Where to Find Property Deeds in Pennsylvania for Family History Research

Records of property transactions may be a valuable research tool if you’re trying to trace your Pennsylvania ancestors or if you want to find out more about the history of your home. In Pennsylvania both land and property transfers are recorded at Recorder of Deeds offices around the Commonwealth. This article will give you tips on how to locate land deeds and property deeds at the Recorder of Deeds office for both genealogy research and historical home research.

What information can be found in land records?

If you’re tracing your genealogy in Pennsylvania, you’ll want to search the deed books at the Recorder of Deeds in the county where your ancestors lived. These deeds go back to 1682. Each one will contain information such as:

• Date of the property transaction
• The parties involved, usually named grantor and grantee
• Location of the property being transferred
• Price of the property
• Date recorded, which may be days to years different than the transaction date

The information in early deed books will be handwritten, so some skill in reading handwriting will be needed to use these deeds.

How to find a deed at the Recorder of Deeds Office

The easiest way to find a deed is to visit the Recorder of Deeds’ website. In Pennsylvania property deeds are considered public information and are available to anyone from the minute they are recorded. Today deeds are posted within days of being recorded and can be viewed in their entirety online. Historical deeds, those usually before 1980, may only be available on microfilm at the Recorder of Deeds office itself. Online availability and cost varies by county, so read on to learn how to determine which county to contact.

Determining which Pennsylvania county to search

Pennsylvania has 67 counties and each county maintains the deed records for their county. To determine which county to contact, use one of the following sources for the county name:

• US census record: found at the top of the census page
• Current deed: the first part of the deed names the municipality and county location
• Will or probate record: found on the name of the will book or filing papers
• Birth certificate or death certificate: found in the top section of the form

If none of those sources help in determining the county, check out my resource on Determining the County of Your Ancestors which goes in-depth on advanced genealogy research methods.

Locating the Recorders of Deeds office

Every county Recorder of Deeds office can be visited in person, contacted by phone or email, or through the Recorder of Deeds website. The office is located in the county courthouse or administrative building for the county. Here is a list of every Pennsylvania county courthouse location with their website:

Adams County
County of Adams
117 Baltimore Street
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Phone: (717)334-6781
Website: https://www.adamscounty.us

Allegheny County
Allegheny County Office Building
542 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: (412)350-4636
Website: https://www.alleghenycounty.us

Armstrong County
Armstrong County Courthouse
500 E. Market Street
Suite 102
Kittanning, PA 16201
Phone: (724)548-3236
Website: https://www.co.armstrong.pa.us

Beaver County
Beaver County Courthouse
810 Third Street
Beaver, PA 15009
Phone: (724)728-5700
Website: https://www.beavercountypa.gov

Bedford County
Bedford County Courthouse
200 South Juliana Street
Bedford, PA 15522
Phone: (724)728-5700
Website: https://www.bedfordcountypa.org

Berks County
Berks County Courthouse
633 Court Street
Reading, PA 19601
Phone: (610) 478-6970
Website: https://www.co.berks.pa.us

Blair County
Blair County Courthouse
423 Allegheny Street
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
Phone: (814) 693-3000
Website: https://www.blairco.org

Bradford County
Bradford County Courthouse
301 Main Street
Towanda, PA 18848
Phone: (570) 265-1727
Website: https://www.bradfordcountypa.org

Bucks County
Mercer Museum (acts as county archive)
4 South Pine Street
Doylestown, PA 18901
Website: https://www.mercermuseum.org

Bucks County Courthouse
Archive Center, 3rd Floor
55 East State Street
Doylestown, PA 18901
Phone: (215)348-6000
Website: https://www.buckscounty.org

Butler County
Butler County Government Center
124 West Diamond Street
Butler, PA 16003
Phone: (724) 284-1409
Website: https://www.co.butler.pa.us

Cambria County
Cambria County Courthouse
200 South Center Street
Ebensburg, PA 15931
Phone: (814) 472-5440
Website: https://www.cambriacountypa.gov

Cameron County
Cameron County Courthouse
20 East Fifth Street
Emporium, PA 15834
Phone: (814) 486-3349
Website: https://www.cameroncountypa.com

Carbon County
Carbon County Administration Building
2 Hazard Square
Jim Thorpe, PA 18229
Phone: (570) 325-2651
Website: https://www.carboncounty.com

Centre County
Centre County Library and Historical Museum
The Pennsylvania Room
203 North Allegheny Street
Bellefonte, PA 16823
Website: https://www.centrecountylibrary.org/pa-room

Willowbank County Office Building
414 Homes Street, Suite #2
Bellefonte, PA 16823
Phone: (814) 355-6724
Website: https://www.centrecountypa.gov

Chester County
Chester County Administration
Archives and Records
601 Westtown Road, Suite 080
West Chester, PA 19380
Phone: (610) 344-6760
Website: https://www.chesco.org/192/archives-records

Chester County Courthouse
313 West Market Street
West Chester, PA 19380
Phone: (610) 334-6330
Website: https://www.chesco.org

Clarion County
Clarion County Administration Office
330 Main Street
Clarion, PA 16214
Phone: (814) 226-4000
Website: https://www.co.clarion.pa.us

