How do I search a name in Gila County Recorder records?

Names are indexed last name first with no comma. Search the surname and first name, then narrow the results by recording date, document type or other available fields.

How much is a certified deed copy in Gila County?

The Recorder publishes a copy fee of $1 per page plus a $3 certification fee for each certified document.

How do I find a Gila County deed recorded before 1985?

Contact the Gila County Recorder directly. The public online index is primarily available from 1985 forward, so older research may require assistance from the Recorder's Office.

Can the Gila County Recorder tell me whether a property has no liens?

No. You can research recorded liens through the Recorder index, but the Recorder warns that an online search does not guarantee a property is free and clear of liens.

Where is the Gila County Recorder's Office?

The main office is at the Gila County Courthouse, 1400 E Ash St, Globe, Arizona 85501. A satellite office is located at 707 S Colcord Rd, Payson, Arizona 85541.

Gila County, Arizona · Deeds · Liens · Recorded Documents · Copies

Gila County Recorder: Deeds, Records & Official Search Guide

Q: Where can I search Gila County deeds online?

Use the official Gila County Recorder Self-Service records system. The online grantor-grantee index generally covers 1985 to the present, with document images generally available from 1998 forward.

Q: Can I search the Gila County Recorder by address?

No. The Recorder states that its online index cannot be searched by street address, legal description or tax parcel number. Use the Gila County Assessor to identify the owner name or parcel first.

Q: How much does it cost to record a deed in Gila County?

The Gila County Recorder publishes a standard $30 recording fee for most instruments. Special rates apply to certain government filings, maps, plats and land surveys.

If you landed here looking for a Gila County deed, lien, deed of trust, release, recorded survey, property transfer or certified copy, the Gila County Recorder is the office that preserves the recorded document. The fastest route is usually to identify the correct party name, search the official Recorder index, verify the recording number and then open or order the document you actually need.

The important catch is that the Recorder’s online index is not an address or parcel-number search. If all you have is a street address or APN, start with the Gila County Assessor, identify the owner, and then move to the Recorder.

Search official Recorder records Find owner or parcel first Get an official copy

Online index Generally 1985 to present.

Online images Generally 1998 to present.

Standard recording fee $30 for most instruments.

Main recording office 1400 E Ash St, Globe, AZ.

Critical search rule: Gila County states that its Recorder index cannot be searched by street address, legal description or tax parcel number. If you only know the property address or APN, use the official Gila County Assessor property system first and write down the owner name before opening the Recorder search.

Go directly to the record you need

This guide is organized around the actual tasks most people need to complete rather than around Recorder terminology.

Official document search

How to search Gila County Recorder deeds and records

The official public-access system is the right place to research recorded instruments affecting real property in Gila County. It can help you locate deeds, deeds of trust, releases, liens, trustee-sale notices, affidavits, easements, surveys and other recorded documents.

Open the official Gila County Recorder Self-Service system Use the county’s current public-records portal rather than a commercial people-search or property-record website.
Open Gila County Recorder Self-Service →

Read and accept the public-access disclaimer The county explains the coverage of the database, availability of images and limitations of its index before you begin.

Enter the party name as last name first, with no comma For example, instead of entering Maria Johnson, begin with a format such as JOHNSON MARIA. If the complete name is too restrictive, try the surname with a shorter first name or initial.

Add an approximate recording date when you know it A date range can sharply reduce results for common surnames. Think about when the purchase, refinance, inheritance, lien, release or other event likely occurred.

Use a document number when you already have one A recording or document number is generally the fastest way to retrieve a specific instrument. You may find it referenced on another deed, title document, court filing or Assessor record.

Open each plausible result and verify the parties Do not rely on the name alone. Compare the grantor, grantee, recording date, document type, recording number and any available legal-description information.

View the document image when one is available Images are generally available online from 1998 forward. Treat the online image as a research copy; order an official or certified copy when a formal copy is required.

