Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds: Search Land Records, Recording Office, Fees & Deed Help
The Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds is the Scranton office that records and indexes deeds, mortgages, mortgage satisfactions, mortgage assignments, powers of attorney, leases, UCC filings, real estate agreements, notary commissions, elected-official commissions and veteran discharge documents for properties in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania.
Use this guide to search deed records, understand the difference between the Recorder, Assessment Office and Clerk of Judicial Records, prepare documents for recording, avoid rejected filings, request certified copies, use fraud protection and visit the correct office at 123 Wyoming Avenue, Suite 218, Scranton, PA 18503.
What Does the Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds Handle?
The Recorder of Deeds records and indexes real-property documents for Lackawanna County. It is the correct office for recorded deeds, mortgages, mortgage satisfactions, assignments, certain powers of attorney, leases, real estate agreements, UCC filings, notary commissions and veteran discharge recordings.
Search Recorded Documents
Use the county’s Eagle Recorder Self Service for many modern records. For older title work, use the county’s separate online index book search for 1878 through 1956.
Best searches: party name, recorded date, document type, municipality, book/page, instrument number or parcel number.
Record Deeds and Mortgages
The office records documents, but it does not prepare deeds for you or give legal advice. If a deed must be corrected, changed or transferred, use an attorney, title company or qualified real-estate professional.
Before recording: confirm signatures, acknowledgment, PIN certification, transfer tax and fees.
Use the Right County Office
The Recorder handles recorded land documents. The Assessment Office handles parcel data and property assessment records. The Clerk of Judicial Records is the better starting point for many non-mortgage lien searches.
Important: deed records do not replace a survey or legal title opinion.
Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds Office Address, Phone and Recording Hours
The current county page lists the Recorder of Deeds at Lackawanna County Government Center, 123 Wyoming Avenue, Suite 218, Scranton, PA 18503. Plan around the shorter recording window if you are bringing documents in person.
Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds
Address:
123 Wyoming Avenue, Suite 218
Scranton, PA 18503
Phone: 570-963-6775
Fax: 570-963-6390
Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Recording hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Open Recorder Map ↗How to Search Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds Records Online
Lackawanna County links two different search paths: Online Document Search 1957-current through Eagle Recorder Self Service and Online Index Book Search 1878-1956 for older index books. Start with the modern search if you have a recent owner, instrument number or parcel number.
Open the County Recorder Page First
Use the official Recorder of Deeds page so you can choose the current search link, fee calculator, fraud protection signup and document center links from the county’s own menu.
Accept the Eagle Recorder Disclaimer
The Self Service page warns that data can change, that the index is a guide to recorded documents, and that users should search spelling variations. Read the disclaimer before selecting “I Accept.”
Search by the Strongest Identifier You Have
If you have a recorded instrument number or book and page, use that first. If not, search by party name, recorded date range, document group, document type, municipality or parcel number.
Use the Assessment Database for Parcel or Address Clues
The county assessment database lets users search property records by owner, street address or parcel ID. Use it to find the PIN/parcel number and assessment record, then return to the Recorder search for recorded documents.
Open the Result and Follow the Chain
A current deed often points back to a prior deed through recitals, “being clause,” book/page or instrument references. For older ownership research, work backward from the newest deed and use the 1878-1956 index books when the modern search no longer covers the time period.
Save the Index Details Before Printing
Record the party names, document type, recorded date, municipality, instrument number, book and page, and parcel number. If an image is available, use the “View” option and save the official reference details for future filings.
What You May See in a Lackawanna County Deed Search Result
A Recorder search result is not the same thing as a property assessment record. Use this decoder to understand which field helps with which task.
| Field or Clue | What It Means | Best Use | Common Mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Party / grantor / grantee name | Names connected to the recorded document. | Finding deeds, mortgages, satisfactions or assignments by owner or lender. | Assuming spelling is perfect; search variations and prior names. |
| Document type | Examples include deed, mortgage, satisfaction, assignment, power of attorney, lease or UCC filing. | Filtering results to the exact record type needed. | Opening every result without narrowing by type. |
| Instrument number | A recorded document identifier used for modern records. | Fast retrieval when a closing disclosure, title report or prior deed lists the number. | Confusing instrument number with parcel number. |
| Book and page | Older and some indexed records may be referenced by book/page. | Tracing ownership backward, especially before modern indexing. | Ignoring the recital or being clause on the current deed. |
| Parcel / PIN | The property identifier tied to the Assessment Office parcel record. | Connecting assessment data to recorded documents. | Assuming the Recorder certifies tax value; assessment data is a separate office function. |
| Document image | The scanned official record image when available in the system. | Reviewing the legal description, parties, acknowledgment, consideration and recording stamp. | Using an online image as a title opinion or survey. |
How to Record a Deed, Mortgage or Satisfaction in Lackawanna County
Recording requirements matter because the office can reject documents that are not legible, not properly acknowledged, missing parcel certification, missing transfer-tax documents or submitted with incorrect fees.
