DeKalb County Property Deed Records

Deed filings in DeKalb County, Georgia go through the Clerk of Superior Court. This guide covers online access tools, recording fees, document requirements, and fraud prevention resources.

DeKalb County Deed Filing Office

Property deed records in DeKalb County are recorded at the Clerk of Superior Court office. The office is located at 556 N. McDonough Street, Ground Floor, Decatur, GA 30030. You can visit in person Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Call (404) 371-2836 with questions about specific documents or to confirm what you need to bring. Each document costs $25.00 to record, as set by O.C.G.A. 15-6-77. Standard copies are $0.50 per page. If you need a certified copy, expect to pay $2.50 for the first page and $0.50 per page beyond that.

Each deed must have two witness signatures and a notary seal to be accepted. Note that per O.C.G.A. 15-19-51 the clerk cannot advise on legal matters. Contact a licensed Georgia attorney for that.

For records from before January 1999, you will need to visit the courthouse directly. Those older files are not online.

The GSCCCA maintains a statewide index of all DeKalb County deeds filed since 1999. You can check the clerk page for DeKalb County on the GSCCCA website, which shows the clerk's contact information and links to available search tools. View the DeKalb County clerk page at GSCCCA for more details.

The image below shows the GSCCCA clerk page for DeKalb County, where you can find current contact information and links to deed search tools.

The GSCCCA clerk directory is updated regularly and reflects current office information for DeKalb County.

Searching DeKalb County Deed Records

The main statewide search tool for Georgia deed records is the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) real estate portal. It covers index data from January 1, 1999 forward for all 159 Georgia counties.

Enter a grantor or grantee name to pull up matching deeds. Each result includes names, property location, and the document's book and page.

You can view the index without an account. To print or download, you need an account. Options are Regular at $14.95/month, Premium at $29.95/month, or Single-Use at $5.00 for 4 hours. Printing is $0.50 per page. Create an account at account.gsccca.org.

To search DeKalb County specifically, filter results by county when using the GSCCCA portal. The statewide index includes all deed types: warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, security deeds, and other recorded instruments. Each record links to an image of the actual document for account holders.

In addition to GSCCCA, DeKalb County provides a local portal for deed searches. DeKalb County clerk website gives you another way to find records specific to DeKalb County. Some users find the local portal more convenient for detailed property lookups.

The GSCCCA system also lets you search by book and page number if you already have that reference from a prior title search. This is useful when tracing a chain of title in DeKalb County going back to 1999.

For records before 1999, contact the DeKalb County Clerk directly at (404) 371-2836. Older records are held at the courthouse and must be accessed in person.

How Deed Recording Works in DeKalb County

All documents submitted for recording in DeKalb County must comply with O.C.G.A. 44-2-14. All documents must meet the formatting and content requirements of O.C.G.A. 44-2-14.

Warranty and quitclaim deeds need a PT-61 transfer form. Submit it electronically at gsccca.org before recording.

Use efile.gsccca.org for eRecording. It typically processes in 2-3 business days compared to roughly 4 weeks for mailed documents.

Documents come back if the PT-61 is missing, a witness signature is absent, or the notary seal is not on the deed.

When you submit a deed for recording, the clerk's office stamps it with the date and time received and assigns a book and page number. That number becomes the permanent reference for the document. Keep it for your records.

If you are mailing a deed to the DeKalb County clerk, include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return. The address is 556 N. McDonough Street, Ground Floor, Decatur, GA 30030. Call (404) 371-2836 first if you have any questions about document format or what to include.

Security deeds, which are used in most Georgia mortgage transactions, also go through the same recording process. They are indexed in GSCCCA along with warranty and quitclaim deeds.

Fraud Alerts and Title Protection in DeKalb County

Georgia offers a free property fraud alert tool called FANS (Fraud Alert Notification System). The system is called FANS, which stands for Fraud Alert Notification System. Sign up at fans.gsccca.org to get alerts whenever your name or address appears in a new deed filing. It's free and takes just a few minutes.

Deed fraud typically involves someone filing a fraudulent transfer of your property without your knowledge. Early alerts give you time to act before the situation becomes harder to resolve. The FANS system was built for this exact purpose.

The eCertification portal at ecert.gsccca.org lets you get certified copies online, available around the clock.

GSCCCA's free training site at elearn.gsccca.org covers search, recording, and fraud alert tools.

If you believe a fraudulent deed has been filed on your DeKalb County property, contact the clerk's office at (404) 371-2836 right away. You may also want to contact a real estate attorney. Acting quickly is important in these situations.

Cities in DeKalb County

The following cities in DeKalb County have dedicated deed records pages: Brookhaven, Chamblee, Dunwoody, Stonecrest, Tucker, Redan.

Each city page covers the same clerk office and recording process, with information specific to that city's location within DeKalb County.

Nearby Counties

DeKalb County borders or sits near these Georgia counties: Fulton, Rockdale, Newton, Gwinnett, Clayton. Each has its own Clerk of Superior Court and recording office.