Recording a deed in Lee County, Florida
Everything you need to get a deed on file in Lee County. The office that records it, the formatting it checks, what it costs, and the three ways to submit.
- Recording office
- Clerk of the Circuit Court
- Witnesses
- 2 + notary
- Transfer tax
- $0.70 per $100 of consideration
- First-page margin
- 3″ top
- Recording fee
- $10 first page
- E-recording
- Approved submitters
Recording a deed in Lee County
Deeds affecting property in Lee County, Florida are recorded with the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Recording is what puts the world on notice of your ownership and fixes the priority date. An unrecorded deed can still transfer title between the parties, but it leaves you exposed to anyone who records first.
The recording rules the office applies come from Fla. Stat. §§ 695.26, 695.03. Deeds themselves are governed by Fla. Stat. § 689.01.
What to bring
- The original signed and notarized deed. Recorders do not record photocopies handed over the counter.
- Signatures from 2 witnesses, which Florida requires in addition to the notary.
- Any transfer tax payment or exemption statement the office asks for.
- Payment for the recording fee, $10 for the first page and $8.50 per additional page. Many offices do not take personal checks.
Formatting
- Florida requires a 3-inch by 3-inch blank space at the top right corner of the first page and a 1-inch by 3-inch space at the top right of each additional page (Fla. Stat. § 695.26).
- Deedly's layout, which suits this office: 8.5 × 11 inch paper, a 3-inch clear space at the top of page one for the recording stamp, 1-inch margins on the other edges, and type no smaller than 10 point. Deedly formats every document this way automatically.
- A legal description. A street address alone is not enough.
How to file
- In personTake the original to the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Fort Myers. This is the fastest route. You usually walk out with the recording information the same day.
- By mailSend the original with a check or money order for the fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Allow one to three weeks for the stamped original to come back.
- E-recordingTitle companies, attorneys, and other approved submitters file electronically through services such as Simplifile, CSC, or ePN. Some offices accept filings from the public through those services; check the office's website. If you prepared the deed yourself, in person or by mail is usually simpler.
Confirm the address before you post anything
Offices move and hours change. Search for "Lee County Florida Clerk of the Circuit Court" and use the official county website, not a directory listing, which is often years out of date.
Formatted to Florida requirements, with Lee County filing instructions included.
Common questions
With the Clerk of the Circuit Court, located in Fort Myers. Deeds are always recorded in the county where the property sits, not where the owner lives.
$10 for the first page and $8.50 per additional page. Florida also charges documentary stamp tax at $0.70 per $100 of consideration ($0.60 per $100 in Miami-Dade County, plus a $0.45 surtax on non-single-family property), though a transfer of unencumbered property for no consideration owes only the $0.70 minimum. Confirm current fees with the office before you mail anything; they change.
Usually only through an approved e-recording submitter, such as a title company or attorney, using a service like Simplifile, CSC, or ePN. Some offices accept filings from the public through those services; check the office's website. Otherwise, record in person or by mail.
Keep reading
Deedly is not a law firm
Its software and documents are not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. We provide self-help software and state-specific deed forms; you make your own decisions about your property. Using Deedly does not create an attorney-client relationship, and nothing here is legal advice. If your situation is complex or contested, talk to a licensed attorney in your state.