Duchesne County Recorder: Deed Search, Land Records, Plats, Fees & Office
The Duchesne County Recorder’s Office in Duchesne, Utah, records deeds and other land documents, maintains ownership and survey-related records, and provides access to recorded instruments and parcel plats.
If you need to find an old deed, check a document entry number, obtain a certified copy, or record a property transfer, the Recorder is the starting point. But Duchesne County has some unusual search rules: its OnBase system supports older-document searches using asterisks, its parcel viewer is still described as a test service, and the office does not conduct title searches for the public.
This guide explains how those systems work, which fees apply, the May 6, 2026 recording-fee change, and what must be included before submitting a deed.
What Does the Duchesne County Recorder Do?
The Recorder maintains land records and ownership-related maps for property in Duchesne County. The office receives recordable documents, assigns recording references, maintains indexes, makes documents available for inspection, and provides ordinary or certified copies.
Recorded Land Documents
Find recorded deeds and other property instruments, document entry numbers, recording dates, references, and available document images.
Parcels, Plats & Surveys
Locate parcels on ownership plats and review available survey maps. Parcel maps help with research but are not legal boundary surveys.
Copies and Certifications
Request document copies, certified instruments, and recorded plat copies. Fees depend on document size, copy format, and certification.
How to Search Duchesne County Deeds and Recorded Documents
Duchesne County provides a Recorder property-search route and refers users to OnBase for documents. Subscription services also provide name and entry-number search access. The exact access route and available images depend on the system being used.
Start From the County Recorder Website
Open the official Recorder page and select Property Search, or follow its Online Subscription Services instructions when you need the subscription-based document system.
Do not assume every link on a third-party property website provides full Duchesne County records.
Choose a Search Method You Actually Have
For a recorded deed, use a grantor or grantee name or a known document entry number where the selected system supports it. If you are starting from the land itself, use the county parcel viewer to identify the APN and geographic context.
Understand the County’s Historical Coverage
The county lists grantor-grantee search coverage back to 1985, document entry-number images from November 12, 1985 (entry 250000), handwritten index pages from patent records through December 31, 2014, and a digital index from November 20, 2008 onward. Older material continues to be uploaded.
The county warns that online coverage is expanding, so a missing older image does not prove the document does not exist.
Use the Special OnBase Asterisk Rules
Duchesne County publishes two useful search tricks for historical documents.
These are documented examples for the county’s OnBase subscription search, not universal rules for every search portal.
Match the Document to the Correct Property
Compare the entry number, parties, legal description, APN, recording date, and document type. Some parcels have no street address, so an address alone may be insufficient to identify a property.
Inspect Later Transfers and Related Instruments
If researching ownership, search for later deeds. For mortgages, liens, easements, water rights, and other interests, examine the relevant documents and related references rather than relying on a single search result.
If a complete title or lien opinion is necessary, contact a title professional.
Can You Search Duchesne County Property by Address or APN?
A common problem in Duchesne County is searching for rural land by street address when the property has no assigned address. The Recorder specifically says it cannot verify every property owner by address because not every parcel has a building or address.
APN / Tax Parcel Search
An Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) helps distinguish parcels and is required on documents affecting surface property, according to the county Recorder.
- Open the county Parcels and Plats page.
- Follow the parcel viewer access link.
- Identify the parcel on the map.
- Save the APN and compare the legal description.
- Use the Recorder’s records to examine actual documents.
Searching by Street Address
If an address is available, it may help you identify the location, but it does not replace an APN or legal description.
- Check the property location on county GIS.
- Identify the parcel and nearby features.
- Verify the actual parcel boundary references.
- Use the land-document index for deeds.
- Contact Planning and Zoning for official addressing questions.
