Giles County, TN Property Records: Search Deeds, Owners, Tax Records, and Maps

Giles County is located along the Alabama border. It is home to the University of Tennessee Southern, Stillhouse Hollow Falls Trail, and Antoinette Hall Opera House. The county seat is Pulaski. Property records in Giles County cover approximately 19,963 individual parcels across 611 square miles of land. If you are researching property records in Giles County, start with the Register of Deeds, Assessor of Property, and Trustee.

An average home in Giles County typically goes pending in about 29 days. The local housing market is supported by key economic drivers such as manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, and healthcare. Single-family detached homes in communities such as Pulaski, Ardmore, Elkton, Lynnville, Minor Hill, and Prospect make up much of the housing inventory.

Recent housing records reveal the underlying factors influencing the local real estate market, with a median home value of $172,600 and a median rent of $814, alongside a median household income of $60,341 and a median real estate tax of 0.51, expressed as a percentage of the property’s assessed value.

How to Look Up Giles County Property Records

Through designated online portals, you can view or download copies of property records in Giles County:

Who Keeps Giles County Property Records

Property records in Giles County are open to the public pursuant to the state’s Public Records Act. If you wish to access these documents, designated custodians share the responsibilities, with each handling different parts:

• The Giles County Register of Deeds is responsible for recording and maintaining recorded documents in the county. Such records include deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, liens, contracts, plats, leases, powers of attorney, judgments, and other documents affecting the ownership or use of real property. In addition, the Register of Deeds collects applicable recordation taxes when qualifying documents are recorded.

• The Giles County Property Assessor determines the value of every taxable property for taxation purposes. The office handles appraisal and assessment and provides a way to look up property assessment information. In addition, it assigns a Map-Group-Parcel number to each parcel in the county.

• The Giles County Trustee is responsible for collecting property taxes and maintaining tax-payment records. The Trustee is the county's tax collector and should not be confused with a trustee named in a deed of trust.

How to Search Giles County Property Records Online

You can search Giles County property records through the county’s official webpages. Take the following steps to view the documents:

1. First of all, start with the Look Up My Real Estate Assessment portal. Anyone can search the platform using the property address, owner's name, county, or parcel ID to locate the desired parcel. The webpage will reveal information such as ownership details, property characteristics, and other assessment information.
2. Next, visit the TitleSearcher portal. Anyone can search the portal by document type, owner’s name, or recording date. Using this portal, you can view or download copies of documents such as deeds, deeds of trust, liens, plats, and other recorded instruments.
3. You can confirm ownership by comparing the most recently recorded deed with the current assessment records. Afterwards, work backwards through earlier deeds to trace the property's ownership history. Ensure that the grantor's name listed on one deed matches the grantee's name on the previous deed. Any gap in the chain of title is a red flag that may require additional title research.
4. In addition, you can check the same Register’s index for outstanding deeds of trust, releases, liens, plats, and other instruments that can affect the ownership of a property. Keep in mind that the sworn value shown on a deed does not show the property’s last sale price. Instead, it is used for tax purposes.
5. Lastly, anyone can confirm the property tax status using the CitiSen webpage. Using this portal, you can review tax information, payment history, and tax bills.

Register of Deeds: Deeds, Deeds of Trust, and Plats

The Giles County Register of Deeds, who is an elected official, records and preserves documents that affect real property. Such documents include deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, liens, contracts, plats, leases, powers of attorney, judgments, and wills. The records provide public notice of property ownership, liens, contracts, and other transactions affecting property.

Also, Giles County has an Archives office that preserves older records for historical and genealogical research. Its collection includes indexed deed records dating from 1810 to 1896, along with wills, Chancery Court records, and Circuit Court records. Nonetheless, you can search recorded documents through the TitleSearcher portal from 1810 to the present.

