Cambria County Recorder of Deeds: Search & Office

Official office

Cambria County Recorder of Deeds

Recorder

Melissa Kelly

First Deputy

Erin Jansure

Second Deputy

Faith Smith

Address

Cambria County Courthouse, 1st Floor, 200 South Center Street, Ebensburg, PA 15931

Phone

814-472-1473

Email

mkelly@co.cambria.pa.us

Public hours

Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM

Recording cutoff

Monday–Friday, 3:30 PM

Current online records

1986 to present

Historical online index

1924–1985

Older records

Before 1924: research at the office

Cambria County provides two online research options: a current Tyler system and a separate historical SearchIQS index.

Current deeds: step-by-step search

1. Open the Cambria County Tyler search.

   Use the county’s official online records service, not a paid third-party directory.

   Open Search Portal

   After opening: read the disclaimer and accept the site’s conditions to proceed.

2. Choose an available search method.

   Start with the recorded party’s name. If you already know a document number or reference, use the corresponding option when available.

3. Search names carefully.

   For an individual, try the last name followed by the first name. If necessary, use only the last name and first initial.

4. Compare the indexed results.

   Check grantor and grantee, recording date, document type and recording reference.

5. Open or download the matching document.

   The county states that documents can be searched without a subscription and downloaded or printed for a page charge.

6. Keep the recording reference.

   Save the document details for later copy requests or title research.

Search results missing?

The county’s search disclaimer compares the index to a catalog: it guides you to documents but should not replace examination of the actual instrument.

The Recorder keeps a permanent land-record history that dates back to 1804.

Its records include transfers, financing documents and other instruments affecting real property.

Some liens and court judgments may instead be filed or indexed with the Prothonotary. Confirm which office has the specific record you need.

Cambria County has local parcel approval rules that make recording more involved than simply signing and delivering a deed.

1. Prepare the legally appropriate document.

   Verify the parties, legal description, signatures and proper acknowledgment. Use an attorney or title professional when ownership rights are uncertain.

2. Confirm the property’s UPI.

   The Unique Parcel Identifier is important to the county’s parcel review and recording process.

3. Obtain UPI approval.

   Send the document for Tax Assessment review before presenting it for recording if the document type requires approval.

4. Prepare transfer-tax documentation.

   Check whether a Pennsylvania Statement of Value is required, particularly where consideration is not fully stated or an exemption is claimed.

5. Confirm the current recording total.

   Account for the current fee schedule, UPI-related charges and any applicable transfer tax.

6. Deliver or electronically submit the document.

   Use the courthouse recording service or an approved professional eRecording provider.

7. Retain the official reference.

   The office scans documents and generally returns originals after recording. Keep the book/page or instrument information.

Cambria County requires UPI approval for numerous land documents, including deeds, mortgages, easements, rights-of-way, leases and certain land-use agreements.

These requirements have applied to listed categories since August 1, 2016.

How to request UPI preapproval

The county encourages advance UPI review by email at upicambria@co.cambria.pa.us.

UPI approval is unavailable between 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM, according to the Recorder’s published notice.

That break matters if you are traveling to Ebensburg to record a deed on the same day.

After opening: locate the UPI Memo and Recording Requirements documents under the Recorder’s additional resource files.

Cambria County changed several recording charges effective December 1, 2025. The office publishes a current fee schedule through its official Recorder page.

*The $107.75 figure is a current secondary-source summary for a typical qualifying deed or mortgage with included page/name limits and one UPI. The county’s own December 1, 2025 fee schedule is the authority for the exact amount. Confirm the total by phone before payment.

Additional local fee updates

Cambria County applies a $15 Act 152 demolition-fund component to deeds and mortgages.

Its December 1, 2025 notice also added $1 to numerous recordings, including deeds, mortgages, mortgage satisfactions, certain easements, leases and other listed instruments.

Special documents and additional parcels can change the total. Don’t use a generic Pennsylvania deed fee without checking Cambria’s schedule.

Pennsylvania realty transfer tax

Pennsylvania generally imposes a 1% state realty transfer tax. Local realty transfer taxes often bring the combined rate to 2%, but applicable rates and exemptions depend on the taxing jurisdiction and transaction.

The Recorder collects and distributes realty transfer taxes. Confirm the municipality, school district and any exemption before calculating payment.

Cambria’s county guidance states that it accepts cash or checks. Checks should be payable to Recorder of Deeds, with transfer-tax payment arrangements confirmed before filing.

After opening: locate “12.01.25 FEE SCHEDULE” and “12.01.25 Fee Changes” under Additional Resource Files.

The easiest way to obtain a recent deed is usually to find its entry in the official online index and download the needed pages.

For certification, older records or assistance locating an instrument, use the Recorder’s office services.

What information should you provide?

The Recorder offers mail requests for copies. Call first to obtain the current copy/certification amount and check how payment and return postage should be handled.

Cambria County accepts electronic recording of certain documents through approved eRecording vendors.

This service is typically used by title companies, lenders, attorneys and other regular document submitters.

Verify whether your document type and account can be accepted electronically. UPI approval and tax requirements still matter.

Searching a property in Johnstown, Ebensburg or another local community?

The Cambria Recorder serves property throughout the county, including Johnstown, Ebensburg, Cresson, Portage, Patton, Northern Cambria and surrounding townships and boroughs.

The countywide deed index is the right starting place when the property is physically in Cambria County. Real estate taxes and municipal fees can vary by location.