Stark County OH Recorder: Deeds, Official Records, Copy Fees & Property Fraud Alerts
The Stark County Recorder maintains recorded real-estate documents for land in Stark County, Ohio, including deeds, mortgages, easements, releases, liens and other instruments accepted under Ohio recorder law.
Use this guide to search the official Stark County Recorder record portal, understand what a deed record does and does not prove, request copies, estimate recording fees, prepare documents for recording, and avoid confusing the Recorder with the Auditor, Treasurer, Probate Court or Clerk of Courts.
What Can You Do Through the Stark County Recorder?
The Stark County Recorder is the correct office for recorded land documents such as deeds, mortgages, easements, releases, assignments, liens, plats and certain other official records. It is not the office that assesses property value, collects property tax, issues marriage licenses, gives legal advice, prepares deeds or proves that a person has marketable title.
Search Recorded Land Documents
Use the official Stark County Recorder search portal when you need a recorded deed, mortgage, release, easement, lien, subdivision document, document number, book/page reference, grantor name or grantee name.
Best for: deed history, mortgage releases, liens, recorded instrument images and official document references.
Do Not Use It as a Property Appraisal Search
If you need owner mailing address, parcel value, tax district, property class, building data or recent property-tax information, start with the Stark County Auditor Real Estate Search instead.
Best for: parcel details, assessments, values, tax map links and property-record fields.
Set Up Property Fraud Alerts
Stark County offers FraudSleuth, a free alert tool that can send an email when a document is recorded in a name profile you set up. It does not prove fraud by itself because people can share the same name.
Best for: early warning when a new recorded document appears under your name.
How to Search Stark County Recorder Deeds and Records Online
Stark County’s official Recorder portal supports quick search and advanced search. The quick search screen shows a Real Property department search with a search term box for grantor/grantee, subdivision, document type or document number, plus recorded-date filtering and an option to search only the index or search index and full text OCR.
Open the Official Record Search
Start from the official Stark County Recorder page or the direct official search portal. Confirm the page says Stark County Recorder before entering search terms or creating an account.
Choose the Right Search Type
Use Quick Search for most lookups. Use Advanced Search when you need tighter filters such as a specific document type, date range, party role or document number.
Search by Grantor or Grantee Name
For deed chains, start with the seller or buyer name. Try last name only first, then add first name if too many results appear. For companies, try the main business word without punctuation such as LLC commas or periods.
Search by Document Number or Document Type
If you already have an instrument number from a tax record, prior deed, mortgage release or closing paperwork, search that document number directly. If you only know the category, try a document type search such as deed, mortgage, release, easement or lien.
Use Recorded Date Carefully
The portal includes recorded-date filters. Search by recorded date when you know approximately when the document was filed. Do not confuse the signing date, closing date and recording date; they can be different.
Use OCR Only When Needed
“Search Index Only” searches indexed fields. “Search Index & Full Text (OCR)” can search text inside document images, but OCR can miss handwritten, faint, older or scanned text. Use both when the first search fails.
Save the Instrument Details
When you find the correct record, save the document number, recording date, parties, document type, legal description reference, book/page or image reference, and any related cross-reference numbers. These details help when requesting certified copies or checking property transfers.
What Stark County Recorder Search Results Mean
A recorder result is a document index and image record, not a full property-tax profile. Use this decoder to understand which fields matter for which task.
| Recorder Field | What It Usually Means | How to Use It | Common Mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grantor | The person or entity giving, selling, releasing or granting an interest. | Use it to trace sellers, prior owners, mortgage releases or lien releases. | Assuming every grantor is the current owner. |
| Grantee | The person or entity receiving, buying or benefiting from the recorded instrument. | Use it to find buyers, mortgage lenders, trustees or easement holders. | Assuming a grantee name alone proves clean title. |
| Document Type | The classification such as deed, mortgage, release, easement, lien, affidavit or assignment. | Use it to separate ownership transfers from loans, releases and encumbrances. | Opening a mortgage and treating it as a deed. |
| Recorded Date | The date the Recorder accepted and recorded the document. | Use it to order the timeline of documents. | Confusing recorded date with sale date or signing date. |
| Document Number | The official instrument reference assigned by the recording system. | Use it when requesting certified copies or citing a document. | Using only names when a document number is already available. |
| Legal Description | The formal land description attached to the property interest. | Compare it with the deed, tax map and Auditor parcel record. | Relying only on a street address for legal transfers. |
Stark County Recorder Fees, Copies and Certified Copies
Stark County states that recorder fees are set by Ohio Revised Code, not by the local Recorder’s Office. The fee schedule effective October 24, 2024 lists many deeds, affidavits, mortgages, assignments, releases and mechanic liens at $34 for the first two pages and $8 for each additional page.
