Churchill County Recorder: Search Deeds, Land Records & Office Information
Need a deed for property in Fallon, Hazen or rural Churchill County? The Churchill County Recorder’s Office maintains recorded deeds, deeds of trust, liens, homesteads, easements, maps, water-right documents and other public records.
You can search the county’s online document index or visit the Recorder in Fallon. This guide explains the exact search conventions used by Churchill County—including its unusual historic name index—plus copy requests, recording charges, filing requirements and office contact information.
Where Can You Search Churchill County Recorded Documents?
The official county website provides a Recorder Document Index through its Browse Our Files page. Churchill County indexes documents by the names of principal parties and the year recorded. On-site index searches and record viewing are free.
Search a Deed
Use the Recorder Document Index. Start with grantor or grantee names, then compare recording year, document type, book/page references and legal-description details.
Follow the search walkthrough →Order a Document Copy
Churchill County provides an official Copy Request Form. Standard official-record copies cost $1 per page, while certification has a separate fee.
See copy-request steps →Start With a Property Parcel
If you only know a physical address or assessor’s parcel information, start with the Assessor’s property search. Then use owner and legal-description information to research the Recorder index.
Open Assessor Search Menu ↗How to Search Churchill County Recorder Deeds Online
Churchill County publishes unusually useful search guidance for its historical index. Follow these instructions before assuming a missing search result means the deed was never recorded.
Open the Recorder Document Index
Visit the official Browse Files page. Under Browse Recorder’s Files, choose Recorder Document Index.
Enter the Name in Churchill County’s Format
The county specifically instructs researchers to put a comma after the last name in the name field. For a business name beginning with “The,” try omitting that first word. Trusts may be indexed under a surname followed by “Trust.”
Choose the Document Type
If you know the instrument is a deed, mortgage, easement or release, use the Select control next to the Document Type field. The Recorder also recommends checking amended document types.
Review the Recording Year—Not Only the Signing Date
The index is based on the date the instrument was recorded. Some documents were signed long before they were filed. Churchill County gives an example of an instrument created in 1896 but recorded in 1926.
Expand the recording-year range when tracing older title history.
Read Both Legal Description and Notes
When a result opens, examine the Legal Description and Notes fields. The county says information may continue from the description field into the notes field. For records created before October 1968, the notes may also identify the historic book type.
Confirm the Instrument Reference
Record the book/volume, page numbers, recording date, party names and document type. For older deeds, note any reference to an estate book, survey book, water claim or other historical volume.
Inspect or Request the Document
Use the available document-viewing functions or ask the Recorder for a copy. If the index shows an unusual historic reference, contact the office with the exact information you saved.
How to Find Older Deeds, Fallon Additions and Historic Book References
Churchill County’s Recorder index reaches into the nineteenth century. Older records may need a different approach from modern deed searches because documents were organized into books, transcriptions and subject-specific collections.
Pre-October 1968 Documents
The Recorder advises reading the Notes field for the historical book type and checking the linked volume and page fields. The date shown in the index may be the recording date, not when the document was executed.
For historical chains of title, compare sellers and buyers across successive instruments rather than relying on one owner’s modern record.
Fallon and Hazen Place Names
The county explains that some older legal-description entries do not explicitly identify a town or city. During historical indexing, Fallon and Hazen were the primary locations recognized in the county’s naming convention.
Do not treat the absence of a city name as proof the parcel lies outside Fallon; review the actual legal description and supporting survey records.
Estate and Survey Books
Churchill County documents its historical estate books, survey books and Lyon County transcripts. Some entries use distinctive letter indicators to distinguish survey records from ordinary numbered instruments.
If you’re researching inherited property, an estate-book reference may lead to additional documents that a straightforward deed search misses.
Water Claims and Irrigation Rights
Churchill County’s historical index includes water claims, ditch rights and related instruments. Some older entries identify springs, ditches or diversion locations instead of a modern street address.
This can matter for agricultural property around the Lahontan Valley, where the real-estate deed and water-right history may require separate investigation.
What Documents Does the Churchill County Recorder Maintain?
Deeds and Transfers
Recorded conveyances may identify the transferor, recipient, legal description and recording reference. Read the instrument itself to determine the interest conveyed.
Deeds of Trust and Reconveyances
A deed of trust commonly secures a real-estate loan. A reconveyance may document the release of a particular security interest. Compare the related recording references.
Water Rights and Ditch Rights
The county’s index may use abbreviations such as W/R for water right and D/R for ditch right. These references are particularly useful for rural land investigations.
Maps, Surveys and Easements
Recorded maps, surveys, rights-of-way and easements help describe land boundaries and permitted uses. Older surveys may have special book identifiers.
Mining Records
The Recorder maintains mining-related documents, including mining maps and claims. A mining-claim filing should not be confused with ownership of the surface estate.
Homesteads and Other Instruments
The office records homestead declarations, certain liens, marriage certificates and numerous other document categories under Nevada recording law.
