Recording a deed in Buffalo County, Nebraska
Everything you need to get a deed on file in Buffalo County. The office that records it, the formatting it checks, what it costs, and the three ways to submit.
- Recording office
- Register of Deeds (or County Clerk)
- Witnesses
- Notary only
- Transfer tax
- $3.32 per $1,000 of value
- First-page margin
- 3″ top
- Recording fee
- $10 first page
- E-recording
- Approved submitters
Recording a deed in Buffalo County
Deeds affecting property in Buffalo County, Nebraska are recorded with the Register of Deeds. 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 Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 23-1503.01 and 23-1510 (format), § 33-109 (fees) and § 76-238 (effect of recording). Deeds themselves are governed by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-211.
What to bring
- The original signed and notarized deed. Recorders do not record photocopies handed over the counter.
- A completed notarial acknowledgment, with the date, the place where you signed, and the commission expiry all filled in.
- Real Estate Transfer Statement (Form 521), which Nebraska requires alongside the deed.
- Payment for the recording fee, $10 for the first page and $6 per additional page. Many offices do not take personal checks.
Formatting
- Nebraska requires the document to be printed in black ink on white paper of at least 20-pound weight with no watermark, every signature to be in black or dark blue ink, and each party's name to be typed or printed beneath the signature (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 23-1503.01).
- 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 Register of Deeds in Kearney. 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-recording (check first)E-recording may not be available here. Confirm with the office before relying on it.
Confirm the address before you post anything
Offices move and hours change. Search for "Buffalo County Nebraska Register of Deeds" and use the official county website, not a directory listing, which is often years out of date.
Formatted to Nebraska requirements, with Buffalo County filing instructions included.
Common questions
With the Register of Deeds, located in Kearney. Deeds are always recorded in the county where the property sits, not where the owner lives.
$10 for the first page and $6 per additional page. Nebraska also charges documentary stamp tax at $3.32 per $1,000 of value, paid by the grantor, though whether a gift or family transfer is exempt depends on this state's exemptions. Confirm current fees with the office before you mail anything; they change.
Possibly not. Check the office's website before assuming e-recording is available.
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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.