Mercer County Recorder of Deeds: Search & Office

Mercer County Recorder of Deeds

Recorder: Dee Dee Zickar
Address: 125 South Diamond Street, Suite 109
Mercer, Pennsylvania 16137

Telephone: 724-662-3800
Fax: 724-662-2096

Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM, excluding holidays.
Last recording acceptance: 4:00 PM.

The office handles deed recording, mortgage records, property-related instruments and record-search assistance.

If you are visiting for a new deed recording, arrange the UPI certification and confirm your transfer-tax obligations first.

Mercer County uses the Cott Systems eSearch platform for public land-record searches.

Guest access allows searches of the recorded index. To view document images, the county requires a paid subscription.

The portal describes online images dating back to 1972, along with additional historical indexes and selected older deed images.

1. Open the official Recorder eSearch portal.

   Use the county’s online land-record search system.

   Open Mercer County eSearch
   After opening: select Sign in as Guest for index access, or log in with a subscription account if you need document images.
2. Choose Advanced Search.

   The county’s search instructions direct users to the Advanced Search option.

3. Enter the owner’s name.

   Use the Last/Firm Name field. Add the first name or first initial when available.

4. Display the matching names.

   Select SEARCH — Show Names List, then review the returned matches.

5. Select the correct names.

   Check the relevant names and use Return Selected Names.

6. Review recorded documents.

   Compare deed type, recorded date, parties and recording reference.

7. Open images if your account permits.

   Use a paid subscription for available document images, or contact the Recorder for copy options.

Searching older documents

Mercer County’s Recorder search includes historical land-record indexes. Some older deed and agreement records may require different search methods.

For documents not available in the online image system, contact the Recorder and provide names, approximate dates and any known book or instrument references.

Mercer County began enforcing its Uniform Parcel Identifier (UPI) certification ordinance on January 5, 2026.

A UPI is the county tax parcel number assigned to a property. The Tax Assessment Office must certify applicable parcel numbers before covered documents are recorded.

This is one of the most important differences between filing land records in Mercer County and filing in many other Pennsylvania counties.

Which documents require UPI certification?

The county ordinance covers a broad range of documents affecting interests in real estate.

• Deeds and quitclaim deeds.
• Mortgages, mortgage assignments and satisfactions.
• Easements and right-of-way agreements.
• Oil and gas leases and certain other leases.
• Court orders and decrees affecting real estate.
• Other instruments affecting title to real property.

How to get the UPI certified

1. Identify the parcel number.

   Use the correct Mercer County tax parcel number for the property.

2. Include the UPI on the instrument.

   List applicable parcel numbers near the upper-left portion of the first page.

3. Provide space for certification.

   Allow approximately two inches of space for the county’s certification stamp.

4. Submit for Tax Assessment review.

   The Tax Assessment Office certifies covered parcel numbers before the Recorder completes recording.

5. Pay the separate UPI charge.

   The fee is $20 per UPI certification, payable separately to Mercer County Tax Assessment.

Mercer County Tax Assessment Office

Address: 125 South Diamond Street, Suite 4, Mercer, PA 16137.

Telephone: 724-662-7551
UPI email: upi@mercercountypa.gov

Documents affecting multiple parcels

The county’s UPI guidance states there is no overall cap on certification charges when multiple parcel numbers require certification.

A partial conveyance may require a new parcel number and reference to the parent parcel. Verify the specific treatment with Tax Assessment before filing.

The Recorder can record a properly prepared instrument that satisfies Pennsylvania law and Mercer County’s local filing requirements.

Recording an instrument does not guarantee clear title. If the deed involves a trust, estate, inheritance, disputed ownership or unusual transfer, consult a qualified attorney.

1. Prepare the correct deed.

   Include the proper grantor and grantee, legal description, signatures and acknowledgment.

2. Verify parcel identification.

   Use the correct Mercer County parcel number and determine whether UPI certification is required.

3. Obtain UPI certification.

   Arrange Tax Assessment review and pay any applicable $20-per-UPI certification charge.

4. Review document formatting.

   Check the Recorder’s document standards, margins and identification requirements.

5. Prepare transfer-tax documentation.

   Determine whether realty transfer tax or a Statement of Value is required.

6. Calculate all filing charges.

   Separate the Recorder’s recording fee, Tax Assessment’s UPI fee and any applicable realty transfer tax.

7. Submit the deed.

   File during recording hours, mail the document with payment or use an approved eRecording provider.

8. Keep the recording reference.

   Save the instrument reference and returned document for later searches.

Mailing a document for recording

The Recorder’s FAQ confirms that documents may be submitted by mail.

