Lehigh County, Pennsylvania • Land records and deed recording • Updated October 2026
Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds: Property Records Search, Recording Fees & Office
The Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds maintains recorded real estate documents for properties in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.
You can search for deeds, mortgages, mortgage satisfactions, easements, assignments and other recorded documents through LANDEX.
The Recorder of Deeds Division operates under the Lehigh County Clerk of Judicial Records. Its office is in the Lehigh County Courthouse in Allentown.
If you only know a property address, start with Lehigh County’s assessment search to find the parcel identification number. Then use the deed records system to research recorded documents.
Start here
Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds Quick Facts
Part of the Clerk of Judicial Records.
County official identified in the recording guidelines.
Room 122, Allentown, PA 18101-1614.
Recording, copies and office questions.
Monday through Friday, excluding closures.
Do not assume late-afternoon certification is available.
A recorded deed is a historical legal document. The assessment database is more useful for finding the county’s current ownership and parcel information. Neither database replaces a professional title examination.
Primary search intent
How to Search Lehigh County Deeds and Recorded Documents
Lehigh County directs public users to LANDEX for recorded land documents.
Its county Online Records Access documentation lists Recorder of Deeds records dating from 1812 to the present, including historical Russell Index material.
Search with LANDEX
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Open LANDEX.
Start at the official recording-system provider linked by Lehigh County.
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Choose the appropriate record-search product.
LANDEX offers online land-record services. Available searches and document images depend on the product selected.
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Choose Lehigh County.
Make sure the selected county is Lehigh, not Northampton or another Pennsylvania county.
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Enter known recording details.
Start with the grantor or grantee name. Use a document reference, book/page or date range when the selected interface supports it.
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Check the document.
Confirm the parties, recording date, document type and property description before obtaining a copy.
What information helps locate a deed?
The person or entity transferring a property interest.
The person or entity receiving that interest.
Identifies a recorded document in the land-record system.
Help distinguish one property from another, especially when owners have similar names.
What if the deed does not appear?
Try a former owner’s name, a company name, a different spelling or a wider recording period.
For older deeds, check historical indexes. If the property is near the Northampton County boundary, first confirm the correct county.
A missing search result does not establish that no deed exists. A title professional can conduct a more complete examination.
If you know only the address
Find the Property PIN Before Searching Deeds
Lehigh County has a separate property assessment search. It is useful when your starting point is a street address rather than a recorded deed reference.
The county’s current property-search instructions require at least four characters and do not permit special characters in the search text.
Address and parcel lookup
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Open Lehigh County Property Search.
This is the county’s assessment-record search, not the LANDEX deed image database.
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Select a search type.
Use the available owner, property or PIN search option matching the information you have.
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Enter the search text.
Use at least four characters and avoid punctuation or other special characters.
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Review matching property records.
Confirm the municipality, property location and parcel identification details.
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Save the PIN.
Use the parcel reference to help check the correct land record or prepare a document for recording.
The county search instructions show a 12-digit PIN format. For a PIN/PAR search, enter the PIN, a space and the PAR number. Do not treat the example identifier as a real property record.
Assessment record versus recorded deed
Useful for parcel ID, assessment details, municipality and the county’s current ownership listing.
Useful for the executed conveyance, named parties, recording reference and legal description.
Assessment values are not sale prices. Recorded consideration, assessed value and taxable value describe different things.
Current local fees
Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds Fees for 2026
Lehigh County published a Recorder of Deeds fee schedule effective December 1, 2025.
The schedule covers deed recording, additional pages and names, PIN certifications, plans, mortgage-related documents and other instruments.
*Fees shown for common categories. The published schedule generally includes up to four pages, four names and one PIN certification unless otherwise noted. Some document categories include an electronic notation. Extra requirements can change the total.
Check the complete recording fee
Official Recorder Fee Schedule PDFRealty transfer tax is separate
Pennsylvania generally imposes a 1% state realty transfer tax. An additional local realty transfer tax may apply.
Lehigh County recording guidelines describe a 1% state and 1% local component for ordinary transactions. Actual liability and exemptions depend on the conveyance and its taxing jurisdictions.
State tax at 1%: $2,500.
