Washington County PA Recorder of Deeds: Search Deeds, Land Records, Fees & Office Guide
The Washington County Recorder of Deeds records, indexes, verifies, scans and permanently preserves land records for Washington County, Pennsylvania. Use this office for deeds, mortgages, subdivisions, easements, rights-of-way, mortgage satisfactions, assignments, powers of attorney, notary documents, UCC-related filings, veterans discharge records and other documents that state law treats as enduring public records.
This guide explains how to search Washington County deeds from 1781 to the present, how to use Landex and the in-office public computer room, how deed and mortgage fees work, what to check before recording, and when the Tax Revenue Department, Treasurer, Tax Claim Bureau or court offices are the better place to start.
Where Do You Search Washington County Recorder Deeds and Records?
For Washington County, Pennsylvania deed and recorded-document research, start with the Washington County Recorder of Deeds. The county directs remote users to Landex for deeds from 1781 to the present, and it also provides public computers in the Recorder of Deeds office for searching recorded documents.
Search Deeds Online
Landex is the remote access path identified by the Recorder for deeds from 1781 to the present. Use it when you need deed images, mortgage references, book/page references or recorded-document copies from your own computer.
Open Landex ↗Search in Person
Computers are available in the Recorder of Deeds office for public recorded-document searches. This is useful when you need local help understanding indexes, book/page references or copy options.
Open Recorder Page ↗Visit or Call the Recorder
The office is located at 95 W. Beau Street, Suite 520, Washington, PA 15301. Public hours are listed as 9:00am–4:30pm, Monday through Friday, and recording stops at 4:00pm.
Call 724-228-6806How to Search Washington County PA Deeds Online
Washington County deed research is different from a tax parcel search. If you have a person or business name, use grantor/grantee searching. If you have a book/page or instrument reference, use that exact reference. If you only have a street address, start with county assessment or parcel resources to find a name, PIN or deed clue before returning to the Recorder search.
Start at the Recorder of Deeds Page
Open the official Washington County Recorder of Deeds page first. Confirm that you are on the Pennsylvania county website, not another Washington County in Ohio, Oregon, Wisconsin, Minnesota or another state.
Use Landex for 1781–Current Deeds
The Recorder page says all deeds starting at 1781 to the present are available online and remotely from Landex. Landex has different access paths depending on whether you need a few documents or regular title-search access.
Search by Grantor and Grantee
Use grantor for the seller, borrower, person releasing an interest or party giving rights. Use grantee for the buyer, lender, party receiving rights or entity taking an interest. Try surname-only searches, full names, initials, trust names, LLC names and spelling variations.
Search by Book/Page or Instrument Number When Available
If a deed, mortgage, satisfaction, title report, assessment record or prior search gives you a book/page or instrument number, search that exact reference first. This is usually faster and safer than broad name searching.
Use Assessment Records When You Only Have an Address
The Recorder index is built around recorded-document data, not always around modern street-address searching. Use the Washington County Tax Assessment / Property Records public access tools to identify owner names, PINs, tax parcel data and deed-transfer clues.
Save the Record Details Before Ordering Copies
Save the document type, recording date, book/page or instrument number, grantor, grantee, PIN, municipality and page count. These details help you order copies, ask the office for help, or connect the deed to a tax parcel.
What Washington County Recorder Search Results Mean
Recorder records document transactions. They do not automatically answer every tax, title, zoning or court question. Use this decoder before relying on a search result.
| Field or Record | What It Means | How to Use It | Common Mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grantor | The person or entity transferring, releasing or giving an interest. | Use for seller-side searches, mortgage releases, easement grants and older chain-of-title work. | Assuming the grantor is the current owner. |
| Grantee | The person or entity receiving an interest. | Use for buyer, lender, easement recipient, trust or entity searches. | Searching only one spouse or one spelling of a business name. |
| PIN / tax parcel number | A parcel identifier connected to the property and tax/assessment records. | Use it to connect Recorder documents to the assessment system and local municipality. | Typing a PIN where a document-number field is expected. |
| Book/Page | A recorded-document location used for older or book-indexed records. | Use it for exact retrieval, copy orders and chain-of-title citations. | Mixing the deed book reference with mortgage book references. |
| Instrument number | A modern recording reference assigned to a document. | Use it when ordering copies or confirming a recorded deed, mortgage or satisfaction. | Using a tax account number as if it were an instrument number. |
| Recording date | The date the document was recorded by the office. | Use it to sequence deeds, mortgages, satisfactions and assignments. | Confusing recording date with signing date, closing date or effective date. |
| Municipality | The city, borough or township tied to the property record. | Important for local transfer tax, school district and property identification. | Assuming every Washington County municipality has identical local transfer-tax handling. |
How to Record a Deed, Mortgage or Land Document in Washington County PA
Recording a deed or mortgage is not just a search task. You must prepare a recordable document, include required property information, calculate the correct fees and taxes, and provide return-mail instructions when needed.
