A recorded deed is the public proof that land changed hands. In Lancaster County the Recorder of Deeds keeps those books, along with mortgages, easements, and liens. Each document carries a recording date and an instrument number that tie it to a parcel. This page shows how to search the index, read a deed, and order a certified copy. A title search reads the same books in order.
Deed Record Search
- Office: Lancaster County Government Center
- Official website: https://www.lancasterdeeds.com/
- Before you file: confirm the current hours, fees, and identification requirements with the office.
Deed Types & Ownership Transfers
Not every recorded paper is a deed. A mortgage pledges land as security for a loan, and a satisfaction releases it. An easement grants a right to cross or to use part of a parcel. A deed transfers title, and the words inside it decide what promises travel with the land. Read the full instrument before you rely on a short index label. Ask for the instrument, not just the index line.
| Document | What it does | Common signer |
|---|---|---|
| General warranty deed | Transfers title with broad promises | Seller |
| Special warranty deed | Transfers title with limited promises | Seller or trustee |
| Quitclaim deed | Releases whatever interest the signer holds | Any party |
| Deed of trust or mortgage | Pledges the parcel as loan security | Borrower |
| Transfer on death deed | Names a beneficiary for a later transfer | Owner |
| Correction deed | Fixes an error in an earlier deed | Original parties |
A label on the index is a starting point, and the text of the instrument controls. A quitclaim deed can transfer a clear title or a disputed share, and the page will not tell you which. Read the granting clause and the legal description. Ask a title professional when a boundary or an ownership share matters. Keep the recorded image with your file and note the instrument number.
Grantor & Grantee Identifiers
The grantor is the person or entity giving an interest, and the grantee receives it. An index lists both names, and a search can start from either side. A trust, a partnership, or an estate may hold title instead of a person. Read the signature block and the acknowledgment. A name that differs by one letter can point to a different owner. Note the marital status when it appears.
General, Special Warranty & Quitclaim Deeds
A general warranty deed carries promises that cover the whole chain of title. A special warranty deed limits those promises to the seller's own period of ownership. A quitclaim deed makes no promise about the state of the title. Each form shifts risk in a different way. Read the covenant language before you accept a deed in a sale. The covenant runs with the land for later buyers.
Deeds of Trust & Transfer on Death Terms
A deed of trust names a trustee who holds title as security until a loan is paid. A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who takes the parcel when the owner dies. The owner keeps control during life in both cases. A lender may require a payoff before it releases its interest. Record the release when the loan closes. A payoff letter from the lender speeds the release.
Legal Property Descriptions & Considerations
A legal description locates the parcel by metes and bounds, by lot number on a plan, or by a reference to a prior deed. The description in the recorded deed controls, and a street address does not. A parcel map helps with orientation but is not a survey. Ask a licensed surveyor when a fence or a boundary line is in dispute. Read the description against the recorded plan.
Deed Records: Public Availability & Copy Requests
Recorded deeds are public, and any reader may view an image at the recorder's office. The online index shows the parties, the date, and the instrument number. A full image may require a subscription or a small fee. A certified copy carries a seal and a statement that the image matches the record. Order that version when a bank or a court needs proof. The index itself is free to search.
County Clerk Recording Requirements
Pennsylvania records deeds with the Recorder of Deeds, and the county does not use a separate clerk for land records. A deed needs a grantor's signature, a notary acknowledgment, a legal description, and a parcel number, and the property tax records page covers tax claims and payoff steps. A realty transfer tax statement often rides with the deed. The recorder checks the form and returns a rejected paper with a reason. Ask for the rejection reason in writing. Ask for the stamp date.
Chain of Title & Historical Deed Logs
A chain of title follows each transfer back through the books. Start with the current owner and read the prior deed named in the description. Repeat until the chain reaches a grant from a proprietor or a recorded plan. A gap, a missing heir, or an unrecorded deed breaks the chain. Older volumes may sit on microfilm. Ask the recorder for the index series that covers each year.
