Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds: Search Deeds, Record Documents, Fees & Office Guide
The Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds records real-estate documents for property in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, including deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, releases, notary commissions and other recordable instruments. The public can search in person at the Courthouse Annex in Wilkes-Barre or online through Landex and IQS resources linked by the county.
This guide explains the fastest way to search deed records, when to use Landex Remote versus Landex Webstore versus IQS Infodex, how PIN certification works before recording, what changed with the July 1, 2026 deed/mortgage fee increase, and which office to contact for liens, assessments, transfer tax, title searches and deed corrections.
What Does the Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds Do?
The Recorder of Deeds is the county office that records and maintains real-estate-related instruments for Luzerne County. That includes deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, releases, real-estate tax-related documents, notary commissions and other documents accepted for recording. The office preserves the public record, but recording a document does not mean the office certifies the legal accuracy of the document’s contents.
Use the Recorder For
Recorded deeds, mortgages, mortgage satisfactions, real-estate document copies, certified copies, eRecording questions, Record Alert, notary commission recording and document filing requirements.
Use the Assessor For
Property Identification Number certification, assessment records, address changes, assessment appeals, homestead documentation, Clean and Green paperwork and property-tax assessment questions.
Use Other Offices For
Many liens and judgments are checked through the Prothonotary, estate records through Register of Wills, tax claim issues through Tax Claim, and legal/title opinions through a title professional or attorney.
How to Search Luzerne County Deeds and Recorder Records
Luzerne County offers several record-search paths. The best option depends on the recording date, whether you need only the index, whether you need document images, and whether you are doing a one-time homeowner search or repeated professional title research.
| Search Option | County-Listed Coverage | Cost / Access | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-office public terminals | Public recorded-document access at the Courthouse Annex. | No fee to search; copies listed at $0.50 per page. | One-time deed copies, older-record help, users who do not want an online account. |
| Landex Remote | All documents from August 1993 to present; deeds and mortgages from 1968 to present. County page also notes images indexed December 1980 to present. | Account-based drawdown access; county search page lists $0.10 per minute and $0.15 per copy. | Title companies, attorneys, abstractors and regular researchers. |
| Landex Webstore | All documents from August 1993 to present. | No fee to search the index; fee applies to view or copy a document by credit card. | Homeowners who need to find and buy a specific document image. |
| IQS Infodex / E-Film Reader | Deeds filed from 1787 through 1967; older grantor/grantee indexes are also available through Infodex. | Free to search older indexes; fee applies to copy deeds. | Historic deed chains, genealogy, older title research and pre-1968 records. |
Start With the Date Range
If the document is modern, start with Landex Webstore or Landex Remote. If it is an older deed before 1968, use IQS Infodex/E-Film Reader or visit the office.
Search by Name or PIN, Not Only Address
The county FAQ explains that Recorder records are indexed by names and, for records from 1993 forward, by property identification number. If you only know the address, get the owner or PIN from assessment/GIS records first.
Use Approximate Year When Searching Deeds or Mortgages
Luzerne County says to locate a deed or mortgage, you should know the name of one of the people involved and the approximate year of the transaction. This is especially important for older index books.
Confirm the Result Before Paying for a Copy
Check the grantor, grantee, mortgagor, mortgagee, recording date, document type, municipality, PIN and book/page or instrument reference before ordering or printing.
Use Record Alert for Future Monitoring
Luzerne County offers a free Landex Record Alert service. Property owners may register by name or PIN and list up to five PINs or names for monitoring. The county warns that alerts do not prevent recording, but they help owners monitor new recordings after sign-up.
How to Record a Deed or Real-Estate Document in Luzerne County
Luzerne County accepts documents at the front counter, by mail, or through approved eRecording vendors. The county’s filing page says documents must be original, properly executed, signed, dated and acknowledged before a notary, with required fees and transfer taxes paid at the time of recording.
Prepare the Document Before You Arrive
The Recorder does not prepare legal documents. The document should be complete before recording, including signatures, dates, required acknowledgment language and a clear notary seal/signature.
Check Deed and Mortgage Formatting Requirements
Luzerne County says foreign-language documents must include written English translations, written consideration must match the numerical amount, and deeds and mortgages must include a signed certificate of residence with the grantee’s or mortgagee’s precise address and ZIP code.
