Fayette County Recorder: Deeds, Records Search, Recording Fees, Copies & Office Guide
The Fayette County Recorder in Washington Court House, Ohio is responsible for official real estate and personal property records for Fayette County. Common recorded records include deeds, mortgages, IRS liens, mechanics liens, land contracts, plats, zoning resolutions, similar real-property instruments, and military service discharge records.
Use this guide to search Fayette County Recorder records online through CountyFusion, estimate recording fees, prepare a deed or lien-related document, understand the 3:30 PM recording cutoff, plan for mail-back requirements, and know when to contact the Auditor or Treasurer instead of the Recorder.
Where Do You Search or Record Fayette County Deeds?
For Fayette County, Ohio deeds and recorded real-property documents, use the Fayette County Recorder’s Office. The office is at 133 S Main Street, Suite 305, Washington Court House, OH 43160. The public online search is hosted through CountyFusion and allows searches by grantor/grantee, subdivision, document type, document number and recorded-date range.
Use the Recorder For
- Recorded deeds, mortgages and land contracts.
- IRS liens, mechanics liens and other recorded liens.
- Plats, zoning resolutions and similar instruments.
- Recorded document copies and certification questions.
- Military service discharge recording and related copy questions.
- CountyFusion records search and property-alert access.
Use the Auditor For
- Parcel search by owner, address or parcel number.
- Assessed value and property-tax valuation questions.
- Real-property transfer and conveyance forms.
- Homestead exemption and owner-occupancy records.
- Tax rates, tax estimator and Board of Revision forms.
Use the Treasurer For
- Real-estate tax bills and payments.
- Duplicate tax bills and payment history.
- Delinquent tax questions.
- Tax-payment account questions.
- County tax office hours and payment support.
How to Search Fayette County Recorder Deeds and Records Online
Fayette County’s official online record search is hosted through CountyFusion. The search screen identifies the department as Real Property and offers a search term box for grantor/grantee, subdivision, document type or document number. It also includes a recorded-date range and a choice between index-only search and full-text OCR search.
Open the Official CountyFusion Search
Start from the Fayette County Recorder’s official page or the CountyFusion public search page. Avoid unofficial background-check, people-search or lead-generation sites when you need a deed, mortgage, lien or recorded document.
Search by Name or Document Identifier
Most deed searches begin with a grantor or grantee name. If you already have a document number from a title report, closing packet, older deed, mortgage satisfaction, court filing or prior search, use that number to narrow the result faster.
Use a Recorded-Date Range When the Name Is Common
If a search returns too many results, use the recorded-date range. CountyFusion also displays quick filters such as recent periods, but older deed research usually works better with a custom date range from your closing, loan, title or court paperwork.
Try Index Search First, Then OCR
Use Search Index Only for indexed names and document fields. Use Search Index & Full Text OCR when you need document-text searching. OCR can help, but older scans, faint images and handwritten material may not be perfectly searchable.
Open the Result and Match the Details
Check the document type, recording date, grantor/grantee names, subdivision or legal-description references before assuming the document belongs to your property. Rural parcels, township references, mineral or easement records, and family transfers can make name-only results confusing.
Save the Recording Information
Save the document number, recorded date, document type and party names before calling the office or ordering a copy. These identifiers are more useful than a street address when asking about recorded instruments.
What You May Find in Fayette County Recorder Records
Recorder records are document records. They can help you locate a recorded instrument, but they do not replace a title search, survey, appraisal record or tax bill.