Certified Copies, Fees & Processing Times
A certified copy costs more than a plain print, and the fee is set by the recorder. A counter request may be filled during the visit, and a mailed one takes longer. Give the book, the page, and the instrument number. Ask whether the office can certify from a digital image. Keep the receipt with the copy, since a later request may need the same reference.
Deed Records: Record Accuracy & Resolution
An index entry can carry a misspelled name or a wrong page number. A deed can describe a parcel with an old lot number that no longer matches the assessment map, while the property records guide names the office that records the deed. Compare the recorded image with the index line. Ask the recorder to correct an indexing error. For a legal description problem, a title search or a survey may be the only fix. Write down both references and the date you checked.
Resolving Name & Legal Description Errors
A name error in the index can hide a deed from a search. Bring the instrument number and a copy of the image to the recorder and ask for a correction to the index. A legal description error needs a new instrument, often a correction deed signed by the original parties. A typing error may need a short statement. Ask the recorder which route fits.
Post-Closing Recording Delays
A deed signed at closing may take days or weeks to reach the recorder. The office stamps the date it receives the paper, and that date may differ from the closing date, and the lancaster county pa overview maps the county record offices. A delay can affect a loan payoff or a title policy. Check the online index after closing and ask the settlement agent for the recording confirmation. Keep the stamped image. A title policy may list the recording date.
Unlisted Deed File Resolution
A deed can be missing from an online index and still sit in a bound volume. Older records, a name spelled another way, and a parcel split across two books can hide an entry. Ask the recorder to search by instrument number, by grantor, and by grantee. A title company may hold a copy. Request a written answer when the office finds no record. Bring the parcel number to the counter.
Location and Contact Information
The Recorder of Deeds keeps its public counter on the third floor of the Lancaster County Government Center on North Queen Street. The office records deeds, mortgages, and other land papers for the county. A searcher can use the online index before a visit and then pull the image at the counter. Call ahead to confirm the counter hours and the current copy fee. Ask which entrance serves the public counter.
| Office | Address | Phone | Hours | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds | 150 N. Queen Street, 3rd Floor, Lancaster, PA 17608 | (717) 299-8238 | Confirm current public counter hours with the Recorder of Deeds | https://www.lancasterdeeds.com/ |
Bring the instrument number, the book and page, or the parcel number with you. A self-service terminal can shorten a visit, and a staff member can help with an older volume. Ask for a certified copy at the counter when a bank or a title company needs one. Keep the receipt and the stamped image in your file. A staff member can walk you through the index for older years.
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers below cover what readers ask most about Lancaster County deed records. Each answer points to the office that keeps the paper and to the clue that proves a match. Fees and counter hours can change, so call the recorder before you travel. A recorded image and a certified copy are not the same product, so ask for the one you need. Bring the parcel number and the instrument number.
Are property deed records public in Lancaster County?
Yes, recorded deeds are public. Any reader may search the index and view an image at the Recorder of Deeds. The online index lists the parties, the recording date, and the instrument number. A full image may need a subscription or a small fee. A certified copy carries a seal. Ask the counter which version fits your purpose. A search by name can miss a deed indexed under a trust.
What details appear on an official land deed?
A deed names the grantor and the grantee, states the interest being transferred, and gives the legal description of the parcel. It carries the signing date, the notary acknowledgment, and the recorder's stamp with a book and page or an instrument number. A parcel number and a transfer tax note often appear. Read the granting clause to see what was conveyed. A deed does not prove that the land is free of other claims.
How do I trace the recorded chain of ownership?
Start with the current owner and pull the deed that gave that owner title. The legal description usually names the prior deed, so follow that reference back one step at a time. Repeat until the chain reaches a recorded plan or a grant from a proprietor. Note every gap. Ask the recorder for older index volumes when the online list ends. A title search may need a deed from outside the county.
What is required to obtain a certified deed copy?
Give the recorder the book and page or the instrument number, plus the names on the deed. State that you need a certified copy and pay the fee the office quotes. A mailed request needs a check and a return address. A counter visit may be faster. Keep the receipt with the copy, since a bank or a court may ask for it. A certified copy may take a day or more.
