Allen County Recorder: Deeds & Records

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Allen County, Ohio • Deeds and land records • October 2026

Allen County Recorder: Deeds, Online Records Search, Office Address & Fees

The Allen County Recorder in Lima, Ohio records and preserves deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, plats and other documents affecting real estate.

You can search recorded documents online, obtain certified copies, review historical plat books and register for property-recording notifications.

This guide covers Allen County, Ohio. Allen County, Indiana has a separate Recorder in Fort Wayne.

Important: Recorder office relocation — October 2026

The Recorder will close at 11 AM on October 20 and remain closed through October 23 to move offices.

The office is scheduled to reopen on Monday, October 26, 2026, at 8 AM at 237 N. Main Street, Suite 132, Lima, OH 45801.

Search Recorded Deeds Recorder Office Deed Transfer Rules
Quick information

Allen County Recorder Office at a Glance

County Recorder Mona S. Losh

Allen County’s elected Recorder and custodian of county land records.

Office from October 26 237 N. Main Street

Suite 132, Allen County Government Center, Lima, OH 45801.

Phone 419-223-8517

Document recording, deed copies and office assistance.

Regular hours 8 AM–4:15 PM

Monday–Friday, closed for lunch from 11 AM to noon.

Standard recording fee $39

First two pages for most deeds, mortgages and related documents.

Online records DTS Public Access

County-linked recorded-document indexes and available images.

Use the correct office.

The Recorder maintains recorded documents. The Auditor handles property ownership transfers and conveyance fees.

The Treasurer handles property tax payment questions.

Office and directions

Allen County Recorder Address, Phone, Hours and Google Map

Allen County is relocating the Recorder’s Office in October 2026. Check the date before visiting.

Current location before the move

Address: 301 N. Main Street, Room 204, Lima, OH 45801

Last scheduled public day: October 20, 2026, until 11 AM.

The office is scheduled to close for moving after 11 AM on October 20 and remain closed through October 23.

New Government Center location

Address: 237 N. Main Street, Suite 132, Lima, OH 45801

Scheduled reopening: October 26, 2026, at 8 AM.

This is the county’s announced Recorder address after the relocation.

Hours and mailing address

Regular hours: Monday–Friday, 8 AM–4:15 PM.

Lunch closure: 11 AM–noon.

Published mailing address: P.O. Box 1243, Lima, OH 45802.

Confirm mailing instructions around the October 2026 move.

Google Map: New Allen County Government Center

The Recorder’s new location is 237 N. Main Street, Suite 132, Lima, Ohio, beginning October 26, 2026.

Directions to the former Recorder office at 301 N. Main Street
Before visiting: use the former address only while the office is operating there. Use the new Government Center address after reopening on October 26.
Verify the Official Allen County Recorder Relocation Notice
After opening: read the move announcement near the top of the Recorder page and confirm the latest opening date before traveling.
Published Recorder charges

Allen County Recorder Fees in 2026

Allen County’s published schedule lists $39 for the first two pages of most standard recordings.

Additional pages cost $8 each. Certain document types have separate statutory charges.

Deed or mortgage $39

First two pages of most standard instruments.

Additional pages $8 each

Each page beyond the first two.

Marginal references $4 each

When applicable to releases, assignments or amendments.

Plat / condominium drawing $41.40/page

Published fee for eligible recorded plats and drawings.

Regular copy $2/page

Recorded document copy charge.

Certified copy +$1/seal

Certification charge in addition to the page-copy cost.

Nonstandard document +$20

Additional charge when Ohio formatting requirements are not met and no exception applies.

Military discharge recording Free

No recording fee for qualifying military discharge records.

Example: Five-page deed recording

A standard five-page deed would cost $63 to record: $39 for the first two pages plus $24 for three additional pages.

This excludes conveyance fees, marginal references and other applicable charges.

Open the Official Allen County Recorder Fee Schedule
After opening: identify the document category on the county schedule, then calculate page fees and any additional references.
Recorder fees and Auditor fees are separate.

A property transfer may require an Auditor conveyance payment before the deed can be recorded.

Deed filing process

How to Record a Deed in Allen County, Ohio

Recording a deed is the final public-record step in many real estate transfers.

Before recording, the deed usually must satisfy the Auditor’s conveyance requirements.