Prepare the Correct Legal Document
The Recorder records documents but does not draft deeds for the public. For a new deed, correction deed, name change, estate transfer, trust transfer or ownership change, consult an attorney, title company or qualified real-estate professional.
Check Legibility, Paper Size and Original Signatures
Recording requirements say the document must be legible, generally no larger than 8.5 by 14 inches except maps, and all signatures and initials must be original and in dark ink suitable for imaging.
Verify the Acknowledgment
The document must be dated, execution and acknowledgment must match, and the acknowledgment must include the required notary or authorized officer details. The acknowledgment date should not predate the document execution date.
Add the Grantee Address, Municipality and PIN
Deeds must include the grantee or mortgagee address. Deeds and mortgages should identify the property’s municipality, county and state. All documents must include a PIN certified by the Lackawanna County Assessment Office before recording.
Handle Transfer Tax and Statement of Value When Required
Deeds must be accompanied by realty transfer taxes when applicable and a Pennsylvania Statement of Value when required. If the document claims a transfer-tax exemption, the exemption reason must be stated in the document or on the Statement of Value.
Use the Current Fee Calculator Before Paying
Because the county posted AOPC/CJEA fee changes and warns that documents with incorrect fees can be rejected or returned, use the official fee calculator or ask the Recorder’s Office before writing a check.
Submit by Hand Delivery, Mail, Drop Box or E-Recording
The county says documents can be brought directly to the office, placed in the Government Center main-lobby drop box, sent by U.S. Mail or submitted through listed e-recording vendors.
Include a Return Envelope for Original Documents
Recording requirements say a self-addressed stamped envelope must be provided if you want the original recorded document returned. Keep a copy of everything submitted and confirm the recorded reference after indexing.
Lackawanna County Recording Readiness Checklist
This checklist is not a legal review. It helps you spot common rejection risks before you mail, drop off or e-record a document.
Lackawanna County Recorder Fees, AOPC Changes and E-Recording Notes
Recording fees are document-specific and can change when state or court surcharges change. Do not rely on an old closing packet, old title-company checklist or old internet fee table without checking the county’s current fee calculator.
Use the Fee Calculator
The county links a Recorder of Deeds Fee Calculator through the Pennsylvania Recorder of Deeds Association. Use it before mailing checks or preparing a recording batch.
Best practice: print or save the fee result with your document packet.
AOPC / CJEA Fee Warning
The county’s Recorder page says the Court/AOPC fee changed from $40.25 to $41.25 after the CJEA surcharge increased from $2.50 to $3.50 under Act 45 of 2025.
Risk: mailed documents may be returned if the required fee is wrong.
E-Recording Attachment Fee
Effective Jan. 1, 2026, the county says attachments on e-recordings, such as corrective deeds or deeds of trust, may be subject to a $0.50 per page printing fee.
Vendors listed: Simplifile, CSC and ePN.
Recorder of Deeds vs Assessment Office vs Clerk of Judicial Records
Lackawanna County land-record research often requires more than one office. Use this table to avoid asking the Recorder for assessment, tax-payment, survey or lien work the office does not handle.