Common Recording Fees
- Many deeds, affidavits, mortgages, assignments, releases and mechanic liens: $34 for the first two pages.
- Each additional page after the first two pages: $8.
- Optional cross-reference: $4 per cross-reference.
- Nonconforming document surcharge: $20 if standardization rules are not met.
- UCC and UCC termination: $12 per document plus $4 for each indexed name.
Copy and Certification Fees
- Online copies: available online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at no direct user cost.
- Staff-assisted office copies: $2.00 per page.
- Self-serve office copies: $0.10 per page.
- Certification fee: $1.00 per document.
- Certified copy by mail: send request, fees and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the Recorder.
Recording Fee Estimator
This estimator uses the common Stark County fee pattern listed for deeds, affidavits, mortgages, assignments, releases and mechanic liens. It is not an official invoice.
Recording a Deed or Real Estate Document in Stark County
The Recorder records documents that are legally ready to be recorded. The office states that it is responsible only for recording documents and, by law, cannot give legal advice or help prepare legal documents.
Standardization Checklist
- Legible print size not smaller than 10-point font.
- Minimum paper size: 8.5 inches by 11 inches.
- Maximum paper size: 8.5 inches by 14 inches.
- One-inch margins on each side and across the bottom.
- Three-inch blank margin at the top of the first page.
- One-and-a-half-inch blank top margin on remaining pages.
- Black or blue ink only.
- No highlighting.
Do Not Skip These Issues
- Do not prepare a deed without understanding legal consequences.
- Do not assume a street address is enough; deeds need legal descriptions and parcel references.
- Do not ignore marital status, dower-release issues, notary wording or signatures.
- Do not forget Auditor transfer and Tax Map review when the document requires it.
- Do not record the wrong form just because it is available online.
Which Stark County Office Handles Deeds, Transfers, Values and Taxes?
Many Stark County deed problems are really office-routing problems. A deed may need Tax Map and Auditor approval before the Recorder can record it, while property values and tax bills are handled outside the Recorder’s Office.
| Office | Use This Office For | Do Not Use It For | Local Stark County Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stark County Recorder | Recorded deeds, mortgages, releases, easements, liens, UCC records, plats, copies, certified copies, FraudSleuth and e-recording. | Appraisals, property-tax bills, legal advice, deed preparation, marriage licenses, divorce records or birth/death records. | Located in Suite 170 on the first floor of the Stark County Office Building. |
| Stark County Auditor | Property assessment, real estate search, property transfers, tax maps, legal-description review, parcel data and conveyance forms. | Recorded-document certified copies or recording deed images after acceptance. | For deed transfers, Stark County says the deed cannot be recorded until it is stamped by the Auditor showing compliance with Ohio conveyance requirements. |
| Stark County Treasurer | Real-estate tax bills, manufactured-home taxes, tax payments, delinquent taxes and tax collection. | Recording deeds or updating ownership documents. | Use the Treasurer when the question is payment, tax-bill balance, receipt or collection status. |
| Probate Court / Family Court / Health Department | Marriage licenses, probate records, divorce records, birth certificates and death certificates depending on record type. | Land records filed with the Recorder. | The Recorder’s page redirects birth/death, marriage and divorce questions to the proper offices. |
Stark County E-Recording: Who Can Use It and What Happens Next
Stark County accepts electronic recording through Neumo. To submit documents electronically, users must set up an account with an approved e-recording partner. The office reviews transmitted documents and either records or rejects them.
Approved Partner Route
Stark County lists approved partners including Hopdox, CSC, eRecording Partners Network, Indecomm Global Services and Simplifile. This route is mainly used by title companies, attorneys, lenders and other frequent filers.
Submission vs Processing Time
Documents may be transmitted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, but Stark County processes documents during office hours: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday, excluding government holidays.
Documents Not E-Recorded
Stark County says some documents cannot be e-recorded, including plats and military discharge records, also known as DD214s. Contact the Recorder before sending unusual documents.
How Stark County FraudSleuth Property Alerts Work
FraudSleuth is a free Stark County Recorder alert tool powered by Neumo. It can notify you by email when a document is recorded with a name you configured in your alert profile.
How to Set Alerts
- Create or sign in to your official Stark County Recorder record-search account.
- Open the Preferences area.
- Configure a FraudSleuth profile.
