How do I get a copy of my deed in Dauphin County?

Search the Recorder of Deeds website and locate the recorded document. The Recorder states that users may print documents from the website or visit the office at the Dauphin County Courthouse, Room 102, 101 Market Street, Harrisburg.

What is the Dauphin County Recorder of Deeds phone number?

The Recorder of Deeds office phone number is 717-780-6560.

What are the Dauphin County Recorder of Deeds hours?

The Recorder of Deeds publishes office hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

How do I change a name on a Dauphin County deed?

The Recorder's FAQ states that changing, adding or removing a name requires preparation of a new deed showing the change and recording that deed. Because ownership changes can have legal and tax consequences, professional advice may be appropriate.

Does paying off a mortgage give me a new deed?

No. A property owner normally receives the deed after purchasing the property. When a mortgage is paid off, the lender generally records or sends a mortgage satisfaction rather than issuing a new deed.

Can Dauphin County deeds be recorded electronically?

Yes. The Recorder of Deeds accepts electronic recording and currently identifies Simplifile and CSC as electronic recording service providers.

What is a UPI number in Dauphin County?

UPI means Uniform Parcel Identifier. It identifies a specific parcel and is used in Dauphin County's recording and assessment systems. Documents requiring UPI certification are subject to the county's published certification procedures and fee.

Can anyone view a Dauphin County deed or mortgage?

Recorded deeds and mortgages are generally public records. The Recorder identifies military discharge records such as DD214 forms as an exception to ordinary public access.

Dauphin County, Pennsylvania · Deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, plans and recorded land documents

Dauphin County PA Recorder: Search Deeds & Records

Q: How far back do Dauphin County deed records go?

The Dauphin County Recorder states that its deed records begin in 1785. The county website provides deeds and miscellaneous documents from 1785 to the present and mortgages from 1979 to the present, with deed and mortgage indexes available through the Alpha Index.

If you landed here because you need a copy of a deed, want to confirm who conveyed a property, need an old mortgage or satisfaction, or are trying to record a new deed, start with the Dauphin County Recorder of Deeds rather than a commercial property-search site.

Dauphin County provides its own public record-search system with searches by name, instrument number, document type, book and page, recording date, consideration, UPI parcel number and municipality. This guide shows exactly which search to use, how to locate older records, what a copy costs, and what to prepare when recording a document.

Search official deed records Open Recorder of Deeds Get a deed copy

What the Recorder can help you find

REAL PROPERTY RECORD Deed / Conveyance

FINANCING RECORD Mortgage / Assignment

LOAN RELEASE RECORD Mortgage Satisfaction

LAND RECORD Plan / Easement / Related Instrument

Use the right county office. The Recorder of Deeds records deeds, mortgages and other recordable land instruments. The Dauphin County Office of Tax Assessment maintains current assessment, parcel and property-characteristic information. A deed search and a property-assessment search answer different questions.

Recorder

James M. Zugay, Esq.

Office

Room 102, 101 Market Street, Harrisburg.

Hours

Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM.

Phone

717-780-6560.

Historic deeds

County deed records begin in 1785.

Start with your actual goal

Which Dauphin County record are you trying to find?

Copy of my deed

Use Simple Search or search the owner/grantor-grantee name and locate the recorded deed image.

Follow deed-search steps

Mortgage or satisfaction

Search the owner name and narrow the document type to mortgage, satisfaction or assignment.

Search mortgage records

Old deed

If a normal name search does not reach the period you need, use the Recorder’s Alpha Index and historic deed references.

Find historic deeds

Known instrument number

Use Instrument # search and enter the Clerk File Number as one continuous number without spaces or hyphens.

See search options

Record a new deed

Confirm document preparation, UPI requirements, transfer tax, current fees and method of submission before filing.

Recording checklist

Current parcel information

Use Dauphin Property Info for the current owner display, property ID, assessment and parcel-related information.

Choose the correct system

Dauphin County Recorder guide

Jump directly to the task you need to complete.

Official deed lookup

How to search Dauphin County deeds online

The official Dauphin County Recorder of Deeds Record Search System is the best starting point when you need the actual recorded instrument. The current system offers a dedicated Simple Search for people who specifically want a deed, mortgage, satisfaction or plan.

