Hennepin County Recorder: Deeds & Records

Visiting in person

Recording appointments are available on the seventh floor of the A-Tower. Visitors must pass through security screening on the Skyway level before using the elevators.

Walk-ins without appointments are placed on a waiting list and helped when staff are available.

The research center is separate from the recording counter. Visit Room SK-0353 if your goal is searching records rather than submitting a deed.

Official recording office and appointment information

RecordEASE is Hennepin County’s land-records access system. It covers recorded instruments such as deeds, mortgages, easements, liens, satisfactions and plats.

The county offers RecordEASE Public Search for limited index access and RecordEASE Pro for viewing full documents, certificates of title and plats.

1. Open the county’s land-title records access page.

   This page provides current RecordEASE access instructions.

   Open Land Title Records Access

   After opening: find “Online access” and choose RecordEASE Public Search or RecordEASE Pro.
2. Request Public Search credentials.

   Hennepin County provides limited free index access after a user ID and password request.

   Email ts.recordease.support@hennepin.us for Public Search access. The county states credentials are normally provided within one business day.

3. Search with a name or legal description.

   Real-property records are best searched by the owner or recorded party name, or by the legal description.

4. Review the matching record.

   Confirm the document type, listed parties, recording date and document number.

5. Choose how to obtain the document.

   Use RecordEASE Pro for paid viewing or request an eligible free owner copy by email.

Open RecordEASE login directly

Search by address or property ID

If you only have a street address, use Hennepin County Property Information Search before RecordEASE.

The property system supports address, property identification number (PID), addition name and interactive-map searches.

Open Hennepin County Property Information Search

Hennepin County land may be recorded under the Abstract system or registered under the Torrens system.

These systems affect how ownership interests and documents are maintained. A property owner should know which system applies before filing a transfer or release.

What is a Certificate of Title?

For Torrens property, the certificate records the registered owner, land description and applicable interests or encumbrances.

A certificate of title is different from simply downloading the latest deed.

How to identify your property’s land type

Hennepin County accepts recording submissions in person, by mail, through professional eRecording vendors and through its public Virtual Recorder service.

County staff can review documents for recordability. They cannot prepare a deed, choose a legal form or give legal advice.

1. Prepare the correct legal document.

   Confirm the names, legal description, signatures and required notarial acknowledgment.

2. Identify Abstract or Torrens property.

   Check whether a Torrens document requires additional approval by the Examiner of Titles.

3. Meet Minnesota recording standards.

   Check legibility, paper size, the first-page recording area and other requirements under Minnesota Statutes section 507.093.

4. Address tax certification and disclosures.

   A transfer deed may require an eCRV number, State Deed Tax and a well disclosure statement or certificate.

5. Choose the submission method.

   Use Virtual Recorder, professional eRecording, a recording appointment or tracked mail.

6. Submit and retain proof.

   Keep payment confirmation, recording number and returned or downloadable document.

Important deed requirements

• Correct document date and signatures.
• Complete legal description.
• Document drafter’s name and address.
• Correct notary acknowledgment.
• Grantor’s marital status when applicable.
• “Send Tax Statements To” names and addresses for grantees.
• eCRV when required for the transaction.
• Required well disclosure information.
• Recording fee and tax payments.

Open Hennepin County Recording Requirements

Read Minnesota recording standards — section 507.093

Virtual Recorder: online filing for the public

Hennepin County now allows members of the public to submit eligible documents online through Virtual Recorder.

Create an account, choose Create Package and upload documents for initial review. If recordable, the county sends payment instructions.

The county lists a $3 service fee. After payment, recording normally takes one to three business days.

Open Virtual Recorder instructions

Professional eRecording

Title companies, lenders, law firms and other real-estate professionals can use authorized eRecording vendors.

The county lists CSC/Ingeo, eRecording Partners Network, Hopdox, Indecomm Global Services and Simplifile.

Mail a document

The county estimates one to two weeks after receipt for mailed documents to be recorded and returned.

In-person recording

Schedule an appointment for the A-Tower seventh-floor recording counter. Appointments are available weekdays, 8:30 AM–3:30 PM.

For immediate statutory deadlines or unusual recording problems, call 612-348-5139 or email recordinginfo@hennepin.us.

