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The Register of Deeds office in Pickens County handles real property documents such as warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, and easements pertaining to real property located in the county. After recording, documents are returned immediately.
Recording Fees
Deed: $15 + deed tax (see below)
Agreement, Amendment, some Assignments, Contract, Declaration, Dissolution, Easement, Lease, Mortgage, Restrictive Covenant, UCC Document, Waiver: $25
Affidavit, Article, some Assignments, Mechanics Lien, Release: $10
Unless the document is exempt, both state and county taxes are due upon recording. State documentary stamps are $1.30 per $500, and county documentary stamps are $0.55 per $500, rounding up the per $500 to the nearest whole number. Consult the deed stamps table under supplemental forms for specific amounts.
Exempt affidavits are required on deeds with no consideration.
Checks should be made payable to Pickens County or Pickens County Register of Deeds. Cash is also an acceptable form of payment.
Please contact the Register of Deeds directly with questions regarding recording fees or documentary stamps.
Document Formatting Requirements
Disclaimer: The Register of Deeds has the right to request or require additional information as needed in order for a document to be recordable.
* Originals only are accepted for recording. Photocopies may not be submitted.
* The document should be on 8.5 x 11 inch white paper. A font size of at least 12 point and black ink should be used to ensure legibility.
* The grantor's signature is required for a deed or mortgage. The signatures should be checked against the typed name. Two witnesses are required for signatures. A South Carolina probate or acknowledgment is required.
* A document must be notarized in order to be recorded.
* The name and address of the grantee should be included in a document of conveyance.
* The legal description of the real property must have a plat book and page reference or a metes and bounds description.
* A tax map number (parcel or PIN) is required for deeds. This does not need to be included in a mortgage.
* Before a deed of conveyance can be recorded, it must be endorsed by the county auditor.
A person preparing or filing a document may not include a social security number or driver's license number, or information pertaining to state identification, passport, checking account, savings account, credit card or debit number, personal identification number or passwords in the document.
Documents can be brought to the Register of Deeds in person or can be mailed in. If brought in person, the document will be recorded immediately, fees will be assessed and paid, and the document will be returned. If mailing a document in, include a cover letter with a name and phone number, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and proper fees.
TRANSFER TAX
An affidavit is required if the deed is exempt from document stamps or if the property is transferred between immediate family members for $1 "love and affection." In lieu of the affidavit for family transfers, the preparer may state the relationship of the buyer and seller.
DERIVATION CLAUSE
When the grantor's or mortgagor's title was acquired by deed, the derivation clause in the document must include the name of the grantor and the recording date of that deed. If the deed of derivation has been simultaneously executed and delivered and has not been recorded, it is sufficient to provide the grantor on the deed of derivation and the date it is to be recorded. When the grantor's (or mortgagor's) title was acquired by inheritance or devise, the derivation clause must include the name of the person from whom title was acquired, the approximate date of acquisition and in the case of property acquired under a probated will or administered estate, the probate court in which such estate was filed.
A derivation clause is not required for quit claim deeds.