Document Imaging System

The Calhoun County Probate Judge's office implemented an electronic imaging records system to automate the county's real estate records.  The new technology is used to manage the County's records and provide a service to their citizens for public records access while providing immediate efficiencies to the County.  The new records system went on-line August 1, 2000, and has greatly reduced the county's instrument processing time.  Prior to the imaging system, all recorded documents had to be microfilmed.  This manual process would require approximately ten days before the documents were returned to the customer.  The new imaging system allows us to record, image and return the document to the public while they wait, which is approximately ten minutes.  Not only does this allow us to accurately and efficiently record each document, but also to safely return it to the customer.  The Probate Court has also implemented a new court clerk software system that allows court documents to be digitally scanned and filed electronically. Documents are available for immediate viewing.  The system is date sensitive and can automatically trigger calendar-related events, specific court actions, or both.  The Probate Judges Office has seven computer terminals in its record room with public access to the digital documents and printing capabilities. Realizing the importance of permanently preserving the records on file in the Probate Office that had not been microfilmed, Judge Murray made the decision to image those documents into our computer system.  Marriage records from 1834 to present and deed records from 1866 to present are imaged and available for public viewing and printing.
The office staff can quickly and easily print copies of deeds and marriages for the public without having to handle the large books.

Mortgages, Corporations, Wills, Administrations, Name Changes, Conservatorships, Guardianships, and Condemnations are in the process of being imaged and will be available soon. 

Imaging these records will enable genealogists to quickly and efficiently access our records, but more importantly, it will forever preserve the history of Calhoun County.