Lancaster County PA Recorder of Deeds: Search Public Records, Office, Fees & Recording Guide
The Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds is the office to use for Lancaster County land records such as deeds, mortgages, mortgage satisfactions, assignments, easements, rights-of-way, leases, UCC filings, notary commissions and recorded military discharge documents.
This guide explains how to search current and historical deed records, how to visit the Recorder’s office at 150 N. Queen Street, Suite 315, Lancaster, PA 17603, what to check before recording a deed, which fees commonly apply, and when another Lancaster County office is actually the better place to start.
Where Do I Search or Contact the Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds?
Use the official Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds Public Records Search for recorded documents. Use the Recorder’s office for deed recording, mortgage satisfaction records, copies, certifications, e-recording questions, notary commission recording and Lancaster County veteran DD-214 recording. Do not use the Recorder as a court-records office, tax-assessment office or title-insurance substitute.
Search Recorded Documents
Start with the official Tyler public access search for modern recorded documents. Accept the disclaimer, search all spelling variations, then open the correct result by grantor, grantee, recording date or instrument reference.
Open Public Records Search ↗Search Older Deeds
For older deed-book research, use Lancaster County’s Infodex/SearchIQS path. The county’s guide explains searching the 1729–1980 deed index by book/page or by grantor and grantee name.
Open SearchIQS Infodex ↗Visit or Contact the Office
The office is located at 150 N. Queen Street, Suite 315, Lancaster PA 17603. Public hours are 8:30am–5:00pm, Monday through Friday, but document recording concludes at 4:30pm.
Call 717-299-8238How to Search Lancaster County PA Deeds Online
Lancaster County deed research usually has two paths: the current Recorder public access search for modern records and the historical Infodex/SearchIQS route for older deed-book records. Use the parcel viewer or assessment system only when you need a parcel clue such as deed reference, tax account number or property location.
Open the Official Recorder Public Records Search
Open the Tyler public access search from the Lancaster County Recorder website. Read the disclaimer before accepting. The county advises users to search all possible spelling variations and other criteria to maximize results.
Search by Name When You Know a Buyer, Seller or Lender
Try the surname first, then add the first name or business name. For older deed-book research, the county Infodex guide says to use the Search by Name tab, select the year range, choose grantor or grantee, and type the last name then first name.
Search by Instrument Number or Book/Page When You Already Have a Reference
If a tax record, title commitment, old deed, mortgage satisfaction or parcel viewer gives you an instrument number or book/page reference, search that exact reference first. For historical Infodex, the county guide says to use the Go To Document path when you already have a deed reference.
Use LanCo View When You Only Have a Property Address
Lancaster County GIS says LanCo View 2.0 is the public parcel application for acreage, dimensions, deed reference and aerial imagery. Start there if you only have a property address and need a deed reference before opening the Recorder search.
Open the Document Image and Save the Citation Details
When you find a likely match, save the instrument number, book/page, recording date, document type, grantor, grantee and parcel or municipality information. These details help you request certified copies or connect the document to an assessment record.
Do Not Stop at the Index if the Matter Is Legal or Financial
An index hit is only a guide. If the issue involves ownership, liens, foreclosure, estate transfer, refinancing, settlement, title insurance or a boundary dispute, review the recorded image and get professional help before relying on the record.
What You May See in a Lancaster County Deed Search Result
Search results can be confusing because a deed index is not the same thing as a tax assessment page, a survey or a court docket. Use this decoder to understand what each field usually means.
| Field | What It Means | How to Use It | Common Mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grantor | The person or entity giving, selling, releasing or transferring an interest. | Use for seller-side searches, mortgage releases and older chain-of-title research. | Assuming the grantor is always the current owner. |
| Grantee | The person or entity receiving the property interest or recorded benefit. | Search the current buyer as grantee to locate a recent purchase deed. | Searching only one spouse, trust name or business-name variation. |
| Instrument number | A modern recorded-document reference assigned by the recording system. | Use for exact retrieval, copy requests and title-company communication. | Typing an incomplete or wrong-year reference. |
| Book/Page | An older deed-book location used heavily in historical Lancaster County research. | Use in Infodex/SearchIQS when the historical guide instructs you to go directly to the book and page. | Mixing book letter, volume and page fields. |
| Recording date | The date the Recorder’s office recorded the document. | Use to sequence documents and narrow date-range searches. | Confusing recording date with deed execution date or closing date. |
| Tax parcel ID / district code | Local property identifier used with deeds and Lancaster County municipal/district coding. | Check it against assessment and GIS records before preparing a new deed. | Leaving it off a deed when Lancaster County requires parcel ID numbers with district code. |
How to Record a Deed, Mortgage or Related Document in Lancaster County
Recording is document-specific. A deed, mortgage, satisfaction, assignment, UCC filing, notary paper or plan can have different fees and supporting documents. Lancaster County publishes local recording requirements, but legal drafting should be handled by a qualified professional.
