Wood County Recorder: Deeds & Records

Wood County offers several record-access options. The best choice depends on whether you need an index entry, historical deed book or document image.

Simple Search Steps

1. Identify a party name.

   Look for the owner, grantor, grantee, lender or other person named in the recorded transaction.

2. Open AVA.

   Use the official Wood County Recorder search page and follow the public index option.

3. Enter the relevant search details.

   Search by available names, dates or known recording references.

4. Review the index entry.

   Confirm the document type, parties, recording date and instrument or book-and-page reference.

5. Save the recording reference.

   You will need it if you request a copy from the Recorder.

6. Use historical archives if needed.

   Search Documents-On-Demand when the document is older than the modern electronic index.

Wood County Recorder maintains historical land-record information extending back into the nineteenth century.

The Recorder recently announced a major digitization project that made deed volumes 201–563 available online.

This improves access for people researching historical property ownership, family land transfers and old deeds.

How to Research an Older Deed

1. Find an earlier owner.

   Use family records, historical property references or known grantor/grantee names.

2. Open the archived indexes.

   Browse deed or geographical indexes in Documents-On-Demand.

3. Identify the book and page.

   Record the exact reference and approximate date.

4. Request the document when needed.

   Provide the book-and-page or instrument reference to the Recorder.

The Recorder provides copies of documents recorded in Wood County.

Before requesting a copy, you must identify the document using its instrument number or book-and-page reference.

Request a Copy in Four Steps

1. Locate the recording reference.

   Search AVA or the historical index first.

2. Decide which pages you need.

   Specify the whole document or the individual pages you want.

3. Contact the Recorder.

   Provide the reference, requested pages and whether certification is required.

4. Confirm the payment and delivery method.

   Ask the office for the final amount and return instructions.

These amounts follow the Recorder’s published fee schedule. Confirm the total with the office before paying.

A deed transfer may need review by several county departments before the Recorder accepts it.

Wood County’s land transfer policy requires legal descriptions on conveyance documents to be reviewed and stamped by the appropriate county land-transfer authorities.

1. Prepare the correct deed.

   Check the parties, ownership interest, signatures, acknowledgment and full legal description.

2. Review the legal description.

   Existing lots may be reviewed through the Auditor. Metes-and-bounds descriptions and certain parcel changes require Engineer review.

3. Obtain required approvals.

   New parcel splits and combinations may also require Planning Commission or other planning-authority approval.

4. Complete Auditor conveyance paperwork.

   Use DTE 100 or DTE 100EX when applicable, together with any other forms required for the transaction.

5. Pay conveyance and transfer fees.

   The Auditor’s fees are separate from the Recorder’s recording fees.

6. Submit the approved document to the Recorder.

   Use an accepted in-person, mail or electronic recording method and include correct payment.

Special Rule for Metes-and-Bounds eRecording

Wood County requires pre-approval of metes-and-bounds legal descriptions submitted for eRecording.

The legal description on the final electronic document must match the pre-approved version in content, form and layout.

Retyping or reformatting an approved description may result in rejection.

Wood County’s Recorder fee schedule lists $39 for the first two pages of many standard documents and $8 for each additional page.

Some documents also require reference fees. Specialized recordings may use a different statutory fee.

Example: Four-Page Deed

This illustration excludes additional reference charges, Auditor fees or transaction-specific requirements.

Auditor Conveyance Fee

Wood County Auditor lists a conveyance fee of $3 per $1,000 of purchase price, plus a $0.50 per-parcel transfer fee.

For example, the Auditor lists a $300 conveyance fee and a $0.50 transfer fee for a $100,000 parcel purchase.

Some transactions qualify for a conveyance-fee exemption. Review DTE 100EX instead of assuming a no-money transfer is automatically exempt.

Wood County allows documents to be submitted electronically through approved eRecording vendors.

Its current recording page lists CSC, EPN and Simplifile.

This service is useful for title companies, legal professionals and businesses that regularly record land documents.

Before submitting a deed electronically, verify conveyance approval, legal-description pre-approval and vendor-specific requirements.

Wood County Recorder offers a free Property Fraud Alert service for property owners.

When a document is indexed using criteria matching your registered name, the system can send a notification.

1. Open the official alert page.

   Read the county’s description of the service.

2. Select free registration.

   Enter the registration information requested by the county system.

3. Add matching name criteria.

   Use name variations that might appear on a recorded document.

4. Review notifications.

   Investigate unfamiliar recordings using the official Recorder index.

Use these official county resources to verify search options, document requirements and current fees.