Berks County Recorder of Deeds: Search Records, Find a Deed & Contact the Office
If you landed here because you need the deed for a Berks County property, start with the official Recorder of Deeds record search—not a commercial property-data site. The Recorder maintains the recorded instruments that establish or affect real-property interests, including deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, easements, subdivision plans and other land records.
This guide shows you exactly where to search, what to enter when you only know an address, how to track an older deed through historic indexes, how to obtain document copies, and when you actually need the Recorder’s office in Reading.
Fred Sheeler
610-478-3380
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
County states deed records are indexed back to 1752.
3.12 for July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027.
Which Berks County record do you actually need?
Many failed searches happen because the user is looking in the wrong county system. Use this routing table before spending time on names, dates or document numbers.
Use the Recorder of Deeds. Search the recorded deed and open the image to review the legal conveyance.
Use the Recorder to find recorded mortgage documents, assignments and satisfactions.
Start with the county property-record search, obtain the owner and UPI, then search recorded documents.
Use Berks County assessment/property records rather than the Recorder’s deed index.
Use the Recorder’s document system. Berks County says subdivision and highway plans are included.
A new deed generally must be prepared and recorded; the Recorder recommends legal assistance for deed preparation.
Berks County Recorder of Deeds guide
Jump directly to the task you are trying to complete.
How to search Berks County deeds and recorded property documents online
Berks County provides an official online index and document-image system. The current public-search interface supports searches involving grantor or grantee names, subdivisions, document types and document numbers, with date filters and additional search controls.
How to find a Berks County deed from a street address
Recorder indexes are generally centered on recorded parties and instruments rather than behaving like a consumer real-estate website. If all you have is an address, build the search in two stages.
Micro walkthrough
- Enter the street number and street name in the county property-record search.
- Open the parcel that matches the municipality and property location.
- Write down the owner’s name exactly as displayed, but be prepared to try spelling variations.
- Copy the parcel identification number / UPI.
- Move to the Recorder’s public search.
- Search the owner as a grantee to locate the acquisition deed.
- If several documents appear, compare dates around the approximate purchase year.
- Open the deed image and verify the property description rather than assuming the first name match is correct.
How far back do Berks County deed records go?
Berks County states that its computerized deed index reaches back to 1752, the year the county was formed. The Recorder also provides historical index-book searching for records that predate modern electronic indexing.
The county’s search instructions say mortgages are computerized from January 1, 1949 forward, with unsatisfied mortgages also indexed for earlier periods. Older deeds, mortgages and miscellaneous documents can be researched through the online index books. Subdivision and highway plans are also part of the archive.
For a pre-1926 deed or mortgage
What to check after you find a Berks County deed
A matching name does not automatically mean you have found the correct property. Before using a deed for research, closing preparation, boundary questions or title history, compare several identifiers.
How to get a copy of a Berks County deed
You do not normally need to pay a document-retrieval company simply to locate a recorded deed. Berks County makes its recorded-document system available online and also provides copies through the Recorder’s office.
The Recorder’s published information lists ordinary recorded-document copies at $0.50 per page.
The county’s current credit-card policy lists an e-certified document at $10 per document plus a $1.75 credit-card processing fee.
Call 610-478-3380 if you cannot identify the instrument or need to confirm the appropriate certification method.
Before ordering a certified copy
Confirm why the receiving organization needs certification. A simple downloaded image may be enough for personal research, while a court, lender, government agency or formal legal transaction may require a certified copy.
Recording a deed or other document in Berks County
Searching an existing deed and recording a new deed are very different tasks. Recording requires the instrument to satisfy county and Pennsylvania requirements, and a rejected document can delay a transaction.
Berks County document-preparation checklist
The Recorder’s document standards state that real-estate documents must identify the municipality, county and state and that deeds require the Property Identification Number. Documents referring back to an earlier instrument should include the appropriate instrument number or book-and-page reference.
Do you need a Statement of Value?
Berks County states that a Pennsylvania Statement of Value is required for deeds that do not state the full and complete value being conveyed, subject to specified exceptions, and for certain easements and rights-of-way. The county also notes that a Statement of Value counts as an additional page when recording fees are calculated.
Berks County Recorder of Deeds fees and transfer-tax basics
Do not calculate a recording charge from an old article or an old closing statement. Berks County’s current online fee schedule states that the published schedule is effective November 14, 2025, and fees can depend on the document, pages, parcels, names and other recording factors.
| Item | Current guidance | Best action |
|---|---|---|
| Recording fee schedule | County lists a fee schedule effective November 14, 2025. | Use the official fee page immediately before submitting. |
| Real-estate interest documents | The Recorder currently states that documents conveying an interest in real estate have an $88 base fee. | Add applicable pages, names, parcels, taxes and other charges rather than assuming $88 is the final total. |
| Additional parcels | Parcel-related charges may apply depending on the instrument. | Count every parcel involved and confirm the final amount. |
| Statement of Value | The county counts the Statement of Value as an additional page for fee purposes. | Include it in the page count when required. |
| Transfer-tax payment | The Recorder states that cash and personal checks are not accepted for transfer tax. | Confirm an accepted payment method before visiting or mailing a filing. |
Pennsylvania separately imposes a state realty transfer tax of 1% on taxable real-estate transfers, and local realty transfer tax may apply in addition. Exemptions exist for certain transactions, so the tax due depends on the actual conveyance rather than merely the document title.