Prepare deed Correct parties, signatures and legal description.
Check parcel Review survey or planning requirements if applicable.
Auditor conveyance DTE form, transfer fees and Auditor stamp.
Recorder filing Pay recording fees and retain the record reference.
  1. Prepare the correct legal document.

    Confirm the grantor, grantee and ownership interest being conveyed.

    Ask an Ohio real estate attorney or title professional if the deed type is uncertain.

  2. Verify the legal description.

    Check the property description against the existing deed and county parcel information.

    Land splits and new plats may need survey or planning approval.

  3. Review document signatures and formatting.

    Confirm proper signatures, acknowledgments, paper size, margins and legibility.

  4. Complete the Auditor conveyance process.

    Submit the applicable conveyance statement and pay required transfer charges.

    The Auditor may use DTE 100 or an exemption statement, depending on the transaction.

  5. Confirm the Auditor’s conveyance stamp.

    The Recorder specifically requires deeds submitted by mail to have the Auditor’s conveyance stamp before arrival.

  6. Submit the deed with the correct recording fee.

    Use the Recorder’s current office or approved submission process.

    Contact the office for routing instructions during the October 2026 relocation.

  7. Keep your recorded-document information.

    Retain the recorded copy and its recording reference with your closing documents.

Important Allen County rule for mailed conveyances

The Recorder says mailed conveyance documents are accepted only when the Allen County Auditor’s conveyance stamp has already been placed on them.

Do not mail an unstamped property-transfer deed directly to the Recorder.

Property ownership transfers

Allen County Auditor Conveyance Fees and DTE Forms

The Auditor reviews conveyances and maintains property ownership information.

Allen County’s published conveyance fee is $3 per $1,000 of purchase price, plus $0.50 per parcel.

Conveyance fee $3 per $1,000

Applied to qualifying taxable transfers.

Parcel transfer fee $0.50 per parcel

Separate Auditor transfer charge.

Example: $200,000 taxable property transfer

A one-parcel taxable transfer with a $200,000 purchase price would have an illustrative Auditor charge of $600.50.

A standard two-page deed would also have a separate $39 Recorder fee, producing a combined illustrative total of $639.50.

Exempt transfers and special transactions may be treated differently.

Documents the Auditor may require

DTE 100: Real Property Conveyance Fee Statement of Value and Receipt.

Conveyance exemption statement: used when the transfer qualifies for a statutory exemption.

Deed pre-approval form: used when needed for specific property-description or approval issues.

Additional property forms: may apply to agricultural use or homestead-property transfers.

Open Official Allen County Auditor Conveyance Information
After opening: review Transfer of Ownership, Conveyance Fees and parcel-split requirements before submitting the deed.
Download Allen County Auditor Real Estate Forms
After opening: scroll to Real Estate Forms, then locate DTE 100, the conveyance exemption statement or other required forms.

Allen County Auditor contact

Auditor: Rachael S. Gilroy

Published address: 301 N. Main Street, Lima, OH 45801

Phone: 419-223-8520

Email: allenauditor@allencountyohio.com

Department locations may change as county offices relocate. Confirm the Auditor’s current location separately from the Recorder’s move.

Recording requirements

Ohio Deed Recording Format and Privacy Rules

Ohio Revised Code Section 317.114 establishes formatting rules for many documents submitted to a county recorder.

Font: legible type of at least 10 points.

Paper: minimum 8.5 × 11 inches and maximum 8.5 × 14 inches.

Ink: black or blue ink.

Highlighting: not permitted on documents subject to the standard.

First page: leave a 3-inch blank top margin.

Later pages: leave a 1.5-inch blank top margin.

Side and bottom margins: at least 1 inch.

Ohio law allows certain nonconforming documents to be recorded with an additional $20 charge, subject to exceptions.

Read Ohio’s Official Recording Format Law
After opening: review Section 317.114(A) for formatting and Section 317.114(B) for nonconforming-document charges.

Do not include Social Security numbers

The Recorder warns that documents containing Social Security numbers may not be accepted unless a statutory exception or required affidavit applies.

Review Ohio Revised Code Section 317.082 before submitting a document containing sensitive personal information.

Read Ohio’s Recording Privacy Rule
After opening: check the restrictions on Social Security numbers and any permitted exceptions before recording.
Historical maps and subdivision records

Allen County Plat Books, Subdivision Maps and Historical Indexes

Allen County provides online access to historical plat-book resources.

