Recording a deed in Fayette County, Kentucky
Everything you need to get a deed on file in Fayette County. The office that records it, the formatting it checks, what it costs, and the three ways to submit.
- Recording office
- County Clerk
- Witnesses
- Notary only
- Transfer tax
- $0.50 for each $500 of value or fraction of $500
- First-page margin
- 3″ top
- Recording fee
- ~$50 up to 5 pages
- E-recording
- Approved submitters
Recording a deed in Fayette County
Deeds affecting property in Fayette County, Kentucky are recorded with the County Clerk. 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 KRS § 382.110. Deeds themselves are governed by KRS § 382.010.
What to bring
- The original signed and notarized deed. Recorders do not record photocopies handed over the counter.
- A completed notarial acknowledgment, and the Certificate of Consideration sworn by the grantor and by the grantee before a notary. Each certificate needs the date, the county, the notary's printed name, commission number (Notary ID) and commission expiry filled in.
- Any transfer tax payment or exemption statement the office asks for.
- Payment for the recording fee, about $50 for up to 5 pages and $3 for each page after that. Many offices do not take personal checks.
Formatting
- 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.
- A 'when recorded, return to' block so the stamped original comes back to you.
How to file
- In personTake the original to the County Clerk in Lexington. 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 "Fayette County Kentucky County Clerk" and use the official county website, not a directory listing, which is often years out of date.
Formatted to Kentucky requirements, with Fayette County filing instructions included.
Common questions
With the County Clerk, located in Lexington. Deeds are always recorded in the county where the property sits, not where the owner lives.
Around $50 for up to 5 pages and $3 for each page after that. Kentucky also charges real estate transfer tax at $0.50 for each $500 of value or fraction of $500 ($1.00 per $1,000), a tax on the grantor (KRS 142.050(2)), though a transfer between spouses is exempt, and so is one between parent and child or grandparent and grandchild for only nominal consideration (KRS 142.050(7)(e), (l)), while a gift to anyone else is taxed on the property's market value (KRS 142.050(1)(b)). 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.
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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.