

    You can mail your request to the address below:

    Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller's Office

    Records Service Center

    P.O. Box 4526

    West Palm Beach, FL 33402-4526

    E-Recording (Professionals)

    Palm Beach County supports the e-recording of documents. The process typically requires you to submit documents to the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller's Office for recording using approved e-recording vendors. You can also obtain certified copies of recorded documents if you use authorized vendors like CSC eRecording Solutions, eRecording Partners Network, Hopdox, or Simplifile.

    Visit the Clerk's eRecording web page for a list of the approved vendors and more information about the e-recording process.

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

    In Palm Beach County, property-related information that is not available at the county courts is typically maintained by the county's Property Appraiser's Office. These include detailed parcel cards, ownership information, assessed valuations, sales history, appraisals, and tax data.

    You can also visit the Florida Department of Revenue website for statewide property tax data.

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

    Users can pull up Palm Beach County deeds online by following these steps:

    • Visit the county's Landmark Web Official Records Search portal.

    • Select any of the search options, such as searches by name, document type, book and page, instrument number, or parcel ID.

    • People can select “DEED” from the document type drop-down box in the search interface to narrow down their search.

    • The search results will include all deed documents that match the search input, with their respective information, including the party name, record date, location, reference details, and legal description.

    • Select a row from the search results to view more document information and images of the uncertified deed copy.

    • Searchers can download or print the uncertified deed document directly from their browser at no charge. Certified copies can only be ordered online through the Clerk's E-certify portal.

    Cities & Towns in Palm Beach County (and Their Registry Districts)

    The Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller's Office serves all municipalities in Palm Beach County, including:

    • Palm Beach County Municipalities: Pahokee, Belle Glade, South Bay, Tequesta, Jupiter Inlet Colony, Jupiter, Juno Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, North Palm Beach, Lake Park, Riviera Beach, Palm Beach Shores, Mangonia Park, Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Haverhill, Glen Ridge, Cloud Lake, Palm Springs, Lake Clarke Shores, Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Greenacres, Atlantis, Lake Worth Beach, South Palm Beach, Lantana, Manalapan, Hypoluxo, Boynton Beach, Ocean Ridge, Golf, Briny Breezes, Gulf Stream, Delray Beach, Highland Beach, Boca Raton, Loxahatchee Groves, and Westlake.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    Property assessments and taxes in Palm Beach County are handled by the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's Office. The office manages specific property data for all municipalities, including ownership history, sales records, exemptions, parcel details, appraisals, assessed valuations, and tax information.

    You can access this information by visiting the website and searching for it by name, address, parcel number, or account number. The Florida Department of Revenue also provides resources to access statewide property tax data on its website.

    Palm Beach County-Specific Nuances

    Palm Beach County, FL, has several distinctive features that you should note during property research:

    • Palm Beach County maintains all types of property documents and related information at the county level. The Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller maintains recorded property documents, such as deeds and mortgages, while the County Property Appraiser's Office handles assessment and tax records.

    • You can access property records dating back to 1968 online and download or print unofficial copies of these records free of charge. However, you may only be able to obtain physical copies of most records before 1968.

    • Palm Beach County operates a recorded land system to record and index documents that establish property ownership and land transactions.

    Typical Contents of a Palm Beach County Property Record

    Palm Beach County property records refer to official documents containing information about real estate and real property within the county. You will typically see the following information when reviewing these records:

    • Deeds (proof of ownership transfer):

      • Grantor and grantee names

      • Witnesses names and signatures

      • Legal description of the property

      • Sale consideration (purchase value of the property)

      • Book and page number

      • The date of the deed's signing and notarization.

    • Mortgages and Discharges (evidence of debt):

      • Mortgages 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

      • Aerial images

    • Encumbrances (claims and restrictions)

      • Easements

      • Restrictions or covenants

      • Leases

      • Lis pendens notices

      • Rights of way or shared access agreements

    Other records that you can check for property-related information in Palm Beach County include bills of sale, affidavits, agreements, and power of attorney filings.

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

    You can record changes to property titles in Palm Beach County, including new conveyances, deeds, discharges, and mortgages, with the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

    To record changes to property title, visit any county courthouse near you during its operating hours to record documents or use approved e-recording vendors to process them online. The County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller's website provides detailed information on official recording guidelines, operating hours, fee schedules, and approved e-recording partners.

    Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

    Use this checklist as a guide to conduct effective property research in Palm Beach County, FL:

    • Visit/contact the Circuit Court to make inquiries: The Circuit Court Clerk in Palm Beach County is responsible for providing property records, including deeds and mortgages. Visit any of the county courthouses for in-person assistance with your property research, or contact the Clerk's Office.

    • Search and note reference numbers: Take note of unique identifiers like book and page numbers to easily locate recorded property documents during your property research.

    • Search the Landmark search portal: The Landmark search tool offers various criteria for searching property documents maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk. You can search records by name, document type, unique identifiers, parcel ID, sales consideration, instrument number, and more.

    • Trace the chain of title: You can trace the chain of title by using unique identifiers to search for prior deeds and check for previous owners/sellers.

    • Review plans and encumbrances: Check for encumbrances, such as liens, restrictions, easements, or notices that may limit use or access to the property.

    • Verify parcel data with the Property Appraiser's Office: The county's Property Appraiser's Office can provide you with information like parcel data, ownership information, consideration, property appraisals, tax bills, and assessed values. You can access such information online through its Public Access portal.

    Appendix A - Municipalities in Palm Beach County

    Palm Beach County, FL, has 39 incorporated municipalities: 13 cities, 20 towns, and 6 villages*.

    • Cities: Pahokee, Belle Glade, South Bay, Palm Beach Gardens, Riviera Beach, West Palm Beach, Greenacres, Atlantis, Lake Worth Beach, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, and Westlake.

    • Towns: Jupiter Inlet Colony, Jupiter, Juno Beach, Lake Park, Palm Beach Shores, Mangonia Park, Palm Beach, Haverhill, Glen Ridge, Cloud Lake, Lake Clarke Shores, South Palm Beach, Lantana, Manalapan, Hypoluxo, Ocean Ridge, Briny Breezes, Gulf Stream, Highland Beach, and Loxahatchee Groves.

    • Villages: Tequesta, North Palm Beach, Palm Springs, Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, and Golf.

    *Palm Beach County also has an unincorporated community and several census-designated places.)

    (Wikipedia).

    Appendix B - Key Contacts & Portals

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