These can help with subdivision research, older lot descriptions and mapping references.

Alphabetical plat index

Find subdivision and plat references grouped by location or indexed name.

Open Alphabetical Plat Index
After opening: locate the subdivision or community name, then open its PDF index.

Numerical plat index

Find plats through the county’s numerical-index collection.

Open Numerical Plat Index
After opening: locate the relevant community or map category and review the listed plat references.

Plat books 1–28

Open full PDF copies of the Recorder’s historical plat books.

View Full Plat Books
After opening: select a plat-book number and find the page referenced in your deed or index.
Map versus legal survey

County plat books and GIS maps are useful references but should not replace a current boundary survey when property boundaries are disputed.

Regular and certified records

How to Get an Allen County Deed or Mortgage Copy

The Recorder can provide copies of documents recorded in Allen County, Ohio.

A regular copy may be suitable for research. An institution may require a certified copy with the Recorder’s official seal.

Regular copy $2 per page

Published Recorder copy charge.

Certified copy $2/page + $1/seal

Certification fee added to the page-copy charge.

Information to provide

Document type: deed, mortgage, lien, release or another recorded instrument.

Party names: seller, buyer, borrower or lender, as applicable.

Approximate date: useful when the recording number is unknown.

Recording reference: book/page or instrument details, when available.

Copy type: specify regular or certified.

Call 419-223-8517 to confirm the current payment and delivery options.

Online images may not be complete originals.

Allen County’s public-access disclaimer says some documents are redacted or withheld from online display.

Obtain the official record from the Recorder when completeness or certification matters.

Electronic recording

Allen County eRecording for Deeds and Mortgages

Allen County supports electronic submission of eligible recording documents.

The Recorder’s instructions require an established escrow account and a completed eRecording agreement.

An eRecording vendor may charge an additional service fee.

First: contact the Recorder to confirm the current eRecording setup process.

Next: complete the county’s required agreement and escrow arrangements.

Then: use a participating vendor for eligible documents.

Finally: retain electronic submission confirmation and recorded-document references.

Open Allen County Electronic Recording Information
After opening: find Electronic Recording and the eRecording instructions. Confirm mailing and enrollment details before using an older agreement containing the former office address.

Ohio law also requires county recorders to provide electronic recording access for qualifying instruments.

Read Ohio’s Electronic Recording Requirements
After opening: review Section 317.13(E) for electronic recording and Section 317.13(F) for public access to records dating from 1980.
Property fraud monitoring

Allen County Recorder AlertMe Notifications

Allen County Recorder provides AlertMe, an email notification service for certain recording activity.

The service can notify a registered user when a newly recorded or corrected document contains a monitored name.

  1. Open the official AlertMe page. Open Allen County AlertMe
    After opening: read the legal disclaimer and accept the terms if you wish to register.
  2. Enter the requested registration details.

    Follow the service’s current instructions for monitoring a name.

  3. Watch for recording notices.

    Review unfamiliar deeds, liens or other documents rather than assuming every alert indicates fraud.

  4. Investigate suspicious activity.

    Contact the Recorder and qualified authorities when a document appears fraudulent.

AlertMe does not block document recording.

It provides notifications rather than preventing or canceling suspicious filings.

The county advises contacting local law enforcement when fraud is suspected.

Military records

Allen County DD214 Recording and Veteran Services

Allen County Recorder accepts qualifying military discharge documents without a recording fee.

The published fee schedule also lists one certified copy of a veteran’s military service discharge at no cost.

Military discharge documents are not displayed through the public online records portal.

Veterans and authorized requesters should contact the office about identification, eligibility and copy procedures.

Open Official Veteran Recorder Resources
After opening: find Veteran Cards or the military-recording fee information. Call the Recorder for current eligibility and identification requirements.
Practical local help

Common Allen County Recorder Problems and Solutions

Need a deed by street address? Start with the Auditor Property Search and use the owner name in the Recorder portal.

Planning an office visit in October 2026? Check the relocation closure and new Government Center address before traveling.

Mailing a transfer deed? Obtain the Auditor’s conveyance stamp first.

Need a plat? Check the county’s alphabetical index and full PDF plat books.

Online image appears incomplete? Contact the Recorder for the full official copy.

