Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds: Search & Office
Use the Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds Division when you need recorded land records such as deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, releases, assignments, easements, rights-of-way, maps, powers of attorney, UCC filings, notary bonds, DD-214 military discharges, certified copies or recording guidance. The office is part of the Lehigh County Clerk of Judicial Records.
The Recorder of Deeds Division is located at the Lehigh County Courthouse, 455 W Hamilton St., Room 122, Allentown, PA 18101-1614. Lehigh County points users to LANDEX for online record searching, while its Online Records Access FAQ describes Recorder of Deeds LANDEX coverage as 1812 to present with Russell Index books.
What Does the Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds Handle?
The Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds Division records and preserves real-estate and public-notice documents for Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Use this division for recorded deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, assignments, easements, rights-of-way, maps, UCC filings, powers of attorney, notary bonds, military discharges, certified copies and online land-record search support.
Deeds, Mortgages and Releases
Search LANDEX when you need to locate a recorded deed, mortgage, satisfaction piece, release, assignment, right-of-way, easement, power of attorney or related real-estate document.
Best first step: gather owner names, municipality, parcel/PIN, date range and prior instrument clues.
Recording and Transfer-Tax Review
Recording may require correct fees, GIS PIN certification, Pennsylvania Realty Transfer Tax, local transfer tax, Statement of Value, certified addresses and supporting documents.
Best first step: open the current Lehigh fee schedule and recording guidelines before mailing or visiting.
Record Alert Monitoring
Lehigh County offers a LANDEX Record Alert route that can send text or email notices when a verified document is recorded under monitored property details.
Best first step: register your parcel number and name variations after confirming your ownership record.
How to Search Lehigh County Deed Records Online
Lehigh County’s Recorder guidance points users to LANDEX for online record searching. Its Online Records Access FAQ also lists Recorder of Deeds LANDEX records from 1812 to present with Russell Index books. Use LANDEX when you need a recorded document; use assessment or property records when you only have a parcel or tax question.
Choose a search need above, then follow the official Lehigh County route shown here.
| Task | Use This Route | What to Search | If No Result Appears |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recorded deed, mortgage or satisfaction | LANDEX online records search. | Grantor, grantee, borrower, lender, recording date, instrument number, book/page, document type or PIN. | Try alternate spellings, initials, former owners, business names, wider dates and Russell Index clues. |
| Older deed or family-history transfer | LANDEX / Russell Index books and Recorder office support. | Owner names, municipality, approximate year, deed book/page, estate names and prior grantor/grantee chain. | Use broader date ranges and call the Recorder if the older index path is unclear. |
| Parcel or tax-owner details | Lehigh County assessment/property search tools. | Street address, owner name, parcel/PIN, municipality, tax district or sale details. | Search fewer address words, confirm municipality, and copy the PIN for Recorder searching. |
| Certified copy | Recorder of Deeds Division copy request. | Instrument number, book/page, recording date, parties, document type and page count. | Lehigh says certified copies must be made in the Recorder office at the time of certification. |
| Property recording alert | LANDEX Record Alert for Lehigh County. | Parcel number, instrument number, document type, date recorded, name or entity details. | Use alerts as monitoring only; investigate unexpected recordings with the Recorder and a professional. |
How to Search Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds Records
Use this workflow before buying copies, assuming a record is missing, or treating an index result as a title report.
Confirm the property is in Lehigh County
Verify the municipality, property address and parcel/PIN first. This is important near county borders and in split communities around the Lehigh Valley where a mailing address can be confusing.
Open the correct record search route
Use LANDEX for recorded deed and mortgage documents. Use Lehigh assessment/property tools when the task is parcel ownership for tax purposes, valuation, property characteristics or tax-account clues.
Search by parties and document clues
Try grantor and grantee names, lender names, business names, trusts, estate names, initials, spelling variations, recording dates, document types, instrument numbers and book/page references.
Compare the result before relying on it
Match the municipality, PIN, parties, legal description, recording date, document type and related instrument references. A similar name alone is not enough for a legal or financial decision.
Request the full image or certified copy when needed
Use the full recorded document image when available. If a lender, court, attorney, settlement agent or government agency requires proof, ask the Recorder for a certified copy instead of relying on a screenshot.
