St Lucie County deed records are official documents that show who owns land and buildings in St Lucie County, Florida. These records are kept by the county clerk and are open for anyone to view.
You can use these records to check property ownership, see past sales, and verify legal descriptions. Most records from 1927 to today can be searched online through the county clerk’s website.
Office That Records Deeds in St Lucie County
The St Lucie County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller records all property deeds. This office is the only place in the county where deeds are officially filed. The clerk keeps an index of every deed so people can search by name, date, or property.
St Lucie Clerk Official Records Portal
The official records portal is the main online tool for searching St Lucie County deed records. You can access it at stlucieclerk.gov under the public search section. The portal shows images of original deeds and indexes them by party name and date range.
Clerk Office Contact and Location
The St Lucie County Clerk’s recording office is located at 201 South Indian River Boulevard in Fort Pierce, Florida. The recording department handles deed filings and certified copy requests during regular business hours. You can call the office at (772) 462-6900 for help with deed searches or recording questions.
- Office: St Lucie County Clerk and Comptroller
- Address: 201 S Indian River Blvd, Fort Pierce, FL 34950
- Phone: (772) 462-6900
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Website: https://stlucieclerk.gov/public-search-gen/official-records-search
Search Methods for County Deeds
You can search St Lucie County deed records in several ways. The method you choose depends on what you know about the property. Most people search by name first, but address or parcel number searches give better results when you have them.
Search by Owner Name
Name search is the most common way to find deeds. You type the last name first into the official records portal. The system shows all deeds where that person was either the grantor (seller) or grantee (buyer). You can narrow results by adding a first name or a date range.
Search by Property Address
Address search works when you know the street name but not the owner’s name. The official records portal accepts partial addresses. Results show all deeds tied to that property, which helps build a full ownership history.
Search by Parcel Number
Every property in St Lucie County has a parcel number from the property appraiser. This 17-digit number is the most accurate way to find deeds. You can get the parcel number from the St Lucie County Property Appraiser website and then use it in the clerk’s search portal.
Search by Book and Page
Older deeds were filed by book and page numbers. If you already have a book and page reference, you can pull up that specific deed directly. The clerk’s office keeps printed indexes for records before digital systems were used.
Types of Deeds in Florida
Florida law recognizes several deed types, and each appears in St Lucie County deed records. Knowing the type helps you read the document and know what warranties the seller provides.
Warranty Deeds
A warranty deed is the most common type used in property sales. The seller guarantees clear title and promises to fix any title problems that come up later. Most warranty deeds include a legal description, sale price, and signatures from both parties.
Quitclaim Deeds
A quitclaim deed transfers whatever interest the seller has without any warranty. These deeds are common between family members, in divorce cases, or to fix title errors. Quitclaim deeds offer no protection to the buyer, so they are not used in regular sales.
Special Purpose Deeds
Other deed types appear in the records for specific situations. These include trustee deeds, personal representative deeds (for estates), and sheriff’s deeds (for court-ordered sales). Each follows a different format based on how the property changed hands.
Recording Fees and Costs
St Lucie County follows the Florida fee schedule for document recording. The fees cover indexing, scanning, and storing the deed. Knowing the costs helps you plan before you file.
Standard Recording Fees
The base fee for recording a single page deed in Florida is set by state law. Additional pages, names, and legal descriptions add to the cost. The clerk’s office posts the current fee schedule on its website.
Certified Copy Fees
Certified copies of deeds cost more than regular copies. The clerk adds a certification fee and a per-page fee for each page in the document. Certified copies have a raised seal or stamp and are accepted by banks, courts, and title companies.
eRecording Options
St Lucie County accepts electronic recording through approved vendors. eRecording is faster than paper filing and lowers costs for title companies and law firms. Two main vendors serve the county, and each charges its own service fee on top of the recording fee.
How to Get Certified Copies
You can request certified copies of St Lucie County deed records in person, by mail, or online. The process takes a few days depending on how you request them.
In-Person Requests
Visit the clerk’s office at the Fort Pierce location during business hours. Bring the book and page number or the recording date to speed up the search. Pay the certified copy fee at the cashier window and receive your copies the same day in most cases.
Mail Requests
Mail a written request to the clerk’s recording office with the deed details and a check for the fees. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return of your copies. Mail requests usually take 7 to 10 business days to process.
