Kent County Recorder of Deeds: Search Delaware Deed Records, Office Address, Fees & Copies
The Kent County Recorder of Deeds in Delaware records and preserves land records for Kent County property. Use this office when you need to search deeds, record a deed or mortgage, look up a satisfaction or release, download a watermarked deed image, request copies, register for property fraud alerts, or review transfer-on-death deed guidance.
This office is different from the Kent County Assessment Office, Finance-Tax Office, Clerk of the Peace, Register of Wills and Delaware Division of Revenue. The Recorder handles recorded instruments; the Assessment Office handles property assessment records; the Finance-Tax Office handles county tax billing; and transfer-tax questions may involve the Delaware Division of Revenue.
Where Is the Kent County Recorder of Deeds Office?
The Kent County Recorder of Deeds Office is located at the Kent County Levy Court Administrative Complex, 555 Bay Road, Dover, Delaware 19901. The official Deeds Office page lists Recorder@kentcountyde.gov, phone 302-744-2314, open hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, recording hours of 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, and a drop box for Deeds materials outside the building.
Use the Recorder for Deeds
Use the Kent County Recorder of Deeds for recorded land documents, deed images, mortgages, releases, satisfactions, assignments, transfer-on-death deeds, recording forms, copies and property fraud alerts.
Best start: Deeds Records Search Tool or the Deeds Office page.
Use Assessment for Property Records
The Assessment Office is the better contact for assessed values, property records, tax parcel numbers, property-owner information on the assessment roll, and assessment-related questions.
Assessment phone: 302-744-2401.
Use Finance-Tax for Bills
The Kent County Finance-Tax Office handles county tax billing questions. A deed recording does not automatically answer whether a tax bill, assessment record or mailing address has been updated.
Finance-Tax phone: 302-744-2341.
Kent County Recorder of Deeds Office Address and Contact Details
The Recorder’s public counter is in the Kent County Levy Court Administrative Complex in Dover. Because recording hours end earlier than general office hours, plan deed recording, filing and in-person document review before the 3 p.m. recording cutoff.
Kent County Recorder of Deeds
Address:
Kent County Levy Court Administrative Complex
555 Bay Road
Dover, DE 19901
Phone: 302-744-2314
Email: Recorder@kentcountyde.gov
Office hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Recording hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.–3 p.m.
Drop box: Deeds materials drop box is located outside.
Open Recorder Map ↗Recorder of Deeds vs Assessment Office vs Tax Office in Kent County
Kent County uses different offices for recorded documents, assessment records and tax bills. Use this table before calling or filing so your deed, parcel and tax-record issue goes to the correct department.
| Your Task | Correct Office | What They Handle | What They Do Not Replace |
|---|---|---|---|
| Search or record a deed | Kent County Recorder of Deeds | Deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, releases, assignments, TOD deeds, recording forms, copies and public deed images. | Does not appraise property or calculate county tax bills. |
| Find tax parcel number or assessed value | Kent County Assessment Office | Property assessment records, tax parcel information, assessment questions and assessment-roll updates. | Does not record deeds in the land records system. |
| Pay or question county property tax | Kent County Finance-Tax Office | County tax billing, payment questions and tax-office contact needs. | Does not make a deed legally valid or correct a title issue. |
| Marriage license questions | Clerk of the Peace Office | Marriage license applications and certified marriage-copy questions. | Different from land-record deed recording. |
| Estate or will questions | Register of Wills Office | Estate filings, wills and probate-related records. | Does not replace a recorded deed or TOD deed filing requirement. |
How to Search Kent County Delaware Deed Records Online
Kent County’s Deeds Records Search Tool is separate from the county’s general Property Records Search. Use the deeds tool when you need recorded instruments; use property records when you need assessment and parcel details.
Open the Official Kent County Deeds Search
Start from the Recorder’s official Deeds Office page or the direct Kent County public search system. Confirm the page says Kent County, DE and that the search department is Land Records.
Use Quick Search First
Quick Search accepts search terms for grantor, grantee, subdivision, document type or document number. Start with the owner surname, prior owner, business name, subdivision name or instrument number from a closing file.