Churchill County Recorder Fees: Deeds, Copies and Transfer Tax
The county’s online fee schedule lists $43 for a regular recorded document. The county also publishes a broader 2026 master fee schedule. Always confirm the current charge for the exact document type before mailing or presenting an instrument.
| Item | Published Amount | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Regular document recording | $43 per document | Standard recording charge published by the Recorder |
| Real Property Transfer Tax | $4.10 per $1,000 | County-listed rate; exemptions and taxable-value rules may apply |
| Official-record copies | $1 per page | Standard copy of recorded documents, up to legal size |
| Recorded maps | $3 per 24 × 36-inch sheet | Published map-copy cost |
| Copies larger than 24 × 36 inches | $10 per page | Oversized document reproduction |
| Microfiche | $2 per sheet | Published reproduction cost |
| UCC copies | $2 | County-listed UCC copy charge |
| Official-record certification | Confirm current fee | Certification is separate from ordinary copying; check the latest master schedule |
Fee sources: Recorder Fee Schedule and County Master Fee Schedule (March 2026).
How to Order a Churchill County Deed Copy or Certified Record
The Recorder provides a dedicated Copy Request Form. The published mail procedure is distinct from simply finding an online index entry, so collect your record reference before submitting the request.
Find the Instrument Reference
Search the Recorder index and record the document type, principal parties, recording year, book/page or other identification shown.
Open the County’s Copy Requests Page
Visit Churchill County Recorder Copy Requests. Download the Copy Request Form (DOCX) and fill in the document information.
Calculate the Fee
Official-record copies are generally listed at $1 per page. If you need a certified copy, verify the certification charge and whether the receiving institution requires a special format.
Mail the Request With Payment and Return Envelope
The Recorder’s copy-request page instructs requesters to mail the completed form, payment and self-addressed stamped envelope to:
155 N. Taylor Street, Suite 133
Fallon, NV 89406-2748
Confirm Unusual Payment Arrangements
The county describes a “Not to Exceed” check option when page count is unknown. Because this can involve leaving the numerical check amount blank, contact the Recorder first and follow only the current instructions you receive directly from the office.
Churchill County Deed Recording Requirements
Nevada’s recording requirements are governed in part by NRS Chapter 247. Churchill County publishes forms and document-format guidance, including information about additional fees for documents that do not meet standard recording requirements.
Document Preparation Checklist
- Identify the type of instrument you intend to record.
- Use the current county and Nevada statutory formatting rules.
- Make sure the legal description accurately identifies the intended property.
- Check required signatures and acknowledgments.
- Review names and mailing information required for the document.
- Determine whether a real-property transfer-tax declaration applies.
- Confirm the recording charges before submitting.
Formatting and Rejection Risks
The county’s standard-format information refers to requirements such as white 8.5 × 11-inch paper and specified page margins. Certain exemptions from standard formatting rules may apply to particular document categories.
Churchill County’s formatting guidance also identifies a potential additional $25 nonstandard-document fee. Check the current statute and county requirements rather than using an older sample deed without review.
Churchill County Recorder Office: Address, Phone, Email and Map
Churchill County Recorder’s Office
155 N. Taylor Street
Suite 131
Fallon, NV 89406
Recorder: Tasha Hessey
Phone: (775) 423-6001
Fax: (775) 423-8933
Email: recorderclerks@churchillcountynv.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, excluding closures.
Get Directions ↗Before You Visit
The Recorder is located in the Churchill County government complex at 155 N. Taylor Street in Fallon.
- Bring any book/page, instrument or recorded-name information you already have.
- Specify whether you need a regular copy, a certified copy or to record an original instrument.
- Confirm payment methods for your transaction.
- Call ahead for unusual document types, older records or holiday schedules.
Parking and accessibility arrangements should be confirmed with the office if they are important to your visit.
Official contact reference: Churchill County Recorder.
Recorder vs. Assessor vs. Clerk/Treasurer in Churchill County
| Your Question | Responsible Office | Best Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| Where is a deed recorded? | County Recorder | Use the Recorder Document Index |
| How do I obtain a certified deed? | County Recorder | Use its Copy Request Form |
| Where can I research water-right deeds, maps or mining records? | County Recorder | Search relevant document types and historic references |
| What is the assessed value of my parcel? | County Assessor | Open the Assessor property-record search |
| Where can I check or pay property taxes? | Clerk/Treasurer | Open the county tax-payment system |
| Does my property have clear title? | Title company or qualified Nevada attorney | Request a proper title examination |
Churchill County Recorder Search Problems and Fixes
Name Not Found
- Include a comma after the surname.
- Try alternative spellings.
- Remove an initial “The” from business names.
- Try a surname with “Trust” for trust-related records.
- Search both seller and buyer names.
Wrong Recording Year
- Separate the signing date from the recording date.
- Expand the search period.
- Trace each grantor-to-grantee transfer.
- Review subsequent amendments and corrections.
- Check older book/page references.
Missing Legal Description
- Read both Description and Notes.
- Check township, range and section references.
- Look for metes-and-bounds exceptions.
- Review survey or subdivision information.
- Use the underlying instrument rather than an abbreviated index field.
Easement or Water Right Not Found
- Search easement and right-of-way variants.
- Check W/R, D/R and other county abbreviations.
- Review the historical index limitations.
- Ask about underlying microfilm or book records.