Local tax at an assumed 1%: $2,500.
Combined illustration: $5,000, before recording fees.
Not a quote or determination for your deed. Exempt transfers, valuation rules and local rates require verification.Verify Pennsylvania transfer tax rules
Pennsylvania Realty Transfer TaxThe Clerk’s Civil Division has a separate 2026–2028 filing fee schedule. Do not use civil-court filing fees as deed-recording fees.
Before visiting Room 122
How to Record a Deed in Lehigh County
Recording requires more than a signed deed. Lehigh County checks document formatting, parcel identification, GIS certification and applicable fees.
The county’s recording guidelines state that documents affecting real estate must identify the correct municipality, county and state.
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Have the document prepared correctly.
Use a qualified attorney or title professional when a deed transfers ownership or affects legal title.
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Confirm the property identifier.
Lehigh County’s Uniform Parcel Identifier requirements call for PIN and PARNUM information on real-estate documents.
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Arrange GIS PIN certification.
The county recording guidelines identify GIS certification as a requirement for applicable documents.
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Review the acknowledgment.
Check signing names, notary signature, seal, notary expiration and acknowledgment date.
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Prepare the correct payment.
Include recording charges, applicable realty transfer tax and any additional required fees.
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Submit and retain the recorded reference.
Record in person, by accepted mail submission or through an approved electronic recording provider.
Read the county’s recording guidelines
Official Recording Guidelines PDFCommon reasons a document may be rejected
The parcel identifier or required GIS certification is missing or incorrect.
A notary detail, seal, date or signature is incomplete.
The document refers to an attached exhibit or legal description that was not provided.
Fees or transfer taxes do not match the amount required.
The published GIS PIN certification window ends at 3:45 PM, earlier than the Recorder’s 4:30 PM office closing time. Arrive earlier if your recording needs GIS review.
Visit or contact the office
Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds Office Address and Hours
Recorder of Deeds Division
Lehigh County Clerk of Judicial Records
Lehigh County Courthouse
455 W. Hamilton Street, Room 122
Allentown, PA 18101-1614
Phone: 610-782-3162
Fax: 610-871-2895
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
GIS PIN certification: 8:00 AM–3:45 PM
The Recorder is inside the courthouse, not the separate county Government Center. Plan for downtown parking and confirm public entrance requirements before visiting.
The county closes on major holidays and may close when directed by the President Judge.
Office directions and county parking
Lehigh County Official WebsiteProof of recording
How to Request a Certified Copy of a Deed
A regular document image is useful for research. A certified copy may be required for a court, lender, estate or another formal purpose.
Lehigh County’s recording guidelines state that documents to be certified must be copied in the Recorder’s Office at the time of certification.
Use for reviewing a recorded deed, mortgage or other record.
Request an office-certified copy when an institution specifically requires certification.
Before calling, collect the parties’ names, recording date and instrument or book/page reference if available.
Call 610-782-3162 to verify the current copy charge and whether your request can be handled by mail.
Electronic recording
Lehigh County eRecording Options
Lehigh County accepts electronic recording through approved vendors, according to its Recorder recording guidelines.
The county identifies Simplifile, CSC and ePN as providers. This route is mainly useful for title companies, attorneys and frequent document submitters.
Before submitting electronically
Check vendor eligibility, document types, GIS certification, payment arrangements and how rejected submissions are returned.
Recorder eRecording InformationMonitor recordings
Free Lehigh County Property Record Alert
Lehigh County provides a LANDEX Record Alert service for property-related recordings.
According to the county’s Record Alert flyer, registration is free. Notifications may be delivered by email or text when a qualifying verified document is recorded.
Alerts can include the parcel number, instrument number, document type and date recorded.
Sign up for Record Alert
Lehigh County Record Alert RegistrationThe service helps identify suspicious recordings after they are filed. If you receive an unexpected notification, contact the Recorder and seek appropriate legal assistance.
The county lists 610-782-3162 and RecordAlert@lehighcounty.org for Record Alert questions.
Record type decoder
Which Lehigh County Recorded Document Do You Need?
Documents a conveyance or other transfer of an interest in real estate.