Use a title company or attorney for conclusions
Lehigh County’s guidance says staff cannot conduct searches, perform research or give legal opinions. Use a title company or legal counsel for title chains, lien priority, deed drafting, estates, trusts or disputed ownership.
Recording a Deed, Mortgage or Real Estate Document in Lehigh County
Lehigh County recording is not just a page-count fee. A deed package may need GIS PIN certification, correct addresses, a Pennsylvania Statement of Value, Realty Transfer Tax, local transfer tax, a signed multi-municipality allocation statement, and a stamped self-addressed return envelope.
GIS PIN Certification
Lehigh County’s UPI notice says a Uniform Parcel Identification Number is required on each deed, mortgage, satisfaction, release, lease, subdivision plan, adjudication and other documents, and must be certified by the GIS Bureau before recording.
Transfer Tax and Statement of Value
Lehigh’s 2026 guidance says 1% state transfer tax and 1% local transfer tax are due at recording, with 1.5% local transfer tax for City of Allentown property. Statement of Value rules apply when full tax or full consideration is not shown, or when an exemption is claimed.
Return Envelope and Payment
Cash, checks, money orders and credit cards are accepted for recording fees, but credit cards may not be used for Realty Transfer Tax. Mail-in documents need a stamped, self-addressed return envelope or a mail-back fee may apply.
| Recording / Copy Item | Lehigh County 2026 Detail | Practical Step |
|---|---|---|
| Deeds, all types | $80.25, including up to 4 pages, 4 names and 1 PIN certification unless otherwise noted. | Count pages, indexed names and PINs before preparing payment. |
| Mortgage | $80.25 for a standard mortgage category in the fee schedule. | Check whether marginal/electronic notation, additional pages or additional PINs apply. |
| Satisfaction piece, assignment or mortgage release | $70.75 for several listed mortgage-related documents, with notation included where marked. | Include the original recording information and verify every referenced instrument. |
| Additional page | $2.00 per additional page beyond the included page count. | Remember that a Statement of Value recorded with the deed can add to page count. |
| Additional name | $0.50 for each additional name beyond the included names. | Count grantors, grantees, borrowers, lenders and other indexed names carefully. |
| Additional PIN | $10.00 for each additional PIN. | Multi-parcel transactions should be quoted before mailing payment. |
| Photocopies | $0.50 per page in person; $1.00 per page by mail or email. | Ask whether you need a regular copy or certified copy before ordering. |
| Certified copy add-on | Certified copies add $1.50 per document. | Certified copies must be complete copies made in the Recorder office at certification time. |
| Maps | $5.00 per sheet for maps; map/plan recording fees vary by document type. | Ask whether your request is a map copy, proof of recording, subdivision plan or survey-type plan. |
| Mail-back / rejection risk | Mail-back fee may apply without proper stamped return envelope; rejected mailed documents may trigger a rejection fee. | Use exact payment and a correct return envelope to avoid avoidable delay. |
How to Prepare a Lehigh County Deed for Recording
This workflow is for recording readiness only. It does not replace a Pennsylvania attorney, title company, settlement agent or the Recorder’s final acceptance review.
Confirm the property is in Lehigh County
Verify the property municipality and PIN. Lehigh County includes Allentown, Bethlehem-area properties, Emmaus, Macungie, Alburtis, Catasauqua, Coopersburg, Slatington, Whitehall, South Whitehall, Lower Macungie, Upper Macungie and other boroughs/townships.
Prepare the document with required addresses and references
Lehigh recording guidelines require certified addresses for grantees, assignees or mortgagees depending on document type. Documents referencing prior recordings should state original recording information, book/page or instrument number.
Get GIS PIN certification when required
Documents subject to the Uniform Parcel Identifier requirement must be certified by the Lehigh County GIS Bureau before recording. GIS PIN Certification hours are listed as 8:00 AM to 3:45 PM.
Check Realty Transfer Tax and REV-183
For deed transfers, check Pennsylvania Realty Transfer Tax, local transfer tax, City of Allentown local-rate treatment where applicable, and whether REV-183 Statement of Value must be submitted in duplicate.
Calculate fees and prepare acceptable payment
Use the current fee schedule and count pages, names, PINs, electronic notations and return needs. Credit cards can be used for recording fees only, not Realty Transfer Tax.
