Broward County Recorder: Search Deeds & Official Records

Broward County, Florida · Deeds, mortgages, liens and Official Records

Broward County Recorder: Search Deeds & Official Records

If you searched for the Broward County Recorder, your most likely goal is to find a deed, confirm when a property transfer was recorded, check a lien or mortgage, obtain a certified copy, or record a new real-estate document.

In Broward County, that work is handled by the Records, Taxes and Treasury Division (RTT), the county repository for Official Records. You do not need to start with a commercial deed-search site.

Important distinction: Broward County Official Records are not the same thing as Property Appraiser records or court case records. Deeds, mortgages, liens and other recorded land documents belong in the county Official Records system. Property ownership and assessment data are searched through the Broward County Property Appraiser, while lawsuits and court filings are handled through the Broward County Clerk of Courts.
Best place to search

Broward County Official Records public search.

Common documents

Deeds, mortgages, liens, satisfactions, judgments, plats and notices.

Recording hours

County lists 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. for the Recording Office.

Reviewed

Official resources checked October 17, 2026.

Go directly to the Broward County record you need

Use this guide according to the task you are trying to complete.

Start in the correct system

What does the Broward County Recorder actually handle?

Broward County’s Records, Taxes and Treasury Division maintains documents filed in the Official Records. For most people searching “Broward County Recorder,” this is the office they are trying to reach.

OFFICIAL RECORDS Deed, mortgage or lien

Use Broward County Official Records to locate recorded real-property instruments.

Open Official Records
PROPERTY APPRAISER Owner, parcel or assessed value

Use the Property Appraiser when you need the folio number, property characteristics, assessment or exemption information.

Open BCPA property search
CLERK OF COURTS Court case or lawsuit

Use the Clerk of Courts for civil, criminal, probate, family and other judicial case records.

Search court cases
Practical shortcut: If you only know a street address, first use the Broward County Property Appraiser to identify the owner and property folio. Then use the owner name or parcel ID in the Official Records system to search for the recorded deed.
Search smarter

Which Broward Official Records search option should you use?

The county’s current system offers several search paths. Choose the one that matches the information already in your possession.

Broward County Official Records search methods
Search option Use it when Best practice
Party Name You know the grantor, grantee, borrower, lender or another indexed party. Try surname/business name first and test spelling variations.
Instrument Number You already have the county recording number. This is one of the most precise ways to retrieve a specific document.
Book / Page An older deed, title report or legal document cites an Official Records book and page. Enter the reference exactly as shown on the document.
Document Type You want deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, liens or another specific category. Combine the type with a date period when results are broad.
Parcel ID You have the folio or parcel identification number. Obtain the correct folio from the Property Appraiser when necessary.
Case Number The recorded instrument is indexed to a relevant case number. Do not confuse this with a general Clerk of Courts case search.
Consideration Amount You are researching transfers within a known consideration range. Use as a secondary filter rather than proof of market sale price.
Date Recorded You know approximately when the document entered the Official Records. Remember that execution date and recording date can be different.
Simple Search You are unsure which technical search field matches your task. Useful for common goals such as finding a deed or checking liens.
Do not search only one spelling. A hyphen, middle name, business suffix, trust name, former surname or indexing variation can change the result set. If the first search fails, shorten the name and search again.
Historical records

How far back do Broward County deed records go online?

Broward County’s general records guidance describes the computerized Official Records index as covering modern records from roughly 1978 forward. The live Official Records system provides more detailed coverage information:

  • All plats and maps: the system states these are searchable regardless of record date.
  • Other records from July 7, 1977 forward: fully searchable through the current system.
  • March 9, 1972 through July 7, 1977: searchable using limited identifiers such as instrument number, book type, book/page range and record date.
  • Earlier records: the current online search warns that records before March 9, 1972 are not available through that search interface.

Broward County’s Search and Copy Section maintains film or digitized images of instruments filed in the Official Records. If the record you need is not available electronically, use the county’s search-and-copy procedures instead of assuming the deed does not exist.

Need a pre-digital deed? Start with the county’s Search and Copy Section information. Provide as much as possible: party names, approximate year, document type, book/page or instrument number.
Verify the correct document

What to check after you find a Broward County deed

Finding a matching surname is only the first step. Before you use a deed for ownership research, a title question, probate preparation or another important purpose, verify the record carefully.