Records a mortgage or security interest affecting the property.
Records the satisfaction of a mortgage obligation. Check the recorded document rather than assuming payoff automatically clears the public record.
May describe another party’s rights to use part of the land.
Can document the transfer of an existing mortgage or another recorded interest.
May provide boundary, development or land-division details.
A document appearing in the index is not proof that it is valid, enforceable or the complete history of a property’s title.
Local record-search issues
Lehigh County Details That Can Change Your Search
Some Bethlehem properties are not in Lehigh County
The City of Bethlehem spans Lehigh and Northampton counties. Confirm which county contains the parcel before searching deed records.
Older records may require historical index research
Lehigh County’s records-access documentation identifies Russell Index books associated with records dating back to 1812.
A parcel may have multiple documents
One property can have a deed, subsequent mortgage, assignment, satisfaction, easement and other documents recorded at different times.
Recording and legal title are not identical
Recording creates a public record of an instrument. Determining complete legal ownership, priority or outstanding encumbrances can require a title search.
The Recorder is not a legal research service
Lehigh County’s guidelines state that staff are not authorized to conduct a search or provide legal opinions for the public.
Decision guide
What Should You Do Next?
I need the latest recorded deed → search LANDEX by name or recording reference, then verify the document and legal description.
I only know the street address → start with the county assessment search and find the PIN.
I need a certified deed → contact Room 122 with the document reference and request certification instructions.
I am recording a new deed → check legal preparation, GIS PIN certification, realty transfer tax and recording fees first.
My mortgage was paid off → look for a recorded satisfaction and contact the lender or closing agent if it is missing.
I suspect an unauthorized deed → preserve the document reference, contact the Recorder and obtain legal guidance promptly.
My assessed value or taxes are wrong → contact the county assessment office or the appropriate taxing authority, not the Recorder.
Common questions
Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds FAQs
Where is the Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds office?
The Recorder of Deeds Division is in Room 122 of the Lehigh County Courthouse, 455 W. Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18101-1614.
What are the Recorder of Deeds office hours?
The office lists Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. GIS PIN certification is available from 8:00 AM to 3:45 PM, excluding applicable closures.
How can I search Lehigh County deeds online?
Use LANDEX for recorded real estate documents. Choose Lehigh County and follow the selected service’s search and payment instructions.
How far back do Lehigh County deed records go?
Lehigh County’s Online Records Access documentation lists Recorder of Deeds LANDEX records from 1812 to the present, including historical Russell Index material.
Can I find a deed using only a property address?
Start with Lehigh County Property Search to identify the parcel and owner information. Use that information to locate recorded documents through LANDEX.
What is the fee to record a deed in 2026?
Lehigh County’s Recorder fee schedule effective December 1, 2025 lists $81.25 for deeds of all types, before applicable extra pages, names, PIN certifications or other charges.
Does Lehigh County require PIN certification?
The county requires Uniform Parcel Identifier information and GIS certification for applicable real-estate documents. The published GIS PIN certification window ends at 3:45 PM.
Can I get a certified deed copy?
Yes. Contact the Recorder of Deeds Division with the recording reference. The county’s recording guidelines require certified copies to be produced through the office.
Does Lehigh County offer electronic recording?
Yes. The county identifies Simplifile, CSC and ePN as electronic recording vendors.
Is the Lehigh County property fraud alert free?
Yes. The county’s LANDEX Record Alert materials describe free registration for text or email notifications of qualifying recorded documents.
Official resources
Lehigh County and Pennsylvania Sources
These county and state resources support the recording steps, office information and fee guidance in this article.
Independent Records and Legal Notice
County-appraisal-district.org is an independent informational website. It is not operated by Lehigh County, the Clerk of Judicial Records, the Recorder of Deeds Division or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Recording fees, office hours, online access conditions and legal requirements may change. Confirm final requirements with the responsible public office before submitting a document or payment.
This article is not a title report, legal opinion, consumer report or official record certification. For title disputes, deed preparation, estates, fraud or conveyance-tax questions, consult a qualified professional.
Public property records must not be used for employment, tenant screening, credit, insurance underwriting or other decisions regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. This website is not a consumer reporting agency.