Submit by office, mail or eRecording when eligible
Lehigh County lists Simplifile, CSC and ePN as eRecording vendors. If mailing, include exact payment and a properly stamped, self-addressed return envelope of sufficient size.
Save the recorded instrument details
Keep the instrument number, recording date, receipt, certified copy if ordered, and any GIS PIN certification details. These are useful for refinancing, selling, estate work, title review, tax assessment updates and lien release tracking.
Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds Office Address, Phone and Map
The Recorder of Deeds Division is located in Room 122 of the Lehigh County Courthouse in Allentown. If your recording requires GIS PIN certification, do not wait until the end of the business day because PIN certification hours end before the office closes.
Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds Division
Clerk of Judicial Records: Michelle Graupner
Location:
Lehigh County Courthouse
455 W Hamilton St., Room 122
Allentown, PA 18101-1614
Phone: 610-782-3162
Fax: 610-871-2895
Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
GIS PIN Certification: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–3:45 PM
Open Map ↗Recorder of Deeds vs Assessment vs Treasurer vs Civil Court Records
Lehigh County uses several public-record systems. Start with the correct office based on whether you need a recorded document, property value, tax payment, court record or title conclusion.
| Office / System | Use It For | Do Not Use It For | Local Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recorder of Deeds Division | Deeds, mortgages, releases, assignments, easements, maps, UCC filings, DD-214 recordings, certified copies and LANDEX record guidance. | Property valuation, tax payment, full title search, deed drafting or legal opinions. | Use Room 122 and phone 610-782-3162 for Recorder-specific questions. |
| Lehigh County Assessment / Property Records | Parcel/PIN, assessed value, property characteristics, tax assessment records, ownership for tax roll and property record clues. | Recording the deed itself or certifying Recorder copies. | Use parcel details from assessment records to improve LANDEX deed searches. |
| Lehigh County Fiscal / ORA | Online Records Access subscription setup and account-related information. | Legal research performed by county staff or guaranteed title reports. | The ORA FAQ describes subscription steps and says information is generally updated every 24 hours barring failures. |
| Tax Collector / Treasurer-related tax payment routes | Real estate tax bills, tax payments, receipts and collector information. | Deed recording or Recorder-certified copies. | After a deed is recorded, tax-bill ownership may update through assessment/tax systems separately. |
| Clerk of Judicial Records Civil Division | Civil case filings, judgments, court-related docket work and case records. | Ordinary deed recording, mortgage recording or Recorder copy certification. | Some liens and judgments may connect to property research, but recorded deed documents remain a Recorder function. |
Lehigh County Areas This Recorder Guide Helps With
The Recorder of Deeds Division serves recorded land records countywide. This includes city, borough, township and rural property records across Lehigh County.
Allentown Properties
Check City of Allentown local transfer-tax treatment, PIN certification and full deed-transfer forms before recording.
Bethlehem, Emmaus and Macungie
Use the municipality and PIN to avoid confusing similarly named streets or owners across the Lehigh Valley.
Whitehall, South Whitehall and Upper Macungie
Large subdivision and commercial-property searches work better with parcel/PIN, lot, plan and instrument clues.
Rural and Borough Records
For Slatington, Coopersburg, Alburtis, Catasauqua and township properties, older names and Russell Index references may matter.
Official Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds Links
Use these official and government sources before relying on a paid third-party document website. Each link includes what to do after opening it.
Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds Division
Official county section for Recorder notices, recording guidelines, fee schedule, record search, eRecording, UPI/PIN information, DD-214, Realty Transfer Tax and Record Alert.
- Open the section links on the Recorder page.
- Review Recording Guidelines before preparing a deed package.
- Open Fee Schedule for the current recording total.
- Use Records Search, eRecording, UPI/Parcel ID and Record Alert based on your task.
Lehigh County Recording Guidelines 2026
Official PDF for certified-copy rules, payments, eRecording vendors, LANDEX search note, hours, contact details and staff legal/search limitations.
- Read the payment section before mailing checks or money orders.
- Check the eRecording vendors if you are a title company, attorney or professional submitter.
- Confirm office hours and GIS PIN Certification hours before visiting.
