Somerset County Recorder of Deeds: Search & Office

Pennsylvania’s Recorder of Deeds offices preserve documents affecting real estate ownership and other recorded property interests.

Somerset County says its Recorder handles more than 50 document types and receives approximately 12,000 documents each year.

Somerset County links to LANDEX Remote for internet access to recorded land documents.

LANDEX provides Pennsylvania Recorder of Deeds research services. Remote access and document retrieval may involve account requirements or usage charges.

After opening: find Somerset County records

1. Review the available access options.

   Check the current LANDEX Remote service, account and pricing instructions.

2. Select Somerset County.

   Choose Somerset County, Pennsylvania, rather than another participating county.

3. Search with the information you know.

   Use grantor or grantee names, recording dates or available instrument references.

4. Review the matching documents.

   Compare document type, recorded parties, date and legal description.

5. Keep the recording reference.

   Save the book and page or document identifier shown in the record.

6. Request a copy if needed.

   Use the available retrieval options or contact the Recorder for official certification.

Which documents can you research?

Can you research an old deed?

Somerset County preserves historical property records. Online availability may differ by recording period and document type.

If you cannot locate an old document through LANDEX, contact the Recorder for help understanding available indexes and in-office research options.

Somerset County provides a separate online real-estate search for property assessment and parcel information.

Use this system first if you know the property address but do not know the owner or recorded deed information.

After opening: find the correct parcel

1. Choose Real Estate Search.

   Use the county’s main property search form.

2. Enter a single search field.

   The county recommends using only one field initially for the best results.

3. Search by house number and street.

   Use the House # and Property Street fields if you know the address.

4. Try owner or property ID instead.

   The form also supports owner, property ID, municipality and map-number searches.

5. Open the correct property.

   Compare the street address, municipality and parcel identification.

6. Use the details for deed research.

   Return to LANDEX with the owner name or other recorded-party information.

Property Search vs. Recorder Search

The county states that real-estate search information is supplied for public reference and may not always reflect the latest transaction.

Recording a deed makes the document part of the county’s permanent land records.

Preparing the deed, determining ownership rights and completing tax paperwork are separate responsibilities. The Recorder does not act as your real-estate attorney.

Deed recording checklist

• Confirm the real estate is located in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
• Use a legally appropriate deed or conveyance instrument.
• Include the full grantor and grantee information.
• Include the property’s legal description.
• Provide the required tax parcel or map information.
• Include proper signatures and notarial acknowledgment.
• Include the document preparer’s information where required.
• Review the Pennsylvania Realty Transfer Tax requirements.
• Complete a Statement of Value when required.
• Check the current recording fee for pages and indexed names.
• Include return instructions and a return envelope for mailed documents.

Simple deed-recording process

Submit the deed to this address

Before mailing an original instrument, verify the current acceptable payment methods and return-document procedure.

Keep a copy of the submitted document and any delivery, recording or payment confirmation.

Somerset County updated its recording charges effective November 14, 2025, following Pennsylvania Act 45 of 2025.

The county’s fee instructions state that the standard minimum covers an instrument with up to four pages and four names.

Amounts above are reported from the current fee schedule. Use the county’s official PDF for the exact instrument-specific total. Additional statutory charges or taxes may apply.

Example: deed with six pages

Pennsylvania Realty Transfer Tax

Deed transfers may be subject to Pennsylvania’s state realty transfer tax and the applicable local transfer tax.

For many Somerset County transactions, the combined ordinary rate is approximately 2%, but special local rules and statutory exemptions can affect the result.

What is a Realty Transfer Tax Statement of Value?

Pennsylvania uses the REV-183 Statement of Value for certain transfers, including transactions involving claimed exemptions or circumstances requiring a valuation explanation.

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue publishes forms and Common Level Ratio information relevant to transfer-tax calculations.

If you have lost a deed or need a mortgage or easement copy, first locate the document reference through LANDEX.

The Recorder can explain the available office-issued copy and certification process.

How to request an official copy

1. Locate the document reference.

   Find the recording number, book and page, or another identifying reference.

2. Identify the parties.

   Write down the grantor, grantee and approximate recording date.

3. Contact the Recorder.

   Call 814-445-1547 for current copy fees and delivery instructions.

4. Specify certification.

   Say whether you need an ordinary research copy or a certified copy.

5. Provide the correct payment.

   Use the method and amount confirmed by the office.

Avoid ordering an expensive third-party deed copy before checking the county’s own copy options.

Other local offices you may need

Somerset County links to LANDEX Record Alert and Notary Alert services on its official Recorder page.

These services help users monitor certain new recording activity associated with submitted names or notary information.

Somerset County’s Recorder maintains a wider variety of documents than an ordinary deed index.

Special rules for wind turbines and towers

Somerset County publishes a specific recording policy for certain wind-turbine and tower minor land development plans.

The policy requires items including a surveyor’s seal, Recorder statement, Planning Commission approval, owner acknowledgment and full tax map number.

The county states that covered plans must be at least 18 by 24 inches.

Use these resources to verify recording procedures, property-search information and current fees.