Washington County Title Insurance Services
Whether you're buying, selling, or refinancing property in Washington County, Florida, Verified Title provides comprehensive title insurance and closing services. Our licensed title agents conduct thorough title searches through Washington County public records, identify and resolve any title defects, and issue both owner's and lender's title insurance policies underwritten by nationally recognized carriers.
From residential single-family homes in Chipley to commercial properties and investment transactions throughout Washington County — our title coordinators manage the entire process from title search to closing day.
Cities & Communities in Washington County
Verified Title serves every city and community in Washington County, Florida. Whether your property is in Chipley or one of the surrounding areas, our title team is ready to open your order.
Florida title insurance rates in Washington County
Florida title insurance premiums are promulgated by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. Every licensed title agent in Washington County — Verified Title included — charges the same premium for the same policy amount. There is no shopping around for a cheaper rate in Florida.
The base owner's policy rate is $5.75 per $1,000 of coverage on the first $100,000, then $5.00 per $1,000 above that. On a $300,000 Washington County home, that works out to a one-time premium of about $1,575. When a buyer is financing, the lender's policy is usually issued simultaneously for a $25 simultaneous-issue add-on instead of a second full premium.
If you're refinancing a property you've owned for less than three years, ask us about the reissue rate — it can knock up to 40% off the new premium.
Documentary stamps & recording fees in Washington County
Beyond title insurance, every Washington County closing includes Florida documentary stamp taxes and county recording fees. These are state and local taxes — not Verified Title's fees — and we itemize them on your closing disclosure so you see exactly where each dollar goes.
Documentary stamps on the deed are charged at $0.70 per $100 of the sale price. On a $300,000 sale in Washington County, that's about $2,100 in deed stamps. If the buyer is financing, documentary stamps on the promissory note add $0.35 per $100 of the loan amount, and Florida intangible tax adds another $0.002 per $1 of new mortgage.
Washington County recording fees are $10 for the first page and $8.50 for each additional page of any document recorded with the Washington County Clerk. A typical residential closing records three or four documents, so recording usually lands between $50 and $120.
How a Washington County title closing works
Here is what happens between opening your order and walking out with the keys.
Who pays for title insurance in Washington County?
In Florida, the custom for who pays the owner's title insurance premium varies by county.
In Washington County, the seller traditionally pays for the owner's title insurance policy. This is the default custom across most of Florida's 67 counties. The buyer pays for the lender's policy if they are financing.
That said, who pays is always negotiable in the contract. Plenty of Washington County deals split closing costs differently, especially in competitive offers. Verified Title walks through what is standard and what is negotiable so your agent, attorney, and lender are all on the same page before you sign.