HB309 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Alvin Holmes

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Montgomery Co., judge of probate, recording fees for property records and other documents, use of funds further provided for including use for other public purposes, Act 2012-82, 2012 Reg. Sess., am'd.

Summary

HB309 would create a new $5 special recording fee in Montgomery County for filing certain documents, with the funds used to improve the judge of probate's recording system and related services.

What This Bill Does

It adds a $5 special recording and filing fee collected by the Montgomery County Judge of Probate for real property instruments, personal property instruments, UCC documents, and other documents at the judge's discretion. The fee is in addition to existing fees and goes into the Judge of Probate Fund. Funds from the fee will be used for upgrading and maintaining the recording, archiving, and retrieval system, equipment, and general operation of the probate office, plus other lawful public purposes benefiting county residents; the judge must report annual use of the funds and none of the money may be used for political purposes. The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after the bill becomes law.

Who It Affects

• Property owners and businesses filing real property instruments, personal property instruments, UCC documents, and other documents in Montgomery County will pay the new $5 fee.
• Residents and users of the Montgomery County probate office will benefit from improved recording services, with annual reporting on fund use (and the funds cannot be used for political purposes).

Key Provisions

• Imposes a special recording and filing fee of five dollars ($5) for each relevant document filed for record in the Montgomery County Judge of Probate's office.
• The $5 fee is added to existing fees and is paid into a designated Judge of Probate Fund for improvements to recording, archiving, and retrieving systems, equipment, maintenance, and general operation, plus other lawful public purposes.
• The Judge of Probate must annually report to the Montgomery County Legislative Delegation on how the funds are used; no funds may be used for political purposes.
• Effective date: the first day of the third month after enactment.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Montgomery County