Need to run a St. Johns County deed search? Whether you are buying in St. Augustine, checking who owns a lot in Nocatee or tracking down an old family deed, you can search recorded deeds online for free. Here is how, and what a deed search will not show you.
How Do I Search Deeds in St. Johns County? Quick Answer
Deeds, mortgages and liens in St. Johns County are recorded by the St. Johns County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller and can be searched free in the Clerk’s Official Records search by name, date or document type. Ownership, parcel and value information is kept separately by the St. Johns County Property Appraiser. A deed search shows recorded documents, but it is not a title search: it can miss liens filed under name variations, unrecorded items, probate issues and errors in the chain of title.
Where St. Johns County Property Records Live
- Clerk of the Circuit Court (Official Records): deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, liens, judgments and other recorded documents.
- Property Appraiser: current owner of record, parcel ID, legal description, assessed value and exemptions.
- Tax Collector: property tax bills and payment status.
How to Do a St. Johns County Deed Search
- Start at the Property Appraiser’s parcel search to confirm the exact owner name, parcel ID and legal description.
- Open the Clerk’s Official Records search and search by the owner’s name. Try every variation: middle initials, maiden names, trusts and LLC names.
- Filter by document type (deed, warranty deed, quitclaim deed) and note the book and page or instrument number.
- Open the image of the deed and check the grantor, grantee, legal description and recording date.
What a Deed Search Will Not Tell You
A deed shows how ownership was transferred, not whether the title is clean. It will not tell you about liens recorded under a misspelled name, an unreleased mortgage, a missing heir, a forged deed, unpaid municipal or code enforcement liens, or an error in the legal description. That is what a professional title search and an owner’s title insurance policy are for.
Protect Your Own Deed
The St. Johns County Clerk offers a free Property Fraud Alert service that notifies you when a document is recorded in your name. It is worth signing up, especially for owners of vacant land or second homes.
Related: St. Johns County lien search and warranty deed vs quitclaim deed in Florida.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a St. Johns County deed search free?
Searching and viewing Official Records online is free. Certified copies have a fee set by the Clerk.
How do I find out who owns a property in St. Augustine?
Search the St. Johns County Property Appraiser’s parcel search by address, then confirm in the Clerk’s Official Records.
Is a deed search the same as a title search?
No. A title search examines the full chain of title, liens, judgments and other matters, and is the basis for title insurance.
Closing in St. Augustine or St. Johns County?
Title Company of Florida handles title searches, title insurance and closings for St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach, Nocatee, Ponte Vedra and all of St. Johns County. Sign with a mobile notary near you, by remote online notarization, or by mail, and we record electronically with the county.
Learn more about our St. Augustine title company services.
General information only, not legal or tax advice. County procedures, deadlines and websites can change; confirm with the office named. Title Company of Florida is a Florida licensed title agency (License #G324751).
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