What Duchesne County Recorder Search Results Mean
| Record Detail | What It Tells You | What to Check |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Number | Recorder-assigned document reference. | Use it to find the specific instrument, including older OnBase entries. |
| Recording Date | When the document entered the county’s public record. | Do not confuse it with execution or closing date. |
| Book / Page | Older recording reference format. | Especially useful for pre-2015 instruments. |
| Grantor | Party conveying an interest. | In a typical deed, this is the seller or transferring party. |
| Grantee | Party receiving the conveyed interest. | Compare vesting and later deeds. |
| APN | County tax parcel identifier. | It is not a substitute for a legal description. |
| Legal Description | Describes the property affected by the document. | Check section, township, range, lot, block, and other applicable descriptions. |
| Plat / Survey | Mapping or surveying-related record. | Do not treat online map graphics as established physical boundaries. |
How to Record a Deed in Duchesne County, Utah
A deed must meet Utah recording requirements as well as the local Recorder’s formatting and identification rules. The office can reject a noncomplying document, and its staff cannot draft or revise the deed for you.
Prepare the Correct Legal Document
Use a title company or Utah attorney when transferring ownership, adding or removing names, dealing with trusts or estates, correcting a deed, or transferring complicated land interests.
The county does not provide deed forms or prepare legal descriptions.
Check the Legal Description and Parcel Number
The document generally needs a legally sufficient property description, and Duchesne County requires an APN for each affected surface parcel. A parcel number by itself is not the legal description.
Also check whether a Utah water-rights addendum is required for the particular transfer.
Check Signatures, Notarization and Grantee Address
The county requires original signatures unless a legally applicable alternative applies, legible acknowledgment and notary information, printed names beneath signatures requiring indexing, and the grantee’s mailing address for assessment and taxation.
For remote notarization, follow Utah’s official notary rules.
Use the Required Document Layout
The county’s published paper-format standards include:
- White 8.5-by-11-inch paper.
- One-inch margins at left, right and bottom.
- A reserved 2.5-by-4.5-inch space at the upper-right corner of page one.
- One-inch top margins on succeeding pages.
- Black, legible text printed on one side of each sheet.
- A document title on the first page.
Review the current county requirements before printing because special instruments or electronic recordings may have additional rules.
Confirm the Recording Charge
The fee schedule currently displays $45 for a document covering up to ten legal descriptions, with $2 for each additional legal description. However, the Recorder’s main page also announces a $5 fee increase effective May 6, 2026. Confirm which published schedule and applicable charges are reflected in your final payment before submission.
Submit in Person or by Mail
Deliver your document to 734 North Center Street, Duchesne, Utah, or mail it to Duchesne County Recorder, P.O. Box 916, Duchesne, UT 84021.
Include the correct fee and a stamped self-addressed return envelope for mailed documents.
Duchesne County Recorder Fees, Document Copies and Certified Records
The official fee schedule lists the amounts below, while the Recorder’s main page separately announces that HB 38 increased county recording charges by $5 on May 6, 2026. Because the two notices do not explicitly reconcile every listed charge, verify your final recording total with the office before sending payment.
| Service | Amount Shown on Fee Page | Important Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Document recording | $45.00 | Up to ten legal descriptions; confirm treatment of the May 2026 increase. |
| Additional legal description | $2.00 each | Applies beyond the included number of legal descriptions. |
| Subdivision or condominium plat | $55.00 per sheet | Plus $2 per additional lot/unit as described in the fee schedule; confirm HB 38 treatment. |
| Deputy-made copies | $1.00 per page | Digital or hard copy prepared by staff. |
| Letter/legal copies | $0.25 per page | Listed miscellaneous copy fee. |
| 11-by-17-inch copies | $0.50 per page | Ledger-size pages. |
| Digital copies | $0.10 per page | Confirm applicable delivery method. |
| Certified copy | $5.00 per seal plus $1.00 per page | State that you need certification when requesting the document. |
| 18-by-24-inch survey plat | $6.00 each | Small survey plat copy. |
| 24-by-36-inch survey plat | $10.00 each | Large survey plat copy. |
| Colored survey map | $12.00 each | Confirm format and availability. |
Examples of Copy Costs
A five-page document certified under the displayed fee schedule would have a listed base copy-and-certification amount of $10 ($5 seal plus $5 page charges). A seven-page digital copy at the displayed digital-copy rate would be $0.70, subject to the office’s actual ordering and delivery rules.
