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Alabama Deed

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Contract for Deed

THIS DAY this agreement is entered into by and between , hereinafter referred to as "SELLER", whether one or more, and , hereinafter referred to as "PURCHASER", whether one or more, on the terms and conditions and for the purposes hereinafter set forth:

1.

SALE OF PROPERTY

For and in consideration of TEN DOLLARS ($10.00) and other good and valuable considerations the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, Seller does hereby agree to convey, sell, assign, transfer and set over unto Purchaser, the following property situated in County, State of Alabama, said property being described as follows: (Type description or attach description as exhibit "A")

Together with all rights of ownership associated with the property, including, but not limited to, all easements and rights benefiting the premises, whether or not such easements and rights are of record, and all tenements, hereditaments, improvements and appurtenances, including all lighting fixtures, plumbing fixtures, shades, venetian blinds, curtain rods, storm windows, storm doors, screens, awnings, if any, and now on the premises.

SUBJECT TO all recorded easements, rights-of-way, conditions, encumbrances and limitations and to all applicable building and use restrictions, zoning laws and ordinances, if any, affecting the property.

2.

PURCHASE PRICE AND TERMS

The purchase price of the property shall be $ . The purchaser does hereby agree to pay to the order of the Seller the sum of Dollars ($ ) upon execution of this agreement, with the balance of $ being due and payable as follows:

(a) Balance payable in ( ) monthly installments of Dollars ($ ) each, with the first installment being due and payable on the day of , 20 and a like payment on the first day of each month thereafter until the day of , 20 , when the final payment shall be due. No interest.

(b) Balance payable, together with interest on the whole sum that shall be from time to time unpaid at the rate of per cent, per annum, payable in the amount of $ dollars per month beginning on the day of , 20 and continuing on the same day of each month thereafter until fully paid.

(c) Balance payable, together with interest on the whole sum that shall be from time to time unpaid at the rate of per cent, per annum, payable in the amount of dollars per month beginning on the day of , 20 , and continuing on the same day of each month thereafter until the day of , 20 , when all remaining principal and interest shall be paid. (Balloon payment)

If interest is charged, interest shall be computed monthly and deducted from payment and the balance of payment shall be applied on principal.

3.

TIME OF THE ESSENCE

Time is of the essence in the performance of each and every term and provision in this agreement by Purchaser.

4.

SECURITY

This contract shall stand as security of the payment of the obligations of Purchaser.

5.

MAINTENANCE OF IMPROVEMENTS

All improvements on the property, including, but not limited to, buildings, trees or other improvements now on the premises, or hereafter made or placed thereon, shall be a part of the security for the performance of this contract and shall not be removed therefrom. Purchaser shall not commit, or suffer any other person to commit, any waste or damage to said premises or the appurtenances and shall keep the premises and all improvements in as good condition as they are now.

6.

CONDITION OF IMPROVEMENTS

Purchaser agrees that the Seller has not made, nor makes any representations or warranties as to the condition of the premises, the condition of the buildings, appurtenances and fixtures locate thereon, and/or the location of the boundaries. Purchaser accepts the property in its "as-is" condition without warranty of any kind.

7.

POSSESSION OF PROPERTY

Purchaser shall take possession of the property and all improvements thereon upon execution of this contract and shall continue in the peaceful enjoyment of the property so long as all payments due under the terms of this contract are timely made. Purchaser agrees to keep the property in a good state of repair and in the event of termination of this contract, Purchaser agrees to return the property to Seller in substantially the same condition as it now exists, ordinary wear and tear excepted. Seller reserves the right to inspect the property at any time with or without notice to Purchaser.

8.

TAXES, INSURANCE AND ASSESSMENTS

Taxes and Assessments: During the term of this contract:

(a) Purchaser shall pay all taxes and assessments levied against the property.

(b) Seller shall pay all taxes and assessments levied against the property. In the event that Seller pays the taxes and insurance, Purchaser shall reimburse Seller for same upon 30 days notice to purchaser.

Content Insurance: Purchaser shall be solely responsible for obtaining insurance of the contents, insuring contents owned by Purchaser. Seller shall be solely responsible for obtaining insurance on all contents owned by Seller.