Online Requests
The clerk’s official records portal lets you order copies online with a credit card. Search for the deed, select the certified copy option, and pay the fee. Digital copies are emailed, and paper certified copies are mailed to you.
St Lucie County Recording Hours
The recording office accepts new deeds during specific hours. Filing outside these hours may delay your recording date and affect property rights.
Walk-In Recording Hours
Walk-in recording is accepted Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Documents received after 4:30 PM are stamped with the next business day as the recording date. This matters because Florida recording is based on the order of receipt.
Mail and Drop Box Filing
The clerk’s office has a drop box for after-hours deed filings. Documents left in the drop box before 8:00 AM on a business day receive that day’s date stamp. Mail filings are processed in the order received during regular mail opening hours.
Florida Statewide Records Resources
You can also search deed records through statewide tools when the county site is slow or if you need cross-county information.
MyFloridaCounty Official Records
MyFloridaCounty.com is a statewide portal that links to each county’s official records system. It is a good starting point if you need to search deed records in another Florida county. The site does not store the records itself but directs you to the correct county clerk.
Florida Court Clerks Website
FLClerks.com provides a directory of all county clerks in Florida. You can find office addresses, phone numbers, and direct links to each county’s records portal. This helps when you need to check deed records in multiple counties for the same owner.
Florida DEP Land Records
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection keeps records of state-owned land. The DEP land records system shows patents, deeds, and other documents tied to public land. Most St Lucie County deed records do not involve state land, but this resource helps with certain historical properties.
Florida Statutes for Deed Recording
Florida statutes control how deeds are recorded and what information they must contain. Knowing these rules helps you prepare a deed that will be accepted without delays.
Florida Statute Chapter 695
Chapter 695 covers recording requirements for instruments affecting real property. It lists what must be included in a deed, how signatures must be made, and how notarization works. A deed that does not follow these rules can be rejected by the clerk.
Florida Statute Chapter 28
Chapter 28.222 sets the duties of county clerks for recording. It explains which documents must be recorded, the indexing system, and the official records series. St Lucie County deed records are part of this single official records series under state law.
Florida Statute Chapter 119
Chapter 119 is the Florida Public Records Act. It makes most government records, including deeds, open to the public. It also sets rules for redaction and fees for copies. This statute is the reason you can search deed records online for free or at low cost.
Neighboring Florida County Records
Sometimes you need deed records from counties next to St Lucie. Each county has its own portal and fee schedule.
Indian River County
Indian River County lies north of St Lucie and shares a border. The Indian River County Clerk records all deeds in that county. Their portal works similarly and accepts name, date, and parcel searches.
Martin County
Martin County is south of St Lucie. The Martin County Clerk of Court records deeds for properties in that area. Cross-county searches are common when a property owner has holdings in multiple counties.
Okeechobee County
Okeechobee County borders St Lucie on the west. The Okeechobee County Clerk keeps deed records that often involve ranch and agricultural land. Their portal covers name and parcel searches for properties in that region.
Major Florida County Records
The largest Florida counties keep millions of deed records and offer advanced search tools. These are useful when you own property or do business in those areas.
Miami-Dade County Deed Records
Miami-Dade County records deeds through the Clerk of Courts. Their official records system covers millions of documents from 1836 to today. The portal supports name, document type, and legal description searches.
Broward County Deed Records
Broward County records are kept by the Broward County Clerk of Courts. The system indexes deeds by party name, recording date, and book and page. Broward also offers eRecording and online certified copy requests.
Orange County Florida Records
Orange County records deeds through the Orange County Comptroller’s office. The official records portal covers Orlando and surrounding areas. Search tools include name, date, and parcel number lookups.
Hillsborough County Records
Hillsborough County deeds are recorded by the Clerk of Circuit Court. The county covers Tampa and has one of the largest deed record databases in Florida. The portal supports advanced searches by subdivision and document type.
Palm Beach County Records
Palm Beach County records deeds through the Clerk and Comptroller. Their portal includes historical records back to 1909. Search options cover name, address, and legal description.
Tips for Better Search Results
A few simple steps can make your search faster and more accurate. Use these tips whenever you look for St Lucie County deed records.
Use Full Legal Names
Always search by the full legal name as it appears on the deed. Nicknames and initials can cause you to miss records. If a person owns property under a trust, search the trust name instead.