- Add separate profiles for first/last, first/middle/last, middle-initial versions, nicknames and alternate spellings.
- Watch your email for alerts when matching documents are recorded in Stark County.
What an Alert Does Not Mean
A FraudSleuth notice does not automatically mean fraud occurred. Stark County warns that other property owners may have the same name. Treat the alert as a prompt to review the document and contact the Recorder if something appears suspicious.
Alerts apply to recordings in the Stark County Recorder’s Office, not every document filed across Ohio.
Stark County Recorder Address, Phone, Hours and Map
The Recorder’s Office is located on the first floor of the Stark County Office Building in downtown Canton. Call before visiting for unusual recordings, mailed certified-copy requests, older documents, DD214 handling or questions about payment.
Stark County Recorder
Recorder: Jamie Walters
Address:
110 Central Plaza South, Suite 170
Canton, OH 44702-1409
Phone: 330-451-7443
Fax: 330-451-7394
Email: recorder@starkcountyohio.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM; closed Saturday and Sunday.
Open Recorder Map ↗Official Stark County Recorder Links and What to Do After Opening Them
These are official or controlling sources. Each important link includes a micro-guide so the page is not just a link directory.
Stark County Recorder Official Page
Use this for office contact details, hours, official Recorder links, search records, e-recording, fees and assistance notes.
- Confirm the page says Stark County Recorder.
- Use the left-side or related-page links for Search Records, Fees, E-Recording, FraudSleuth or Blank Real Estate Forms.
- Check current hours before visiting the first-floor office in Canton.
- Call 330-451-7443 before mailing copy requests or recording unusual documents.
Stark County Recorder Official Record Search
Use this to search recorded deeds, mortgages, releases, liens, easements and other real-property records.
- Select Quick Search for a basic lookup.
- Enter a grantor/grantee name, subdivision, document type or document number.
- Use recorded-date filters if you know the approximate recording period.
- Try Search Index Only first, then Search Index & Full Text (OCR) if needed.
- Open the record image and save the document number before requesting a certified copy.
Stark County Recorder Fees
Use this before recording documents or requesting office copies and certified copies.
- Look for the current effective date at the top of the Recorder fee page.
- Count the total number of pages in your document, including any caption page.
- Add $4 for each cross-reference you choose to include.
- Add the nonconforming-document fee if the document does not meet Ohio standardization rules.
- For mailed certified copies, include the request, correct fee and self-addressed stamped envelope.
Stark County E-Recording
Use this if you are an attorney, title company, lender or frequent filer submitting documents electronically.
- Review Stark County’s approved e-recording partner list.
- Create an account with a listed partner such as Hopdox, CSC, ePN, Indecomm or Simplifile.
- Transmit documents through the partner platform.
- Watch for recorded or rejected status after Stark County staff review the submission.
- Remember that documents sent outside office hours are processed the next business day.
Stark County FraudSleuth
Use this to create free name-based alerts when documents are recorded in the Stark County Recorder’s Office.
- Create or sign in to your account.
- Open Preferences.
- Configure FraudSleuth profiles for each version of your name.
- Use nicknames, middle initials and alternate spellings if needed.
- If an alert looks suspicious, review the recorded document and contact the Recorder.
Stark County Auditor Property Transfer
Use this before recording a deed that changes ownership, especially when conveyance forms, tax maps or Auditor stamps are required.
- Review whether your transfer needs DTE Form 100 or DTE Form 100(EX).
- Check whether a Homestead or 2.5% Owner Occupied Statement of Conveyance is needed.
- Confirm the legal description, tax parcel number, prior deed reference, marital status and notary clause.
- Complete Auditor and Tax Map steps before expecting the Recorder to record the deed.
Ohio Revised Code Chapter 317
Use this for controlling Ohio recorder duties, record types, prerequisites, standardization and state-set fee authority.
- Use Section 317.08 to understand what county recorders record.
- Use Section 317.22 for prerequisites before certain deeds can be recorded.
- Use Section 317.32 for statutory recording fees.
- Use Section 317.114 for standard document format rules.
Common Stark County Recorder Mistakes
Mistakes That Cause Delays
- Searching by address in the Recorder portal when the better starting point is the Auditor property search.
- Trying to record a deed before the Auditor has stamped a conveyance that requires transfer review.
- Assuming a blank deed form is legal advice.
- Using a document that fails Ohio margin, ink, paper or font standardization rules.
- Forgetting the self-addressed stamped envelope for mailed certified-copy requests.
- Using a Recorder search result as a replacement for a title search.
Better Local Workflow
- Use the Auditor search first when you only know the property address.