Best search strategy: begin with the current or former owner’s name and an approximate recording period. Once you find a likely deed, verify the parties, date, document type, instrument number and property description before assuming you have the correct property.

Open the official Dauphin County Recorder search Use the county’s own record system rather than a people-search or commercial property-record page. Open Dauphin County Simple Search

Select “I want a copy of my Deed” The Simple Search screen provides separate choices for a deed, mortgage, satisfaction, all document types or a plan.

Enter the owner name in the format requested The Recorder’s search help uses the format LastName,FirstName. Names must contain at least three characters. Start with the surname and first name rather than adding unnecessary middle names or punctuation.

Set a realistic date range If you know roughly when the property was purchased, search around that period. A narrower range can reduce unrelated results for common names.

Open each plausible result Do not choose a deed only because the surname matches. Compare the grantor and grantee, record date, document type, instrument number, consideration, municipality, UPI and legal description when available.

Save the permanent recording reference Record the instrument or Clerk File Number and any book/page reference. These identifiers make future searches and copy requests much faster.

Print or request the document you actually need For ordinary research, an online image or regular copy may be sufficient. If a court, lender, government agency or other recipient requires certification, obtain the appropriate certified copy from the Recorder.

No result? Try a former owner’s name from an assessment record, shorten the first name, widen the date range, search by document type, use a known instrument number or switch to the Alpha Index for older deed references.

Search smarter

Choose the strongest Dauphin County Recorder search field

Official record-search options and when to use each one
Search method	Best when you know	Practical use
Simple Search	Owner name and approximate date	Fastest route for a deed, mortgage, satisfaction or plan.
Name	Grantor, grantee, borrower or other recorded party	Useful for building a transaction history involving a person or company.
Instrument #	Clerk File Number	Usually the most precise search. Enter it without spaces or hyphens.
Document Type	Type of instrument and date period	Useful for deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, easements, assignments and other indexed records.
Book / Page	Historical book and page citation	Useful when another deed, title report or legal document references an earlier instrument.
Record Date	Exact recording date	Helpful when a closing file or prior document tells you when recording occurred.
Consideration	Approximate transaction amount	Can help separate transactions when names or dates produce too many matches.
UPI Number	Uniform Parcel Identifier	Connects recorded documents to a specific parcel when the UPI was indexed with the record.
Municipality / Comments	Municipality or indexed comment	Useful as a secondary filter when party names alone are not enough.
Alpha Index	Historic owner name	Important for older deed and mortgage-index research.

Search by name Search instrument number Search book & page Search UPI

Mortgage history

Find a mortgage, assignment or satisfaction

A deed proves the recorded conveyance of real property; it is not the same document as a mortgage. If you are checking whether an old loan appears satisfied, search the mortgage and then look for the corresponding satisfaction or related assignment.

Mortgage

Shows the recorded security instrument associated with financing. Search by borrower name and the approximate purchase or refinance date.

Assignment

May document a transfer of the mortgage interest from one entity to another. A later lender or servicer name does not necessarily change the deed owner.

Satisfaction

Documents that a recorded mortgage has been satisfied. Match it to the original mortgage reference before assuming a particular loan was released.

Paid off your loan? Paying a mortgage does not normally produce a new deed. Dauphin County explains that the deed should already have been delivered following the property purchase; after payoff, the lender generally provides or records a mortgage satisfaction.

1785 to present

How to find older Dauphin County deeds

The Recorder of Deeds states that Dauphin County’s recorded deeds begin in 1785. The county also reports that deeds and miscellaneous documents from 1785 to the present are available through its record resources, while its online information identifies mortgages from 1979 to the present and provides deed and mortgage indexes through the Alpha Index.

Start with the newest owner you can reliably identify Locate a recent deed first. A newer deed often references the prior deed by book/page or instrument information.

Follow the prior-record reference backward Each reliable prior deed citation can lead to an earlier transaction. This is often more efficient than searching a common surname across a century of records.

Use the Alpha Index when necessary Search the historic deed indexes for grantor and grantee names. Record the book and page information associated with the matching index entry.

Confirm that the legal description follows the same land Names alone are not enough. Compare municipality, acreage, adjoining lands, lot or plan references and subsequent deed citations.

