Which Lehigh County property system should you use?

A common source of frustration is using the Recorder of Deeds when the information actually belongs to Assessment, tax records or civil court records. Use this routing guide before searching.

How to search Lehigh County deeds online

Lehigh County links its Recorder of Deeds records to LANDEX. The county describes LANDEX Webstore as the better option for infrequent or basic searches and LANDEX Remote as the more comprehensive option for people or businesses that search land records regularly.

LANDEX Webstore vs. LANDEX Remote

How to find a Lehigh County deed from a street address

Recorder indexes are built primarily around recorded documents and party names, not around the consumer-style address search people expect from a real-estate website. If all you know is the street address, use the county assessment database as a bridge to the deed index.

Searching older Lehigh County records from 1812 forward

Lehigh County was created in 1812, and the Recorder’s published search information states that its LANDEX resources cover records from 1812 to the present. That makes the system useful not only for current ownership research but also for older chains of title and genealogy-oriented land research.

The county specifically instructs LANDEX Remote users to use the Index Book tab for records from 1812 through 1983 and for major/minor subdivision plans from 1812 through 2002.

How to get a copy of a Lehigh County deed

Choose the copy method based on what you will do with the document. A downloaded LANDEX image may be enough for personal research. A lender, court, estate matter or another formal process may require a certified copy.

Mail a deed-copy request

Lehigh County’s published instructions tell mailed-copy requesters to include:

Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds office, hours and contact information

The Recorder of Deeds Division is part of the Lehigh County Clerk of Judicial Records. Current county recording materials identify Michelle Graupner as Clerk of Judicial Records.

How to record a deed in Lehigh County without an avoidable rejection

The Recorder’s 2026 recording guidelines are designed to reduce rejected documents. Recording is a document-acceptance function; staff specifically state that they cannot prepare documents, conduct legal research or advise you whether your deed language is legally sufficient.

Notary acknowledgment check

Lehigh County’s recording guidelines identify details such as the county and state, date, person or corporate officer appearing, applicable title/company information, notary signature, seal or stamp and commission expiration as acknowledgment elements. The acknowledgment date should not predate the document, and names should match.

Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds fees

The current Lehigh County schedule effective in 2026 uses a base fee for many instruments that includes up to four pages, four names and one PIN certification, unless the schedule states otherwise.

Payment details that can prevent rejection

• Checks and money orders should be payable to Recorder of Deeds.
• Blank checks are not accepted.
• The account holder’s address must appear on the check.
• Cash, checks, money orders and specified credit cards are accepted for recording fees.
• Credit cards cannot be used to pay Realty Transfer Tax under the county’s current guidelines.
• The county’s 2026 guidelines list a 2.25% credit-card company service fee.
• Overpayments of $10 or less are forfeited under the published rules.
• The county recommends careful payment preparation because an incorrect payment can cause rejection.

Lehigh County realty transfer tax and the Allentown difference

A deed’s recording fee is not necessarily the largest amount due at recording. Pennsylvania also imposes a 1% state Realty Transfer Tax on taxable real-estate transfers, and local tax is collected at the same time.

The City of Allentown’s local portion increased to 1.5% effective January 1, 2026. Pennsylvania’s 1% Commonwealth portion remains separate. Whether a transaction is taxable, the taxable value and who bears the economic cost can depend on the transaction and applicable law or agreement.

When a Statement of Value may be required

Pennsylvania Form REV-183, Realty Transfer Tax Statement of Value, is used when full consideration is not stated, when an applicable exemption is claimed, or in other circumstances described by the Department of Revenue and county recording rules.

What PIN certification means before recording

Lehigh County uses a Uniform Parcel Identifier system. County recording guidance requires parcel identification and certification for many real-estate documents before the Recorder accepts them.

The 2026 fee schedule generally includes one PIN certification in the base charge for the document types identified by the schedule, with $10 for each additional PIN.

Lehigh County eRecording options

Lehigh County accepts electronic recordings through vendors listed in its Recorder of Deeds guidance. eRecording is primarily useful for attorneys, title companies, lenders and other frequent submitters who already work through a recording network.

Why finding the latest deed is not a complete Lehigh County title search

A homeowner can often locate the current deed without professional assistance. A title search, however, is broader. Its purpose can include establishing the chain of ownership and identifying instruments or claims that may affect title.

LANDEX itself tells Pennsylvania users that liens against property may be filed through the Prothonotary rather than the Recorder of Deeds. Other questions can involve estate records, tax claims, court judgments, municipal claims or additional filings.

Set up Lehigh County Record Alert

Lehigh County promotes a free LANDEX Record Alert service that can notify property owners when a verified document involving their property is recorded.

The county’s Record Alert material says the notification can be sent by text or email and can identify the parcel number, instrument number, document type and recording date.

What to do in the situations most people actually face

Use the Recorder’s records directly, then move to another office only when the task requires it

For most users, the efficient Lehigh County workflow is straightforward: use the county assessment search if you only have an address, move to LANDEX to locate the actual recorded deed or mortgage, verify the instrument carefully, and obtain a certified copy directly from the Recorder only when certification is required.

If you are recording a new deed rather than researching an existing one, work in the opposite direction: confirm the legal document first, verify the parcel/PIN and municipality, review the Recorder’s current formatting rules, calculate recording fees and Realty Transfer Tax correctly, and submit the complete package by the appropriate in-person, mail or eRecording method.