Before You Submit
- Use a legible document capable of being reproduced and archived.
- Use black ink, black stamp pads, black typewriter ribbon and white or manila paper.
- Make sure the acknowledgment date does not predate the document date.
- Include county, state, date, notary signature and notary seal in the acknowledgment.
- Make names in the notary block match signatures.
- Include tax parcel number, municipality, county and state.
- Make written dollar amounts match numerical amounts on deeds and mortgages.
Reasons a Recording Can Be Returned
- Unclear or illegible document image.
- Missing notary seal or defective acknowledgment.
- Missing tax parcel number or municipality.
- Missing grantee address with ZIP Code on deeds, mortgages or assignments of mortgage.
- Missing book/page or instrument reference on documents that refer back to a mortgage.
- Missing transfer tax or Statement of Value when required.
- No stamped, self-addressed envelope for mailing recorded documents back.
Identify the Document Type
The fee and supporting documents depend on whether you are recording a deed, mortgage, assignment, release, satisfaction piece, easement, right-of-way, subdivision plan, power of attorney, UCC, notary document or veterans discharge.
Check Formatting and E-Recording Page Size
Washington County’s Recorder page posts a notice that legal-size pages are no longer accepted electronically. It also states that letter-size pages must use at least 12-size font and legal-size pages must use at least 14-size font.
Calculate Recording Fees and Add-Ons
The Recorder page states that base document fees include 4 pages, 4 indexed names and 1 PIN. Each additional page is $2.00, each additional indexed name is $0.50, and each additional PIN is $10.00.
Check Realty Transfer Tax and Statement of Value
Pennsylvania realty transfer tax may apply to deeds and certain other transfers, and local transfer tax may also apply. Washington County’s fee bill says transfer taxes and/or Statement of Value forms must accompany deeds when required.
Submit Before 4:00pm for Recording
The Recorder’s public hours are 9:00am to 4:30pm, but document recording concludes at 4:00pm. For multiple documents, unclear fees or transfer-tax issues, arrive earlier.
Provide Return Instructions
The fee bill states that the Recorder’s Office will not mail recorded documents unless a stamped, self-addressed envelope is furnished at the time of recording.
Washington County Recorder Fees: Deeds, Mortgages, Copies and Add-On Charges
Always verify current costs with the official Recorder page or by calling 724-228-6806. The county’s posted fee bill and current surcharge notice should be read together because the Recorder page states that the CJEA fee increase changed the schedule by $1.
| Fee Item | Planning Amount | What It Covers | Important Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deed or mortgage base recording | $80.25 on the posted fee bill; check current $1 surcharge update | 4 pages, 4 names and 1 PIN. | Treat current total as subject to the Recorder’s latest CJEA/JCS surcharge notice and updated fee schedule. |
| Additional page | $2.00 each | Each page after the included first 4 pages. | Count pages before mailing or walking in. |
| Additional indexed name | $0.50 each | Each indexed name after the included first 4 names. | Trusts, companies, multiple grantors and multiple grantees can increase indexed-name count. |
| Additional PIN | $10.00 each | Each tax parcel number after the first included PIN. | Multi-parcel deeds can cost more than single-parcel deeds. |
| Assignment, easement/right-of-way, release or satisfaction piece | $69.25 on the posted fee bill; check current surcharge update | Common non-deed land-record documents listed in the fee bill. | Some document categories differ, so do not assume all recordings use the deed fee. |
| Copies by page | $0.50 per page | Ordinary copies from recorded documents. | Mail/phone copy requests and certified copies can use different pricing. |
| Certified copy | $10.00 | Certification of a recorded-document copy. | Ask the receiving agency whether certification is required before paying. |
| Veterans discharge | Free | Veterans discharge recording listed on the fee bill. | Military discharge records have privacy considerations and should not be treated like ordinary public land records. |
Simple Washington County Recording Fee Estimator
This estimator is for planning only. It does not calculate realty transfer tax, local transfer tax, credit-card service charges, e-recording vendor fees, courier costs, legal fees, rejected-document costs or special county changes after publication.
Washington County Recorder of Deeds Office Address, Phone, Hours & Map
Use the Recorder of Deeds for recorded land documents, deed/mortgage recording, copies and Landex questions connected to Washington County deed records. For tax bills, assessments, tax sales, civil court filings or probate matters, use the correct separate office.
Recorder of Deeds Office
Office:
Washington County Recorder of Deeds
95 W. Beau Street, Suite 520
Washington, PA 15301
Recorder: Carrie Perrell
Phone: 724-228-6806
Fax: 724-228-6737
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00am–4:30pm. Document recording concludes at 4:00pm.