Grantor name — the party transferring the interest.
Grantee name — the party receiving the interest.
Recording date and time.
Instrument or CFN number.
Official Records book and page when applicable.
Document type, such as warranty deed or quitclaim deed.
Legal description of the Broward County property.
Folio or parcel identification reference when shown.
A recorded deed is not the same as a title opinion. The Official Records database shows recorded instruments. Determining whether title is legally clear can require reviewing deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, liens, judgments, probate records, easements and other documents. For a transaction or legal dispute, consider a Florida real-estate attorney or qualified title professional.
Copies and certification

How to get a copy or certified copy of a Broward County deed

First locate the correct document in the Official Records search. Record the instrument number or book and page and check the number of pages. This avoids paying for a search when you already know the exact record.

Locate the deed online Use the Official Records Search and open the matching record.
Write down the recording identifiers Save the instrument/CFN number, book/page if displayed, document date and total page count.
Decide whether you need an ordinary or certified copy A downloadable image may be enough for personal research. Banks, courts, government agencies or legal transactions may request certification.
Use the county order process The Official Records system includes online ordering functionality for copies. Follow the current county instructions before submitting payment.

Broward County instructions for certified Official Record copies currently describe a charge of $1 per page plus a $2 certification charge per document in applicable copy procedures. Because fees and ordering options can change, confirm the current total before mailing payment or completing an order.

Recording a new instrument

How to record a deed with the Broward County Recorder

Recording is different from searching. The county can record a properly prepared instrument, but its recording staff does not replace an attorney and cannot decide which deed form you should use or whether a transfer achieves your legal or tax objective.

Do not select a deed type only from an online template. Warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, personal representative deeds, trustee deeds and other instruments can have very different legal effects. Broward County directs substantive deed questions to an attorney.

Core items Broward County identifies for deed recording

Grantor names printed legibly in the deed.
Grantee name and mailing address.
Legal description for property located in Broward County.
Grantor signatures.
Two witness signatures with required printed information.
Proper notary acknowledgment.
“Prepared by” name and address.
Parcel/folio identification information when required.

Micro step-by-step recording workflow

Confirm the correct property and folio Open the Broward County Property Appraiser, search the property and verify the owner, situs address and folio number.
Prepare the deed correctly Make sure the legal description, parties, signatures, witnesses, acknowledgment and preparer information comply with current Florida and Broward recording requirements.
Calculate recording charges and taxes Use Broward County’s Recording Fee & Documentary Tax Calculator rather than guessing the payment.
Choose in-person, mail or eRecording The county accepts recording through its Recording Office and supports electronic submission through approved third-party eRecording vendors.
Verify that the deed was recorded After processing, search the Official Records system and confirm the instrument number, parties and recorded image.
Check the Property Appraiser later Recording a deed and updating the Property Appraiser’s ownership display are related but separate processes. Allow processing time, then verify the property record.
Recording costs

Broward County recording fees and documentary stamp taxes

The total cost of recording a deed can include both county recording fees and state taxes. The amount is therefore not determined only by the number of pages.

Common Broward County recording charges published by the county
Item Published amount What it means
First recorded page $10.00 Base recording charge for the first page of the instrument.
Each additional page $8.50 Applied to additional pages of the same recorded instrument.
Additional indexed names $1.00 each over four The base fee includes indexing of four names.
Documentary stamp tax on deeds $0.70 per $100 Calculated on taxable consideration and rounded according to Florida requirements.
Mortgage balances can matter. Florida documentary stamp tax rules can treat existing debt or other value as consideration in some transfers. A “gift,” adding a family member or moving property into or out of an entity does not automatically mean no tax is due.

Broward County provides a Property Transfer Information Sheet explaining common consideration calculations and refers taxpayers to the Florida Department of Revenue for tax-law questions.

Electronic submission

Can you eRecord a deed in Broward County?

Yes. Broward County supports eRecording, which allows eligible recording documents to be transmitted electronically instead of being delivered by mail or in person.

Documents are submitted through third-party eRecording vendors listed by the county. Broward County states that it does not recommend or endorse a particular vendor, and some direct vendors may not offer one-time submissions to occasional users.

Review the official eRecording page Open Broward County’s Electronic Recording information.
Compare approved vendors Check account requirements, submission charges, supported document types and whether occasional individual submissions are accepted.
Upload the complete recordable document Follow the vendor’s formatting and payment workflow. Vendor service charges may be separate from county recording fees and taxes.
Verify acceptance Do not assume upload equals recording. Wait for confirmation and verify the accepted instrument in Broward County Official Records.
Property protection

Sign up for Broward County recording notifications

Broward County offers a Recording Notification Service (RNS) at no charge. It is designed to notify registered property owners by email when matching property-conveyance or property-encumbrance documents are recorded.

Monitoring can be created using a name or a property identification number, also called a folio or parcel ID. The monitored information stays subscribed until the user changes or cancels it.

