BLOGS
Affidavit of Heirs in Florida: What It Is and Who Counts as an Heir
What a Florida affidavit of heirs actually does, who the law counts as an heir with no will, and what it costs to have one prepared and recorded.
Does a Quit Claim Deed Remove You From the Mortgage in Florida?
Does a quit claim deed remove you from the mortgage in Florida? No. Here is what actually removes your name, and what the deed can and cannot do.
How to Look Up a Deed in Lee County, Florida
Find a recorded deed in Lee County, Florida: what to search, where, and what to do next if the record you find raises a question.
Can I Prepare My Own Quit Claim Deed in Florida?
Yes, you can complete your own Florida quit claim deed. Here’s what has to be on it, what a document preparer can (and can’t) do, and what it costs.
Types of Deeds in Florida: A Comparison Guide
Quit claim, warranty, and Lady Bird deeds compared: what each promises, when to use it, and what recording costs in Lee County, Florida.
Florida Deed Witness and Notary Requirements: Why Deeds Get Rejected at the Clerk
TL;DR: A Florida deed must be signed by the person transferring the property in front of two subscribing witnesses, and notarized. To be recorded, it also needs the printed name and post office address of every signer, every witness, the notary, the grantee, and the...
Florida Documentary Stamp Tax on Deeds: What a Deed Transfer Really Costs in Lee County
TL;DR: Florida charges documentary stamp tax on deeds at $.70 per $100 of consideration, or portion of $100, in every county except Miami-Dade. That tax is only one of three costs in a deed transfer. The other two are the Clerk of Court's per document recording charge...
Quit Claim Deed and Divorce in Florida: What to Sign, When, and the Tax Break Most People Miss
TL;DR: A Florida divorce judgment does not change your deed. If your marital settlement agreement says one spouse keeps the house, someone still has to prepare and record a deed transferring the other spouse's interest, and that is usually a quit claim deed. Two...
How to Remove Someone From a Deed in Florida (And When You Simply Cannot)
TL;DR: In Florida you remove a name from a deed by recording a new deed in which the person being removed signs away their interest, usually with a quit claim deed. You cannot remove a living co-owner without their signature. There is no form, no fee, and no clerk in...
How to Add a Name to a Deed in Florida (Cost, Taxes, and the Catch Nobody Mentions)
TL;DR: To add a name to a deed in Florida you do not amend the existing deed. You record a brand new deed, signed by the current owner in front of two witnesses and a notary, that conveys an interest to the person being added. Most Lee County homeowners use a quit...