The recorder of deeds, also known as the register of deeds or county recorder in some states, is a county government office responsible for maintaining the official public record of real estate documents, establishing and protecting property ownership rights for residents and businesses. These offices record deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other instruments that affect title to real property.
There are 52 states with Recorder Of Deeds locations across the United States. County recorders of deeds collectively maintain billions of property records that form the legal foundation of real estate ownership and transfer throughout the country.
Recorder Of Deeds in the United States
Browsing by state helps property owners, buyers, title companies, and attorneys locate their county recorder's office, access publicly recorded property documents, and understand the recording process for real estate transactions in their jurisdiction.
Common Services
- Recording deeds, warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, and trust deeds
- Recording mortgages, deeds of trust, releases, and satisfactions of lien
- Providing certified copies of recorded land documents for legal and title purposes
- Conducting property title searches and ownership chain research
When recording a real estate document, bring the original signed and notarized instrument along with the required recording fee, which is typically calculated by the number of pages. Documents must meet state-specific formatting requirements regarding margins, font size, and signature blocks to be accepted for recording.
For official information, visit Property Records Industry Association.
About Recorder Of Deeds
Recorder of deeds offices are county government offices typically headed by an elected or appointed county recorder or register. They operate under state real property statutes that define recordable documents, recording fees, and indexing requirements to ensure public accessibility and legal validity of recorded instruments.
Common Services
- Accepting electronic recordings submitted by title companies and attorneys
- Maintaining plat maps, subdivision filings, and survey records
- Processing military discharge (DD-214) recordings for veteran benefit purposes
- Accepting UCC financing statements and agricultural liens for recording
Property owners who want to verify that their deed has been properly recorded after a real estate closing should check the recorder's online public record index, which is typically searchable by grantor/grantee name or parcel number. Promptly recording a deed after closing protects your ownership rights against subsequent claims.
For official information, visit Property Records Industry Association.