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Q: How do I obtain a copy of a Death Certificate?

A: Death Certificates relating to real estate transactions are recorded in the Orange County Official Records (for Florida—must not show cause of death). To obtain a copy of a Death Certificate:

• Visit the Orange County Health Department, Office of Vital Statistics, at 832 W. Central Blvd., Orlando, FL 32805
• Call (407) 836-7155
• Visit their web site at http://www.orchd.com
• To record Florida Death Certificates, you must obtain a certified copy from the Orange County Health Department, Office of Vital Statistics, without the cause of death shown.
• Typical cost for recording a one-page Death Certificate is $10.00.

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Q: How do I complete a Declaration of Domicile form?

A: Click here for the form in either English or Spanish

• The recording cost is $13.50, which includes an oath.
• After completing the form, bring it to the Official Records Department.
• DO NOT sign the form before you arrive.
• Once in our presence, you will be required to:
  1) Take an oath that the information on the form is true and correct.
  2) Sign the document.
• The original document will be recorded and given back to you.
  

Mailing Address:
Orange County Comptroller's Office
Attn: Official Records Department
P.O. Box 38
Orlando, FL 32802-0038
Telephone Number: (407) 836-5115

Mailing Address for Overnight:
Orange County Comptroller
Attn: Official Records Department
109 E. Church St. Suite 300
Orlando, FL 32801

Contact us by email:
http://www.occompt.com/contact.html.
For a map, click here.

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Q: What are the requirements for recording a Deed?

A: In order to record a Deed in the Official Records of Orange County, the following requirements must be met:

1. Grantors' (Party Giving Title) names legibly printed in the body of the Deed

2. Grantors' mailing address

3. Grantees' (Party Receiving Title) names legibly printed in the body of the Deed

4. Grantees' mailing address

5. Signatures of Grantors

6. Names printed under Grantors' signatures

7. If there are witnesses, the names of witnesses printed under witnesses' signatures

8. Complete Notary acknowledgment

a. Names being acknowledged

b. Date acknowledgment taken

c. Signature of Notary

d. Name printed under signature

e. Commission expiration date

f. Seal

9. “Prepared by" statement (name and address of the “natural” person preparing the Deed)

10. Effective June 1, 2008, the Florida Department of Revenue form DR-219, previously required as a condition of recording for any document transferring an interest in real property, will no longer exist.  It should be noted, however, that Florida law still has the same requirements that a transfer tax of $0.70 per $100 of actual value or consideration be paid at the time of recording.  Penalties and interest will be incurred if the correct documentary stamp taxes are not paid at the time of recording.

11. Three-inch square white space on the top right-hand corner of the first page of each document and a one-inch by three-inch square white space on the top right-hand corner of each subsequent page of the document. This space is necessary for us to apply computerized recording information. Your documents will be returned to you, unrecorded, if they do not have sufficient white space.

Note: These are RECORDING REQUIREMENTS for Deeds. There may be other statutory requirements for making a conveyance valid, which are not within the scope of the recording office to dictate.

TIME FRAME
Normally, it takes 7-10 BUSINESS DAYS to record a Deed received by mail. If time is of the essence, you should consider bringing the document into the office and waiting for it to be recorded.

LEGAL ADVICE CANNOT BE PROVIDED
The Orange County Comptroller's Official Records staff cannot help you complete legal forms or provide legal advice of any type. If you have questions about completing forms or the proper method of transferring property, you should consult an attorney or legal advisor.

Mailing Address:
Orange County Comptroller's Office
Attn:Official Records Department
P.O. Box 38
Orlando, FL 32802-0038
Telephone Number: (407) 836-5115

Mailing Address for Overnight:
Orange County Comptroller
109 E. Church St. Suite 300
Orlando, FL 32801

Contact us by email:
http://www.occompt.com/contact.html.
For a map, click here.

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Q: What are documentary stamp taxes, and how do they relate to recording?

A: Documentary stamp taxes (also known as excise taxes) are taxes imposed by Florida law on the transfer of ownership or interest in real estate transactions. They are calculated, for recording purposes, as a percentage of either the consideration amount for a Deed or the obligatory amount for a Mortgage. Documentary stamp taxes must be paid at the time of recording. For more information, click here.

Mailing Address:
Orange County Comptroller's Office
Attn: Official Records Department
P.O. Box 38
Orlando, FL 32802-0038
Telephone Number: (407) 836-5115

Mailing Address for Overnight:
Orange County Comptroller
109 E. Church St. Suite 300
Orlando, FL 32801

Contact us by email:
http://www.occompt.com/contact.html.
For a map, click here.

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Q: How do I calculate recording fees ?

A: To calculate recording fees for Deeds, click here.

To calculate recording fees for Mortgages, click here.

Q: What are your fees?

A: Fees customers inquire about most frequently are:

Certified Copies - $1.00 per page plus $2.00 to certify the document (Example: 3-page document = $1.00 x 3 pages + $2.00 to certify = $5.00)

Copies - $1.00 per page (Example: 3-page document = $3.00)

Indexing - first four (4) names free and a charge of $1.00 per additional name

Recording - $10.00 for the first page and $8.50 for each additional page

• For other fees, (click here)
• Try our calculator if you want to calculate the fees for your document. (click here)

Mailing Address:
Orange County Comptroller's Office
Attn:Official Records Department
P.O. Box 38
Orlando, FL 32802-0038
Telephone Number: (407) 836-5115

Mailing Address for Overnight:
Orange County Comptroller
109 E. Church St. Suite 300
Orlando, FL 32801

Contact us by email:
http://www.occompt.com/contact.html.
For a map, click here.

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Q: What are your hours, and where are you located?

A: Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays

Location:
109 E. Church St. Suite 300, in downtown Orlando
Corner of Church Street and Magnolia Avenue.
For driving directions, click here.

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Q: How do I find out if a Judgment has been satisfied?

A: To determine if a Judgment has been satisfied or paid off, you may search the Official Records index by entering the party's name (from date of Judgment to present) and locating an entry which references “S” (Satisfaction) as the document type. You may search the records in our office or on our web site to see if a Satisfaction of Judgment has been recorded click here.

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Q: Does the Orange County Comptroller's Official Records Department provide legal advice to customers?

A: LEGAL ADVICE CANNOT BE PROVIDED.

The Orange County Comptroller's Official Records staff cannot help you complete legal forms or provide legal advice of any type. If you have questions about completing forms or the proper method of transferring property, you should consult an attorney.

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Q: Are there any Liens on my property or a property I want to buy?

A: The Official Records Department is unable to search for multiple liens on a piece of property. You may, however, search the records, either in our office or on our web site (www.occompt.com) to identify any liens recorded against a particular name. Liens are recorded and indexed using the property owner(s) name and by legal description. If you are inquiring about a specific lien and know the year in which it was recorded, you may contact the Official Records Department at (407) 836-5115. A customer service representative will assist you.

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Q: How do I obtain a copy of my Marriage License?

A: If a Marriage License was issued BEFORE March 1, 1998, copies of it may be obtained from the Clerk of Circuit and County Courts, located in the Orange County Courthouse. The physical address is 425 N. Orange Avenue, Room 355, Orlando, Florida 32801. The telephone number is (407) 836-2067.

If a Marriage License was issued AFTER March 1, 1998, copies of it may be obtained from the Orange County Comptroller's Official Records Department at the address listed below or from the web for FREE. The fee to purchase a certified copy is $3.00. Payment by mail should be by check and made payable to the Orange County Comptroller. Payment by cash can only be made in person. For additional information, please call (407) 836-5115.

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Q: How do I get a copy of my Mortgage Satisfaction?

A: Your mortgage company should provide our office with a Satisfaction of Mortgage to be recorded in the Official Records of Orange County, Florida. You may contact us at (407) 836-5115 to request a search of your Satisfaction of Mortgage. You may also utilize our web site (www.occompt.com) to see if your Satisfaction has been recorded.

If it has been more than six (6) weeks since you paid off your loan and we are unable to locate your recorded Satisfaction, you will need to contact your mortgage company.