Historic ownership research is not the same as a guaranteed title search. Gaps, spelling variations, estates, subdivisions, easements, liens and instruments outside a simple deed chain can matter. A transaction requiring title assurance generally calls for a qualified title professional or attorney.

Plain and certified records

How to get a copy of a Dauphin County deed

Dauphin County’s Recorder FAQ states that a deed or mortgage can be located through the county website and printed, or obtained by visiting the Recorder of Deeds office at the courthouse.

For an ordinary research copy

Find the correct document in the official search.

Verify the names, date and property before printing.

Save the instrument number or book/page citation.

Use the recorded image rather than a real-estate listing as your source.

When you need a certified copy

Ask the organization requesting the deed whether a normal copy is acceptable or whether it specifically requires a certified copy. Court, probate, government, lending and other formal processes may impose their own requirements.

Published Recorder copy-related charges
Item	Published fee	Use
Photocopies	$0.50	Regular office copy.
Microfilm copy	$0.75	Older records stored or reproduced from microfilm.
Certified copy	$2.00 plus copy cost	Use when certification is specifically required.
Mail-requested copy	$1.00	Published mail-request charge; additional copy/certification costs may apply.
Postage & envelope	$1.00	Published schedule item for returned material.

Fees can change. Confirm the live Recorder fee schedule before mailing payment or requesting certified material.

Avoid the wrong portal

Dauphin County Recorder vs. Property Info: which one do you need?

Choose the controlling Dauphin County record
Your question	Use	Why
Who conveyed the property to the current owner?	Recorder of Deeds	The recorded deed is the relevant conveyance document.
I need the actual deed image.	Recorder of Deeds	The Recorder records, indexes and reproduces recorded instruments.
I need a mortgage or satisfaction.	Recorder of Deeds	Mortgages and satisfactions are recorded documents.
What is the current assessment?	Tax Assessment / Property Info	The Assessment Office maintains assessed-value and property-characteristic records.
What is the parcel or Property ID?	Dauphin Property Info	Property Info is designed for parcel, owner, address and assessment lookup.
Where is the legal property line on the ground?	Deed + surveyor	A deed may contain a legal description, but locating boundaries physically may require a survey.

Recorder record search Dauphin Property Info

Recording a document

Before recording a deed in Dauphin County

Recording a deed is more involved than searching for one. The Recorder’s role is to accept and record documents that satisfy applicable recording requirements; the office does not substitute for legal advice about how a deed should transfer ownership.

Changing a name or owner generally requires a new deed. Dauphin County’s Recorder FAQ states that adding, removing or changing a name on a deed requires preparation of a new deed showing the change and recording that document.

Make sure the deed reflects the intended legal transaction Verify grantor and grantee names, legal description, consideration, signing and acknowledgment requirements. Consider professional preparation when ownership rights, estates, trusts, divorce, business entities or tax consequences are involved.

Locate the property’s correct UPI Use Dauphin Property Info to verify the parcel identification information rather than copying a parcel number from an unrelated listing. Search Dauphin property information

Review UPI certification requirements Certain instruments affecting real estate require a Uniform Parcel Identifier and county certification. Multiple parcels can create multiple UPI certification fees. Open official UPI information

Determine whether a Statement of Value is required Pennsylvania realty-transfer-tax rules can require a Statement of Value, particularly when an exemption is claimed or the document does not state the full value in circumstances covered by the rules. Open Recorder forms

Calculate recording fees and transfer tax separately Do not assume the basic deed-recording fee is the total transaction cost. UPI charges, extra pages, extra names and realty transfer tax can increase the amount. Use the official fee calculator

Choose in-person, mail or electronic recording The Recorder accepts qualifying documents in the office, permits documents to be mailed when requirements and fees are satisfied, and supports electronic recording through approved service providers.

Retain the recorded reference After acceptance, keep the instrument number and a copy of the recorded deed with your permanent property records.

2026 practical fee guide

Dauphin County Recorder of Deeds fees

The Recorder’s current published schedule is revised December 1, 2025, following a $1 Judicial Computer Project fee increase. Always use the live schedule before submitting a document because statutory charges can change.