Before You Submit
- Use white 8.5″ × 11″ paper for standard documents.
- Use typed text no smaller than 10-point font.
- Do not staple documents.
- Make sure notary dates do not predate the document date.
- Include municipality, county and state for the property.
- Make written amounts match numerical amounts on deeds and mortgages.
- Include tax parcel ID number with district code on deeds.
Reasons a Recording Can Fail
- Missing or defective notary acknowledgment.
- Wrong property municipality or missing local transfer-tax split.
- Missing Statement of Value when required.
- Incorrect payment amount; the office states it does not issue refunds.
- Using a P.O. box as the certified grantee address on a deed.
- Sending a blank check or an unacceptable personal check.
- Mailing documents without a self-addressed stamped return envelope.
Identify the Document Type
Decide whether the document is a deed, mortgage, satisfaction, assignment, release, easement, right-of-way, UCC, plan, notary filing or miscellaneous document. The document type affects fee calculation and required attachments.
Check Transfer Tax and Statement of Value Requirements
Pennsylvania realty transfer tax is collected through county Recorders of Deeds, often with local transfer tax. Lancaster County says transfer taxes and/or Statement of Value forms must accompany transfers unless the exemption is clearly stated in the deed.
Use the Fee Page or Official Fee Calculator
Lancaster County’s online fee page is important because the old fee-bill PDF may not reflect every recent state fee change. Verify the total before mailing or presenting documents.
Choose E-Recording, Mail, Courier or Walk-In
E-recording is encouraged and is commonly used by title agencies, banks and law firms. Mail and courier submissions need a self-addressed stamped envelope with enough postage and the correct size for document return.
Submit Before the Recording Cutoff
The office is open until 5:00pm, but document recording concludes at 4:30pm. If you arrive close to cutoff with multiple documents, unresolved fee issues or missing attachments, recording may not be completed that day.
Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds Fees: Common 2026 Planning Numbers
Always confirm the fee on the official Lancaster County fee page or fee calculator before submitting documents. The Recorder’s site states the JCP fee increased from $40.25 to $41.25 under Act 45 of 2025.
| Item | Official Fee Page Amount | What It Covers | Practical Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deeds and mortgages | $71.25 base fee | Maximum of 4 pages. | Additional pages after 4 are $2.00 each. |
| Assignments, releases, satisfactions and similar JCP documents | $59.75 base fee | Maximum of 4 pages. | Includes items such as assignments of mortgage, releases, satisfactions, installment sale agreements and easements/rights-of-way. |
| Most other documents | $58.75 base fee | Maximum of 4 pages. | Includes agreements, terminations, modifications and subordinations/postponements. |
| Miscellaneous indexed documents | $18.50 base fee | Maximum of 4 pages. | Includes powers of attorney and deputations listed by the county fee page. |
| Copies | $0.25 per page | Copies from public recorded documents. | Certified copies add certification fees where required. |
| Certification | $10.00 | Certification of a copy or record. | Ask whether the receiving agency needs a certified copy before paying. |
| UCC filing | $100.00 | UCC-1 and UCC-3 standard filings listed by the fee page. | Confirm business/entity names carefully before filing. |
| Veterans Service Discharge / DD-214 | Free | Recording and certification listed as free by the Recorder’s veterans page. | DD-214 records are treated differently from ordinary public land records. |
Simple Lancaster Recording Fee Estimator
This is an educational estimator only. It does not calculate realty transfer tax, local tax splits, credit-card service charges, mail costs, return fees or special document rules. Verify with the official fee page before submitting.
Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds Office Address, Phone, Hours & Map
The Recorder of Deeds office is inside the Lancaster County Government Center area at 150 N. Queen Street. Use this office for recorder-document tasks, not for civil court dockets, criminal records, marriage/probate records or property assessment values.
Recorder of Deeds Office
Office / mailing address:
County of Lancaster
Recorder of Deeds
150 North Queen Street, Suite 315
Lancaster, PA 17603
Phone: 717-299-8238
Fax: 717-299-8393
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30am–5:00pm. Document recording concludes at 4:30pm.
Current Recorder: The official Recorder website identifies Ann M. Hess as Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds.
Open Official Contact Page ↗Recorder of Deeds vs Assessment, GIS, Courts and Register of Wills
Lancaster County has separate systems for land records, parcel data, assessment data and court records. The Recorder is not the only office involved in property research.
Recorder of Deeds
Records deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, assignments, easements, UCC filings, notary papers and DD-214 records. Use for recorded land-document images and recording submissions.