| Office / System | Use It For | Do Not Use It For | Practical Search Path |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recorder of Deeds | Recorded deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, assignments, powers of attorney, leases, UCC filings, notary commissions and DD214 recordings. | Preparing deeds, giving legal advice, surveying boundary lines or certifying current assessed values. | Start with Eagle Recorder Self Service or the older index book search. |
| Assessment Office / Assessment Database | Parcel ID/PIN, property owner, street address, assessment record and property valuation data. | Recording deeds or proving legal title from assessment data alone. | Search by owner, address or parcel ID, then use the PIN in Recorder research. |
| Clerk of Judicial Records | Many liens and court-related filings. The Recorder FAQ says most liens except mortgages are filed there. | Recorded mortgage satisfactions or deed chain documents. | Use when the question is judgments, civil liens or court record issues. |
| Planning / Municipality / Surveyor | Subdivision maps, municipal approvals, utility records, ground elevation, property-line location and survey interpretation. | Replacing a recorded deed image or official Recorder index. | Use after deed research if the question is physical boundary location or map approval. |
Certified Copies, DD214 Records and Fraud Protection Sign-Up
The Recorder page links a certified copy request form and a fraud protection sign-up. These are different tasks: copies help you obtain an official recorded document, while fraud protection helps monitor new recordings that may involve your name or property.
Certified Copy Requests
Use the county’s Request for Certified Copy of Recorded Document link when you need an official copy for closing, estate, refinance, legal, mortgage satisfaction or personal-record purposes.
Have ready: document type, party name, instrument number or book/page when available.
Fraud Protection
The county links a Fraud Protection Sign-Up through Eagle Recorder. Use it to register for alerts about newly recorded documents that match your monitored information.
Important: alerts do not stop recording; they help you respond faster.
Veteran Discharge Records
The Recorder FAQ says DD214 discharge documents can be recorded at no charge and that access is limited to the veteran, family or a veteran organization official.
Privacy note: do not confuse DD214 records with ordinary public deed images.
Official Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds Links
Use these official or county-linked resources before paying a third-party site. Each link includes what to do after opening it.
Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds Official Page
Start here for the current office address, hours, recording notices, search links, document center, e-recording information and administrative contacts.
- Open the official Recorder of Deeds page.
- Use the top links for online document search, older index book search, fraud protection or fee calculator.
- Scroll to the administrative contacts section for phone, fax, location and recording hours.
- Check the 2026 fee notices before mailing or e-recording documents.
Online Document Search 1957-Current
County-linked Eagle Recorder Self Service for modern Lackawanna County recorded document searches.
- Read the disclaimer carefully.
- Select I Accept if you agree to the terms.
- Search by name, date range, document type, municipality, instrument number, book/page or parcel number.
- Try spelling variations and wider date ranges when no results appear.
- Save the instrument number or book/page before requesting copies.
Online Index Book Search 1878-1956
County-linked older index book search for documents before the modern online document search period.
- Open the index book portal.
- Search using grantor/grantee names, approximate years and book references from the newest deed.
- Work backward through the recital or being clause on the current deed.
- When the older index gives book/page details, use those details to request or view the related record.
Lackawanna County Assessment Database
Use this when you need the parcel ID/PIN, owner name, property address or assessment record before searching recorded deeds.
- Select the basic property search option.
- Search by owner, street address or parcel ID.
- Copy the PIN/parcel number exactly as displayed.
- Return to the Recorder search and use the parcel number or owner name to locate recorded documents.
Recorder of Deeds Fee Calculator
County-linked tool for calculating recording fees before filing by mail, drop box, hand delivery or e-recording.
- Select Lackawanna County if the tool asks for county.
- Choose the document type you plan to record.
- Add page count, name count, acknowledgment count, parcel count and transfer-tax details when requested.
- Compare the result with the Recorder page’s current fee notices before mailing payment.
Pennsylvania Realty Transfer Tax Statement of Value
State form used when a Statement of Value is required for realty transfer tax reporting or exemption explanation.
- Open the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue realty transfer tax forms page.
- Find the current Statement of Value form and instructions.
- Use the form only when your deed transfer requires it or when claiming a transfer-tax exemption.
- Confirm county recording requirements before submitting the deed packet.
Fraud Protection Sign-Up
County-linked alert registration for monitoring new recordings that may match your information.
- Open the fraud protection page.
- Read the disclaimer and registration instructions.
- Register the names or property-related information the system allows.
- Keep the confirmation and review any future alert quickly with the Recorder or a qualified professional.
Common Lackawanna County Deed Search and Recording Mistakes
Mistakes That Cause Problems
- Calling the Recorder and expecting staff to perform a title search by phone.
- Trying to “change a name on a deed” without preparing and recording a new deed.
- Mailing a document with an outdated fee after the AOPC/CJEA surcharge change.
- Recording a deed without a certified PIN from the Assessment Office.
- Assuming a deed image proves exact property-line location without a survey.
- Searching only one spelling of a name in Eagle Recorder Self Service.