- Read the staff limitation note before asking the office to perform a title search.
Lehigh County Recorder Fee Schedule 2026
Official fee PDF for deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, releases, additional pages, additional names, additional PINs, maps, UCC filings and copy charges.
- Find your exact document type.
- Count pages, names, PINs and electronic notations.
- Add copy, certification, map, mail-back or rejection-related fees where applicable.
- Call 610-782-3162 when a transaction has multiple documents or municipalities.
LANDEX Online Records Search
Online record-search route referenced by Lehigh County’s Recorder guidance for searching recorded documents.
- Open LANDEX and choose the search method that fits your usage level.
- Select Pennsylvania and Lehigh County where prompted.
- Search by grantor, grantee, date, instrument number, book/page, document type or parcel/PIN clues.
- Use official/certified copy options if the result is needed for a closing, lender, court or agency.
Lehigh County Online Records Access FAQ
County FAQ describing available online records, including Recorder of Deeds LANDEX system coverage and ORA subscription details.
- Read the available-information list.
- Look for Recorder of Deeds LANDEX and IQS/Infodex index entries.
- Review subscription requirements if you need frequent ORA access.
- Remember that account access does not mean staff will perform research for you.
Lehigh County UPI / GIS PIN Notice
Official notice explaining the Uniform Parcel Identifier requirement and $10 UPI fee for each certified PIN.
- Check whether your document type requires a UPI/PIN.
- Make sure the PIN is certified by the GIS Bureau before recording.
- Add the $10 UPI fee for every certified PIN.
- Use the Recorder page for additional UPI/Parcel ID support links.
Pennsylvania DOR — Realty Transfer Tax
Official state page explaining the 1% Pennsylvania Realty Transfer Tax and county Recorder collection role.
- Confirm whether the transfer is taxable or potentially exempt.
- Review the 1% state rate and local transfer-tax note.
- Use DOR guidance with Lehigh County’s local recording instructions.
- Ask a settlement professional when the transaction involves trusts, estates, family transfers or exemptions.
REV-183 Realty Transfer Tax Statement of Value
Official Pennsylvania Statement of Value form used when full consideration is not stated, a deed is without consideration or by gift, or an exemption is claimed.
- Complete transfer data, real estate location and valuation data.
- Attach extra pages and supporting documents when the instructions require them.
- File in duplicate with the Recorder of Deeds when required.
- Do not claim an exemption unless the exemption actually applies to the transfer.
Lehigh County Record Alert
Free LANDEX Record Alert route for receiving text or email notifications when verified Recorder documents match your monitored property information.
- Register the property owner name, parcel number or entity details requested by the service.
- Choose text or email notifications where available.
- Review alerts for parcel number, instrument number, document type and date recorded.
- Contact the Recorder and a qualified professional if an alert looks suspicious.
Common Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds Mistakes
Mistakes That Delay Search or Recording
- Asking Recorder staff to perform a title search or legal research.
- Mailing documents without exact fees or a stamped self-addressed return envelope.
- Trying to pay Realty Transfer Tax by credit card.
- Ignoring GIS PIN certification when the document requires it.
- Forgetting the 8:00 AM to 3:45 PM GIS PIN Certification window.
- Leaving out certified grantee, assignee or mortgagee address information.
- Claiming a transfer-tax exemption without the correct REV-183 or supporting explanation.
- Using an online index result as a legal title opinion.
Better Lehigh County Workflow
- Use LANDEX for recorded document searching.
- Use assessment/property tools for PIN and tax-owner clues.
- Check GIS PIN certification before recording.
- Read the 2026 fee schedule before preparing payment.
- Use REV-183 when full consideration, tax payment or exemption rules require it.
- Use eRecording vendors if you are an eligible professional submitter.
- Keep the instrument number, recording date and certified-copy receipt.
- Register for Record Alert as a monitoring tool.