Open Official Recorder Page ↗Recorder of Deeds vs Assessment, Treasurer, Tax Claim and Courts
Washington County property research often crosses several departments. The Recorder is the recorded-document office, but it is not the tax-bill office, delinquent-tax office, assessment office or court docket office.
Recorder of Deeds
Use for deeds, mortgages, subdivisions, recorded document copies, document recording, permanent land-record retention, Landex access and public computer searches.
Tax Assessment
Use for assessed values, parcel records, mapping, deed analyzing and transfers, assessment changes, homestead/farmstead forms and assessment appeal materials.
Treasurer / Tax Claim
Use the Treasurer for real estate tax payments and tax inquiries. Use Tax Claim for delinquent-tax collection and tax-sale information.
Courts / Register of Wills
Civil cases, criminal cases, probate, estate, marriage and guardianship records are not ordinary Recorder deed-index records. Use the correct court or Register of Wills office.
Washington County Fraud Alert, Public Search Room and Record-Safety Tips
A fraud alert does not prevent every fraudulent recording or replace title insurance, but it can help you notice new recorded activity tied to names you monitor.
Fraud Alert System
The Recorder page includes a Fraud Alert System link. Use it to set up name-based alerts connected to recorded documents. A name alert is not a guarantee that a document is valid or invalid, but it can help you react faster.
- Open the official Recorder of Deeds page.
- Find the Fraud Alert System link.
- Open the Landex alert page for Washington County.
- Enter the property owner name exactly and with common variations.
- Choose text or email alerts if available.
- Save the alert and keep a copy of your registration details.
Public Computer Room
The Recorder page states that computers are available in the Recorder of Deeds office for public searches. This is especially useful for older deeds, broad title chains, unfamiliar indexes and copy questions.
Bring names, approximate dates, book/page references, instrument numbers, PINs, municipality names and any prior deed or mortgage copy you already have.
No Results? Try These Washington County Deed Search Fixes
Search Problems
- Confirm you are searching Washington County, Pennsylvania, not another Washington County.
- Search the same person as both grantor and grantee.
- Try maiden names, initials, middle initials, trust names and LLC names.
- Use a book/page or instrument number if you have one.
- Use the assessment record to find PIN, municipality and owner spelling.
- Search older family surnames if researching inherited or estate property.
- Call Landex at 1-800-370-2836, Option 4, for platform access or purchase questions.
Recording Problems
- Use black ink and legible paper suitable for microfilming.
- Check notary date, seal, signature, county, state and appearing-party names.
- Make sure written and numeric money amounts match.
- Include tax parcel number, municipality, county and state.
- Attach transfer-tax checks and REV-183 Statement of Value when required.
- Use correct additional fees for extra pages, names and PINs.
- Provide a stamped self-addressed envelope for returned recorded documents.
Official Washington County Recorder Links and What to Do After Opening Them
Use these official and agency resources before paying a third-party deed website, mailing a document, calculating transfer tax or assuming a record proves legal ownership. Each link includes a practical next step.
Washington County Recorder of Deeds
Official county page for Recorder services, deed access, fraud alerts, public computer search and office contact details.
- Confirm the office address, hours and recording cutoff.
- Use Access Deeds Online for the Landex search path.
- Open Fraud Alert System if you want name-based alerts.
- Open the current fee schedule before submitting a document.
Landex Deed Search
Official remote access vendor identified by the county for deeds from 1781 to the present.
- Choose the Landex access option that fits your use: occasional document purchase or regular searching.
- Select Pennsylvania and Washington County where prompted.
- Search by grantor, grantee, date range, book/page, instrument number or other available criteria.
- For Landex technical or purchase help, call 1-800-370-2836, Option 4.
Washington County Recorder Fee Schedule
Official fee bill for recording, copies, certified copies, UCC filings, veterans discharge records and document requirements.
- Check the deed, mortgage or other document category.
- Add extra page, name and PIN charges if your document exceeds included limits.
- Read the Recorder page’s current $1 CJEA/JCS surcharge update before finalizing payment.
- Call 724-228-6806 if the fee is unclear.
Washington County Tax Revenue — Assessments
Official assessment office page for parcel records, assessed values, deed analyzing and property-tax assessment functions.
- Use this page when you need assessed value, parcel data or assessment records.
- Open property records or GIS tools from the Tax Revenue area.
- Use parcel and owner details to support Recorder / Landex searching.
- Do not treat the assessment page as a legal title report.
Pennsylvania Realty Transfer Tax
Official Pennsylvania Department of Revenue page explaining the state 1% realty transfer tax and county Recorder collection role.
- Read the state transfer-tax overview before recording a deed.
- Review exemption categories if you believe a transfer is exempt.
- Use Common Level Ratio factors when the Statement of Value requires valuation support.
