Delaware County PA Recorder of Deeds: Search & Office

The office handles deeds, mortgages, assignments, mortgage satisfactions, powers of attorney, subdivision plans and qualifying veterans’ discharge documents.

It does not prepare deeds, give legal advice, or guarantee that a property has clear title.

Delaware County offers two public-access systems: the original Recorder of Deeds Online Records platform and the newer GovOS Cloud Search.

Both provide recorded-document access. The Cloud Search is usually the easiest starting point for a quick search.

Step-by-step: Search with Cloud Search

1. Open the county’s official Cloud Search.

   Go to the Recorder of Deeds public search website.

   Open Official Cloud Search ↗
2. Start with Quick Search.

   Enter a grantor or grantee name, document number, subdivision or parcel ID.

3. Use the correct parcel format.

   If searching by parcel number, enter it in the county’s hyphenated format: xx-xx-xxxxx-xx.

4. Narrow the results.

   Choose a recording date range or switch from Index Only to Index & Full Text when necessary.

5. Review the matching documents.

   Compare the indexed parties, document type, recording date and available parcel references.

6. Order the document if needed.

   Use the portal’s copy options. Choose Cloud Search when electronic certification is required.

What if the search finds no deed?

Try the name of a previous owner, a trust, an LLC, or another recorded party.

If you only know the street address, find the county parcel identification number first.

Delaware County recommends using the Parcel ID—also called the folio number—when searching land records.

If you have only the property’s street address, use the county Real Estate/Tax System to identify the correct parcel.

1. Open the Real Estate/Tax System.

   Start from the county’s Public Access Sites page.

   Find the Parcel Lookup Link ↗
2. Look up the property.

   Use the available property-address, owner or tax-record fields.

3. Write down the Parcel ID.

   Keep the entire number, including the hyphens.

4. Return to Cloud Search.

   Search for the Parcel ID to find recorded documents associated with that property.

The Recorder sells document copies through the county’s online search platforms and at its office in Media.

Both online systems offer document copies. However, electronically certified copies are available through Cloud Search.

These are the county’s published regular-copy rates. Certified-copy charges and any service fees should be checked at checkout.

Order a copy online

What if you paid off your mortgage?

Paying off a mortgage does not create a new deed.

Your deed normally comes from the original purchase or transfer. The lender generally sends a mortgage satisfaction for recording after the mortgage is paid.

Search for the satisfaction instrument if you want to check whether the release was recorded.

The Recorder accepts legally recordable documents submitted with the required information, formatting and fees.

County staff cannot draft a deed or advise which deed is appropriate for a transfer, inheritance, divorce, trust or LLC transaction.

1. Prepare the correct legal instrument.

   Include the proper names, legal description, and transaction details.

2. Include the Delaware County Parcel ID.

   The county’s supplemental recording requirements generally require the parcel identification number, except where law provides otherwise.

3. Check execution and acknowledgment.

   Make sure signatures and notarization meet the requirements for that particular document.

4. Leave room for electronic recording information.

   Delaware County requires a 1-inch top margin for the recording stamp.

5. Determine transfer tax and any exemptions.

   Deeds may require Pennsylvania Realty Transfer Tax and applicable municipal tax.

6. Calculate the full document fee.

   Use the Recorder’s current fee schedule, including required state and county surcharges.

7. Submit during recording hours or use approved eRecording.

   The office’s document-recording hours end at 3:30 PM on regular business days.

8. Keep the recording reference.

   After recording, search the official system to verify that the document appears.

Special issue: UCC filings and trusts

The county publishes additional requirements for UCC documents, including parcel identification, fixture-related collateral and original recording references.

Its rules also limit the recording of certain trust documents. A trust-related deed is not necessarily treated the same as recording the trust agreement itself.

The current official Recorder fee schedule is effective December 1, 2025.

The county’s fee includes a base recording charge plus required state and local surcharges.

Pennsylvania generally imposes a state Realty Transfer Tax of 1% on taxable real-estate transfers.

Delaware County’s published municipal list generally adds another 1%, with several important exceptions.

These totals reflect the county’s published state and local rates. Taxable consideration, exemptions and transaction structure can affect the actual amount due.

Common Level Ratio: A local detail that matters

A sale price is not always the correct basis for calculating Pennsylvania Realty Transfer Tax.

In certain transfers, the Department of Revenue’s valuation rules and the county’s Common Level Ratio may affect taxable value.

Delaware County’s June 2026 Recorder update announced a 2026–27 Common Level Ratio Factor of 1.83 for documents dated July 1, 2026, or later.

Because county information pages may display figures from different update periods, confirm the date-specific ratio with the Recorder or Pennsylvania Department of Revenue before calculating tax.

Delaware County has accepted electronic recording through approved submitting vendors since late 2020.

eRecording is commonly used by attorneys, settlement agents, banks, mortgage companies and title professionals.

The county says documents eligible for normal recording are generally the types it accepts through eRecording.

Vendor account requirements and transaction charges vary. Electronic submission does not remove the need for proper documents and recording fees.

Delaware County offers a free PROPERTY ALERT service through GovOS Cloud Search.

It emails you when a newly recorded document uses the parcel identification number you have registered.

1. Create a Cloud Search account.

   Visit the official search website and select Register.

2. Activate your registration.

   Follow the account activation link sent by the service.

3. Find your property.

   Search using your owner name or full folio number.

4. Open the correct document.

   Confirm that the document belongs to your property.

5. Select Property Alert.

   Confirm the parcel ID, create the alert and accept the subscription.

Which service should you use?

These are the primary government sources used for this guide. Check them for updated procedures before recording documents or paying fees.

Editorial review: October 2026. Rates and legal requirements should always be verified against the latest county and Pennsylvania government publications.