What Should You Do Next?
| Your Situation | Best Next Step | Correct Office / Tool |
|---|---|---|
| You need a deed, mortgage, satisfaction or release. | Open LANDEX and search by party names, document type, date range, instrument number or parcel/PIN. | LANDEX / Recorder of Deeds |
| You only know the property address. | Find the municipality and parcel/PIN first through assessment/property records, then search Recorder records. | Assessment Records + LANDEX |
| You need to record a deed or easement. | Check GIS PIN certification, certified addresses, fee schedule, Realty Transfer Tax and REV-183 rules before submitting. | Recorder + GIS PIN Certification |
| The property is in Allentown. | Pay extra attention to local Realty Transfer Tax treatment because Lehigh County’s guidance lists a 1.5% local tax for City of Allentown. | Recorder + PA DOR + Settlement Professional |
| You need a certified copy. | Gather instrument number, book/page, party names, recording date and document type, then request certification through the Recorder. | Recorder of Deeds Division |
| You are worried about deed fraud. | Register for LANDEX Record Alert and investigate unexpected notifications quickly. | Lehigh Record Alert + Recorder |
| You need legal title certainty. | Do not rely only on an online record search. Use a title company or Pennsylvania attorney. | Qualified Professional |
Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds FAQs
Where is the Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds office?
The Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds Division is located at Lehigh County Courthouse, 455 W Hamilton St., Room 122, Allentown, PA 18101-1614. The office phone number is 610-782-3162.
What are the Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds hours?
The Recorder of Deeds Division lists hours as Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. GIS PIN Certification hours are 8:00 AM to 3:45 PM. The office is closed on major holidays and as directed by the President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas.
How do I search Lehigh County deed records online?
Lehigh County directs users to LANDEX for online Recorder of Deeds record searching. Search by grantor, grantee, lender, date range, instrument number, book/page, document type or parcel/PIN where available.
How far back do Lehigh County Recorder records go online?
Lehigh County’s Online Records Access FAQ lists Recorder of Deeds LANDEX system coverage from 1812 to present with Russell Index books, and also lists IQS Infodex Russell Index coverage from 1812 to 1983.
What is GIS PIN certification in Lehigh County?
GIS PIN certification is the county certification of the Uniform Parcel Identification Number. Lehigh County’s UPI notice says the PIN must be certified by the GIS Bureau before recording for many documents, and a $10 UPI fee is collected for every certified PIN.
What is the 2026 Lehigh County deed recording fee?
The 2026 Lehigh County Recorder fee schedule lists deeds, all types, at $80.25, including up to 4 pages, 4 names and 1 PIN certification unless otherwise noted. Extra pages, names, PINs and other items can change the final total.
Can I pay Lehigh County Realty Transfer Tax by credit card?
No. Lehigh County’s recording guidance says credit cards are accepted for recording fees only and may not be used for payment of Realty Transfer Tax. Cash, checks, money orders and credit cards are listed as accepted payment types, but transfer-tax payment has stricter rules.
When is a Pennsylvania Statement of Value needed?
REV-183 Statement of Value is generally needed when full value or consideration is not set forth in the deed, the deed is without consideration or by gift, or a realty transfer tax exemption is claimed. Lehigh County guidance says Statements of Value must accompany transfers not paying full transfer tax or not stating full consideration, or transfers claiming an exemption except a clearly stated family exemption.
Does Lehigh County accept eRecording?
Yes. Lehigh County’s Recorder guidance lists Simplifile, CSC and ePN as eRecording vendors. eRecording is typically used by eligible professional submitters such as title companies, law firms, lenders and settlement agents.
Can Recorder staff do a title search or give legal advice?
No. Lehigh County’s Recorder guidance says staff are not authorized to conduct a search, provide research, give legal advice or provide opinions about a document or its legality. Use a title company or legal counsel for those questions.
Independent Educational Guide
County-Appraisal-District.org is an independent informational website. It is not affiliated with Lehigh County Government, the Lehigh County Clerk of Judicial Records, the Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds Division, LANDEX, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, any court, any title company or any law firm.
Recorded land records, search access, certified copies, GIS PIN certification, recording acceptance, fee totals, Realty Transfer Tax, local transfer tax, Statement of Value requirements, eRecording eligibility and legal title outcomes are controlled by the responsible official offices and Pennsylvania law. Always verify current requirements with the Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds Division before recording or relying on a document.
Public property records should be used for property, recording, ownership-reference and public-record purposes only. Do not use property-owner information from this page or linked databases for employment screening, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance underwriting or other regulated consumer-reporting purposes. This website is not a Consumer Reporting Agency.