Your Satisfaction is recorded under the names of the borrower/mortgagor on the original loan. If your Mortgage was an assumed loan, the Satisfaction will list names of the original borrower(s)/mortgagor(s)--not the current borrower(s)/mortgagor(s).

Mailing Address:
Orange County Comptroller's Office
Attn:Official Records Department
P.O. Box 38
Orlando, FL 32802-0038
Telephone Number: (407) 836-5115

Mailing Address for Overnight:
Orange County Comptroller
ATTN: Official Records Department
109 E. Church St. Suite 300
Orlando, FL 32801

Contact us by email:
http://www.occompt.com/contact.html.
For a map, click here.

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Q: How do I get a Notice of Commencement recorded?

A: Click here for the form

• The Orange County Building Department and Florida law require that the form be recorded and that you obtain two (2) certified copies as well.
• The typical cost for recording a one-page Notice of Commencement is $16.00 ($10 for recording plus 2 certified copies at $3.00 each).
  
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Q: Should social security numbers be removed before recording a document?

If my previously recorded document contains a social security number, how can it be removed?

A: Florida law requires that, on or after October 1, 2002, any person preparing or filing a document for recording in the Official Records of Orange County may not include a social security number in such documents unless required by law.

The Comptroller's Office is removing Social Security numbers from recorded documents. If you find a document containing your Social Security number, call us at (407) 836-5115 or use this form.

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Q: How do I transfer title to my property?

Q: What documents cannot be viewed on this web site?

A: In accordance with Section 28.2221(5)(a), Florida Statutes, the following document images are not viewable from our web site:

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Q: What Are Official Records?

A: The Orange County Comptroller is designated by Florida Law to be the Official Records custodian for the county. Official Records are documents relating to land records, persons, or legal actions, which are maintained in what are called Official Records, set forth in the order in which they were received. Section 28.222 Florida Statutes, states that the Comptroller shall file the following documents:

• Deeds, leases, bills of sale, agreements, mortgages, notices or claims of lien, notices of levy, tax warrants, tax executions, and other instruments relating to the ownership, transfer, or encumbrance of or claims against real or personal property or any interest in it; extensions, assignments, releases, cancellations, or satisfactions of mortgages and liens; and powers of attorney relating to any of the instruments.
• Notices of Lis Pendens, including notices of an action pending in a United States court having jurisdiction in this state.
• Judgments, including certified copies of judgments, entered by any court of this state or by a United States court having jurisdiction in this state and assignments, releases, and satisfactions of the judgments.
• That portion of a certificate of discharge, separation, or service which indicates the character of discharge, separation, or service of any citizen of this state with respect to the military, air, or naval forces of the United States.
• Notices of liens for taxes payable to the United States and other liens in favor of the United States, and certificates discharging, partially discharging, or releasing the liens, in accordance with the laws of the United States.
• Certified copies of petitions, with schedules omitted, commencing proceedings under the Bankruptcy Act of the United States, decrees of adjudication in the proceedings, and orders approving the bonds of trustees appointed in the proceedings.
• Certified copies of Death Certificates authorized for issuance by the Department of Health, which exclude the information that is confidential under s. 382.008, and certified copies of Death Certificates issued by another state whether or not they exclude the information described as confidential in s. 382.008.

Any other instruments required or authorized by law to be recorded.

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Q: Why are documents recorded in the Official Records?

A: “Florida is renowned for putting a high priority on the public's right of access to governmental meetings and records. In fact, the principles of open government are embodied not only in Florida statutes, but also guaranteed in the state Constitution".

“Florida began its tradition of openness back in 1909 with the passage of what has come to be known as the "Public Records Law," Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. This law provides that any records made or received by any public agency in the course of its official business are available for inspection, unless specifically exempted by the Legislature. Over the years, the definition of what constitutes "public records" has come to include not just traditional written documents such as papers, maps and books, but also tapes, photographs, film, sound recordings and records stored in computers.” ( Source: http://myfloridalegal.com/sunshine)

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