- Confirm Washington County and municipality/local transfer-tax handling before submitting checks.
REV-183 Realty Transfer Tax Statement of Value
Official Pennsylvania Department of Revenue form used when full value is not stated, a deed is without consideration or an exemption is claimed.
- Complete transfer data, real-estate location and valuation data.
- Enter Washington County, municipality, school district and tax parcel number.
- Attach required trust, exemption or supporting documents if applicable.
- File it with the Recorder of Deeds when the deed transaction requires it.
Washington County Treasurer
Official office for county real estate tax payment and tax-payment inquiries, separate from Recorder document recording.
- Use this office for tax payment questions, not deed image searching.
- Review current payment methods and card/ACH fees.
- Check delinquent-tax payment rules if the bill is past due.
- Use the Recorder only when you need recorded documents or recording services.
What Should You Do Next?
| Your Goal | Best Starting Point | Do This First |
|---|---|---|
| Find a deed, mortgage, satisfaction or recorded land document. | Landex through the Recorder of Deeds page. | Search grantor/grantee names and save instrument or book/page details. |
| Search in person instead of online. | Recorder public computer room. | Visit Suite 520 during office hours with names, dates, PINs and any prior document references. |
| Record a deed or mortgage. | Recorder fee schedule and recording requirements. | Check notary, PIN, municipality, grantee address, transfer tax, REV-183 and correct fees. |
| Calculate state and local transfer tax. | PA Department of Revenue and Washington County Recorder fee guidance. | Confirm state 1%, local tax, municipality exception and any Statement of Value requirement. |
| Find assessed value or property-tax parcel information. | Washington County Tax Revenue / Assessments. | Use property records, GIS and assessment tools instead of the deed index alone. |
| Pay real estate taxes. | Washington County Treasurer. | Open tax payment tools and review payment method charges before paying. |
| Handle delinquent taxes or tax-sale issues. | Washington County Tax Claim Bureau. | Read the current tax-sale rules, registration rules and required fees before bidding or paying. |
Washington County Recorder FAQs
How do I search Washington County PA deeds online?
Open the official Washington County Recorder of Deeds page and use the Landex link identified by the county. The Recorder page says deeds from 1781 to the present are available online and remotely through Landex.
Where is the Washington County Recorder of Deeds office?
The office is listed at 95 W. Beau Street, Suite 520, Washington, PA 15301. The main phone number is 724-228-6806 and the fax number is 724-228-6737.
What are the Washington County Recorder office hours?
The Recorder page lists hours as Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 4:30pm. Document recording concludes at 4:00pm, so document submitters should arrive earlier.
Who is the Washington County PA Recorder of Deeds?
The official Recorder page identifies Carrie Perrell as the Washington County Recorder of Deeds.
What records does the Washington County Recorder of Deeds maintain?
The Recorder records deeds, mortgages, subdivisions and other documents deemed by state law to be of enduring public value. The office records, indexes, verifies, scans, collects fees and taxes, and permanently retains documents for administrative, legal and historical purposes.
Can I search Washington County deed records in person?
Yes. The Recorder page says computers are available in the Recorder of Deeds office for public searches of recorded documents.
What is the fee to record a deed or mortgage in Washington County PA?
The posted fee bill lists deeds and mortgages at $80.25 for 4 pages, 4 names and 1 PIN, and the current Recorder page says the CJEA/JCS surcharge increased by $1 under Act 45 of 2025. Verify the current total with the Recorder before submitting payment.
What extra fees can apply to Washington County recorded documents?
The Recorder page says base document fees include 4 pages, 4 indexed names and 1 PIN. Additional pages are $2.00 each, additional indexed names are $0.50 each, and additional PINs are $10.00 each.
When is a Pennsylvania REV-183 Statement of Value needed?
REV-183 is commonly used when full value or consideration is not stated in the deed, the deed is without consideration or by gift, or a realty transfer tax exemption is claimed. Washington County’s fee bill says transfer taxes and/or Statement of Value forms must accompany deeds when required.
Is this website the official Washington County Recorder?
No. This page is an independent educational guide. It is not the Washington County Recorder of Deeds, not Washington County government, not Landex, not the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, not a title company and not a law firm. Always verify current fees, forms, search tools and recording rules with the responsible official office.
Independent Educational Guide
This page is an independent informational guide and is not affiliated with the Washington County Recorder of Deeds, Washington County Government, Landex, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, the Washington County Treasurer, the Washington County Tax Revenue Department, any court office, a title company or a law firm.
Recorded-document indexes, Landex records, deed images, assessment records and GIS parcel records may be incomplete, delayed or misunderstood without reviewing the underlying document and the correct office records. This page does not provide legal advice, tax advice, title advice, title insurance, boundary surveying, deed drafting 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.