Lake County OH Recorder: Deeds & Records

Lake County Recorder — Becky Lynch

Office address:
105 Main Street, Lower Level
Lake County Administration Center
Painesville, OH 44077

Mailing address:
Lake County Recorder
105 Main Street, P.O. Box 490
Painesville, OH 44077

Phone: 440-350-2510
Toll-free: 800-899-5253, extension 2510
Fax: 440-350-5940

Office email: recorder@lakecountyohio.gov
Public-record requests: RecorderPublicRecordRequest@LakeCountyOhio.gov

Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM.
Same-day recording courtesy cutoff: 3:45 PM.

Google Map and Directions

The Recorder’s Office is on the lower level of the Administration Center in downtown Painesville.

The Lake County Recorder offers several search services for land records. The two most relevant to ordinary users are AVA and Laredo.

1. Open the official Recorder’s research options.

   Use the county’s page rather than a third-party record aggregator.

   Open Recorder Search Options
   After opening: choose AVA for basic information, or the Laredo account option if you need advanced searching.
2. Search with an owner or party name.

   Use the person or business associated with the recorded deed, mortgage, lien or release.

3. Refine the results.

   Use any available document type, date or recording-reference fields to narrow matching instruments.

4. Review the instrument.

   Compare the names, document type, recording date and legal description.

5. Check related instruments.

   A title history can include later deeds, mortgage assignments, satisfactions, easements and liens.

6. Save the reference.

   Keep the instrument reference or book-and-page citation when requesting a copy or contacting the office.

How far back are records searchable?

Lake County’s Recorder describes online indexes beginning around 1985–1986. The county’s first deed was recorded on April 16, 1840, in Deed Volume 1, Page 1.

Older historical records may require research through the Recorder’s records room or staff-assisted access.

If you only know the property’s street address, begin with the Lake County Auditor’s Basic Property Search.

The Auditor system supports parcel identification, owner-name and address searches. This is useful when the Recorder search requires a property owner’s name.

1. Open the Auditor’s property database.Search Lake County Property
2. Enter the property address.

   Use house number and street name. The Auditor recommends leaving off common street suffixes for best results.

3. Open the matching parcel.

   Confirm the address, owner, parcel ID and legal-description details.

4. Return to the Recorder.

   Use the owner’s name or available recording references to locate the deed.

Auditor Contact

Lake County Auditor: Christopher A. Galloway
Address: 105 Main Street, Suite C101, Painesville, OH 44077
Phone: 440-350-2532

The Recorder accepts eligible documents after any required preliminary transfer approval.

For most deed transfers, the Auditor’s Transfer Office processes the conveyance before the Recorder records it. Engineer Tax Map review is also required for certain descriptions, splits and other transactions.

1. Prepare the deed.

   Include the appropriate parties, complete legal description, signatures, acknowledgment and preparer information.

2. Determine whether Engineer approval is required.

   Certain metes-and-bounds descriptions, parcel splits, combinations, plats and newly prepared descriptions require Tax Map review.

3. Complete conveyance forms.

   Use DTE 100 for a taxable conveyance or DTE 100EX when the transfer qualifies for an exemption.

4. Visit the Auditor’s Transfer Office.

   Obtain the necessary approval and transfer endorsement. The Transfer Office is on the first floor.

5. Pay Auditor fees.

   Conveyance tax and parcel-transfer fees are separate from Recorder charges.

6. Submit the deed to the Recorder.

   Bring the endorsed deed to the lower-level Recorder office or use an eligible approved submission method.

7. Keep the recorded deed.

   Confirm recording and retain the returned document or recording reference.

How to record a deed by mail

For mailed deed transfers, Lake County instructs filers to send the paperwork to the Auditor’s Real Estate Transfer Office, not directly to the Recorder when transfer processing has not been completed.

Include the original prepared deed, required endorsements, a cover letter, separate payments and a prepaid self-addressed return envelope.

Mailing address:
Lake County Auditor — Real Estate Transfer Office
105 Main Street, P.O. Box 490
Painesville, OH 44077

If the transfer is approved, the Auditor forwards the deed to the Recorder for recording.

The Recorder’s current filing guidelines identify a standard charge of $39 for the first two pages, including the $5 document-preservation fee.

Each additional page costs $8. Marginal references and nonconforming documents can add charges.

