Alabama Code Title 45. Local Laws § 45-28-84.02

(a) In Etowah County, a special recording fee of three dollars ($3) shall be paid to the county, and collected by its judge of probate, with respect to each real property instrument and each personal property instrument that may be filed for record in the office of the judge of probate and for the recording of other instruments and documents in the probate office in the discretion of the governing body of the county, and, on and after such date, no such instrument shall be received for record in the office of the judge of probate unless the special recording fee of three dollars ($3) is paid thereon. The special recording fee shall be in addition to all other fees, taxes, and other charges required by law to be paid upon the filing for record of any real property instrument of personal property instrument, and for the recording of other instruments and documents in the probate office in the discretion of the governing body of the county. All special recording fees so collected shall be deposited by the probate judge to any bank in Etowah County and spent by the judge of probate at his or her discretion for the improvement of the office of the Probate Judge of Etowah County.

(b) The fees collected under this section shall be controlled by the sole discretion of the probate judge and shall be audited by the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts.