A Lady Bird Deed, also known as an Enhanced Life Estate Deed, can be recorded in the Official Records of Hillsborough County. If your deed has already been prepared, signed, witnessed, and notarized, Swift-E Recording lets you submit it electronically to the Hillsborough County Clerk, with no trip to the Clerk’s office in Tampa, Brandon, or Plant City.
Swift-E Recording provides electronic recording services only. We do not prepare deeds or provide legal advice.
A Lady Bird Deed, formally called an Enhanced Life Estate Deed, is commonly used in Florida estate planning to let a property owner keep broad control of real property during life while naming one or more beneficiaries who may receive the property at the owner’s death.
The owner typically keeps the ability to sell, mortgage, lease, gift, or otherwise dispose of the property during life.
The owner keeps the enhanced life-estate rights stated in the deed.
If the deed remains in effect, the named beneficiary receives the property under the deed.
Have your deed prepared and properly executed, then submit it electronically through Swift-E Recording.
Have your Enhanced Life Estate Deed properly prepared before submitting it for recording. The Hillsborough County Clerk does not provide a Lady Bird Deed form, so most owners work with a Florida attorney. The completed deed should include the required party and property information and be properly signed, witnessed, and notarized.
Review the checklist →Upload your completed deed to Swift-E Recording and provide the required recording information. Swift-E submits it electronically to the Hillsborough County Clerk for recording in the Official Records. See how Swift-E eRecording works.
Record my completed deed →Once the Clerk accepts and records the deed, the recorded document is returned electronically through your Swift-E Recording account. Processing time is controlled by the Hillsborough County Clerk: typically about 1 business day, based on recent Swift-E submissions.
Get started →The Hillsborough County Clerk of Court & Comptroller accepts documents for recording electronically through eRecording vendors, so your deed can be recorded without mailing the original or visiting a Clerk location.
Swift-E Recording Services appears on the Clerk’s courtesy list of eRecording vendors. The Clerk is precluded from recommending any vendor. The Clerk also notes that only in-person recording guarantees same-day service.
View the Hillsborough County Clerk’s recording information →
Submit it electronically for recording with Swift-E Recording.
Record My Lady Bird DeedReview your deed carefully before submitting. A Florida deed intended for recording generally includes:
This checklist reflects common Florida recording requirements (see F.S. 689.01 and F.S. 695.26) and is not a substitute for legal advice. If you are unsure whether your deed is properly executed, consult a qualified Florida attorney before recording.
Yes. “Lady Bird Deed” is the commonly used name for an Enhanced Life Estate Deed.
No. The Hillsborough County Clerk of Court & Comptroller does not offer a Lady Bird (Enhanced Life Estate) Deed form, and the Clerk’s staff cannot give legal advice or help prepare legal forms. Have your deed prepared by a qualified Florida real estate or estate-planning attorney.
Yes. The Hillsborough County Clerk accepts documents for recording through eRecording vendors, and Swift-E Recording Services appears on the Clerk’s courtesy list of eRecording vendors. The Clerk is precluded from recommending any vendor.
Yes. Florida law (Section 689.01, Florida Statutes) requires a deed conveying an interest in real property to be signed in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, and allows witnesses to be present through audio-video communication technology as defined in Section 117.201. Since January 1, 2024, each witness’s name and post-office address must be printed beneath their signature (Section 695.26). A deed intended for recording should also include a proper notarial acknowledgment.
A Lady Bird Deed is commonly used as an estate-planning tool intended to allow property to pass to a named beneficiary at the owner’s death while the owner retains control during life. Whether a particular deed achieves that result depends on how it is prepared, the property involved, and the owner’s circumstances. Swift-E does not provide legal advice; consult a qualified Florida attorney if you have questions about probate or estate planning.
Generally, no. Under an Enhanced Life Estate Deed, the owner typically keeps control of the property during life, including the ability to sell, mortgage, or lease it, and the beneficiary’s interest is intended to take effect at the owner’s death if the deed remains in effect.
Documentary stamp tax treatment can vary depending on the transaction. If you are unsure whether documentary stamp tax is due on your deed, consult the Florida Department of Revenue or a qualified attorney or tax professional before recording. You can estimate your Hillsborough County recording fees, and doc stamps if any apply, with our Florida Doc Stamp & Recording Fee Calculator.
Yes. The Hillsborough County Clerk offers a free Property Fraud Alert service that notifies you by email or phone when a document is recorded in your name. It is a useful safeguard after recording a Lady Bird Deed.
No. Swift-E provides electronic recording services only. We don’t prepare deeds, provide legal advice, or determine whether a Lady Bird Deed is appropriate for your situation. If you need help preparing or reviewing a deed, consult a qualified Florida real estate or estate-planning attorney.
Whether your property is in Tampa, Plant City, or Temple Terrace, or in communities such as Brandon, Riverview, Valrico, Apollo Beach, Ruskin, Sun City Center, Lutz, Seffner, Lithia, Carrollwood, Town ’n’ Country, or Westchase, your Lady Bird Deed is recorded at the county level in the Hillsborough County Official Records. The same applies to property in unincorporated Hillsborough County. Swift-E lets you submit your completed deed electronically, with no trip to the Clerk’s office.
Already have your Enhanced Life Estate Deed completed and properly executed? Submit it electronically through Swift-E Recording and receive your recorded document back through your account.
No Clerk office trip. No mailing documents. Submit online.