| Document Type | What It Usually Means | Useful Search Clue | What to Do Next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warranty Deed / Quit Claim Deed | Often shows a transfer of real-property interest from one party to another. | Grantor, grantee, recording date, document number and legal description. | Use the Recorder for the recorded image; use the Auditor for parcel display, transfer status and valuation details. |
| Mortgage | Usually records a loan secured by real property. | Borrower, lender, mortgage amount, recording number and date. | Search for later release, assignment, modification or satisfaction documents when checking loan status. |
| Release / Satisfaction / Assignment | May release or assign an existing mortgage or other recorded interest. | Original document reference, lender name, borrower name and recording date. | Match the release or assignment to the original mortgage before assuming the chain is complete. |
| Mechanics Lien or IRS Lien | May show a recorded claim affecting a person or property interest. | Claimant or agency name, owner/debtor name, recording date and release reference. | Search for a release. The Recorder cannot cancel a lien without a valid release, agency document or court order. |
| Land Contract | May document installment purchase rights in real property. | Seller, buyer, contract date, legal description and recording number. | Check later deed, cancellation, forfeiture, assignment or court filings if researching current status. |
| Plat / Map | May relate to subdivision, survey, lot split, zoning or map records. | Subdivision name, township, section, lot, surveyor or map reference. | Use the Tax Map Office, Engineer or survey professional when boundary or legal-description questions exist. |
| Zoning Resolution | May be a recorded township or local zoning-related instrument. | Township name, resolution name, recording date or document type. | Contact the local township or planning/zoning office for interpretation and current zoning enforcement. |
| Military Service Discharge | Military discharge record maintained by the Recorder under Ohio recorder duties. | Veteran name and recording information. | Ask the Recorder about access, privacy and certified-copy requirements before requesting copies. |
How to Record a Deed or Real Estate Document in Fayette County Ohio
Before mailing or bringing a document to the Recorder, make sure it meets Ohio recording standards, has the correct fee, includes return-mail instructions, and has gone through any required Auditor, Engineer or Tax Map review.
Identify the Document Type
Determine whether you are recording a deed, mortgage, release, assignment, land contract, easement, lien, plat, zoning resolution, power of attorney or other instrument. Different document types can require different fees, references and review steps.
Check Whether Auditor or Tax Map Review Is Needed
Deed transfers and legal-description changes may need Auditor, Engineer or Tax Map review before recording. Fayette County’s Auditor office maintains real-property transfer and conveyance forms, and the county document center links conveyance standards.
Follow Ohio Standardization Rules
Ohio standardization rules generally require legible print of at least 10-point font, minimum 8 ½ by 11 paper, maximum 8 ½ by 14 paper, black or blue ink only, no highlighting, one-inch side and bottom margins, a three-inch top margin on the first page, and a one-and-a-half-inch top margin on later pages. Nonconforming documents can add a $20 fee.
Calculate the Recording Fee
Fayette County’s Recorder page lists common recording fees beginning at $39 for one or two pages, then increasing by $8 per additional page. The page also notes that a $4 marginal fee may still apply. Call before submitting complex releases, assignments or documents with multiple references.
Prepare Cash or Check
Fayette County lists payment options as cash or check and states that credit and debit cards are not accepted. Do not arrive with only a card if you need a same-day recording.
Include a Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope for Mail-Back
The Recorder page says all documents that need to be mailed back after recording must include a self-addressed stamped envelope with the documents to be recorded. Add clear return instructions when mailing.
Submit Before the 3:30 PM Cutoff
Fayette County states that documents received after 3:30 PM will not be recorded that day and will be held and run the following day. Plan ahead for closing, refinance, lien, release or deadline-sensitive matters.
Fayette County Recorder E-Recording: Limited Non-Conveyance Route
Fayette County’s Recorder page states that, effective March 5, 2026, the office can offer e-recording through Simplifile for non-conveyance documents only at that time. The county says it will advise when it can e-record all other documents in the future.
Best for Repeat Submitters
E-recording is usually most useful for title companies, lenders, attorneys and repeat recording submitters. A one-time homeowner should call the Recorder before assuming direct e-recording access is available.
Not All Documents
The official notice limits the available e-recording option to non-conveyance documents. Deeds and other conveyance-related documents may still require local review and traditional submission unless the county updates its process.
Call Before Relying on It
Because the notice says the county will advise when all other documents can be e-recorded, verify current status with the Recorder at 740-335-1770 before planning a closing around e-recording.