Property Assessment
Use the assessment office and wEdge assessment system for assessed values, property tax assessment details and tax-account information. Do not treat deed recording as a tax assessment appeal.
GIS / LanCo View
Use LanCo View for parcels, aerial imagery, acreage, dimensions and deed-reference clues. GIS mapping is helpful, but it is not a recorded survey or legal title opinion.
Court / Probate Offices
Civil and criminal court records are separate from land records. Marriage, probate and estate-related records may be handled by Register of Wills or court offices, not the Recorder of Deeds.
Fraud Notify Alerts and DD-214 Recording in Lancaster County
Lancaster County provides a Fraud Notify path through the Recorder public access system, and the Recorder also handles DD-214 military discharge recording with stricter confidentiality than ordinary land records.
Fraud Notify Alerts
Fraud Notify does not prevent all fraud or replace title monitoring, but it can alert you when a name you set up appears in the Recorder public access system.
- Open the Lancaster County Recorder public access site.
- Accept the disclaimer if prompted.
- Click Fraud Notify.
- Create an account, verify your email, then return to the public access site.
- Add an individual name as last name first, or add a business name.
- Use Refine Alert for multiple names, then save the alert.
Veterans DD-214 and Thank A Vet
The Recorder’s veterans page says discharged or retired military personnel may record honorable discharge papers or DD-214 records, obtain up to four certified copies, and keep the document as a permanent record.
The page states DD-214 recording and certification are free, and discharge papers are held in strict confidence, accessible only to the service member, legal guardian or people with signed and notarized authorization.
Open Vet ID Page ↗No Results? Try These Lancaster County Deed Search Fixes
For Modern Records
- Search all possible spelling variations of the name.
- Try the owner as grantor and grantee.
- Search by business/entity name exactly as it may appear on the document.
- Use the instrument number if you have it from a tax record, closing paper or prior deed.
- Use date ranges when a single exact name creates too many results.
- Use LanCo View to get a deed reference from a parcel if you only have the address.
For Historical Records
- Use SearchIQS/Infodex for 1729–1980 deed research.
- Try last name then first name for historical name searches.
- Check multiple year ranges because some deeds were recorded later than drawn.
- Use deed book letters, volume and page exactly as the county guide explains.
- Check unrecorded deed index resources when the historical guide points you there.
Official Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds Links
Use these official resources before paying a third-party records site, mailing documents or relying on an outdated fee sheet. Each link includes the next steps after opening it.
Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds Home
Official office homepage with public record search, fee calculator, recording information, forms, Fraud Notify and Vet ID links.
- Review the bulletin board for current posting notes and service changes.
- Use Search Public Records for document lookup.
- Use Recording Information before mailing or walking in with a document.
- Use Contact if you need office hours, address or staff email details.
Recorder Public Records Search
Official Tyler public access search for Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds records.
- Read the disclaimer before accepting.
- Search by name, date, instrument reference or available criteria.
- Try spelling variations because the county warns the index is only a guide.
- Open the document image and save the instrument number or book/page reference.
SearchIQS / Online Infodex
Official historical-search path linked by the Recorder for older deed-book research.
- Click Search Records as Guest if using guest access.
- If you have a reference, use Go To Document and enter book/page details.
- If you do not have a reference, use Search by Name.
- Choose the year range, then search grantor or grantee by last name then first name.
Recording Requirements
Official local checklist for document format, acknowledgments, parcel ID, statement of value, payment and mail-return requirements.
- Check paper size, font size and no-staples rule.
- Review notary acknowledgment requirements before signing.
- Confirm parcel ID, municipality and district code details.
- Check Statement of Value and transfer-tax instructions before submitting.
Select Fees
Official current fee page for deeds, mortgages, assignments, releases, UCC filings, copies, certifications and plans.
- Select the document type that matches your recording.
- Count pages after the first 4 because additional pages are charged separately.
- Check copy, certification and service-charge fees if requesting copies.
- Do not rely on an old printed fee bill if the website shows a newer posting.
Electronic Recording
Official page for e-recording vendors and workflow for title agencies, banks and law firms.
- Review the three vendor options: Simplifile, CSC and EPN.
- Contact the vendor for setup instructions.
- Submit complete documents and attachments through the vendor system.
- Remember that documents submitted by 4:30pm are generally recorded the day received unless closings or unusual circumstances apply.
Forms Page
Official Recorder forms page with Statement of Value, blank document forms, notary forms, e-recording plan cover sheets, UCC forms and military discharge forms.
- Identify the exact form category before downloading.
- Use the Realty Transfer Tax Statement of Value for applicable deed transfers.
- Use UCC forms only for secured-transaction filings.