In person, by mail or electronic recording
Bring the completed recordable instrument and correct payment to the Recorder’s office on the third floor of the Berks County Services Center.
The county accepts mailed documents and requires an appropriately sized self-addressed stamped envelope for document return.
Berks County supports electronic recording through approved e-recording platforms and also describes a local low-cost option for eligible Berks-based submitters.
The county’s e-recording page currently references Simplifile, CSC, EPN and Indecomm. Because these are submission providers rather than the Recorder itself, begin with Berks County’s official e-recording page and follow the current provider instructions from there.
Berks County Recorder of Deeds office address, phone and hours
633 Court Street, 3rd Floor
Reading, PA 19601
Phone: 610-478-3380
Fax: 610-478-3359
Email: recorder@berkspa.gov
Monday through Friday
8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Fred Sheeler
Berks County Recorder of Deeds
What to bring if you need search help
- Property address and municipality.
- Current and former owner names.
- Parcel identification number / UPI if available.
- Approximate purchase, mortgage or recording date.
- Document or instrument number if you have one.
- A copy of any newer deed that refers to the older document you are trying to locate.
Sign up for Berks County Property Alert
The Recorder of Deeds provides a Property Alert service for property owners. It can send an email after a document is recorded that matches information in the alert.
The county recommends using the property’s Parcel Identification Number because it is a unique identifier, along with relevant versions of the owner’s name. The service is a notification tool—not a system that prevents a document from being recorded.
Why you may not be finding the deed
| Problem | Likely reason | What to try next |
|---|---|---|
| Address produces no deed | Recorder indexes are not primarily address-based. | Use county property records to identify owner and UPI, then search the Recorder by name. |
| Current owner name finds nothing | The deed may be recorded under a spouse, trust, estate, LLC or different name format. | Try surname only, prior owner, spouse or entity names. |
| Too many matching names | The surname is common or the date range is too broad. | Filter by recording date, document type or instrument number. |
| Very old deed missing from modern results | The record may be easier to locate through a historical index book. | Use Index Books and try surname spelling variants. |
| You found the deed but need the parcel | Recorded legal descriptions and modern assessment parcel data serve different purposes. | Compare the deed with the county assessment/property-record system and recorded plans. |
| You need proof for an agency | A plain image may not satisfy the receiving party. | Ask whether a certified or e-certified Recorder copy is required. |
What else does the Berks County Recorder of Deeds handle?
In addition to ordinary deeds and mortgages, the office records or maintains several other categories of public records and official filings.
Recorded plans and highway maps are part of the Recorder’s responsibilities.
The office records qualifying real-estate-related UCC lien filings.
The Recorder administers the notary oath and records commission and bond documents.
The office records qualifying DD-214 discharge papers and offers related veteran identification services.
The Recorder collects applicable state and local real-estate transfer taxes connected with recordings.
The office preserves a substantial archive reaching back to the county’s formation.
Berks County Recorder of Deeds FAQs
Where can I search Berks County deeds online?
Use the official Berks County Recorder of Deeds PublicSearch portal. It is the appropriate starting point for recorded deeds, mortgages and related land documents.
Can I search a deed using only a property address?
The easiest workflow is usually to search the address first in the Berks County property-record system, identify the owner and parcel UPI, and then search the Recorder’s index using the party name and approximate recording date.
How far back do Berks County deed records go?
Berks County states that its computerized deed index reaches back to 1752. Older records can also be researched using online historical index books.
What is the Berks County Recorder of Deeds phone number?
The office phone number is 610-478-3380. The Recorder’s published office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
How do I add or remove someone from a Berks County deed?
The Recorder explains that adding or removing a name requires a new deed to be prepared and recorded. Because a deed is a legal instrument that can affect ownership and tax consequences, the office recommends consulting an attorney to prepare the new deed.
How much does a copy of a deed cost?
The Recorder’s published information lists regular document copies at $0.50 per page. The county’s current credit-card policy lists an e-certified document at $10 per document plus a $1.75 credit-card processing fee. Verify current pricing before purchasing because county and processor fees can change.
Do I need a UPI or parcel number to record a deed?
Yes. Berks County’s document standards require the Property Identification Number / UPI on real-estate documents submitted for recording. You can locate the parcel identifier through the county property-record system.
Can I mail a deed to the Recorder of Deeds?
Yes. Berks County accepts documents by mail. The county requires an appropriately sized self-addressed stamped envelope so the recorded document can be returned.
Does Berks County support electronic recording?
Yes. The Recorder publishes an official e-recording page and currently identifies several approved electronic submission platforms. Use the county page to reach the current provider information rather than relying on an old third-party list.
Is Berks County Property Alert a fraud-prevention lock?
No. It is a notification system. The service can email you after a document is recorded that matches information in your alert, but it does not block a recording from occurring.
The fastest way to complete your Berks County deed search
If you already know the owner or instrument number, go directly to the official Berks County Recorder of Deeds search. If you only know a property address, use the county property-record search first to obtain the owner and Parcel ID / UPI, then move to the Recorder’s system.
Once you locate the document, verify the actual recorded image rather than relying solely on an index result. For older title research, switch to the historical index books. For copies, recording requirements, current fees or a filing you cannot confidently identify, use the official Recorder resources or call 610-478-3380.