Fayette County Recorder Fees: Local Fee Table and Ohio Recording Rules
Fayette County’s Recorder page lists a local recording fee table that starts at $39 for one or two pages and increases by $8 for each additional page shown through ten pages. The page also notes that a $4 marginal fee may still apply. Always confirm exact fees before mailing or presenting a document.
| Fee Item | Amount / Rule | When It Applies | Practical Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 page | $39.00 | County-listed recording fee for a one-page standard document. | This reflects the Ohio base fee structure plus Fayette County’s listed local amount. |
| 2 pages | $39.00 | County-listed recording fee for a two-page standard document. | Ohio’s common fee structure covers the first two pages in the base amount. |
| 3 pages | $47.00 | County-listed fee for three pages. | Each additional page after the first two generally adds $8. |
| 4 pages | $55.00 | County-listed fee for four pages. | Continue adding $8 for each additional page shown in the county table. |
| 5 pages | $63.00 | County-listed fee for five pages. | Check if your document also has marginal references. |
| 10 pages | $103.00 | County-listed fee for ten pages. | Longer documents should be quoted by the Recorder before submission. |
| Marginal reference fee | $4.00 may still apply | Releases, assignments, modifications or documents referencing prior recordings. | Call if your document refers to multiple mortgages, releases or prior instruments. |
| Non-standard document fee | $20.00 | Documents that do not meet Ohio standardization requirements. | Avoid this by following margins, ink, font and paper-size rules. |
Fayette County Recording Fee Estimator
This educational calculator estimates common Recorder fee items only. It does not include every conveyance, Tax Map, Auditor, legal, title-company, e-recording, UCC, plat, lien, copy, certification or rejection issue.
For deed transfers, also check conveyance standards, Auditor forms, Tax Map review, legal description, transfer forms, and whether your document can be accepted before the 3:30 PM same-day cutoff.
Fayette County Recorder vs Auditor vs Treasurer
In Ohio, deed records, parcel records and tax-payment records connect to each other, but they are handled by different offices. Use this local split before calling.
Recorder
Address:
133 S Main Street, Suite 305
Washington Court House, OH 43160
Phone: 740-335-1770
Use for: recorded documents, deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, copies, recording fees, document numbers, e-recording status and military discharge records.
Auditor
Address:
133 South Main Street, Suite 303
Washington Court House, OH 43160
Phone: 740-335-6461
Use for: parcel search, assessed value, transfer/conveyance forms, homestead exemption, owner-occupancy, tax rates and property records.
Treasurer
Address:
133 S. Main Street, Suite 304
Washington Court House, OH 43160
Phone: 740-335-4961
Use for: property-tax payments, tax bills, payment history, duplicate bills and tax-payment questions.
Fayette County Property Alert: Monitor Recorded Name Activity
The Fayette County CountyFusion search page includes a Property Alert option. A property alert is an early-notice tool for recorded document activity, not a title-insurance policy and not a way to block recording. It is still useful for homeowners who want to learn faster if a document is recorded under a registered name.
Open the CountyFusion Search Page
Use the official Fayette County Recorder public-search system and choose the Property Alert option from the service menu.
Register Name Variations
Add the names that could appear on recorded documents: full legal name, middle initial, trust name, LLC name, previous surname, or other ownership names used on older deeds and mortgages.
Investigate Unexpected Alerts
If you receive an unexpected alert, search the document number or party name, save the image and details, then contact the Recorder, title company or attorney if the document appears suspicious.
Fayette County Recorder Office Address, Hours & Map
The Recorder’s Office is located in Washington Court House. Bring your document, fee payment, return-mail envelope if needed, and any Auditor or Tax Map review materials before visiting.
Fayette County Recorder
Office address:
133 S Main Street, Suite 305
Washington Court House, OH 43160
Phone: 740-335-1770
Fax: 740-333-3521
Recorder: Kim Coil-Butler
Email: kim.coilbutler@fayette-co-oh.com
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Open Recorder Map ↗Official Fayette County Recorder Links
Use these official resources for live searches, current fees, document standards, Auditor records, tax payments and final filing instructions. Each link includes what to do after opening it.