Assessor of Property: Ownership, Values, and Parcel Data

The Giles County Property Assessor is responsible for determining the value of all real estate in the county. It handles the appraisal and assessment of taxable property that is not appraised by the state. You can use Look Up My Real Estate Assessment to access information concerning ownership of a property, assessed values, and other assessment-related documents.

County Trustee: Tax Bills and Payments

The Giles County Trustee is responsible for collecting property taxes and maintaining records of property-tax payments. It also provides information about tax collection and options for paying property taxes online, by phone, or through other accepted payment methods. Keep in mind that the fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30, while property taxes in Giles County are based on the current calendar year.

Property Tax in Giles County: Classification, Exemptions, and Appeals

In Giles County, a property tax bill is based on the property's assessed value and the tax rates set by the county and applicable local governments. The Giles County Assessor of Property determines the property's appraised value. Nonetheless, the applicable assessment ratio is used to determine its assessed value. Property taxes are collected by the Giles County Trustee and, where applicable, by city collecting officials.

How the bill is figured

In Giles County, residential and farm properties are assessed at 25% of their appraised value, while commercial and industrial properties are assessed at 40%. Property taxes are calculated using the property's appraised value, assessment ratio, and applicable tax rate. The appraised value is multiplied by the assessment ratio to determine the assessed value. Then, the assessed value is divided by 100 and multiplied by the applicable county or municipal tax rate to determine the property tax owed.

Exemptions and relief

Appealing your value

If you believe the Assessor’s appraised value is incorrect, first discuss the assessment with the Assessor of Property. If the issue is not resolved, file an appeal with the Giles County Board of Equalization. Individuals may provide supporting evidence such as comparable sales to strengthen their appeal. If the board’s decision remains unfavorable, you may appeal the matter to the Tennessee State Board of Equalization.

GIS Maps and Parcel Viewer

Giles County hosts its Geographic Information System (GIS) and land description on the state’s TNMap viewer. Through this viewer, you can obtain useful information such as streets, aerial imagery, zoning information, and other geographic data.

Foreclosure and Tax Sales

In Giles County, the foreclosure process follows either deed-of-trust foreclosures or delinquent-tax sales.

Deed-of-trust foreclosure

When a borrower defaults on a deed of trust, the trustee named in the document may begin foreclosure proceedings according to the terms of the deed of trust and state law. Depending on the terms of the document and applicable legal requirements, a foreclosure may proceed without a separate court judgment when the required conditions are met.

Delinquent-tax sale

When property taxes remain unpaid, Giles County may pursue collection through the legal process. The Giles County Clerk & Master handles Chancery Court matters involving suits to collect delinquent property taxes after two years. The county also has a formal policy for offering eligible tax-delinquent properties for public auction through GovDeals. These sales are subject to state law, required notices, eligibility requirements, and redemption rights.

Costs to Access Property Records

It costs specific fees to record or obtain copies of property records in Giles County.

How to Record a Document

Record an instrument in Giles County in accordance with the state's recording requirements:

• Prepare the document: Make sure the instrument contains the information required under state law. This includes the appropriate signatures, acknowledgment, and property description. In addition, the first page should be prepared with a 3-inch top and bottom margin and 1-inch side margins.

• State the applicable value: For a deed conveying real property, include the required consideration or value information. If the transfer is subject to Tennessee's realty transfer tax, the applicable tax must be paid unless a statutory exemption applies. The Giles County Register of Deeds collects the realty transfer tax when the document is recorded. Nonetheless, if the transfer qualifies for an exemption, the applicable exemption should be stated on the document when it is presented for recording.

• Submit the document: Once the document is complete, submit it to the Giles County Register of Deeds for recording. You can submit in person or by mail to the Register’s office.

• Obtain a copy of the recorded document: After the document has been accepted and recorded, keep the recording information and obtain a copy for your records. If you need a certified copy, contact or visit the Giles County Register of Deeds.

FAQs

Quick Reference: Your Giles County Property Records Checklist

Key Contacts and Official Portals