Choose Index Search or Full-Text OCR
Search Index Only is best when you know the indexed party name or document number. Search Index & Full Text OCR can help when a phrase may appear inside the scanned document image.
Use Recorded-Date Filters
If you know the closing, mortgage, satisfaction or release date, use the date range filter. If the document does not appear, widen the date range because recording can occur after signing or settlement.
Confirm the Correct Instrument
Before paying for a download or print, compare grantor, grantee, document type, recorded date, tax parcel number, legal description and the document image. Do not rely on the street address alone.
Understand Watermarked Viewing vs Paid Downloads
Kent County says researching and viewing are free, but online records are watermarked for security. To remove the watermark, users must establish an account and pay per-page printing/downloading or use the monthly subscription option.
How to Record a Deed or Land Document in Kent County Delaware
Kent County’s Recording Forms page warns that forms, format and fees may change and that errors can result in a $40 nonconforming fee or a $20 rejection fee. Review the county forms and fee schedule before you mail, drop off or electronically submit any deed-related document.
Before You Submit a Deed
- Confirm the property is in Kent County, Delaware.
- Use the correct legal description, not just the street address.
- Include the tax parcel number when required.
- Review the current Standards for Recording.
- Attach the required Realty Transfer Tax Form and Affidavit of Gain and Value where applicable.
- Include the New Property Owner Information Form when required.
- Calculate recording fees and transfer taxes before submitting.
- Provide clear return instructions or use the outside drop box only when appropriate.
Common Recording Problems
- Using a deed form without legal review.
- Missing transfer-tax paperwork.
- Forgetting the tax parcel number on a deed.
- Assuming Deeds staff can answer legal questions about transfer-tax content.
- Submitting through e-recording without an approved Electronic Filing Agreement.
- Ignoring the 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekday recording-hours window.
- Expecting a property-assessment owner change to happen instantly after recording.
Kent County Transfer on Death Deed Recording
Delaware now recognizes transfer-on-death deeds, and Kent County has a dedicated TODD page. The county explains that a TODD can designate a beneficiary to inherit real estate at death, but the completed and notarized deed must be recorded with the Recorder of Deeds before the owner dies.
What a TODD Does
A TODD lets the named beneficiary take ownership at death without the property passing through the ordinary probate process for that real estate, subject to existing liens, mortgages and encumbrances.
Signing Requirements
Kent County says every owner must sign if real estate is jointly owned. The page also describes witness and notary requirements, including two witnesses and one witness who cannot be a beneficiary.
Filing Methods
The county says the original TODD with payment may be mailed, placed in the drop box outside 555 Bay Road, or hand-carried to the Recorder customer service desk.
Kent County Recorder of Deeds Fees for Recording, Copies and Certified Copies
Kent County’s fee schedule lists a $36 document fee, a $10 per-page fee including the first page, a $5 tax parcel number fee per parcel on deeds, and a $7 notation fee. The schedule also lists $1 per page for letter/legal copies, $7 per page for certified copies, a $40 nonconforming fee and a $20 rejection fee.
This calculator covers common listed fees only. It does not calculate Delaware realty transfer tax, municipal transfer tax, e-recording vendor charges, credit-card fees, postage, title-company fees, attorney fees, nonconforming fees, rejected-document fees or special plot/survey charges.
| Service | County-Listed Fee | Practical Note |
|---|---|---|
| Document fee | $36 per document. | Includes county/state/technology components shown in the fee schedule. |
| Page fee | $10 per page, including the first page. | Back-page or extra-page content can affect total cost. |
| Tax parcel number on deeds | $5 per parcel, on deeds only. | Verify parcel numbers with Kent County property records before filing. |
| Notation fee | $7 per notation. | Commonly relevant for releases, satisfactions and assignments tied to prior instruments. |
| Plain copies | $1 per page for letter or legal; plots $10 per page. | Use plain copies for research when certification is not required. |
| Certified copies | $7 per page. | Use certified copies when a court, lender, title company or agency requires official certification. |
| Nonconforming or rejection risk | $40 nonconforming fee; $20 rejection fee. | Review standards, forms and fees before submitting documents. |
| Online print/download | $2 per page or $75 monthly unlimited subscription. | Researching and viewing are free, but unwatermarked printing/downloading requires payment. |
Kent County Property Fraud Alert and Seller-Impersonation Risk
Kent County promotes a free Property Fraud Alert system connected to the Recorder of Deeds. The alert does not stop a suspicious document from being submitted, but it can notify registered users when a document is recorded with matching name information.