Get PIN Certification When Required
All documents that require a Property Identification Number, also called a Uniform Parcel Identifier, must be certified by the Luzerne County Tax Assessor’s Office before recording. The county fee page lists the PIN certification fee as $20 per PIN, payable to the Luzerne County Treasurer.
Attach Statement of Value When Needed
If a deed is legally exempt from Pennsylvania realty transfer tax, Luzerne County says a Realty Transfer Tax Statement of Value form must accompany the deed, except for certain family-member or public-utility transfers when the exemption is recited in the deed.
Bring Correct Fees, Taxes and Return Envelope
Recording fees and transfer taxes are due at recording. If submitting by mail, include a self-addressed stamped envelope of sufficient size. The county warns that mail-submitted documents without a sufficient return envelope will not be returned.
Arrive Before the Filing Deadline
The public office hours are listed as 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but the filing deadline is listed as 4:20 p.m. In-person recording generally takes 10 to 15 minutes to review, receipt and scan documents.
Luzerne County Recorder Fees, Copy Costs and 2026 Demolition Fund Increase
Luzerne County states that the fee for deeds, deeds exempt and mortgages increases by $15 beginning July 1, 2026 because of the Luzerne County Demolition Fund. Always check the current county fee schedule before mailing documents or preparing a closing package.
| Item | County-Listed Amount / Rule | Practical Note |
|---|---|---|
| Deeds | County 7/1/26 fee schedule lists deeds at $87.75. | Transfer taxes and Statement of Value requirements may apply separately. |
| Mortgages | County 7/1/26 fee schedule lists mortgages at $38.00 plus taxes due. | Confirm if demolition fund, page count, tax or special-document charges apply to your filing. |
| Release of mortgage / partial release | County 7/1/26 fee schedule lists $64.75 and notes no blanket releases accepted. | Search the original mortgage reference before filing or requesting a copy. |
| Satisfaction | County 7/1/26 fee schedule lists $64.75, with $5 each additional satisfaction on the same document. | Mortgage payoff does not automatically create a new deed; the satisfaction clears the mortgage record. |
| PIN certification | $20 per PIN, payable to Luzerne County Treasurer. | Required for documents needing a Property Identification Number / Uniform Parcel Identifier certification. |
| In-office copies | $0.50 per page. | Often the most practical option for a one-document homeowner request. |
| Mailed document copies | County FAQ lists $5 first page, $2 each additional page, and $2 certification if needed. | Written request should include name, book/page number, fee and self-addressed stamped envelope. |
Luzerne County Recorder Fee Planning Calculator
This tool is for planning only. It does not replace the official Recorder fee schedule, Assessment Office PIN certification, Pennsylvania realty transfer tax calculation, local transfer tax, or legal review of your document.
The PA transfer-tax estimate applies only the 1% state rate for illustration. Local transfer tax, municipal exceptions, exemptions, Statement of Value rules, additional pages, rejections and title-company settlement charges are not fully calculated here.
What You Can and Cannot Learn From Luzerne County Deed Records
Recorder records are powerful for document history, but they are not the same as a title opinion, survey, tax assessment record or lien search across every county office.
| Question | Where to Start | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Who bought or sold the property? | Recorder deed search by grantor/grantee name. | Deeds show parties, legal description and recording references. |
| What is the parcel number or current assessed owner? | Luzerne County Assessment Office / property records. | Recorder FAQ says property-owner information by location is found in Assessment records. |
| Is my mortgage paid off in the public record? | Search the Recorder for a mortgage satisfaction. | The lender may record a satisfaction, or may send satisfaction papers to the borrower to record. |
| Are there liens against me? | Recorder for mortgages; Prothonotary for many other liens/judgments. | County FAQ says most liens except mortgages are filed in the Prothonotary’s Office. |
| Where exactly are my boundary lines? | Use the deed for legal description, then hire a surveyor. | The county FAQ says a surveyor is needed to locate property lines and place markers. |
Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds Office Address, Phone, Hours and Parking
The Recorder of Deeds is located in the Courthouse Annex at 153 N River Street in Wilkes-Barre. The county lists the main mailing address as 200 N River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711.
Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds
Physical address:
153 N River Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
Mailing address:
200 N River Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
Phone: 570-825-1641
Fax: 570-970-4580
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; closed on holidays. Filing deadline listed as 4:20 p.m.
Open Recorder Map ↗Can You Record Documents at the Hazleton Annex?
Luzerne County lists a Hazleton Annex at Hazleton City Hall, 40 North Church Street, Hazleton, PA 18201. The county says Recorder of Deeds/Register of Wills/Clerk of Orphans’ Court services at the Hazleton Annex will file or record documents except adoption and guardianship filings.
Hazleton Annex Hours
County page lists most Hazleton Annex offices open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Recorder-related section says customers must wait while documents are completed and cannot leave them with staff.
Payment Rules
The Recorder page notes no cash will be accepted at the Hazleton Annex. Money orders, cashier’s checks, personal and business checks, and credit cards are listed for documents.
Before You Go
Verify your document has PIN certification when required, all signatures and notary details are complete, and the correct fee is available. The shorter Annex schedule makes same-day correction harder.
Common Luzerne County Recorder Mistakes
Mistakes That Can Waste Time
- Trying to search old deeds by street address only.
- Submitting a deed without PIN certification when required.
- Mailing a document without a sufficient self-addressed stamped envelope.
- Using white-out on a document presented for recording.
- Assuming the Recorder can prepare a deed, notarize a signature or perform a title search.
- Forgetting that the public office filing deadline is earlier than closing time.
Better Workflow
- Identify owner name, PIN and approximate year before searching.
- Use Landex Webstore for occasional modern document searches.
- Use Landex Remote for recurring professional research.
- Use IQS Infodex/E-Film for older deeds.
- Confirm fees after the July 1, 2026 fee update.
- Save the instrument number, book/page and receipt after recording.
Official Luzerne County Recorder Links and What to Do After Opening Them
Use these official county and state resources before searching, recording, mailing documents, paying for copies or calculating realty transfer tax.
Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds
Official county page for Recorder services, Record Alert, eRecording vendors, online record systems, office address, phone, hours and parking.
- Confirm the office address, current hours and 4:20 p.m. filing deadline.
- Read the Record Alert section if you want monitoring by name or PIN.
- Use the Real Estate Documents section to choose Landex Remote, Landex Webstore or IQS.
- Review Hazleton Annex rules before visiting that location.
Luzerne County Document Search
Official county search-options page explaining in-office access, Landex Remote, Landex Webstore and IQS E-Film/Infodex.
- Choose the search option that matches the document date.
- Use in-office search for no-fee search and low-cost page copies.
- Use Landex Webstore for occasional online index searches.
- Use IQS for older deed records from 1787 through 1967.
Luzerne County Recording & Filing Documents
Official instructions for recording at the counter, by mail or by eRecording, including acceptance/rejection and indexing basics.
- Read the front-counter, mail and eRecording options.
- Confirm originals, signatures, dates and notary acknowledgment.
- Verify fees and transfer taxes are payable at recording.
- Read the rejection section so you understand that recording does not approve document content.
Luzerne County About Filing Deeds
Official deed-specific rules for consideration, certificate of residence, return envelopes, PIN certification, notary issues and Statement of Value.
- Check that written and numerical consideration match.
- Confirm the certificate of residence includes the precise address and ZIP code.
- Get the Property Identification Number certified by the Assessment Office when required.
- Attach the Statement of Value if the deed is exempt or does not show true value as required.
Luzerne County Fee Schedule
Official county fee page with 2026 fee schedule links, PIN certification note and PA deeds fee-calculator warning.
- Open the newest ROD fee schedule listed on the page.
- Check whether deeds, deeds exempt or mortgages include the July 1, 2026 demolition-fund increase.
- Add $20 per required PIN certification when applicable.
- Do not rely only on the linked fee calculator if the page warns it is not updated.
Luzerne County eRecording
Official eRecording page listing accepted document scope, vendor setup and rejection-fee warning.
- Confirm your document type is accepted for eRecording.
- Set up an account with an approved vendor: CSC, ePN or Simplifile.
- Remember that submissions can be made anytime, but county acceptance occurs during normal working hours.
- Check the $5 rejection-fee warning for insufficient information.