Recording document contains a Social Security number? Review Ohio’s privacy restrictions before submission.

Preparing a document with incorrect margins? Review Ohio’s recording format law and possible additional fee.

Mortgage paid off but still appears? Search for a release or satisfaction. Contact the lender if no release is found.

Deed contains an error? Consult an attorney about the correct legal instrument to resolve it.

Need to pay property taxes? Contact the Allen County Treasurer, not the Recorder.

Allen County property locations

Allen County Recorder handles land-record documents for property throughout Allen County, including Lima, Bluffton, Delphos, Elida, Spencerville and other county communities.

A property owner’s mailing address does not determine which county records the deed. The property’s physical location controls the recording jurisdiction.

Frequently asked questions

Allen County Recorder FAQs

Where is the Allen County Recorder Office in Ohio?

As of October 14, 2026, the office is at 301 N. Main Street, Room 204, Lima. It is scheduled to reopen at 237 N. Main Street, Suite 132, on October 26, 2026.

Who is the Allen County Recorder in Ohio?

Mona S. Losh is the Allen County Recorder in Lima, Ohio.

When is the Allen County Recorder moving offices?

The office is scheduled to close at 11 AM on October 20, remain closed through October 23, and reopen on October 26, 2026, at 237 N. Main Street, Suite 132, Lima.

How do I search Allen County deeds online?

Use the DTS Public Access portal linked from the official Allen County Recorder website. Search by available party names, dates or recording references.

Are online Allen County Recorder documents official copies?

Not necessarily. The Recorder warns that online documents may be redacted or incomplete. Obtain the official record from the office when completeness or certification matters.

How much does it cost to record a deed in Allen County?

The published standard fee is $39 for the first two pages and $8 for each additional page. Other statutory charges may apply.

What are the Allen County Recorder office hours?

The regular hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:15 PM, with a lunch closure from 11 AM to noon. The October 2026 relocation temporarily changes availability.

Do I need Auditor approval before recording a deed?

Most ownership transfers require the Allen County Auditor’s conveyance process. The Recorder specifically requires mailed conveyance deeds to have the Auditor’s conveyance stamp before arrival.

How much does an Allen County certified deed copy cost?

The Recorder lists $2 per page for copies and an additional $1 per certification seal.

Does Allen County Recorder offer property fraud alerts?

Yes. The Recorder offers AlertMe email notifications for certain new or corrected recordings that contain a monitored name. The service does not block fraudulent documents.

Official government resources

Official Allen County Recorder and Ohio Land Records Links

Use these sources for current record access, legal requirements and local government procedures.

Allen County Recorder Official office information, relocation notice, fees and recording services. Recorder Public Access Search indexed deeds, mortgages, liens and other recorded instruments. Recorder Fee Schedule Official published recording, copy, certification and plat fees. Allen County Auditor Property search, ownership records and parcel information. Auditor Conveyance Instructions Deed transfers, conveyance fees and parcel-split guidance. Auditor Real Estate Forms DTE conveyance forms, exemption statements and property forms. Recorder Plat Books Alphabetical indexes, numerical indexes and full plat-book files. Allen County GIS Parcel mapping and local land-information resources. Recorder AlertMe Recorded-document email notifications and registration instructions. Ohio Recorder Duties and Online Access Ohio Revised Code Section 317.13. Ohio Recording Format Law Document margins, paper size, font and nonstandard fees. Ohio Recording Privacy Rule Restrictions on recording Social Security numbers.

Looking for Allen County, Indiana?

This guide covers Allen County, Ohio. If the property is in Fort Wayne or elsewhere in Allen County, Indiana, use the separate Indiana Recorder’s Office.

Allen County Recorder — Fort Wayne, Indiana
After opening: use the Indiana Recorder’s Searching & Printing Documents section for Fort Wayne-area property records. Do not use Ohio recording fees or the Lima office for Indiana property.

Independent Public Records, Legal and Privacy Notice

This is an independent informational guide. It is not the official website of Allen County, the County Recorder, the Auditor or any Ohio government agency.

Office locations, relocation dates, fees, recording methods and public-access services may change. Verify current requirements with the appropriate office before acting.

This article is not legal advice or a title examination. A recorded deed does not guarantee clear title or the absence of liens.

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

This website is not a consumer reporting agency under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

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