Why to Register
Alerts are useful for owners who are 65+, mortgage-free, living away from the property, managing inherited property, holding vacant land, or concerned about seller-impersonation scams.
What to Do After an Alert
Search the document image, confirm whether the filing is legitimate, contact the Recorder if you need help understanding the record, report suspected fraud to the proper authority, and speak with an attorney or title company if ownership may be affected.
Official Kent County Recorder of Deeds Links
Use these official resources for live deed searching, office verification, forms, fees, transfer-on-death deed instructions, property fraud alerts and property-record troubleshooting.
Kent County Deeds Office
Official Recorder of Deeds page for office contact, hours, mission, recording hours, drop box, forms, search tools and service categories.
- Confirm you are on the Kent County, Delaware Deeds Office page.
- Check the phone, email, office hours and recording hours before visiting.
- Use the page buttons for Recording Forms, Fact Sheets, Property Fraud or Transfer on Death Deeds.
- Call 302-744-2314 if your filing is time-sensitive.
Kent County Deeds Records Search Tool
Official online land-record search for grantor/grantee, subdivision, document type, document number, date range and OCR-supported searching.
- Confirm the page says Kent County, DE and Land Records.
- Use Quick Search for a name, subdivision, document type or document number.
- Use Advanced Search and date ranges when results are too broad.
- Try Index Only first, then Full Text OCR if the indexed search fails.
Recording Forms
Official page for Standards for Recording, fee schedule, e-filing agreement, REW EST, first-time home buyer forms, new property-owner form and transfer-tax forms.
- Read the warning about $40 nonconforming and $20 rejection fees.
- Open Standards for Recording before preparing a deed.
- Download the transfer-tax, REW EST, first-time buyer or new-owner form only if it applies.
- For transfer-tax questions, use the Delaware Division of Revenue tax-conferee contact listed on the page.
Fee Schedule
Official Kent County fee information for document recording, pages, tax parcel numbers, notations, copies, certified copies, plots, nonconforming filings and rejection fees.
- Identify whether you are recording a deed, release, satisfaction, assignment, plot or copy request.
- Add the document fee and page fee.
- Add tax parcel and notation fees where applicable.
- Do not forget possible transfer taxes, postage, e-recording vendor charges or rejection/nonconforming fees.
Transfer on Death Deeds
Official Kent County guide explaining Delaware TOD deeds, required recording before death, witness/notary points, forms and filing options.
- Read whether a TOD deed fits your estate-planning goal.
- Confirm every owner must sign if the property is jointly owned.
- Review witness, notary, tax parcel, legal description and return-address requirements.
- Record the completed and notarized TODD before the owner’s death for it to be effective.
Property Fraud Alert
Official Kent County information about property-fraud risks and the free alert system for recorded document activity.
- Read the county’s explanation of seller-impersonation and deed-related fraud.
- Use the registration link for the free alert system.
- Register names that should trigger notices.
- If an alert looks suspicious, search the deed image and contact the Recorder or a qualified professional.
Kent County Property Records Search
Separate county property-record search for assessment and parcel information, not the same system as Recorder deed records.
- Use this only when you need property assessment or parcel information.
- Search by owner, address or tax parcel details where supported.
- Copy the tax parcel number before preparing a deed or TODD.
- Return to the Deeds Records Search Tool when you need recorded documents.