Check Date Ranges
Limit your search to a specific date range when you have a time frame. Wide open searches return too many results and make it harder to find the right deed. Start with the most recent 10 years and expand if needed.
Verify Book and Page Numbers
When you find a book and page reference, double-check it before ordering a certified copy. Old records sometimes have errors in printed indexes. The digital system is usually correct, but cross-check with the date stamp.
Save Your Search Results
Download or print the search results when you find a deed. This helps you keep track of records and saves time if you need to order copies later. The clerk’s portal lets you save searches to your account.
Historical and Current Record Coverage
St Lucie County deed records go back to when the county was first formed. The digital system has records from 1927 forward, and older records are available on microfilm at the clerk’s office.
Records Before 1927
Records before 1927 are on microfilm and paper. The clerk’s office staff can pull these for you at the counter. Some older records are also available through the Florida State Archives in Tallahassee.
Records from 1927 to Today
Records from 1927 forward are in the digital official records system. These records have scanned images attached to each index entry. You can view the scanned deed online and order certified copies through the portal.
This image shows the St Lucie County Clerk official records page where deed searches begin.
Property Appraiser and Deed Records
The Property Appraiser’s office works with deed records but is a separate office. Both offices share data to keep records accurate.
Parcel ID Numbers
The St Lucie County Property Appraiser assigns parcel ID numbers to every property. These numbers link to the deed records in the clerk’s system. When you search by parcel ID, you get every deed tied to that property.
Sales Records
The Property Appraiser tracks sales prices from recorded deeds. This data shows up on property record cards and is used to set assessed values. Both offices keep copies of the same deed, but the clerk’s copy is the official record.
Contact for Recording Questions
St Lucie County Clerk and Comptroller, Recording Department, 201 South Indian River Boulevard, Fort Pierce, FL 34950. Phone: (772) 462-6900. Business hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Recording drop-off: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Official records search: https://stlucieclerk.gov/public-search-gen/official-records-search
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions below cover the most common topics people ask about St Lucie County deed records. Each answer gives clear facts about how the system works, what you can access, and how to handle common problems with deed searches.
How Far Back Do St Lucie County Deed Records Go?
St Lucie County deed records are available from 1927 to today in the digital official records system. Records before 1927 are kept on microfilm at the clerk’s office in Fort Pierce. The Florida State Archives also holds some older land records for St Lucie County. Most people only need records from the last 30 to 50 years, which are easy to find online.
Can I Search St Lucie County Deed Records for Free?
Yes, basic searches and view-only access are free through the St Lucie Clerk official records portal. You can search by name, date, and document type without paying. Fees apply only when you order printed copies or certified copies. eRecording vendors charge separate fees for electronic filing services.
What Is the Difference Between a Warranty Deed and a Quitclaim Deed?
A warranty deed provides a guarantee from the seller that the title is clear and free of liens. A quitclaim deed transfers only the seller’s current interest with no guarantees. Warranty deeds are used in standard sales. Quitclaim deeds are used for family transfers, divorce, or to fix title problems.
How Long Does It Take to Record a Deed in St Lucie County?
Paper filings submitted in person are usually recorded the same day if received before 4:30 PM. Documents left in the drop box before 8:00 AM are stamped with that business day. Mail filings take 3 to 5 business days to process. eRecording is the fastest option and is often complete within hours.
Do I Need a Lawyer to File a Deed?
Florida law does not require a lawyer to prepare a deed, but most people use one for real estate transfers. A lawyer makes sure the deed follows Florida statutes, includes the right legal description, and is properly signed and notarized. The clerk’s office does not give legal advice and can only check the format at the time of recording.
Can Someone Remove My Name From a Deed Without My Knowledge?
No, a valid deed requires a signature from the person giving up their interest. Recording a forged deed is a crime, and the clerk checks that the deed is signed and notarized. If you suspect fraud, contact the clerk’s office and the St Lucie County Sheriff right away. Title insurance also protects owners from past fraud.
What Happens If There Is a Mistake on a Recorded Deed?
A corrective deed can be recorded to fix errors in a previously recorded deed. The corrective deed references the original book and page and states the correction. Both parties must sign the corrective deed. The clerk records the new deed and keeps a link to the original.