Pennsylvania DOR Realty Transfer Tax
Official state page explaining Pennsylvania’s 1% realty transfer tax and county Recorder collection role.
- Review the statewide 1% realty transfer tax rule.
- Check whether your transfer may be exempt or requires a Statement of Value.
- Confirm local municipal and school tax with Luzerne County before recording.
- Use the Department of Revenue contact path for unusual transfer-tax questions.
What Should You Do Next?
| Your Situation | Best Next Step | Office / Resource |
|---|---|---|
| You need a modern deed, mortgage or satisfaction. | Search Landex Webstore or Landex Remote by party name, PIN, approximate year, book/page or instrument reference. | Luzerne County Document Search |
| You need an older deed before 1968. | Use IQS Infodex/E-Film Reader or visit public terminals at the Recorder’s Office. | IQS / Recorder public terminals |
| You are recording a deed. | Prepare the deed, check notary and certificate-of-residence details, get PIN certification, include transfer taxes or Statement of Value, then record. | Assessment Office + Recorder |
| You need to know current assessed owner or parcel number. | Use the Assessment Office or property records first, then use the owner/PIN to search recorded documents. | Luzerne County Assessment Office |
| You want to check for non-mortgage liens or judgments. | Do not search only the Recorder. Check Prothonotary records or hire a title professional. | Prothonotary / title company / attorney |
| You are worried about fraudulent recordings. | Sign up for Landex Record Alert by name or PIN, but understand it monitors new recordings and does not block documents from being recorded. | Landex Record Alert |
Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds FAQs
Where is the Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds Office?
The Recorder of Deeds public office is located at 153 N River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711. The mailing address listed by the county is 200 N River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711. The Recorder phone number is 570-825-1641.
What are the Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds hours?
The county lists Recorder hours as Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed on holidays. The listed deadline for filing is 4:20 p.m., so arrive before closing if you need a document reviewed and recorded.
Can I search Luzerne County deeds online?
Yes. Luzerne County links to Landex Remote, Landex Webstore and IQS Infodex/E-Film Reader. Landex is used for modern records, while IQS is useful for older deed records from 1787 through 1967.
Is there a free way to search Luzerne County recorded documents?
Yes. The county says in-office search at the Courthouse Annex has no search fee, with copies listed at $0.50 per page. Landex Webstore also allows free index searching, but viewing or copying a document has a fee.
What information do I need to find a deed or mortgage?
The county FAQ says deed and mortgage information is indexed by grantor, grantee, mortgagor or mortgagee names, and for 1993-forward records by property identification number. You should also know the approximate year of the transaction.
Can the Recorder search by address?
The Recorder’s records are not mainly location-based. The county FAQ says owner information by location is found in the Assessment Office. If you only know the address, first identify the owner or PIN through assessment or GIS records.
Does Luzerne County require PIN certification before recording?
Yes, for documents that require a Property Identification Number or Uniform Parcel Identifier. Luzerne County says the PIN must be certified by the Tax Assessor’s Office before recording, with the county fee page listing $20 per PIN.
Does the Luzerne County Recorder prepare deeds or give legal advice?
No. The Recorder does not prepare legal documents, provide blank deed or power-of-attorney forms, notarize signatures, give legal advice or perform title searches. For deed preparation or title questions, consult an attorney, title company or qualified professional.
How do I correct a deed or add someone to a deed in Luzerne County?
The county FAQ says recorded documents cannot be altered after they go on record. A correction, added name or changed ownership record generally requires a new deed prepared, signed, notarized and recorded.
What is Luzerne County Record Alert?
Record Alert is a free Landex service offered through the Recorder of Deeds. Property owners can register by name or PIN and list up to five PINs or names for monitoring. The county explains that it does not prevent recording, but it can alert owners to new recordings after sign-up.
Independent Educational Guide
County-Appraisal-District.org is an independent informational website. It is not affiliated with Luzerne County Government, the Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds, the Luzerne County Assessment Office, Landex, IQS, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, or any court or title company.
Recording requirements, fees, transfer taxes, PIN certification rules, copy fees, public access, eRecording acceptance and office hours are controlled by the responsible public offices and applicable law. This page is not legal, title, financial or tax advice.
Public property and recorder 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.