These are arithmetic illustrations based on listed rates, not official quotations or guaranteed charges.
Duchesne County Recorder Office Address, Phone and Mailing Information
Duchesne County Recorder
Recorder: Shelley Brennan
Physical location:
734 North Center Street
Duchesne, Utah
Mailing address:
PO Box 916
Duchesne, UT 84021
Main phone: 435-738-1160
Recorder direct: 435-738-1161
Email: sbrennan@duchesne.utah.gov
The county administration building lists weekday hours of 8:30 AM–5:00 PM, but specific department hours may differ. Confirm Recorder desk availability and holiday closures before visiting.
Get Directions ↗Three Duchesne County Recording Issues Worth Checking
Water Rights and Land Transfers
Some Utah deeds require a water-rights addendum describing whether water rights are transferred. This is especially important when agricultural, rural, or water-related interests accompany the land.
Check the document requirements and seek qualified advice when water-right ownership or appurtenance is uncertain.
Rural Land Without an Address
Not every Duchesne County parcel has a physical street address. Use the legal description and APN, with parcel or ownership plats as supporting clues.
Do not confuse a parcel-map outline with an established surveyed boundary.
Correcting a Recorded Instrument
County guidance distinguishes typographical corrections, affidavit corrections, re-recording, and substantive changes requiring another deed or instrument.
A new signature and acknowledgment may be necessary for a re-recorded document.
Duchesne County Recorder Official Links and Step-by-Step Instructions
Each resource below leads to a county-managed page or government service. The short instructions explain why and when to use it.
Official Duchesne County Recorder Home
Recorder services, property search, e-recording partners, fees, forms and land-record notices.
- Open the official Recorder page.
- Choose Property Search or Online Subscription Services, depending on your purpose.
- Review the current recording-fee alert.
- Use Recorder contact details if the system does not show the required document.
Online Subscription Services
Grantor-grantee indexes, document entry-number images, historical indexes, and survey maps.
- Read the county’s available subscription types.
- Check indexing and image coverage before subscribing.
- Confirm setup charges and recurring charges.
- For historical entries, use the county’s OnBase asterisk search guidance.
The county describes a basic subscription at $20 per month with a $20 initial setup charge, and says it does not offer one-time-use access to that subscription system. Reconfirm pricing before registering.
Parcels and Plats Viewer
Parcel mapping, ownership plats, survey context and parcel-identification research.
- Read the test-period and data-accuracy notice.
- Follow the linked parcel viewer.
- Identify the relevant parcel and APN.
- Use the legal description and recorded instrument for confirmation.
Recording Requirements
Utah-specific signatures, margins, legal descriptions, APN, notary and submission rules.
- Check general original-document and language rules.
- Confirm legal description, grantee address and APN.
- Review signature, notary and margin requirements.
- Follow the official mail or in-person submission instructions.
Recorder Fee Schedule
Recording fees, legal-description charges, plat copies, certifications and document copies.
- Identify the type of document or copy.
- Count legal descriptions or subdivision lots when relevant.
- Compare the schedule with the 2026 HB 38 fee alert on Recorder Home.
- Call 435-738-1160 to confirm payment before recording.
Recorder FAQ and Old-Document Search Tips
Official guidance for owner verification, title questions, deed changes and OnBase historical entry searches.
- Open the Recorder FAQ page.
- Find the section about old documents on the subscription system.
- Use the asterisk format for short entry numbers or sequential groups.
- Review why the office cannot perform title or lien searches on your behalf.
Recorded Document Corrections
Affidavits, re-recording, new correcting deeds and subdivision-recording information.
- Read the county’s three correction methods.
- Identify whether the error is clerical or substantive.
- Review whether re-recording requires new signatures and notarization.
- Ask an attorney to prepare a new instrument when ownership or legal rights change.