Liability and Hazard Insurance: Liability insurance shall be maintained by Purchaser during the term of this contract naming Seller as an additional insured, in the amount of not less than $ .

Fire, Hazard and Windstorm insurance: Fire, hazard and windstorm insurance shall be maintained as follows:

(a) Purchaser shall obtain fire, hazard and windstorm insurance in the amount not less than $ , on a policy of insurance naming Seller as additional insured.

(b) Seller shall obtain and pay for hazard, fire and windstorm insurance in an amount not less than $ . In the event Seller elects this option, Purchaser shall repay the amount so paid by Seller within thirty (30) days of demand for same by Seller.

Should the Purchaser fail to pay any tax or assessment, or installment thereof, when due, or keep said buildings insured, Seller may pay the same and have the buildings insured, and the amounts thus expended shall be a lien on said premises and may be added to the balance then unpaid, or collected by Seller, in the discretion if Seller with interest until paid at the rate of the per cent per annum.

In case of any damage as a result of which said insurance proceeds are available, the Purchaser may, within sixty (60) days of said loss or damage, give to the Seller written notice of Purchaser’s election to repair or rebuild the damaged parts of the premises, in which event said insurance proceeds shall be used for such purpose. The balance of said proceeds, if any, which remain after completion of said repairing or rebuilding, or all of said insurance proceeds if the Purchaser elects not to repair or rebuild, shall be applied first toward the satisfaction of any existing defaults under the terms of this contract, and then as a prepayment upon the principal balance owing.

9.

DEFAULT

If the Purchaser shall fail to perform any of the covenants or conditions contained in this contract on or before the date on which the performance is required, the Seller shall give Purchaser notice of default or performance, stating the Purchaser is allowed fourteen (14) days from the date of the Notice to cure the default or performance. In the event the default or failure of performance is not cured within the 14 day time period, then Seller shall have any of the following remedies, in the discretion of Seller:

(a) Give the Purchaser a written notice specifying the failure to cure the default and informing the Purchaser that if the default continues for a period of an additional fifteen (15) days after service of the notice of failure to cure, that without further notice, this contract shall stand cancelled and Seller may regain possession of the property as provided herein; or

(b) give the Purchaser a written notice specifying the failure to cure the default and informing the Purchaser that if the default continues for a period of an additional fifteen (15) days after service of the notice of failure to cure, that without further notice, the entire principal balance and unpaid interest shall be immediately due and payable and Seller may take appropriate action against Purchaser for collection of same according to the laws of the State of .

In the event of default in any of the terms and conditions or installments due and payable under the terms of this contract and Seller elects 9(a), Seller shall be entitled to immediate possession of the property.

In the event of default and termination of the contract by Seller, Purchaser shall forfeit any and all payments made under the terms of this contract including taxes and assessments as liquidated damages, Seller shall be entitled to recover such other damages as they may be due which are caused by the acts or negligence of Purchaser.

The parties expressly agree that in the event of default not cured by the Purchaser and termination of this agreement, and Purchaser fails to vacate the premises, Seller shall have the right to obtain possession by appropriate court action.

10.

DEED AND EVIDENCE OF TITLE

Upon total payment of the purchase price and any and all late charges, and other amounts due Seller, Seller agrees to deliver to Purchaser a Warranty Deed to the subject property, at Seller’s expense, free and clear of any liens or encumbrances other than taxes and assessments for the current year.

11.

NOTICES

All notices required hereunder shall be deemed to have been made when deposited in the U. S. Mail, postage prepaid, certified, return receipt requested, to the Purchaser or Seller at the addresses listed below. All notices required hereunder may he sent to:

Seller:

Purchaser:

and when mailed, postage prepaid, to said address, shall be binding and conclusively presumed to be served upon said parties respectively.

12.

ASSIGNMENT OR SALE

Purchaser shall not sell, assign, transfer or convey any interest in the subject property or this agreement, without first securing the written consent of the Seller.

13.