Send the completed instrument, proper recording fees and a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of the document.

Payments for Recorder fees may be made by cash or check. Checks should be payable to Mercer County Recorder of Deeds.

Mercer County’s Recorder fee schedule was revised on June 15, 2026.

The published schedule reflects fee increases effective December 1, 2025 under Pennsylvania Act 45 of 2025.

Common document categories

Example: recording a deed affecting one UPI

This subtotal is an example, not a quote for every transaction. Different instrument categories and multiple parcel certifications can change the amount.

Pennsylvania generally imposes a state realty transfer tax of 1%. Additional local realty transfer tax can apply depending on the municipality.

Mercer County’s Recorder publishes several local differences that became effective during 2024–2026.

Other Mercer County municipalities may have different local tax rates.

Confirm the property’s actual taxing municipality before calculating transfer tax. A Mercer mailing address does not always identify the correct municipality.

2026 common level ratio

The Recorder’s current notice lists a 9.52 common level ratio for July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

Pennsylvania’s common level ratio can matter when a transaction requires computation of realty transfer tax using assessed value rather than stated consideration.

A ratio is not a tax rate. The amount actually due depends on the applicable legal valuation and transfer-tax rules.

The Mercer County Recorder maintains recorded instruments and provides access to public records.

The online index can be searched as a guest, but the county requires a paid account to view available images.

1. Search the online index.

   Use the grantor, grantee or other recorded party name to identify the instrument.

2. Save the recording details.

   Note the document type, parties, recorded date and recording reference.

3. Choose your copy method.

   Use paid portal image access when available, or contact the Recorder for a staff-assisted copy.

4. Ask whether certification is needed.

   Banks, courts, title companies and other institutions may require an official certified copy.

The Recorder’s fee schedule lists fax-copy charges. For printed or certified copy pricing, verify the current total with the office.

Mercer County accepts electronic document submissions through approved eRecording vendors.

Beginning January 5, 2026, the county lists eRecording hours as 8:30 AM–2:30 PM, Monday through Friday, excluding county holidays.

The county uses electronic recording for eligible submitted instruments. The UPI certification requirement still applies to covered real-estate documents.

Mercer County provides a PropertyCheck notification service through its Recorder eSearch system.

This service helps users monitor recorded-document activity associated with selected names.

It can provide an earlier warning about potentially suspicious filings. It does not prevent an instrument from being recorded.

1. Open PropertyCheck. Open PropertyCheck
2. Create or access your account.

   Follow the account instructions displayed by the service.

3. Manage notifications.

   Add or edit the names you wish to monitor.

4. Review unexpected alerts.

   Search the corresponding instrument and contact the Recorder if a recording appears suspicious.

Not every property-related question belongs with the Recorder.

Using the correct office can prevent unnecessary visits, fees and delays.

Mercer County Commissioners

The county’s Board of Commissioners includes Ann Coleman, Bill Finley and Timothy McGonigle.

Commissioners oversee county government matters, but they do not provide title opinions or decide the legal validity of an individual deed.

• Search returns nothing? Try alternative party names, spellings and recording dates.
• Document image will not open? Guest search is index-only. Image access requires a subscription.
• Looking for older records? Contact the Recorder if the desired document predates available online images.
• UPI is missing? Contact Mercer County Tax Assessment before recording a covered document.
• Multiple parcels? Check whether more than one $20 UPI certification is required.
• Wrong transfer-tax estimate? Verify the municipality and applicable taxable value.
• Document rejected? Recheck formatting, legal description, UPI certification, required forms and payment.
• Mailing a deed? Include the correct fees and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
• Visiting late? Recording stops at 4 PM, even though public office hours end at 4:30 PM.

Choose the right next step

Independent Information, Recording Caution and Public Records Notice

This is an independent informational guide. It is not the official website of Mercer County, the Recorder of Deeds or any Pennsylvania government agency.

Recorded documents, parcel information and filing fees can change. Verify current requirements with the appropriate county office before submitting an instrument.

The Recorder’s Office records eligible instruments but does not resolve title disputes or provide a legal determination about ownership.

For deed preparation, estate transfers, trusts, title corrections and realty transfer-tax exemptions, consult a qualified Pennsylvania attorney or other appropriate professional.

Public-record information must not be used for employment, tenant screening, credit, insurance or other purposes governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. This website is not a consumer reporting agency.

Editorial review: October 17, 2026. Primary references: Mercer County Recorder of Deeds, Mercer County Tax Assessment, the official county eSearch portal and county recording-fee guidance.