Example: recording a four-page deed

Example: taxable $200,000 property transfer

For statutory fee rules, see Ohio Revised Code 317.32.

Lake County follows Ohio’s document-recording standards. Nonconforming documents can incur a $20 additional charge unless an exception applies.

• Paper: 8.5 × 11 inches through 8.5 × 14 inches.
• Font: at least 10-point.
• Ink: black or blue.
• Highlighting: not permitted under the standard rule.
• Side and bottom margins: at least one inch.
• First-page top margin: three inches reserved for recording.
• Later-page top margins: one and one-half inches.
• Prepared by: identify the document preparer as required.
• Prior reference: include the recording number or book/page and date where necessary.

Additional exceptions exist for certain court documents, plats, government instruments, military discharge records and older instruments.

The Recorder provides copies of available land records. Some documents can be researched through AVA or Laredo; records unavailable online can be requested from the office.

The Recorder’s document-search information lists $2 per page for hard-copy documents not available online.

1. Locate the instrument.

   Use owner names, recording date or available references to find the document.

2. Save the reference.

   Note its document number, book/page or other identifying details.

3. Determine the copy requirement.

   Ask whether a standard copy is enough or certification is needed.

4. Contact the Recorder.

   Call 440-350-2510 or email the public-record request address.

5. Arrange payment and return.

   For mailed requests, the Recorder instructs requesters to include a check and self-addressed stamped envelope.

Official public-record request email

RecorderPublicRecordRequest@LakeCountyOhio.gov

Lake County supports electronic recording of eligible documents. The Recorder notes that digital deed routing became available in 2024.

eRecording can reduce the need for physical delivery by eligible submitters, such as title companies, lenders and recording professionals.

The Recorder also identifies SWIFT as an option for electronic return of recorded documents.

1. Check document eligibility.

   Determine whether the instrument can be submitted electronically.

2. Select an approved provider.

   Review the Recorder’s current eRecording partner instructions.

3. Prepare the document.

   Include required execution, acknowledgments and any Auditor/Engineer routing approvals.

4. Submit electronically.

   Follow the provider’s workflow and payment requirements.

5. Confirm acceptance.

   Save the recording information and electronically returned documents.

Property Fraud Alert

Lake County provides a Property Fraud Alert program to help owners monitor recording activity that may involve their names.

The program can provide an early warning of a potentially unauthorized filing, but an alert is not proof that fraud occurred and does not block a recording.

Ohio Veteran Identification Card

The Recorder also offers an Ohio Veteran ID Card program and maintains qualifying military discharge documents subject to applicable confidentiality restrictions.

Veterans should confirm eligibility, accepted identification and documentation before visiting.

Several Lake County offices handle different stages of property ownership, transfers and taxation.

Use the Auditor’s transfer procedures for deeds, and the Treasurer’s website for tax-payment services.

• Only know an address? Search the Auditor’s property database first.
• Cannot find a deed online? Try previous owners or contact the Recorder for older records.
• AVA lacks enough detail? Review Laredo for advanced research options.
• Document image watermarked? Obtain an official system copy if the document needs to be filed.
• Deed rejected? Confirm required Auditor endorsement and Engineer approval.
• Missing conveyance form? Review DTE 100 and DTE 100EX requirements.
• Property has Homestead or CAUV? Determine whether DTE 101 or DTE 102 is required.
• Recording fee is incorrect? Include the $5 preservation fee and calculate extra pages.
• Mortgage still appears? Search for a later release or satisfaction document.
• Need certified evidence? Ask the Recorder about an officially certified copy instead of relying on a web printout.

Independent Public Records and Legal Information Notice

This is an independent informational guide. It is not the official website of Lake County, the Recorder, the Auditor or any Ohio government agency.

Recording fees, online access, office details and county procedures can change. Confirm requirements with the appropriate public office before filing an original document or paying fees.

The Recorder preserves and indexes instruments but does not prepare deeds, resolve title disputes or guarantee clear ownership.

For trusts, estate transfers, legal-description issues, deed corrections and title disputes, consult a qualified Ohio attorney or title professional.

Public land records should not be used for employment screening, tenant screening, credit, insurance or other purposes regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. This website is not a consumer reporting agency.

Editorial review: October 19, 2026. Primary references: Lake County Recorder, Lake County Auditor, Lake County Treasurer and Ohio Revised Code.