PREPAYMENT

Purchaser to have the right to prepay, without penalty, the whole or any part of the balance remaining unpaid on this contract at any time before the due date.

14.

ATTORNEY FEES

In the event of default, Purchaser shall pay to Seller, Seller's reasonable and actual attorneys' fees and expenses incurred by Seller in enforcement of any rights of Seller. All attorney fees shall be payable prior to Purchaser's being deemed to have corrected any such default.

15.

LATE PAYMENT CHARGES

If Purchaser shall fail to pay, within fifteen (15) days after due date, any installment due hereunder, Purchaser shall be required to pay an additional charge of five (5%) percent of the late installment. Such charge shall be paid to Seller at the time of payment of the past due installment.

16.

CONVEYANCE OR MORTGAGE BY SELLER

If the Seller's interest is now or hereafter encumbered by mortgage, the Seller covenants that Seller will meet the payments of principal and interest thereon as they mature and produce evidence thereof to the Purchaser upon demand. In the event the Seller shall default upon any such mortgage or land contract, the Purchaser shall have the right to do the acts or make the payments necessary to cure such default and shall be reimbursed for so doing by receiving, automatically, credit to this contract to apply on the payments due or to become due hereon.

The Seller reserves the right to convey, his or her interest in the above described land and such conveyance hereof shall not be a cause for rescission but such conveyance shall be subject to the terms of this agreement.

The Seller may, during the lifetime of this contract, place a mortgage on the premises above described, which shall be a lien on the premises, superior to the rights of the Purchaser herein, or may continue and renew any existing mortgage thereon, provided that the aggregate amount due on all outstanding mortgages shall not at any time be greater than the unpaid balance of the contract.

17.

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

This Agreement embodies and constitutes the entire understanding between the parties with respect to the transactions contemplated herein. All prior or contemporaneous agreements, understandings, representations, oral or written, are merged into this Agreement.

18.

AMENDMENT – WAIVERS

This Agreement shall not be modified, or amended except by an instrument in writing signed by all parties.

No delay or failure on the part of any party hereto in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Agreement or under any other documents furnished in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall impair any such right, power or privilege or be construed as a waiver of any default or any acquiescence therein. No single or partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege shall preclude the further exercise of such right, power or privilege, or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. No waiver shall be valid against any party hereto unless made in writing and signed by the party against whom enforcement of such waiver is sought and then only to the extent expressly specified therein.

19.

SEVERABILITY

If any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall be held illegal or unenforceable by a court, no other provisions shall be affected by this holding. The parties intend that in the event one or more provisions of this agreement are declared invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain enforceable and this agreement shall be interpreted by a Court in favor of survival of all remaining provisions.

20.

HEADINGS

Section headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only, shall not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement for any purpose, and shall not in any way define or affect the meaning, construction or scope of any of the provisions hereof.

21.

PRONOUNS

All pronouns and any variations thereof shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular, or plural, as the identity of the person or entity may require. As used in this agreement: (1) words of the masculine gender shall mean and include corresponding neuter words or words of the feminine gender, (2) words in the singular shall mean and include the plural and vice versa, and (3) the word "may" gives sole discretion without any obligation to take any action.

22.

JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY

All Purchasers, if more than one, covenants and agrees that their obligations and liability shall be joint and several.

23.

PURCHASER’S RIGHT TO REINSTATE AFTER ACCELERATION

If Purchaser defaults and the loan is accelerated, then Purchaser shall have the right of reinstatement as allowed under the laws of the State of Alabama, provided that Purchaser: (a) pays Lender all sums which then would be due under this agreement as if no acceleration had occurred; (b) cures any default of any other covenants or agreements; and (c) pays all expenses incurred in enforcing this agreement, including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys' fees, and other fees incurred for the purpose of protecting Seller's interest in the Property and rights under this agreement. Seller may require that Purchaser pay such reinstatement sums and expenses in one or more of the following forms, as selected by Seller: (a) cash, (b) money order, (c) certified check, bank check, treasurer’s check or cashier’s check, provided any such check is drawn upon an institution whose deposits are insured by a federal agency, instrumentality or entity or (d) Electronic Funds Transfer. Upon reinstatement by Purchaser, this Security Instrument and obligations secured hereby shall remain fully effective as if no acceleration had occurred.

