Franklin County, GA Property Records: Search Deeds, Owners, Tax Records, and Maps

Franklin County is located in the northeast part of Georgia and has over 17,000 parcels of land that support a diverse market built on agriculture, manufacturing, and logistics. In Franklin County, property records are managed by the Clerk of Superior Court, the Board of Tax Assessors, and the Tax Commissioner.

Housing stock in Franklin County is concentrated in Carnesville and Franklin Springs. The vast majority of properties in the county are single-family homes. An average home may sit on the market for about 50 to 70 days, which is slower than the state average of 67 days.

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How to Look Up Franklin County Property Records

You may access Franklin County property records through three main official portals. Check ownership details, valuations, and parcel information through the Tax Assessor’s qPublic Portal. To view an existing tax bill or pay your property taxes online, visit the BIS Consulting Portal provided by the Tax Commissioner. You can view copies of deeds, mortgages, and liens online at the GSCCCA Portal.

However, you need to visit the Franklin County Clerk of Superior Court at Carnesville for certified copies of recorded land documents. For additional inquiries, contact the clerk’s office by phone at (706) 384-2514.

Who Keeps Franklin County Property Records?

The State’s Open Records Act considers property records as public records. It allows anyone to view or request Franklin County property records from the agencies that handle them. The following agencies maintain the records at the county level:

• Clerk of Superior Court: The Franklin County Clerk of Superior Court is the official recorder and custodian of all land documents recorded in the official records. It maintains documents that include deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, subdivisions, satisfactions, and plats.

• Tax Assessor’s Office: The Franklin County Tax Assessor’s Office determines the market value of all real and tangible personal property within the county. It also receives appeals and approves all exemptions filed by property owners.

• Tax Commissioner: This Tax Commissioner’s Office performs all functions related to billing, collecting, disbursing, and accounting for property taxes in the county. It mails bills to property owners at the addresses provided by the Board of Tax Assessors.

How to Search Franklin County Property Records Online

You can pull up Franklin County property records online by taking these steps:

1. Identify the Parcel: Visit the Tax Assessor’s qPublic portal and search the parcel by using the property address, owner name, or parcel ID.

2. Open the Parcel Details: From the search results, open the parcel that matches the specified criteria. This will reveal the property record card where you can find the parcel number, owner’s name, property characteristics, legal description, maps, range of sale date, assessed value, photos, and acreage.

3. Pull the Recorded Documents: If you are interested in obtaining copies of land records filed between 1948 and 1989, use the Kofile portal. Otherwise, visit the GSCCCA platform to view recorded deeds, mortgages, plats, and other documents. You can search the portal by using the owner, recording date, or book and page number.

4. Verify the Current Tax Status: Open the BIS Consulting portal to view prior tax bills and confirm the current tax balances for properties in Franklin County. You may also obtain the payment status, due dates, and any outstanding balance with interest from the portal.

5. Request Certified Copies if Required: If you need a certified copy of any recorded land records, visit the Franklin County Clerk of Superior Court’s Office in Carnesville. This service comes at a fee.

Clerk of Superior Court: Deeds, Mortgages, and Liens

The Clerk of Superior Court’s Office manages official land records in Franklin County.

Tax Assessor: Ownership, Values, and Parcel Data

The Franklin County Tax Assessor’s Office provides a wide range of services, including property assessments, tax roll preparation, public access to maps, GIS tools, and parcel information.

Tax Commissioner: Tax Bills and Payments

The Franklin County Tax Commissioner’s Office collects property taxes and processes tax bills.

Property Tax in Franklin County: Rates, Exemptions, and Appeals

In Franklin County, the basis for property tax is the fair market value of the property, which is established on January 1 of every taxable year. The Tax Assessor’s Office assesses the property at 40% of its market value. The resulting value is then multiplied by the millage rate (mill), levied by various entities in the county. Exemptions are then applied to the final results.

Homestead exemptions

• Basic Homestead Exemption: According to state law, any homeowner who owns and occupies a property as their primary residence in Franklin County as of January 1 may be eligible for a basic homestead exemption. This helps to reduce the property assessed value by $2,000. Eligible homeowners can apply for the exemption through the Tax Assessor’s Office before April 1st of the current tax year.

• Local Additions: Franklin County offers some local exemptions. Examples include tax exemptions for disabled veterans, senior exemptions for homeowners 62 or older, and additional exemptions for homeowners 65 or older who meet income requirements. Interested individuals may contact the Tax Assessor’s Office for additional details.

• CUVA & FLPA: Specialized programs such as Conservation Use Valuation Assessment (CUVA) and Forest Land Protection Act (FLPA) are available for farmers. These programs lower the property tax for qualifying acreage through a 10-year covenant. Eligible farmers may contact the Tax Assessor for additional information.

Appealing an assessment

You can challenge an assessment by filing an appeal with the Franklin County Board of Equalization or to an arbitrator within 45 days from the date of the assessment notice. Once the County Board of Equalization or the arbitrator has rendered a decision, you may continue your appeal to the County Board of Tax Assessors. If you disagree with the Board or arbitrator’s decisions, you can advance the dispute to the Franklin County Superior Court.

GIS Maps and Parcel Viewer

Franklin County maintains its Geographic Information System on its official qPublic portal. You may view parcel boundaries, ownership, sales history, and aerial layers through the portal.

Foreclosure and Tax Sales

The Franklin County Tax Commissioner conducts tax sales to collect unpaid property taxes. The Tax Commissioner’s Office issues a tax lien against all delinquent property owners. It will either collect the tax from the property owner or levy the property and auction it at a tax sale. The office holds a tax sale on the first Tuesday of any given month in front of the courthouse.

Right of redemption

When a property is sold at a tax sale, the property owner may redeem it from the holder of the tax deed. The property owner must pay the tax deed purchaser the full purchase price, a statutory 20% premium during the first year, and any additional taxes paid by the purchaser. The property owner may redeem the property at any time during the one year following the tax sale. The purchaser of the tax deed cannot take actual possession of the property during this time.

Costs to Access Property Records

To record or obtain copies of property records in Franklin County, applicants must pay specific fees.

How to Record a Document

Follow these steps to record a property document in Franklin County:

1. Prepare the Document: Ensure your document includes the owner’s full names, notary acknowledgment, preparer information, and description of the property. Attach a transfer-tax declaration form if you are filing a quitclaim or other relevant documents to your deed.

2. Calculate Fees: The basic recording fee for most deeds is fixed at $25. Additional costs may also apply to the recording fees. These include a transfer tax of $0.10 per $100 of consideration and an intangible recording tax of $1.50 per $500 of loan. Call the Franklin County Clerk of Superior Court by phone at (706) 384-2514 to confirm the exact recording fees for your document type.

3. Submit to the Clerk: Submit the completed documents to the Franklin County Clerk of Superior Court in person, by mail, or online through the GSCCCA portal or approved e-recording vendors. Once submitted, the Clerk’s Office reviews the document, collects recording fees, and assigns a recording number. Afterward, the document is registered and becomes part of the county’s real estate records.

4. Retrieve a Copy of the Recorded Document: You may view and print a copy of the recorded document online through the GSCCCA portal. Alternatively, visit the courthouse to use the public kiosk or submit a request by mail to the Clerk of the Superior Court.

FAQs

Quick Reference: Your Franklin County Property Records Checklist

Key Contacts and Official Portals