Fayette County Ohio Recorder
Official Recorder page for office duties, CountyFusion link, fee table, e-recording notice, payment options, cutoff time and contact details.
- Read the duty summary to confirm the Recorder handles your document type.
- Use the County Fusion Records link for online searching.
- Review the local fee table and the $4 marginal fee note.
- Check the e-recording notice, payment options and 3:30 PM cutoff before submitting.
Fayette County Official Record Search
Official CountyFusion search for Fayette County real-property recorded documents.
- Use Quick Search for grantor/grantee, subdivision, document type or document number.
- Set a recorded-date range if the result list is too broad.
- Use Search Index Only first, then Search Index & Full Text OCR if needed.
- Save the document number and recording date before ordering copies or calling the office.
Ohio Recorders’ Association — Fees
Statewide Ohio fee guidance for deeds, mortgages, releases, assignments, UCC filings, federal tax liens, plats and military discharges.
- Find the row for your document type.
- Count printed sides as pages.
- Add additional-page and marginal-reference fees where applicable.
- Return to Fayette County’s Recorder page to verify the local amount and payment method.
Ohio Recorders’ Association — Standardization Guidelines
Ohio document-format rules for font, paper size, ink, highlighting, margins and the non-standard document fee.
- Check font size, paper size and ink color.
- Reserve the three-inch top margin on the first page.
- Use one-inch side and bottom margins and the proper top margin on later pages.
- Fix format problems before submitting to avoid the $20 non-standard fee.
Fayette County Document Center — Conveyance Standards
Official county document center linking local conveyance standards and related Engineer/Tax Map resources.
- Open the Document Center.
- Choose the Conveyance Standards PDF.
- Review transfer, description and Tax Map requirements before recording a deed.
- Use the Recorder only after required pre-recording review is complete.
Fayette County Auditor
Official office for parcel search, real-property valuation, transfer forms, homestead exemption, owner-occupancy and property records.
- Use this office for property value, parcel and transfer questions.
- Open Auditor forms when you need conveyance or homestead documents.
- Use the Real Estate Department when the issue is tax-roll property data.
- Return to the Recorder when you need the recorded deed image or document number.
Fayette County Auditor Real Estate Search
Official real-estate search for parcel number, owner name, address, sales, tax year, values and related property data.
- Search by owner name, address or parcel number.
- Use the result for parcel, assessed-value and tax-year information.
- Check the Summary and related tabs before contacting the office.
- Use the Recorder search separately when you need the actual recorded document.
Fayette County Treasurer
Official office for real-estate tax payments, payment history, duplicate bills and tax-account questions.
- Use the Treasurer for tax payments, not deed recording.
- Search by parcel number, owner name or address if available.
- Review current payment information and due-date details.
- Contact the Auditor first if the tax issue depends on value or ownership display.
Common Fayette County Recorder Mistakes
Mistakes That Slow Down Deeds and Records
- Searching the Recorder system by street address when the search works better by grantor/grantee, subdivision, document type or document number.
- Using the Recorder for parcel value, homestead exemption or tax-payment questions.
- Arriving after 3:30 PM and expecting same-day recording.
- Bringing only a credit or debit card when the county lists cash or check only.
- Mailing documents without a self-addressed stamped envelope for return.
- Ignoring Ohio margin, font, paper-size and ink rules.
- Assuming e-recording is available for deeds when the county notice says non-conveyance documents only.
Better Local Workflow
- Use CountyFusion for recorded document searches.
- Use the Auditor search for parcel, value and property-tax program data.
- Use the Treasurer for tax-bill and payment questions.
- Check conveyance standards before recording a deed.
- Call the Recorder for exact fees on marginal-reference or unusual documents.
- Bring cash or check and a SASE when needed.
- Save document numbers, recording dates and receipts.
What Should You Do Next?