24.

HEIRS AND ASSIGNS

This contract shall be binding upon and to the benefit of the heirs, administrators, executors, and assigns of the parties hereto. However, nothing herein shall authorize a transfer in violation of paragraph (12).

25.

OTHER PROVISIONS

WITNESS THE SIGNATURES of the Parties this the day of , 20 .

SELLER:

PURCHASER:

THE STATE OF ALABAMA

COUNTY

I, a Notary Public, hereby certify that whose name is signed to the foregoing instrument or conveyance, and who is known to me, acknowledged before me on this day that, being informed of the contents of the conveyance, he executed the same voluntarily on the day the same bears date.

Given under my hand this day of , A. D. 20


My commission expires:

THE STATE OF ALABAMA

COUNTY

I, a Notary Public, hereby certify that whose name is signed to the foregoing instrument or conveyance, and who is known to me, acknowledged before me on this day that, being informed of the contents of the conveyance, he executed the same voluntarily on the day the same bears date.

Given under my hand this day of , A. D. 20


My commission expires:

Seller(s) Name and Address

Buyer(s) Name and Address

Enter text✕

What an Alabama Deed Is and when it’s used

An Alabama Deed is a written instrument that transfers ownership of real property located in Alabama from one party to another. It typically identifies the grantor and grantee, describes the property by legal description, states the consideration, and includes a notarized acknowledgement required for recording. Deeds in Alabama are recorded at the county probate or land records office to provide public notice and to protect the grantee’s title against subsequent claims.

Why a properly prepared Alabama Deed matters

A clear, correctly executed deed ensures ownership transfers, supports title insurance, enables mortgage or sale activity, and prevents recording rejections or future title disputes in Alabama.

Why a properly prepared Alabama Deed matters

Who typically prepares or receives an Alabama Deed

Various professionals and parties interact with Alabama deeds depending on the transaction and role.

  • Home sellers, buyers, and their closing agents who execute or accept title transfers in Alabama.
  • Real estate attorneys and title companies who draft descriptions, review chain-of-title, and prepare recording packages.
  • Lenders and mortgage servicers who require properly recorded deeds for security interests and payoff processing.

Each participant has distinct responsibilities: accuracy in drafting, correct signatures and acknowledgements, and timely recording.

Core elements every Alabama Deed should include

A complete deed has six core sections that together establish a clear and recordable transfer of real estate.

Grantor and Grantee

Full legal names of the parties using the exact form that will appear in public records; inaccuracies can create clouds on title and delays during recording or closing.

Legal Description

A metes-and-bounds or lot-and-block legal description that uniquely identifies the parcel; street addresses are supplemental and not a substitute for the recorded legal description.

Consideration

Statement of consideration (dollar amount or other value) to indicate transfer purpose; even nominal consideration is acceptable but avoid vague phrases like 'for value received' without amount.

Habendum Clause

Defines the interest granted (for example fee simple) and any limitations or exceptions; use precise language to avoid ambiguity about the estate conveyed.

Notary Acknowledgement

A notarized acknowledgement by the grantor required by Alabama recording authorities to validate the signature and allow the deed to be filed in the county land records.

Signatures and Dates

Grantor signature(s) and printed names, with dates; witness signatures only if required by local practice or when an additional attestation is desired.

Essential information to include on the Alabama Deed

Grantor Name: Exact legal name
Grantee Name: Exact legal name
Property Description: Full recorded description
Consideration: Amount or value
Notary Block: State and county acknowledgement
Signature Date: MM/DD/YYYY format

Step-by-step: preparing and executing an Alabama Deed

Follow this sequence to prepare, sign, notarize, and record an Alabama Deed correctly.

  • 01
    Draft the Deed: Assemble names, legal description, and consideration accurately.
  • 02
    Review Title: Confirm chain-of-title and identify liens or encumbrances to address.
  • 03
    Sign Before Notary: Grantor signs in notary presence; bring ID and instruments.
  • 04
    Record in County: Submit the notarized deed to the county recorder for indexing.