- Use military discharge request forms only for eligible DD-214 access.
LanCo View 2.0 Property Search
Official Lancaster County GIS parcel viewer for parcel information, acreage, dimensions, deed reference and aerial imagery.
- Search by property address or zoom to the parcel.
- Open the parcel details panel.
- Look for acreage, dimensions and deed-reference information.
- Use the deed reference back in the Recorder public records search.
Pennsylvania Realty Transfer Tax
Official Pennsylvania Department of Revenue page explaining the 1 percent state realty transfer tax and county Recorder collection role.
- Read the state tax overview before recording a deed.
- Review exemptions if the deed claims a transfer-tax exemption.
- Use the Common Level Ratio page when REV-183 valuation rules apply.
- Confirm local transfer-tax treatment with Lancaster County before submitting.
What Should You Do Next?
| Your Goal | Best Starting Point | Do This First |
|---|---|---|
| Find a current deed or mortgage record. | Recorder Public Records Search. | Accept the disclaimer, search the grantor/grantee, and save the instrument number. |
| Research a property back into the 1700s or 1800s. | SearchIQS / Infodex and the historical deed index workflow. | Search by deed book/page if known, or by grantor/grantee and year range. |
| Record a deed, mortgage or satisfaction. | Recording Requirements and Select Fees pages. | Verify notary acknowledgment, parcel ID, district code, Statement of Value and payment. |
| Find assessed value or tax account details. | Lancaster County Property Assessment / wEdge. | Use parcel data to confirm assessment information; do not rely on deed index alone. |
| Get alerts for possible name-based recordings. | Fraud Notify through the Recorder public access site. | Create an account, add names, refine alerts and save your alert list. |
| Record or request a DD-214. | Recorder Vet ID / military discharge page. | Bring current photo ID and follow the confidential access rules. |
Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds FAQs
How do I search Lancaster County PA deeds online?
Open the official Lancaster County Recorder public access search, accept the disclaimer, and search by grantor, grantee, recording date, instrument number or other available criteria. If you only have a property address, use LanCo View first to find parcel or deed-reference clues.
Where is the Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds office?
The Recorder of Deeds office is listed at 150 North Queen Street, Suite 315, Lancaster, PA 17603. Public office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm, and document recording concludes at 4:30pm.
What phone number should I call for the Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds?
Call 717-299-8238 for the Recorder of Deeds office. Use this number for recorder-specific questions such as document recording, copy requests, e-recording, fees and recorded-document search issues.
Does Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds handle property assessments?
No. The Recorder handles recorded land documents, while the property assessment office and assessment systems handle assessed value and tax-account information. Use LanCo View or wEdge for assessment and parcel details, then use deed references in the Recorder search.
How do I search older Lancaster County deed books?
Use the county’s historical Infodex/SearchIQS path for 1729–1980 deed research. If you have a deed reference, use the Go To Document workflow. If not, search by name, select a year range, choose grantor or grantee, and enter last name then first name.
What are Lancaster County deed recording fees?
The official fee page currently lists a $71.25 base fee for deeds and mortgages up to 4 pages, plus $2.00 for each additional page after 4. Other document categories have different base fees, so verify the official fee page or fee calculator before submitting.
Are cover pages required for Lancaster County recording?
The current Lancaster County recording requirements page says cover pages are no longer required and emphasizes the no-staples policy. Always check the latest requirements before submitting because older fee-bill PDFs may mention different cover-page language.
Can I e-record documents in Lancaster County?
Yes. Lancaster County offers e-recording and lists Simplifile, CSC and EPN as e-recording vendors. The county says e-recording is ideal for title agencies, banks and law firms that regularly do business in Lancaster County.
Are military discharge records public in Lancaster County?
No. The Recorder’s veterans page says discharge papers are held in strict confidence and can be accessed only by the service member, legal guardian or individuals with signed and notarized authorization from the service member. DD-214 recording and certification are listed as free.
Is this website the official Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds?
No. This page is an independent educational guide. It is not the Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds, not Lancaster County government, not a title company and not a law firm. Always verify current search tools, fees and recording rules with the official Recorder’s office.
Independent Educational Guide
This page is an independent informational guide and is not affiliated with the Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds, Lancaster County Government, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, Tyler Technologies, SearchIQS, a title company or a law firm.
Recorded-document indexes, GIS parcel data and assessment records may be incomplete, delayed or interpreted incorrectly without reviewing the underlying document. Do not use this page as legal advice, tax advice, title advice, title insurance, a boundary survey or a guarantee of ownership.
Public property and owner records should not be used for employment screening, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance underwriting or other regulated consumer-reporting purposes. This website is not a Consumer Reporting Agency.