Choose the next step based on the exact problem you are trying to solve.
| Your Situation | Best Next Step | Correct Office / Resource |
|---|---|---|
| You need a copy of a deed, mortgage or lien. | Search CountyFusion by name, subdivision, document type or document number, then contact the Recorder for copy help. | Fayette County Recorder |
| You are recording a deed. | Review conveyance standards, Auditor/Tax Map requirements, Ohio formatting and local fees before recording. | Auditor / Tax Map / Recorder |
| Your property value or tax credit looks wrong. | Use the Auditor website for parcel, value, homestead exemption and owner-occupancy information. | Fayette County Auditor |
| Your tax payment or bill is the issue. | Use the Treasurer page for payment support, tax account search and billing questions. | Fayette County Treasurer |
| You found a suspicious deed or lien. | Save the recording details, search for related releases, contact the Recorder, and get title/legal support if needed. | Recorder + title company / attorney |
| You need legal wording for a deed, transfer or release. | Do not ask the Recorder to draft it. Use a qualified attorney, title company or document professional. | Legal / title professional |
Fayette County Recorder FAQs
Where is the Fayette County Recorder located?
The Fayette County Recorder’s Office is located at 133 S Main Street, Suite 305, Washington Court House, OH 43160. The main phone number is 740-335-1770.
How do I search Fayette County Ohio deeds online?
Use the Fayette County Recorder CountyFusion public search. The Quick Search screen allows searches by grantor/grantee, subdivision, document type or document number, with a recorded-date range and index-only or full-text OCR search options.
Can I search Fayette County Recorder records by street address?
The Recorder search is better for names, subdivisions, document types, document numbers and recording dates. If you need parcel, address, assessed-value, homestead or owner-occupancy information, use the Fayette County Auditor real estate search.
What documents does the Fayette County Recorder record?
The county says the Recorder is responsible for real estate and personal property records. Real-estate records include deeds, mortgages, IRS liens, mechanics liens, land contracts, plats, zoning resolutions and similar instruments. The Recorder also keeps military service discharge records.
What are Fayette County Recorder office hours?
The Fayette County Recorder lists office hours as Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Documents received after 3:30 PM are not recorded that day and are held to be processed the following day.
What payment methods does the Fayette County Recorder accept?
Fayette County lists payment options as cash or check and states that no credit or debit cards are accepted. Confirm the exact amount before mailing or bringing documents for recording.
How much does it cost to record a deed in Fayette County Ohio?
Fayette County’s Recorder page lists $39 for one or two pages, $47 for three pages, $55 for four pages, and continues adding $8 for each additional page shown through ten pages. A $4 marginal fee may still apply, and non-standard Ohio formatting can add $20.
Does Fayette County Ohio accept e-recording?
Fayette County’s Recorder page states that effective March 5, 2026, e-recording is available through Simplifile for non-conveyance documents only at that time. Call the Recorder before relying on e-recording for deeds or conveyance documents.
Does the Recorder remove liens or decide ownership?
No. The Recorder records and indexes documents that are presented and accepted for recording. The office does not decide title disputes, remove liens without a proper release or court/agency document, or give legal advice about ownership.
Is County-Appraisal-District.org the official Fayette County Recorder website?
No. County-Appraisal-District.org is an independent educational resource. It is not the Fayette County Recorder, Fayette County Auditor, Fayette County Treasurer, Ohio Recorders’ Association, State of Ohio, a title company or a law firm. Always verify current records, fees, hours and recording rules with the official office.
Independent Educational Guide
County-Appraisal-District.org is an independent informational website. It is not affiliated with the Fayette County Recorder, Fayette County Auditor, Fayette County Treasurer, Fayette County Commissioners, Ohio Recorders’ Association, State of Ohio, a title company or a law firm.
Recording acceptance, conveyance review, fee calculation, legal-description sufficiency, tax-map review, lien release, title validity, ownership interpretation, property valuation and tax-bill results are determined by official offices, statutes, courts and qualified professionals. This article is not legal, tax, title or financial advice.
Public property and recorded-document information 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.