Lawrence County Recorder of Deeds: Search & Office

Lawrence County provides a modern public-search portal for deeds, mortgages and other recorded real-property documents.

The search supports grantor and grantee names, subdivisions, document types and document numbers.

Search by owner name

1. Open the official public-search portal.
2. Keep the department set to Real Property.
3. Enter the surname followed by the first name.
4. Put quotation marks around the name for an exact phrase search.
5. Select the recording date range if known.
6. Choose Search Index Only or Search Index & Full Text (OCR).
7. Review the results and open the matching instrument.

Search by document number

If you know the document or instrument number from an earlier deed, mortgage or legal record, use that reference in the public-search portal.

Match the recording date and document type before relying on the result.

Search document text

The public-search portal includes Search Index & Full Text (OCR).

This can help locate references within document text. Older handwriting, faint scans and unusual formatting can still cause missed matches.

When a result is missing, try the index search, alternate spellings or the older CountyFusion system.

Alternative: CountyFusion records

Lawrence County also links to CountyFusion for searching, viewing and printing records dating from approximately 1970 to the present.

What information should you check in a recorded deed?

Lawrence County Government Center, 430 Court Street, New Castle, Pennsylvania.

Recording a deed creates a permanent public record of the document.

The Recorder does not determine whether a deed is legally suitable for your situation. Consult a qualified Pennsylvania real-estate attorney or title professional when necessary.

1. Prepare the deed.

   Confirm the parties, legal description, execution, acknowledgment and required information.

2. Identify the correct parcel.

   Lawrence County requires parcel identification numbers on recorded documents.

3. Check transfer-tax requirements.

   Determine whether Pennsylvania realty transfer tax applies or whether an exemption and Statement of Value are required.

4. Calculate the recording cost.

   Include the deed base fee, parcel certification, extra pages or names, and any applicable transfer taxes.

5. Submit for recording.

   Use the Recorder’s accepted in-person, mail or authorized electronic-recording process.

6. Retain the recorded reference.

   After recording, keep the instrument information and a copy for future title or property transactions.

Lawrence County’s published fee schedule took effect on November 28, 2025, following a Pennsylvania state-mandated fee increase.

The current schedule includes document base fees and additional charges for parcel identification, extra pages, names and certain recording references.

The base document fee covers up to four pages. Additional pages and indexed names increase the total.

The county also limits the number of documents that can be paid with one recording-fee check to five.

Example: Recording a two-page deed

This $107.75 example assumes one parcel ID, no extra pages or names, and no additional recording charges.

It excludes realty transfer tax. A deed transferring property for consideration may cost considerably more.

Pennsylvania real estate transfers can be subject to both state and local realty transfer tax.

Lawrence County’s published recording schedule identifies a 1% state tax and 1% local tax in its standard deed-fee summary.

The applicable taxable value, local rules and exemptions must be confirmed for the actual transaction.

This is an illustration, not a determination of tax owed. The actual tax base may differ from the purchase price.

What if the transfer is exempt?

Some transfers may qualify for an exemption from realty transfer tax under Pennsylvania law.

The county fee schedule states that exempt deeds must include a Statement of Value, with a $2 filing fee listed.

Do not assume every family transfer, estate transfer or gift is automatically exempt.

You can locate many recorded documents online using the county’s public-search or CountyFusion systems.

For an older deed, the Recorder’s Office has records extending back to Lawrence County’s formation in 1849.

Before requesting a copy

Save the grantor or grantee names, recording year and document number, if available.

This helps the Recorder identify the correct instrument and reduces the chance of ordering the wrong document.

Property-fraud alerts

Lawrence County offers a free property-alert service for notifications involving newly recorded documents.

An alert is a warning tool. It does not stop a document from being recorded or guarantee that title fraud cannot occur.

Electronic recording

Lawrence County supports electronic recording through approved recording-service providers.

The county lists Simplifile, CSC, Indecomm and ePN among its eRecording resources.

Electronic recording is especially useful for title companies, banks and legal professionals filing records regularly.

Veteran ID program

The Register & Recorder department also lists a Veteran ID program offering free photo identification discount cards.

Veterans should verify the required service and identification documents directly with the office.

This page is an independent informational guide and is not operated by Lawrence County, the Pennsylvania government or the Recorder of Deeds.

Recording requirements, transfer taxes, document fees and office procedures can change. Verify important information directly with the responsible agency.

This guide is not legal, financial or title advice. A recorded document does not guarantee marketable title or resolve all ownership disputes.

Public records should not be used for employment screening, tenant screening, credit decisions, insurance underwriting or other regulated consumer-reporting decisions.

This website is not a Consumer Reporting Agency under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.