- Looking for most non-mortgage liens in the Recorder system instead of the Clerk of Judicial Records.
Better Local Workflow
- Use the Assessment Database first when you only know an address.
- Save PIN, instrument number, book/page and recorded date.
- Check modern records first, then older index books for 1878-1956 work.
- Use the fee calculator before mailing or hand-delivering payment.
- Use a qualified title searcher or attorney for ownership disputes, closing, litigation or title insurance.
- Include a self-addressed stamped envelope when original documents must be returned.
- Sign up for fraud protection alerts if you want notice of suspicious new recordings.
What Should You Do Next?
| Your Situation | Best Next Step | Use This Office or Link |
|---|---|---|
| You need a recent deed, mortgage or satisfaction. | Search Eagle Recorder Self Service and save the instrument number or book/page. | Online Document Search 1957-current |
| You only know the property address. | Find the PIN and owner in the Assessment Database, then search Recorder records by name or parcel. | Lackawanna County Assessment Database |
| You need a deed from before 1957. | Use the online index book search and work backward from a newer deed’s recital or book/page reference. | Online Index Book Search 1878-1956 |
| You want to record a deed or mortgage. | Check legal preparation, acknowledgment, PIN certification, transfer tax and current fees before filing. | Recorder of Deeds Office / Fee Calculator |
| You paid off a mortgage. | Confirm whether the lender recorded the satisfaction or sent satisfaction papers to you for recording. | Recorder of Deeds / lender / title company |
| You are worried about deed fraud. | Register for county-linked fraud protection alerts and review any future notice quickly. | Fraud Protection Sign-Up |
Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds FAQs
Where is the Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds located?
The Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds is located at 123 Wyoming Avenue, Suite 218, Scranton, PA 18503. The office phone number is 570-963-6775 and the fax number is 570-963-6390.
What are the Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds hours?
The county page lists office hours as 9:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. and recording hours as 9:00 a.m. through 3:45 p.m. Plan to arrive before the recording cutoff if you are hand-delivering documents.
How do I search Lackawanna County deeds online?
Use the county-linked Eagle Recorder Self Service for online document search from 1957 to current. Read the disclaimer, accept it, then search by name, date range, document type, municipality, book/page, instrument number or parcel number.
How do I search older Lackawanna County deed records?
The county links an Online Index Book Search for 1878 through 1956. Work backward from the current deed using the recital or being clause, then use older grantor/grantee index references to locate prior book and page details.
Can the Recorder of Deeds prepare a deed for me?
No. The Recorder records documents but does not prepare deeds or provide legal advice. For a deed correction, ownership change, estate transfer, trust deed or name change, contact an attorney, title company or qualified real-estate professional.
How do I change, add or remove a name on a deed in Lackawanna County?
A name is not changed by editing the old record. A new deed showing the change generally must be prepared and recorded. Because deed changes can affect ownership and taxes, get legal or title guidance before recording.
Why is the PIN or parcel number important for recording?
Lackawanna County recording requirements say all documents must include a PIN certified by the Lackawanna County Assessment Office before recording. If you only know the address, use the Assessment Database to find the parcel information first.
Can I record Lackawanna County documents electronically?
Yes. The county page lists e-recording vendors including Simplifile, CSC and ePN. The page also notes a 2026 e-recording attachment printing fee that can apply to attachments on certain e-recorded documents.
Where do I check for liens in Lackawanna County?
Mortgage-related documents are commonly found through the Recorder of Deeds. The Recorder FAQ says most liens other than mortgages are filed in the Clerk of Judicial Records office, so a complete lien search may require both land records and court-related records.
Is County-Appraisal-District.org the Lackawanna County government website?
No. County-Appraisal-District.org is an independent educational resource. It is not the Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds, Lackawanna County Government, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, a title company, a law firm or a consumer reporting agency.
Independent Educational Guide
County-Appraisal-District.org is an independent informational website and is not affiliated with the Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds, Lackawanna County Government, the Lackawanna County Assessment Office, the Clerk of Judicial Records, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, any title company or any law firm.
Recorded documents, ownership rights, lien priority, transfer tax, recording acceptance, certified copies, deed corrections and title issues can affect important legal and financial rights. Verify current requirements with the Recorder of Deeds and consult a qualified professional when a document affects ownership, sale, inheritance, financing or litigation.
Public land records 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.