Lawrence County Recorder: Deeds & Records

Not every property question belongs with the Recorder. Choosing the correct office can save you a trip to the courthouse.

The Recorder uses a Cott Systems public-records search. Its Quick Name Search includes fields for last or firm name, first name, party side, index type and dates.

Searches are especially useful when you know the name of a current or former property owner.

1. Open the official public-records search.

   Use the Recorder’s Cott-hosted search instead of an unrelated people-search service.

   Open Quick Name Search
2. Enter the last name or business name.

   Use the Last / Firm Name field. Add a first name when you need to narrow a common surname.

3. Choose the party and record type.

   Check the Side and Index Type options. These help distinguish parties and different document groups.

4. Review matching documents.

   Open the result’s document link to examine available details. Use the image link when an image is provided.

5. Save the recording reference.

   Keep the document type, recording date, parties and available instrument or book/page reference for future searches.

What information can you find?

An index entry does not independently establish current ownership or clear title. Review the document and other relevant records before relying on it.

Lawrence County’s record system has an important historical distinction. The current index and old indexes overlap in some years, but they are not identical.

A deed from the nineteenth century may require the historical grantor/grantee index or an old deed volume rather than the current search.

How to search an older Lawrence County deed

Open the official Recorder homepage. Look for Online Index Search if you need an old grantor or grantee entry.

Choose Search Index Books when your reference points to a particular deed volume or historical book.

If you only have a street address, the Lawrence County Auditor is usually the easier starting point.

Its advanced property search supports owner name, parcel number and street-address fields.

You can then return to the Recorder and search by the owner or other parties named on the deed.

The Recorder’s official document list includes multiple deed types, mortgages, releases, liens and other instruments.

The Recorder’s fee increase took effect on January 1, 2025, following Ohio Senate Bill 94.

For most documents, the published fee is $39 for the first two pages and $8 for each additional page.

Sample recording costs

Additional reference fees, document-standardization charges and other applicable fees are not included in these examples.

Filing a deed is different from searching one. A transfer deed may require Auditor conveyance processing and supporting paperwork before recording.

The Recorder maintains the permanent document record, while the Auditor processes real-estate conveyance information.

1. Prepare the correct legal instrument.

   Verify grantor and grantee names, the legal description, signatures, required acknowledgments and deed type.

   If ownership rights are uncertain, consult an Ohio attorney or title professional.

2. Check county conveyance forms.

   The Auditor lists DTE 100 and DTE 100(EX) for applicable real-estate transfers.

   Open Auditor Conveyance Forms
3. Check survey and transfer requirements.

   Transfers involving a new legal description, division or survey may need additional review.

   Use the county’s conveyance standards and applicable engineering requirements.

4. Confirm Recorder formatting.

   Ohio law establishes paper, margin, font and ink standards for many recordable instruments.

   Open Standardization Guidelines
5. Confirm the total fees and filing method.

   Call the Recorder at 740-533-4314 when payment, references or document acceptance is uncertain.

Ohio recording-format essentials

Lawrence County’s Recorder publishes the following guidelines under Ohio Revised Code 317.114 for covered documents prepared after June 30, 2009.

The county also prohibits highlighting on covered documents. Some court, government, plat, DD214 and older instruments are excluded from these particular standards.

First locate the deed in the public search, then record its reference information.

If a court, bank, government agency or title company asks for a certified copy, confirm the certification procedure with the Recorder.

The Recorder and Auditor both operate at the courthouse address, but provide different services. Confirm the office and suite before visiting.

If you are delivering original documents, take your recording references, identification when relevant and payment information. Call ahead about appointments, accessibility, parking and mail-in recording instructions.

The Lawrence County property-record systems cover land throughout the county, including Ironton, Chesapeake, South Point, Coal Grove, Proctorville and the surrounding townships.

The Recorder has an official Property Check page intended to help residents learn about property-related fraud concerns.

A recorded instrument can sometimes be part of a fraudulent transaction. Checking recorded activity and responding promptly to unfamiliar documents may help owners identify a problem.

The county page does not establish that every visitor can enroll in automatic alerts. Confirm any current signup capability directly with the Recorder.