Most standard recording instruments cost $46 per document. Special Torrens certificates, plats and multiple assignments may have additional charges.

Deed transfers and mortgages may also require state taxes. These charges are not included in the basic $46 recording fee.

State Deed Tax

Hennepin County’s recording guidance uses 0.0034 of net consideration to calculate State Deed Tax for a taxable deed transfer.

For a hypothetical $400,000 taxable deed, the illustrative calculation is $400,000 × 0.0034 = $1,360.

Mortgage Registry Tax

The county’s guidance uses 0.0024 of the taxable mortgage debt.

A hypothetical $300,000 taxable mortgage produces $720 of mortgage registry tax before other applicable charges.

Official Hennepin County recording fee schedule

Minnesota Statutes section 357.18 — recording fees

Hennepin County gives property owners an especially useful option: owners may request a free electronic copy of their deed or certificate of title.

Email recordsrequest@hennepin.us and provide enough property and ownership information to identify the document.

Certified copies through Virtual Recorder

The county lets users order certified documents and certificates of title online with card or eCheck payment.

Certified documents and certificates cost $10. Certified plats cost $15. Online orders also have a $3 service fee.

Official certified-copy ordering instructions

Copy requests by mail

Send the document number, document type, your request and payment to the Recorder/Registrar of Titles, Attn: Document copies, 300 S Sixth St, MC 074, Minneapolis, MN 55487.

Make checks payable to Hennepin County Recorder. The county does not accept credit cards for mail copy requests.

Hennepin County offers a free Property Watch notification service for owners who want email alerts when a document associated with their property is recorded.

You need an email address plus your property address or property identification number.

1. Open the county’s land-title records page.

   Find the “Property watch notification service” section.

2. Enter the property.

   Start with the house number or enter the property ID.

3. Confirm your email.

   Enter a valid email address and accept the required terms.

4. Save the enrollment.

   Monitor subsequent notices and verify unfamiliar recordings.

Open Property Watch registration instructions

Removing a deceased joint tenant

Hennepin County’s guidance identifies an Affidavit of Survivorship with a certified death certificate as the recording route when an owner held property in joint tenancy and has died.

Torrens property may require additional Examiner of Titles review. Seek legal help if ownership or survivorship is disputed.

Mortgage satisfaction or release

If your lender sends a mortgage satisfaction for recording, Hennepin County directs you to record the document through the Recorder’s Office.

Search the property’s recent recording history if you want to check whether a satisfaction has already been recorded.

Discriminatory restrictive covenants

Historically, some Hennepin County property documents included discriminatory covenants. These restrictions are illegal and unenforceable.

The county provides information about identifying and disavowing them. Its guidance points property owners to Just Deeds and other legal support.

For qualifying Abstract property, a notarized Discharge of Restrictive Covenant Affecting Protected Classes can be recorded without a fee.

Official restrictive covenant guidance

DD214 military discharge records

Hennepin County maintains military separation records recorded with the county.

Certified DD214 copies are available without charge to the veteran or another person who proves a qualifying tangible interest.

These records are privacy-restricted and are not ordinary public deed-search documents.

• Only have a street address? Use Property Information Search to obtain the PID and legal description.
• RecordEASE asks for credentials? Request Public Search access from the county support team.
• Need the document image? Public Search may show only index information. Use Pro or a copy request.
• Property is Torrens? Check certificate-of-title records and any Examiner of Titles requirements.
• Need a free deed copy? Eligible owners can request an electronic copy by email.
• Need to record quickly? Call 612-348-5139 before relying on a routine mail timeline.
• Document rejected? Review missing signatures, legal description, notary, tax, eCRV or well-disclosure requirements.
• Need legal title advice? Consult an attorney or title professional; county staff cannot select or prepare forms.

This is an independent informational guide. County-appraisal-district.org is not the official Hennepin County government website and is not affiliated with the Recorder, Registrar of Titles or Examiner of Titles.

A recorded deed, property search result or certificate of title should not be interpreted as legal advice. Consult a qualified Minnesota attorney, abstractor or title professional when a legal title opinion is needed.

Public property records should not be used for employment screening, tenant screening, consumer credit eligibility, insurance underwriting or other purposes regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. This website is not a consumer reporting agency.

Office practices, fees, recording timelines and services may change. Check current county instructions before submitting documents or payment.