Open the official RNS signup Visit the Broward Recording Notification Service.
Enter your email address Use an email account you actively monitor and confirm it when the service sends its activation message.
Add identifying information Register relevant names and/or the property’s official folio number.
Activate the subscription Follow the email instructions. An alert tells you a matching document was recorded; it does not by itself determine whether the filing is legitimate.
Good practice: Register common versions of an owner’s name and the parcel ID when the service permits it. If you receive an unfamiliar recording alert, open the Official Records image and contact the county promptly if the filing appears suspicious.
Contact information

Broward County Recorder office location and contact details

Recording Office
Broward County Records, Taxes and Treasury Division
Broward County Governmental Center
115 S. Andrews Avenue, Room 114
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Phone: 954-831-4000 or 3-1-1

Published hours: 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Email: records@broward.org

Before making the trip

Check the county website for holiday closures, current recording instructions, payment requirements and processing notices.

If you only need to view a modern deed, start online first. An in-person visit is most useful when you need older material, recording assistance or a service not available through the online system.

Open Records, Taxes & Treasury
Common search failures

What to do when you cannot find a Broward County deed

Fast troubleshooting guide
Problem Likely reason Next action
No result by owner name Spelling, trust/entity ownership, former surname or indexing variation. Search fewer words and test alternate names.
Address search is difficult Official Records are indexed primarily around recorded-document data rather than consumer-style address searching. Find the owner and folio through BCPA, then return to Official Records.
Too many matches Common surname or long ownership history. Add a date range, document type or parcel identifier.
Old deed has no online image The document predates available digital imaging/search coverage. Contact Search and Copy with book/page, names and approximate year.
New deed does not appear yet Recording/index verification may still be processing. Check the county’s work-status information and search again using the recording identifiers.
Property Appraiser still shows old owner The deed recording and appraisal database update are separate workflows. Verify the deed was recorded first, then allow processing time and contact BCPA if needed.
Frequently asked questions

Broward County Recorder FAQs

Who is the Broward County Recorder?

The function people commonly mean by “Broward County Recorder” is handled by the Broward County Records, Taxes and Treasury Division. It records and maintains deeds and other instruments in the county Official Records.

Where can I search Broward County deeds for free?

Use the county’s Official Records Search. Start with the owner/party name, instrument number, book and page, document type or parcel ID.

Can I find a Broward County deed using only a property address?

The easiest workflow is usually to search the address through the Broward County Property Appraiser, note the owner name and folio, and then use those identifiers in the Official Records system.

What is an instrument or CFN number?

It is a unique recording identifier assigned to a document in the Official Records. Once you have it, it is generally more precise than repeatedly searching an owner’s name.

How much does it cost to record a deed in Broward County?

The county currently publishes a base recording fee of $10 for the first page and $8.50 for each additional page, plus applicable indexing fees and taxes. Use the county calculator because the total can vary substantially by document and consideration.

Does recording a deed automatically change the Property Appraiser record?

Not instantly. Recording establishes the instrument in the county Official Records. The Property Appraiser maintains a separate assessment database that is updated through its own processing workflow.

Can Broward County staff tell me which deed I should use?

Recording staff can explain recording procedures, but substantive questions about transferring ownership, selecting a deed form, estate planning, tax consequences or title rights should be directed to an appropriate Florida attorney or tax professional.

Are liens searchable in Broward County Official Records?

Yes. The Recording Section indexes liens and many other recorded instruments. Search by party name and, when possible, narrow by document type and date. Remember that determining whether a lien remains legally enforceable can require reviewing releases, satisfactions and related records.

How can I get notified if someone records something against my property?

Enroll in Broward County’s free Recording Notification Service and monitor your name and/or property folio number.

Where are Broward County court records?

Court cases are maintained by the Broward County Clerk of Courts, not the county Official Records recording search. Use the court system for lawsuits, criminal cases, probate cases, family cases and other judicial filings.

Bottom line

Use the official Broward County record first

For most searches involving a Broward County deed, mortgage, lien, satisfaction or other land record, start directly with the Broward County Official Records system. Search by the strongest identifier available, verify the parties and property, and save the instrument number once you locate the correct record.

If your real goal is property ownership, value or folio information, use the Property Appraiser. If you need a court filing, use the Clerk of Courts. If you need to place a new deed into the public record, follow Broward County’s recording requirements and calculate both recording fees and any applicable documentary taxes before submitting the instrument.

Accuracy note: Office information, online search coverage, recording fees and county procedures were reviewed against Broward County and related official government resources available October 17, 2026. Recording requirements, taxes, fees, processing times and online systems can change; verify transaction-specific requirements through the linked official resources before submitting a document or payment.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top