- Consider specialist review for water-right or access disputes.
Churchill County Recording Activity Alerts
The Recorder’s official homepage links to a Recording Activity Notifications sign-up. This can help property owners notice newly recorded documents associated with names or criteria supported by the service.
How to Check the Alert Service
- Open the official Recorder homepage.
- Select Recording Activity Notifications.
- Review the system’s available sign-up options.
- Register the required information.
- Investigate unexpected activity through official records.
What an Alert Does Not Prove
An alert does not guarantee that a fraudulent document will be blocked or that all possible changes in ownership will be detected.
If you receive an unfamiliar recording notice, identify the instrument and discuss the situation with the Recorder or an appropriate legal professional.
Churchill County Recorder Search, Forms and Records Resources
1. Recorder Document Index
Official county directory linking to searchable recorded document references.
- Scroll to Browse Recorder’s Files.
- Select Recorder Document Index.
- Search by available names, years and document types.
- Save the reference and compare the instrument details.
2. Recorder Search FAQ
County-specific historical index conventions, book types and search abbreviations.
- Read the Name Field instructions.
- Check the historical book and survey notes.
- Review the abbreviations for water rights and easements.
- Apply the relevant search adjustment in the index.
3. Official Copy Requests
Copy Request Form, mail instructions and published reproduction charges.
- Download the Copy Request Form.
- Enter the recorded document reference.
- Determine ordinary or certified copy needs.
- Follow the Recorder’s mailing and payment directions.
4. Recording Fees
Standard document recording costs and transfer-tax information.
- Find the regular document fee.
- Check the transfer-tax rate.
- Determine whether your transaction has a statutory exemption.
- Confirm the final amount with the Recorder.
5. Recorder Public Services and Forms
Public inspection information and specialized document guidance.
- Review free public-index viewing information.
- Find the relevant document topic, such as maps, mining or recording requirements.
- Open the county’s form or instruction document.
- Check requirements before filing.
What to Do After Finding a Churchill County Recorded Document
If You Found Your Deed
Keep the recording reference and check the legal description. Request a certified copy if required by a court, title company or another receiving institution.
If You Found a Deed of Trust
Search for a corresponding reconveyance, assignment or later instrument. Do not assume a recorded mortgage remains outstanding without reviewing related evidence.
If You Found a Historic Water-Right Reference
Save the exact book/page, note any ditch or diversion identifiers and consult appropriate water-right records or a qualified professional before drawing conclusions about entitlement.
If the Deed Appears Incorrect
Collect the recorded instrument and supporting documents. Discuss potential correction procedures with the original preparer, title professional or qualified Nevada attorney.
Churchill County Recorder FAQs
Where is the Churchill County Recorder’s Office?
The Churchill County Recorder’s Office is at 155 N. Taylor Street, Suite 131, Fallon, NV 89406. Its telephone number is (775) 423-6001, and its regular hours are Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM.
Can I search Churchill County deeds online?
Yes. Open Churchill County’s Browse Files page and select Recorder Document Index under Browse Recorder’s Files. The index is organized around recorded parties and recording years.
How should I enter a name in the Recorder index?
The Recorder instructs users to place a comma after the last name. For a company starting with “The,” omit that word. Trusts may be indexed by surname followed by “Trust.” Try spelling variations when a search fails.
Is it free to view Churchill County recorded documents?
The Recorder says there is no charge to search indexes or view documents on site. Copies, certified documents and other services may carry fees.
How much does it cost to record a deed?
The county’s published standard charge is $43 per regular recorded document. Real-property transfer tax and other document-specific fees may apply separately.
How do I get a copy of an old Churchill County deed?
Find the document reference in the Recorder index, then use the official Copy Request Form. The county’s mail instructions direct requests to Churchill County Recorder, 155 N. Taylor Street, Suite 133, Fallon, NV 89406-2748.
Why might an old deed show a later recording date?
Churchill County indexes many records by the date they were recorded, which may differ substantially from the signing or creation date. The county documents historic instruments that were recorded decades after creation.
Does the Churchill County Recorder maintain water-right records?
Yes. Its document collections and historical index include certain water claims, water-right references, ditch rights, surveys and related recordings. Not every water-right question can be answered from a deed index alone.
Can the Recorder tell me whether a deed establishes clear title?
No. The Recorder maintains and provides access to recorded instruments but does not provide legal advice or a full title examination. A title professional or Nevada attorney may be needed for a disputed or complex property transaction.
Sources and Independent Editorial Notice
Reviewed: October 25, 2026.
This article uses the official Churchill County Recorder homepage, Public Services page, Recorder search FAQ, Copy Requests instructions, Fee Schedule and Browse Files directory. Information regarding historical indexing, water claims and special document references is based on the Recorder’s published descriptions.
Official references: Recorder Office · Search FAQ · Copy Requests · Fee Schedule.
This website is an independent informational publication. It is not affiliated with Churchill County, the Churchill County Recorder’s Office or the State of Nevada. It does not maintain the county’s official records, provide legal advice or guarantee ownership status.
Public property information should not be used in place of legally compliant consumer reports for employment, housing, credit, insurance or other regulated screening decisions.