Selected current Dauphin County Recorder fees
Recording item	Published base fee	Possible additional cost
Deed	$87.75	UPI, transfer tax, extra-page or extra-name charges may apply.
Mortgage	$87.75	Additional statutory or document-specific charges may apply.
Satisfaction of Mortgage	$59.75	Confirm the current schedule before filing.
Assignment of Mortgage	$59.75	Document circumstances can affect the final amount.
Deed of Easement	$72.75	UPI requirements may apply.
Plan — first page	$20.50	Each additional plan page is listed at $5.00.
Documents over 4 pages	$2.00 per additional page	Added to the applicable base recording fee.
Documents over 9 names	$0.50 per additional name	Added where the published excess-name charge applies.
UPI certification	$20 per UPI	No published cap applies simply because one instrument affects multiple UPI numbers.

Payment: the Recorder FAQ states that cash and checks are accepted for recording fees, with checks payable to Dauphin County Recorder of Deeds. Verify requirements before mailing or presenting a document.

Check current fee schedule Open fee calculators

Uniform Parcel Identifier

What the UPI number means when recording a Dauphin County deed

Dauphin County uses a Uniform Parcel Identifier (UPI) to associate land records with a specific tax parcel. When a document is subject to UPI requirements, the correct parcel number must be identified and certified as part of the recording process.

Find the parcel first

Search Dauphin Property Info by owner, property address or parcel criteria before preparing the final recording package.

Multiple parcels

When multiple UPI numbers apply, county guidance says the applicable UPI numbers are placed at the top of the first page.

Certification fee

The current Recorder fee schedule adds $20 for each UPI requiring certification.

County UPI guidance recommends leaving sufficient space near the top of the first page for certification. A document missing a required UPI or containing incorrect parcel information can be returned unrecorded.

Pennsylvania Realty Transfer Tax

Do not confuse recording fees with deed transfer tax

The base Recorder fee is not the same as Pennsylvania Realty Transfer Tax. Dauphin County’s Recorder FAQ explains that the ordinary transfer tax is 2% of the consideration or value of the property interest conveyed: 1% goes to the Commonwealth and the remaining 1% is divided between the municipality and school district.

Some transfers can qualify for statutory exclusions or exemptions. The Recorder lists certain family transfers as examples, but eligibility depends on the actual transaction. An exempt or nominal-consideration deed may also require the appropriate Statement of Value documentation.

Do not select a transfer-tax exemption merely to reduce a recording bill. Transfer-tax treatment is a legal and tax question. If the transaction involves a trust, estate, business entity, divorce, gift, family transfer or unusual consideration, confirm the applicable Pennsylvania rules before recording.

Statement of Value & forms Deed fee calculator

Electronic filing

Electronic recording in Dauphin County

Dauphin County accepts electronic recording for eligible documents. The Recorder currently identifies two e-recording providers:

Simplifile

Listed by the Recorder as an electronic recording service provider. The county publishes Simplifile’s contact number as 1-800-460-5657.

CSC

Also listed as an electronic recording provider. The county publishes CSC/eRecording support at 1-866-652-0111.

E-recording can be useful for title companies, law offices, lenders and other frequent filers because documents can be transmitted electronically rather than delivered by courier or mail. Provider enrollment or service fees may be separate from county recording fees.

Review Dauphin County e-recording

Property-record monitoring

Sign up for Dauphin County Record Notification Service

Dauphin County offers a Record Notification Service (RNS) that can email a subscriber when a document is recorded against a monitored name or parcel number. The system can monitor multiple names or properties.

Open the official subscription page Open Record Notification Service

Enter and confirm your email address Use an address you actively monitor.

Add the name or parcel information you want monitored Additional names or properties can be added where appropriate.

Activate the subscription from your email Complete the activation step so alerts can be delivered.

An alert service does not block a recording. Dauphin County explains that the service is notification only. If a document satisfies legal recording requirements, the Recorder must record it. If an alert identifies a document you did not expect, contact the Recorder promptly and determine what was recorded.

In-person and mail assistance

Dauphin County Recorder of Deeds office

Dauphin County Recorder of Deeds

James M. Zugay, Esq.
Dauphin County Courthouse, Room 102
101 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101

717-780-6560
jzugay@dauphincounty.gov

Published office hours

Monday through Friday
8:00 AM–4:30 PM

Check the official county page before travelling for holidays, weather closures or temporary schedule changes.