Clearfield County
Clearfield County Courthouse
1 North Second Street
Clearfield, PA 16830
Phone: (814) 765-2641
Website: https://www.clearfieldco.org

Clinton County
Clinton County Courthouse
2 Piper Way
Lock Haven, PA 17745
Phone: (570) 893-4010
Website: https://www.clintoncountypa.com

Columbia County
Columbia County Courthouse
35 West Main Street
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
Phone: (570) 389-5614
Website: https://www.columbiapa.org

Crawford County
Crawford County Courthouse
903 Diamond Park
Meadville, PA 16355
Phone: (814) 373-2537
Website: https://www.crawfordcountypa.net

Judicial Center
359 East Center Street
Meadville, PA 16355
Phone: (814) 333-7442

Cumberland County
County of Cumberland
1 Courthouse Square
Carlisle, PA 17013
Phone: (717) 240-6100
Website: https://www.ccpa.net

Dauphin County
Dauphin County Courthouse
101 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: (717) 780-6500
Website: https://www.dauphincounty.org

Delaware County
Archives of Delaware County
340 North Middletown Road, Building 19
Lima, PA
Phone: (610) 891-5620
Website: https://www.delcopa.gov/departments/archives

Delaware County Government Center Complex
201 West Front Street
Media, PA 19063
Phone: (610) 891-4000
Website: https://www.delcopa.gov

Elk County
Elk County Courthouse
240 Main Street
Ridgeway, PA 15853
Phone: (814) 776-5349
Website: https://www.co.elk.pa.us

Erie County
Erie County Courthouse
140 West Sixth Street
Erie, PA 16501
Phone: (814) 451-6237
Website: https://www.eriecountypa.gov

Fayette County
Fayette County Courthouse
61 East Main Street
Uniontown, PA 15401
Phone: (724) 430-1238
Website: https://wwwfayettecountypa.org

Forest County
Forest County Courthouse
240 Main Street
Tionesta, PA 16353
Phone: (814) 755-3537
Website: https://www.co.forest.pa.us

Franklin County
Franklin County Archives Annex
625 Franklin Farms Lane
Chambersburg, PA 17202
Phone: (717) 261-3154

Franklin County Courthouse
340 North Second Street
Chambersburg, PA 17202
Phone: (717) 264-4125
Website: https://www.franklincountypa.gov

Fulton County
Fulton County Courthouse
201 North Second Street
McConnellsburg, PA 17233
Phone: (814) 755-3537
Website: https://www.co.fulton.pa.us

Greene County
Greene County Courthouse
93 East High Street
Waynesburg, PA 15370
Phone: (724) 852-5399
Website: https://www.co.greene.pa.us

Huntingdon County
Huntingdon County Courthouse
223 Penn Street
Huntingdon, PA 16652
Phone: (814) 643-2740
Website: https://www.huntingdoncountycourt.net

Indiana County
Indiana County Court Administration
825 Philadelphia Street
Indiana, PA 15701
Phone: (724) 465-3805
Website: https://www.indianacounty.gov

Jefferson County
Jefferson County Courthouse
200 Main Street
Brookville, PA 15825
Phone: (814) 849-1610
Website: https://www.jeffersoncountypa.com

Juniata County
Juniata County Courthouse
Bridge & Main Streets
P.O. Box 68
Mifflintown, PA 17059
Phone: (724) 465-3805
Website: https://www.juniataco.org

Lackawanna County
Lackawanna County Government Center
123 Wyoming Ave
Scranton, PA 18503
Phone: (570) 963-6702
Website: https://www.lackawannacounty.org

Lancaster County
Lancaster County Archives
Lancaster County Government Center
150 North Queen Street, Suite 10
Lancaster, PA 17603
Phone: (717) 299-8319
Website: https://co.lancaster.pa.us/127/Archives-Division

Lancaster County Government Center
150 North Queen Street
Lancaster, PA 17603
Phone: (717) 299-8000
Website: https://co.lancaster.pa.us

Lawrence County
Lawrence County Government Center
430 Court Street
New Castle, PA 16101
Phone: (724) 658-2541
Website: https://www.co.lawrence.pa.us

Lebanon County
Lebanon County Courthouse
400 South 8th Street
Lebanon, PA 17042
Phone: (717) 274-8094
Website: https://www.lebcounty.org

Lehigh County
Lehigh County Courthouse
455 Hamilton Street
Allentown, PA 18101
Phone: (610) 782-3000
Website: https://www.lehighcounty.org

Luzerne County
Luzerne County Courthouse
200 North River Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
Phone: (570)825-1641
Website: https://www.luzernecounty.org

Lycoming County
Lycoming County Courthouse
48 West Third Street
Williamsport, PA 17701
Phone: (570) 327-2251
Website: https://www.lyco.org

McKean County
McKean County Courthouse
500 West Main Street
Smethport, PA 16749
Phone: (814) 887-3260
Website: https://www.mckeancountypa.org

Mercer County
County of Mercer
138 South Diamond Street
Mercer, PA 16137
Phone: (724) 662-3800
Website: https://www.mcc.co.mercer.pa.us