What If a Duchesne County Deed or Parcel Doesn’t Appear?
| Problem | Possible Reason | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Street address finds nothing | Property may have no assigned physical address. | Use the legal description or APN and county parcel viewer. |
| Old entry number does not work | OnBase may require a leading asterisk for entries shorter than six digits. | Try the county’s documented format, such as *5321. |
| Historical document image missing | Back-scanning is incomplete. | Consult the office’s historical index or ask about viewing it yourself in person. |
| Many sequential entries needed | Individual searches take time. | Use the documented trailing-asterisk example to locate related entry numbers. |
| Owner shown on map differs from deed | Indexing or mapping updates may be pending, or another document may affect title. | Compare recent recorded instruments and contact the Recorder about indexing discrepancies. |
| Need a complete lien search | The Recorder does not perform title research for the public. | Use a qualified title company or attorney. |
| Document is rejected | Legal description, signature, acknowledgment, APN, format or payment may not comply. | Compare with the county recording requirements and correct the specific problem. |
Which Duchesne County Office Should You Contact?
Recorder
Recorded deeds, entry numbers, ownership plats, document copies, recording, certified documents and indexing questions.
Assessor
Property valuation, assessment data, property classification and valuation-related questions.
Treasurer
Property tax collection, tax payments, balances and payment-related questions.
Duchesne County Recorder FAQs
Where is the Duchesne County Recorder’s Office?
The office is at 734 North Center Street, Duchesne, Utah. Its mailing address is PO Box 916, Duchesne, UT 84021.
What is the Duchesne County Recorder’s phone number?
The main office number is 435-738-1160. The county lists Recorder Shelley Brennan at 435-738-1161.
Can I search Duchesne County deeds online?
Yes. The Recorder has a Property Search route and online subscription services, including grantor-grantee, document entry-number and historical index access. The county also refers users to its OnBase system.
How far back do Duchesne County online records go?
The county lists grantor-grantee searching to 1985, entry-number document images from November 12, 1985 onward, handwritten index pages from patent records through 2014, and a digital index from November 2008 onward. Older images continue to be added.
How do I search an old OnBase document number?
The Recorder says numbers with fewer than six digits, including some pre-1915 records, may require an asterisk before the number. Its example is *5321. A trailing asterisk can also retrieve a sequence of document numbers.
Can the Recorder find a property owner by address?
Not reliably. The county explains that many parcels do not have a street address. Use parcel numbers, legal descriptions, and ownership plats instead.
How much does it cost to record a deed?
The Recorder’s fee page displays $45 for a document covering up to ten legal descriptions and $2 for each additional legal description. The main Recorder page also announces a $5 increase effective May 6, 2026 under HB 38. Confirm the final current fee with the office before submitting payment.
Does a deed need an APN in Duchesne County?
The Recorder says the tax parcel number (APN) for each affected surface property must be included on a document to be recorded. The APN does not replace the property’s legal description.
Will the Recorder prepare a deed or remove someone’s name?
No. The Recorder does not draft documents or change ownership without a recordable legal instrument. A title company or attorney can help prepare a document to add or remove an owner.
Can I obtain a certified deed copy?
Yes. The Recorder provides certified copies for a fee. Its published fee page lists $5 per seal plus $1 per page. Verify your particular copy request and the current charge before ordering.
Are county parcel maps legal surveys?
No. Duchesne County warns that Recorder and GIS maps are not intended to establish precise physical property boundaries. You may need a surveyor for exact boundaries.
Can the Recorder check all liens on my property?
No. The county says it does not conduct title or lien searches for the public, and some legal claims may not appear in Recorder records. Contact a title company or attorney when lien status is important.
Official Sources and Important Notes
This guide draws on the Duchesne County Recorder’s official office overview, recording requirements, fee schedule, subscription description, Recorder FAQs, and contact information.
Reviewed October 22, 2026. This page is educational information, not legal advice, title insurance, a professional land survey, or a consumer report. Recorded owner data should not be used for regulated employment, tenant, credit, or insurance screening.