Mailing a recordable document

The Recorder permits recording submissions by mail, but the document must satisfy legal recording criteria and include the correct fees. The office also instructs mail filers to include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of the document.

Correct document and signatures.

Required acknowledgment/notarization.

Correct UPI information when required.

Statement of Value when applicable.

Correct recording fees and transfer tax.

Self-addressed stamped return envelope.

The Recorder states that original documents are normally returned to the submitting party within approximately one to two days after recording and verification, although workload, holidays and staffing can affect return time.

Official action center

Official Dauphin County deed and property resources

Recorder of Deeds

Office information, public-search entry point, notices, fees and services.

Open official Recorder page

Record Search System

Search deeds, mortgages, satisfactions and other recorded documents.

Open record search

Simple Search

Task-based search for a deed, mortgage, satisfaction, plan or name.

Open Simple Search

Fee Schedule

Current recording, copy, extra-page and related charges.

Check current fees

Forms & UPI Information

Statement of Value, transfer-tax forms and UPI guidance.

Open forms & UPI

Electronic Recording

County-approved e-recording information and provider contacts.

Review e-recording

Record Notification Service

Create alerts for recordings associated with a monitored name or parcel.

Dauphin Property Info

Current owner, Property ID, assessment and parcel-search information.

Search property information

Common questions

Dauphin County Recorder FAQs

Where can I search Dauphin County deeds online?

Use the official Dauphin County Recorder of Deeds Record Search System. It supports Simple Search plus searches by name, instrument number, document type, book/page, record date, consideration, UPI number and municipality/comments.

How far back do Dauphin County deed records go?

The Recorder states that county deed records begin in 1785. Deeds and miscellaneous records from 1785 to the present are identified on the Recorder website, with historic deed indexing available through the Alpha Index.

How do I get a copy of my Dauphin County deed?

Search the official Recorder system, verify the correct recorded deed and use the available document image or print option. You can also obtain records through the Recorder’s office at 101 Market Street, Room 102, Harrisburg. Ask for a certified copy only when the organization receiving the deed requires certification.

Can anyone look up my deed or mortgage?

Generally yes. Recorded deeds and mortgages are public records. Dauphin County specifically identifies military discharge papers such as DD214 records as an exception to normal public access.

How do I add or remove someone from a deed?

The Recorder states that a new deed must be prepared showing the ownership change and then recorded. Do not simply request that the Recorder edit an existing deed. Changes involving ownership rights, inheritance, divorce, trusts or gifts may justify legal and tax advice before a new deed is signed.

I paid off my mortgage. Do I receive a new deed?

Normally no. Your deed reflects ownership and should already have been issued after the purchase. The lender generally records or submits a mortgage satisfaction when the secured loan has been paid.

What is the current Dauphin County deed recording fee?

The Recorder’s fee schedule revised December 1, 2025 lists a deed base recording fee of $87.75. That is not necessarily the entire transaction cost. Realty transfer tax, $20-per-UPI certification charges, extra pages, additional names or other applicable fees can increase the amount.

Can I mail a deed to the Dauphin County Recorder?

Yes. Dauphin County states that documents can be submitted by mail if they meet recording requirements and include the correct fee. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of the document.

Can I record a Dauphin County deed electronically?

Yes. Dauphin County currently identifies Simplifile and CSC as e-recording providers. Review the Recorder’s electronic-recording page for current enrollment and submission information.

Does the deed tell me exactly where my property line is?

A deed may contain the property’s legal description, but converting that description into an exact boundary on the ground can require a licensed surveyor. A county parcel map or online property display should not be treated as a substitute for a boundary survey when legal accuracy matters.

Practical takeaway

The fastest path to the Dauphin County record you need

If you need the actual recorded deed, mortgage, satisfaction or related land instrument, start with the Dauphin County Recorder of Deeds Record Search System. Search by owner name when that is all you know; use an instrument number, book/page reference or UPI whenever you have one because those identifiers can narrow the search substantially.

Use Dauphin Property Info instead when your question is about a current parcel number, assessment, property characteristics or current assessment owner display. When recording a new deed, verify the UPI, current Recorder fees, transfer-tax treatment and any Statement of Value requirement before submitting the document.

Search Dauphin County records Recorder official website

Dauphin County PA Recorder of Deeds: Search Deeds & Records