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

Screven County is home to nearly 11,000 parcels of land. An industrial park and logistics agencies between Savannah and Augusta drive the county’s real estate market. The Clerk of Superior Court, along with the Board of Tax Assessors and the Tax Commissioner, manages the property records in the county.

Housing inventory in Screven County clusters around Sylvania, the county seat, where 62% of housing units are single-family homes. A home may linger on the market for about 45 to 84 days, exceeding the state average of 67 days.

Recent records reveal the underlying factors influencing the local real estate market, with a median home value of {median_home_value} and a median rent of {median_rent}, alongside a median household income of {median_household_income} and a median real estate tax rate of {median_real_est_tax} as a percentage of the property's assessed value.

How to Look Up Screven County Property Records

If individuals need ownership, valuations, tax data, and parcel details, they can visit the Tax Assessor’s qPublic Portal. To pay property taxes or view tax bills, the Government Windows Payment Page is the right choice. The Tax Commissioner provides this portal. Anyone can search deeds, mortgages, liens, and related documents through the GSCCCA Portal.

For certified copies of recorded land documents, visit the Screven County Superior Court Clerk’s Office in Sylvania. For inquiries, call the clerk’s office at (912) 564-2614.

Who Keeps Screven County Property Records

Under the Georgia Open Records Act, anyone who wants to view or obtain copies of Screven County property records can approach the custodians. The agencies that maintain property records in Screven County include:

• Clerk of Superior Court: The Screven County Clerk of Superior Court records official land documents and makes them available to the public. It maintains deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, subdivisions, satisfactions, plats, and other related documents.

• Tax Assessor’s Office: The Tax Assessor’s Office determines the fair market value of taxable property in Screven County. Likewise, it receives all appeals filed by property owners and approves all exemption applications.

• Tax Commissioner: The Screven Tax Commissioner’s Office performs all functions related to billing, collecting, disbursing, and accounting for property taxes collected in the county.

How to Search Screven County Property Records Online

Anyone can pull up Screven County property records remotely by following the steps below:

1. Identify the parcel: Search the Tax Assessor’s qPublic portal for a specific property by using the owner name, property address, account number, legal information, or parcel ID.

2. Open the Parcel Details: From the result page, select the record that matches your specified criteria. You will find additional details, including ownership, property characteristics, maps, parcel ID, sales reports, assessments, photos, and sketches.

3. Pull the Recorded Documents: To pull up a copy of the recorded land document online, search the GSCCCA platform. You can use various search criteria such as the owner’s name, recording date, document type, or book and page number to search the portal.

4. Verify the Current Tax Status: Visit the Screven County Government Windows Payment Page to view tax bills and pay your property taxes. Your search will reveal additional information, including current tax balances, payment status, due dates, and any outstanding balance.

5. Request Certified Copies if Required: To obtain certified copies of recorded land records in Screven County, visit the Clerk of Superior Court’s Office. Please note that you are required to pay a nominal fee for this service.

Clerk of Superior Court: Deeds, Mortgages, and Liens

The Screven County Clerk of Superior Court is the custodian of land documents in the county.

Tax Assessor: Ownership, Values, and Parcel Data

The Screven County Tax Assessor’s Office notifies residents when changes are made to the value of a taxable property.

Tax Commissioner: Tax Bills and Payments

The Tax Commissioner’s Office collects property taxes from homeowners in Screven County.

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

In Screven County, the basis for property tax is the fair market value (FMV) of a property, which is established on January 1 of each year. The tax is levied on the assessed value of a property, which, by law, is set at 40% of its FMV. The amount of tax is determined by multiplying the assessed value by the tax rate (mill rate), levied by various entities in the county.

• Property tax due = assessed value x millage rate.

• Assessed value = FMV x 40%

Homestead exemptions

• Basic homestead exemption: Anyone who resides in Screven County and uses their apartment as a primary residence can apply for a basic homestead exemption. Such an individual qualifies for a $2,000 reduction on their property’s assessed value.

• Local additions: Screven County offers some homestead exemptions to some residents. Examples include exemptions for disabled veterans, unremarried surviving spouses, senior exemptions for homeowners 62 or older, and additional exemptions for homeowners 65 or older who meet income requirements.

• CUVA & FLPA: Specialized programs including the Conservation Use Valuation Assessment (CUVA) and the Forest Land Protection Act (FLPA) are available to farmers. These programs reduce tax bills by assessing qualifying properties based on their agricultural value rather than their fair market value. For more information on these programs, contact the Tax Assessor’s Office.

Appealing an assessment

File an appeal with the Screven County Board of Tax Assessors within 45 days from the date listed on your assessment notice. If the Board of Tax Assessors makes no changes, the appeal is automatically forwarded to the County Board of Equalization. If you are not satisfied with the Board’s decisions, escalate the matter to the Screven County Superior Court.

GIS Maps and Parcel Viewer

Screven County’s Geographic Information System and maps are hosted on the official qPublic portal. Individuals can view parcel boundaries, assessment details, flood zones, and aerial layers through the portal.

Foreclosure and Tax Sales

If property taxes remain unpaid for more than 30 days after their due date, the property becomes subject to liens. The delinquent properties are advertised to the public, and individuals can bid for the tax deeds at an auction during a tax sale. The Tax Commissioner conducts a tax sale on the first Tuesday of any given month.

Right of redemption

Every property owner has a right to reclaim their property within 12 months after a tax sale. This is known as the right of redemption. To reclaim a property, the owner must pay the redemption price to the tax deed purchaser. This amount includes the full purchase price, a statutory 20% premium during the first year, and any taxes or fees paid by the purchaser.

Costs to Access Property Records

Individuals must pay specific fees to record or obtain copies of Screven County property records. The fees include:

How to Record a Document

To record a property document in Screven County, follow these steps:

1. Prepare the document: Include necessary information such as the owner’s full names, notary acknowledgment, preparer information, and legal description in the document. Attach any required form, such as a transfer-tax declaration form, to the document.

2. Calculate fees: You are required to pay $25 to record most land documents. Additional fees may apply, so you can contact the Screven County Clerk of Superior Court at (706) 376-7189 to obtain the information.

3. Submit to the Clerk: Submit your completed documents, along with other forms, to the Screven County Clerk of Superior Court in person, by mail, or online via an approved e-recording vendor.

4. Retrieve a Copy of the Recorded Document: You can view and print a copy of the recorded land document through the GSCCCA portal. If you need certified copies of recorded land documents, visit the Superior Court Clerk’s Office.

FAQs

Quick Reference: Your Screven County Property Records Checklist

Key Contacts and Official Portals