What Should You Do Next?
| Your Situation | Best Next Step | Correct Office / Tool |
|---|---|---|
| You need to find a deed, mortgage, release or satisfaction. | Search the Kent County Deeds Records Search Tool by party name, subdivision, document type, document number or recorded date. | Kent County Deeds Records Search |
| You need to record a new deed. | Review recording standards, calculate fees, attach transfer-tax and new-owner forms where required, then submit to the Recorder. | Kent County Recorder of Deeds |
| You need a tax parcel number. | Search Kent County property records first, then confirm the parcel number before preparing the deed or TODD. | Kent County Property Records / Assessment Office |
| You are creating a transfer-on-death deed. | Read Kent County’s TODD guidance, confirm signatures, witnesses and notary requirements, then record before the owner’s death. | Recorder TODD Page + Attorney Guidance |
| Your tax bill or assessment changed after recording. | Check the recorded deed, then contact Assessment or Finance-Tax depending on whether the issue is parcel data or billing. | Assessment Office / Finance-Tax Office |
| You suspect seller impersonation or deed fraud. | Search the recorded document, save copies, register for fraud alerts and contact the proper authority or legal professional. | Property Fraud Alert + Recorder + Attorney |
Kent County Recorder of Deeds FAQs
Where is the Kent County Recorder of Deeds office?
The Kent County Recorder of Deeds Office is located at the Kent County Levy Court Administrative Complex, 555 Bay Road, Dover, DE 19901. The office phone number is 302-744-2314 and the email address is Recorder@kentcountyde.gov.
What are Kent County Recorder of Deeds recording hours?
The Deeds Office page lists general open hours as 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and recording hours as 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. A drop box for Deeds materials is located outside the building.
How do I search Kent County Delaware deed records online?
Open the official Kent County Deeds Records Search Tool, confirm the search is for Kent County, DE Land Records, then search by grantor, grantee, subdivision, document type, document number or recorded-date range.
Is Kent County deed search the same as property records search?
No. Kent County explains that the Deeds Records Search Tool is a different database than the Property Records Search tool. Use deed search for recorded instruments and property records for assessment or parcel information.
Is Kent County deed research free?
Kent County says researching and viewing deed records are free, but records are watermarked for security. To remove the watermark, users must create an account and pay for download/printing or a monthly subscription.
How much does Kent County charge to record a deed?
The current fee schedule lists a $36 document fee, $10 per page including the first page, and $5 per tax parcel number on deeds. Transfer taxes, municipal taxes, notation fees, nonconforming fees or other charges may also apply.
What happens if my recording form has an error?
Kent County’s Recording Forms page warns that errors may result in a $40 nonconforming fee or a $20 rejection fee. Review the standards, required forms and fee schedule before submitting any deed-related document.
Can Kent County Deeds staff answer legal questions about transfer tax?
The Recording Forms page says Deeds clerks can help users understand the realty transfer tax form, but they cannot answer legal questions about its content. The page directs transfer-tax questions to the Delaware Division of Revenue Tax Conferee at 302-577-8651.
Can I record a transfer-on-death deed in Kent County?
Yes. Kent County has a Transfer on Death Deeds page. The county explains that the completed and notarized TODD must be recorded with the Kent County Recorder of Deeds before the owner’s death to be effective.
Does Kent County offer property fraud alerts?
Yes. Kent County promotes a free Property Fraud Alert system connected to recorded document activity. The alert can help owners notice suspicious filings, but it does not replace title insurance, legal advice or law-enforcement reporting.
Independent Educational Guide
County-Appraisal-District.org is an independent informational website. It is not the Kent County Recorder of Deeds, Kent County Levy Court, Kent County Assessment Office, Kent County Finance-Tax Office, Delaware Division of Revenue, a title company, a law firm or a consumer reporting agency.
Recording acceptance, legal sufficiency, copy certification, transfer-tax liability, deed validity, TODD effect, property fraud response, assessment records and tax bills are determined by the responsible official office, court, attorney or title professional. Always verify current fees, forms and filing rules directly with Kent County before recording or ordering documents.
Do not use property-owner or public-record information from this page for employment screening, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance underwriting or any other regulated consumer-reporting purpose.