Configuring an online deed workflow

Key settings to configure when creating a digital Alabama Deed workflow for remote or hybrid closings.

Field Configuration
Signature Type Allow e-signature and wet-ink where required
Notary Step Insert acknowledged notary block before recording
Signer Authentication Use email + SMS or ID verification for attribution
Document Retention Enable secure storage and export to PDF/A

Where to file and how the recording process works

Recording a deed converts a private instrument into public notice and establishes priority against later claims.

  • County Recording Office: Submit the notarized deed to the county probate or land records office.
  • Recording Clerk Review: Clerk checks acknowledgment, formatting, and fee before indexing.
  • Indexing: Deed is indexed under grantor and grantee names for public search.
  • Return or Certificate: County returns recorded copy or issues an official receipt.

Digital signing and e-submission considerations

If you plan to complete or notarize a deed electronically, confirm each step is supported by your platform and local recording authority.

  • eNotary Support: Platform must support remote or in-person electronic acknowledgements
  • File Formats: PDF/A or printable PDF required by many counties
  • Audit Trail: Maintain timestamps, IP, and signer authentication records

Verify county e-recording rules and retain the audit trail for the statutory retention period; platforms often integrate with title and county e-recording services to streamline submission.

Timelines: signing, recording, and processing expectations

Timing affects priority, taxes, and closing schedules; plan around signing, county processing, and title company deadlines.

Signing Date:

Date the grantor signs; controls effective transfer timing.

Notarization Timing:

Notary acknowledgment must be contemporaneous with signature.

Recording Window:

County processing can take 1–10 business days depending on backlog.

Tax Reporting:

Property tax proration and transfer taxes follow county deadlines.

Title Clearance:

Allow time for post-recording title updates and insurance issuance.

Key milestones from execution to fully recorded title

Sequential milestones ensure the deed is executed, notarized, recorded, and integrated into title records.

01

Preparation Complete

All parties review the deed and legal description for accuracy.

02

Execution and Notarization

Grantor signs before a notary and provides ID.

03

Submission to Recorder

Deliver notarized deed with fees to county recording office.

04

Indexing and Return

Recorder indexes the deed and returns the recorded copy.

Common mistakes when preparing an Alabama Deed

  • Using an incomplete or imprecise legal description, which can lead to recording rejection or ambiguous boundaries during title search.
  • Mismatched names between deed and government ID or title documents, triggering corrective deeds or affidavits and delaying transactions.
  • Altering notary language or missing essential notary details, causing the county to refuse recording the instrument.
  • Failing to clear existing liens or mortgages before conveyance, which can leave the grantee exposed to creditor claims.

Penalties and legal risks from incorrect or unrecorded deeds

Recording Rejection: Loss of priority
Title Defect: Unable to insure or sell
Tax Liability: Incorrect transfer tax calculation
Litigation Risk: Adverse possession or quiet title suits
Corrective Costs: Fees for corrective deed or attorney
Delay in Financing: Mortgage funding or payoff holds

Real-world ways organizations use electronic deeds and workflows

These examples describe how companies used digital signing and electronic processing in property transactions.

Martin Properties

Tim Martin’s brokerage moved closings online to reduce in-person steps

  • Processed deeds and acknowledgements remotely using integrated workflows
  • The firm reported consistent compliance and more timely returns of signed documents, improving turnaround for buyers and sellers.

Optica Ventures

A small investment firm standardized a fillable deed template for repeat transactions

  • Used digital signing and secure storage to centralize records
  • The approach reduced manual errors, simplified title review, and sped subsequent investments in Alabama properties.

eSignature solutions: pricing and capability snapshot

Comparing starting prices and core capabilities helps teams choose a platform that supports notary and recording workflows without assuming a single vendor is ideal for every use case.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Varies by vendor Varies by vendor Varies by vendor Varies by vendor
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No

FAQs and troubleshooting for Alabama Deed preparation

Answers to frequent questions about e-signing, notarization, recording, and correcting Alabama deeds.


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