Proof on record
Document Recording
Document recording is a fundamental service to ensure that legal documents related to property transactions are properly filed and accessible. This process includes recording deeds, mortgages, releases, and other instruments that affect property ownership. By maintaining these records, the Clerk’s Office supports transparency and public access to property information, facilitating real estate transactions and legal proceedings.
The Kentucky County Clerks Association has formally adopted the Property Records Industry Association (PRIA) standards for Real Estate Document Formatting as of January1, 2020.
Legibility Standards are as follows:
| Paper weight: | 20 lb |
| Paper size: | 8 ½ x 11 preferred; 8 ½ x 14 accepted |
| Paper color: | White; no water marks |
| Staples or binding: | None |
| One or two side print: | One side only |
| Impression Seals: | None allowed (unless inked) |
| Colored highlight markers: | None allowed |
| Margins: | Top 3″ margin on first page required for Recorder use, |
| especially on right side of page; all other margins 1″ | |
| Ink color: | Black preferred, with dark blue signatures |
| Font: | 10-point Times New Roman or equivalent |
| Spacing: | 9 lines per inch maximum |
Adopted by PRIA Board of January13, 2016, http://www.pria.us
Land records and marriage records dated mid-1989 to present can be researched at our new online web portal https://fayettedeeds.com. A basic user guide can be found here. Digitized records can be printed or saved directly from the site. An index for earlier records is available through the same site.
If your marriage record is dated mid-1989 to present, you can purchase a certified copy through the site, and it will be mailed to you. Earlier records must be requested in person or by mail.
Copies of any records can be requested in-person during our office hours, Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Regular copy charges are $.50/page or $1.00 for plats, , and certified copies are $5.00/3 pages, and $.50/each additional page over 3. If requesting by mail add $1.00 for postage and handling.
Common copy fees are $2.00 for mailing a plat copy, and $6.00 for mailing a certified copy of a marriage license.
You can mail in a copy request with this form, along with payment: Copy Request Form
Please include no more than 2 requests on each form. If you are unable to print the form, please include all information from the form in a written request.
Mail to: Fayette County Clerk, 162 E. Main Street, Room 132, Lexington, Ky, 40507.
We will do our best to fulfill requests within 3 business days, but other mitigating factors, such as recording work load, may delay response.
Please call (859) 253-3344 if you need assistance in determining the cost for a copy of a record.
Effective January 1, 2020, the recording fee for a mortgage with MERS as nominee for [lender] will be on the fee schedule as a Mortgage with MERS/Assignment.
Military Discharge papers, or DD-214’s, are recorded in our office at the veteran’s request. There is no fee to record the discharge papers or to receive a copy of them. These records are not open to the public. A picture ID and in some cases a birth certificate or other documents are required to obtain copies. The following individuals are allowed to obtain copies of the discharge papers:
- a) the veteran named in the discharge papers
- b) his or her spouse, widow or widower
- c) child 18 years of age or older
- d) parent
- e) grandparent
- f) sibling 18 years of age or older
- g) a funeral director handling funeral arrangements for the veteran
- h) a person with power of attorney for the veteran
- i) a guardian, limited guardian, conservator or limited conservator of a disabled or partially disabled veteran named in the discharge papers
Please call our office at (859) 253-3344 if you have any questions about getting a copy of the discharge papers.
Fee: $15.00
A solicitor’s license is required to sell magazines, periodicals, encyclopedias, books, Bibles or other printed material. The solicitor must furnish a government issued ID (such as a driver’s license, state picture ID or military ID), Social Security number, mailing address and telephone number of his/her permanent residence, the name, address and telephone number of the company or organization he/she represents and whether the solicitations shall be made in person or by telephone. If solicitations are made in person the solicitor must provide the year, make and model of the vehicle used and the license plate number. If the solicitations are made by phone the solicitor must provide the telephone number from which the solicitations shall be made.
Each solicitor will receive a certified copy of the license that must be kept with them at all times while selling their material. The license is valid for 1 year from the date of issuance.
You may drop off your documents in-person during recording desk hours, Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
The Fayette County Clerk’s Office is now accepting e-recordings through CSC, ePN, and Simplifile.
We can accept documents for recording is via US Mail, UPS, FedEx, or other couriers to Fayette County Clerk, 162 E. Main Street, Room 132, Lexington, KY 40507.
A drop-box is available in the Helix Garage, near the 2nd floor entrance to the Clerk’s Office (to the right of the yellow garage fee payment kiosk) that you may use for document drop-off anytime Monday – Friday, 7:30a – 4:00p. We will do our last pickup of the day from the box at 4:00p. Documents must be securely contained in envelopes.
DEEDS
- Affidavit of Descent, Affidavit of Heirship KRS 382.120
- Affidavit of Real Property Transfer or Intestate Succession KRS 382-135
- Affidavit to Correct Deed KRS 382.337
- Agreement KRS 382.080
- Assignment of Rents and Leases KRS 286.5-441
- Condominium Declaration, Declaration KRS 381.9133
- Condominium Deed KRS 381.810
- Condominium Termination KRS 381.9157
- Declaration of Trust – Business Trust KRS 386.420
- Deed KRS 382.110
- Deed of Correction KRS 382.110
- Deed of Restrictions or Covenants
- Easement
- Environmental Covenant – Amendment – Termination KRS 224.80-190
- Land Contract, Land Purchase Contract, Contract for Deed
- Lease
- Marital Agreement, Prenuptial Agreement, Antenuptial Agreement
- Master Condominium Deed
- Option Agreement KRS 382.090
- Power of Attorney
- Quit Claim Deed
- Revocation of Power of Attorney
MORTGAGES
- Affidavit of Mortgage Amendment KRS 382.297
- Agreement
- Condominium Mortgage
- Extension Agreement, Mortgage Modification, Mortgage
- Mortgage
- Subordination Agreement KRS 382.385 (3)
ENCUMBRANCES
- Engineers, Architects, Land Surveyors, Landscape Architects or Real Estate Brokers Lien KRS 376.075
- Homeowner Association Lien
- Judgment Lien
- Lien for Assessments, Condominium Association Lien KRS 381.9193
- Lis Pendens Notice KRS 382.440
- Mechanic’s or Materialmans Lien, Attorneys Lien, Agisters Lien, Veterinarians Lien KRS 376.010, 376.080
- Property Bonds as Surety, Bail Bonds KRS 431.535
CORPORATE RECORDS
- Articles of Incorporation, Articles of Organization, Amended Articles KRS 14A.2-040
- Assumed Name, Renewals, Withdrawals KRS 365.015
RELEASES
- Bond to Release a Mechanic’s Lien
- Deed of Release, Mortgage Release, Satisfaction of Mortgage, Discharge of Mortgage
- Encumbrance Release, Judgment Lien Release, Lis Pendens Release, Mechanic’s Lien Release
ASSIGNMENTS
FIXTURE FILINGS
WILLS
- Disclaimer KRS 394.620 and 394.035
- Notice of Contest aka Contesting a Will and Notice of Adversary KRS 394.240
- Renunciation
- Will In County
- Will Out of County
- Will Out of State