- Use the Recorder portal after you identify owner names, prior deed references or instrument numbers.
- Save document numbers before ordering certified copies.
- Check standardization rules before calculating recording fees.
- Call the Recorder for copy and recording logistics, not legal drafting advice.
- Set up FraudSleuth alerts for name variations tied to your property.
What Should You Do Next?
| Your Situation | Best Next Step | Correct Office / Tool |
|---|---|---|
| You need a copy of a recorded deed, mortgage, release, lien or easement. | Search the official Recorder portal by grantor/grantee, document type, document number or recorded date. | Stark County Recorder Search |
| You need a certified copy by mail. | Find the document number, then mail the request, correct fees and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the Recorder. | Stark County Recorder, Suite 170 |
| You need current owner, parcel, valuation, building or tax-map information. | Start with the Stark County Auditor Real Estate Search, then use recorder records if you need the deed image. | Stark County Auditor |
| You are recording a deed that transfers real estate. | Review Auditor transfer forms, tax map/legal-description requirements and conveyance fees before recording. | Auditor Transfer Department + Recorder |
| You want alerts if a document is recorded in your name. | Create a free FraudSleuth profile and add name variations. | Stark County Recorder FraudSleuth |
| You need birth, death, marriage or divorce records. | Use the office listed by the Recorder: Health Department for birth/death, Probate Court for marriage, Family Court for divorce. | Health Department / Probate Court / Family Court |
Stark County Recorder FAQs
Where is the Stark County Recorder’s Office?
The Stark County Recorder is located at 110 Central Plaza South, Suite 170, Canton, OH 44702-1409, on the first floor of the Stark County Office Building. The main phone number is 330-451-7443.
What are the Stark County Recorder hours?
The Recorder’s Office lists public hours as Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The office is closed Saturday and Sunday, and e-recorded documents sent outside office hours are processed the next business day.
How do I search Stark County deeds online?
Open the official Stark County Recorder record-search portal, use Quick Search or Advanced Search, then search by grantor/grantee name, subdivision, document type, document number or recorded-date range. Try index-only search first and use full-text OCR if the indexed search does not locate the document.
Can I search Stark County Recorder records by property address?
The Recorder portal is strongest for names, document numbers, document types and recorded-document searches. If you only know the property address, start with the Stark County Auditor Real Estate Search to find the parcel and owner information, then use the Recorder search for deed images and instrument references.
How much does it cost to record a deed in Stark County?
For many deeds and similar real-estate documents, Stark County lists $34 for the first two pages and $8 for each additional page, plus $4 for each optional cross-reference. A $20 nonconforming-document fee may apply if Ohio standardization rules are not met.
How do I get a certified copy from the Stark County Recorder?
Search the official record portal first and save the document number. For a certified copy by mail, Stark County says to send a request, correct fees and a self-addressed stamped envelope to Stark County Recorder, 110 Central Plaza South, Suite 170, Canton, OH 44702. The certification fee is listed as $1.00 per document.
Can the Stark County Recorder prepare my deed?
No. Stark County states that the Recorder is responsible only for recording documents and, by law, cannot provide legal advice or help prepare legal documents. Consult an attorney, title company or legal-aid resource if you need help preparing a deed.
Why does a deed need the Stark County Auditor before recording?
For certain conveyances, the property must go through Stark County Auditor transfer requirements before recording. Stark County says deeds cannot be recorded by the Recorder until stamped by the Auditor showing compliance with Ohio conveyance requirements.
What is Stark County FraudSleuth?
FraudSleuth is a free property-alert tool from the Stark County Recorder. It can send an email when a document is recorded in a name profile you configured. An alert does not automatically prove fraud because multiple people may share the same name.
Does the Stark County Recorder handle birth, death, marriage or divorce records?
No. The Recorder’s page directs birth and death records to the Stark County Health Department, marriage licenses to Stark County Probate Court, and divorce records to Stark County Family Court.
Independent Educational Guide
County-Appraisal-District.org is an independent informational website. It is not affiliated with the Stark County Recorder, Stark County Auditor, Stark County Treasurer, Stark County Probate Court, Stark County Family Court, the Ohio Legislature or any title company.
This page explains public-record and recording workflows for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice, title advice, tax advice or a consumer report. Do not use property-owner or recorded-document information for employment screening, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance underwriting or other regulated consumer-reporting purposes.
Recording acceptance, copy fees, certification, document standards, e-recording availability, transfer requirements and legal effects are determined by the responsible public office, Ohio law and, where applicable, a court or qualified legal professional.