Mifflin County
County of Mifflin
20 North Wayne Street
Lewistown, PA 17044
Phone: (717) 248-6733
Website: https://www.co.mifflin.pa.us

Monroe County
Monroe County Archive
One Quaker Plaza
Stroudsburg, PA 18360
Phone: (570) 517-3400
Website: https://www.monroecountypa.gov/dept/archives

Montgomery County
Montgomery County Archive
2010 Old Arch Road
Norristown, PA 19401
Phone: (610) 278- 3441
Website: https://www.montcopa.org/418/Archival-Record-Retrieval

Montgomery County Courthouse
493 Swede Street
Norristown, PA 19401
Phone: (610) 278-3000
Website: https://www.montcopa.org

Montour County
Montour County Courthouse
253 Mill Street
Danville, PA 17821
Phone: (570) 271-3012
Website: https://www.montourco.org

Northampton County
Northampton County Courthouse
669 Washington Street
Easton, PA 18042
Phone: (610) 829-6500
Website: https://www.northamptoncounty.org

Northumberland County
Northumberland County Courthouse
201 Market Street
Sunbury, PA 17801
Phone: (570) 988-4148
Website: https://www.norrycopa.net

Perry County
Perry County Courthouse
2 East Main Street
New Bloomfield, PA 17068
Phone: (717) 582-2131
Website: https://www.perryco.org

Philadelphia
Philadelphia City Archives
548 Spring Garden Street
Philadelphia, PA
Phone: (215) 685 - 9409
Website: https://www.phila.gov/phils/carchive.htm

Philadelphia City Hall
Broad & Market Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: (215) 686 - 4252
Website: https://www.phila.gov

Pike County
Pike County Courthouse
506 Broad Street
Milford, PA 18337
Phone: (570) 296-7231
Website: https://www.pikepa.org

Potter County
Potter County Courthouse
1 Main Street
Coudersport, PA 16915
Phone: (814) 274-8290
Website: https://www.pottercountypa.net

Schuylkill County
Schuylkill County Courthouse Archives
401 North 2nd Street
Pottsville, PA 17801
Phone: (570) 628-1145
Website: https://www.co.schuylkill.pa.us/offices/archives/archives.asp

Snyder County
Snyder County Courthouse
9 West Market Street
Middleburg, PA 17842
Phone: (570) 837-4224
Website: https://www.snydercounty.org

Somerset County
Somerset County Courthouse
111 East Union Street
Somerset, PA 15501
Phone: (814) 445-1548
Website: https://www.co.somerset.pa.us

Sullivan County
Sullivan County Courthouse
245 Muncy Street
Laporte, PA 18626
Phone: (570) 946-7351
Website: https://www.sullivancounty-pa.us

Susquehana County
Susquehanna County Courthouse
31 Lake Avenue
Montrose, PA 18801
Phone: (570) 278-4600
Website: https://www.susqco.com

Tioga County
Tioga County Courthouse
116 Main Street
Wellsboro, PA 16901
Phone: (717) 248-6733
Website: https://www.tiogacountypa.us

Union County
Union County Courthouse
103 South Second Street
Lewisburg, PA 17837
Phone: (570) 524-8762
Website: https://www.unioncountypa.org

Venango County
Venango County Courthouse
1168 Liberty Street
Franklin, PA 16323
Phone: (814) 432-9539
Website: https://www.co.venango.pa.us

Warren County
County of Warren
204 Fourth Avenue
Warren, PA 16365
Phone: (814) 728-3400
Website: https://www.warrencopa.com

Washington County
Washington County Courthouse
1 South Main Street
Washington, PA 15301
Phone: (724) 228-6806
Website: https://www.co.washington.pa.us

Wayne County
Wayne County Courthouse
925 Court Street
Honesdale, PA 18431
Phone: (570) 253-5970
Website: https://www.waynecountypa.gov

Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County Courthouse
2 North Main Street
Greensburg, PA 15601
Phone: (717) 248-6733
Website: https://www.co.westmoreland.pa.us

Wyoming County
Wyoming County Courthouse
1 Courthouse Square
Tunkhannock, PA 18657
Phone: (570) 836-3200
Website: https://www.wycopa.org

York County
York County Archives
150 Pleasant Acres Road
York, PA 17402
Phone: (717) 840-7222
Website: https://www.yorkcountyarchives.org

York County Government
45 North George Street
York, PA 17401
Phone: (717) 771 - 9288
Website: https://www.yorkcountypa.gov

Additional resources for researching Pennsylvania deed records

Many genealogy researchers and historical house researches have luck finding old deeds on FamilySearch.org. Currently to use the deed records on FamilySearch, experience is needed in reading through digital images of microfilm rolls. The property deeds are not indexed for easy searching like with other genealogy records. Be sure to search both the grantor and grantee indexes when searching for these records.

Conclusion

If you’re trying to trace your ancestors or find out more about the history of your home, land records may help you. They can be searched at county courthouses, and they generally go back hundreds of years or more. The Recorder of Deeds office is the easiest place to search property deeds in Pennsylvania.

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