Best practice for a common surname: search one owner at a time and narrow by approximate date. If a husband and wife, trust, LLC or estate may have held the property, search each relevant party name separately.

Address or APN starting point

If you only know the address, do this before searching deeds

A common reason people think the Gila County Recorder search is not working is that they begin with an address or Assessor parcel number. The Recorder’s grantor-grantee index does not work that way.

STEP 1 Street address Start with the property’s physical location.

STEP 2 Assessor parcel Find the APN and displayed owner.

STEP 3 Recorder name search Search the owner’s name in the recorded-document index.

STEP 4 Recorded deed Confirm the deed and follow older references when needed.

Micro-guide: convert an address into a Recorder search

Open the Gila County Assessor property system.
Use its public search to locate the parcel by the information you have available.
Write down the owner name, APN, situs address and legal-description summary.
Return to the Gila County Recorder search.
Search the displayed owner name using the Recorder’s last-name-first format.
Locate the deed by looking for the transaction that placed that owner into title.
If you are building ownership history, search the prior grantor shown on that deed and continue backward.

Assessor ownership is a search lead, not a substitute for the recorded deed. The Assessor maintains parcel and assessment records. The Recorder maintains the recorded instruments. When legal ownership or title history matters, read the actual recorded document.

Decode the index

What the Recorder search result is telling you

Fields to verify before deciding you found the correct document
Field	What it means	How to use it
Recording / document number	Unique recorded-document reference.	Save this number. It is the strongest reference when ordering a copy or following another document.
Recording date	Date the instrument entered the county record.	Distinguish similar transactions and establish document sequence.
Document type	Deed, lien, release, deed of trust, notice, affidavit or another instrument.	Determine what legal event the document represents before opening the image.
Grantor	Party giving, conveying or creating the recorded interest.	On a deed, this is generally the transferring party.
Grantee	Party receiving the recorded interest.	On a deed, this is generally the person or entity receiving title.
Legal description	Description tying the document to land.	Compare it with the deed and parcel information, but note that Gila County says index legal descriptions are courtesy information and are not verified.
Book/page or older reference	Historic record-location reference.	Useful when tracing older instruments or requesting documents that are not imaged online.

Documents you may encounter

Deed Transfers an interest in real property. Read the actual instrument to identify the parties, vesting language and legal description.

Deed of trust Common Arizona security instrument associated with a real-estate loan. It is not the same thing as the deed transferring ownership.

Release / reconveyance May show that a previously recorded security interest or obligation was released or reconveyed.

Lien A recorded claim or encumbrance that may affect the property or an owner.

Notice of Trustee Sale Notice related to a nonjudicial foreclosure process involving a deed of trust.

Plat / survey / map Recorded land or survey material. Use the recorded instrument and professional survey work when exact legal boundaries matter.

Lien research

How to look for liens and releases in Gila County records

A Recorder search can help identify recorded liens, deeds of trust and releases, but a simple name search is not the same thing as a professional title examination.

Confirm every relevant owner name Start with the current Assessor record and the most recent deed. Include co-owners, previous names, trusts and entities that may have held title.

Search each name separately Use last name first, no comma. Search reasonable variations when initials, middle names or business naming may differ.

Review lien-related document types Look for liens, judgments, deeds of trust and similar encumbrances as well as releases, satisfactions or reconveyances that may affect them.

Open the underlying document Do not decide a lien applies based solely on an index row. Confirm the debtor or property, recording reference and legal description in the document.

Look for a later release Finding a lien is only half the research. Search later records for a release, satisfaction, reconveyance or other document affecting the earlier filing.

The county specifically warns about this: searching Recorder records does not guarantee that a property is free and clear of liens. If you need an insurable determination of title for a purchase, refinance or other high-stakes transaction, a title company or qualified Arizona real-estate professional may be appropriate.

Searching foreclosure-related records

The Recorder’s own FAQ instructs users researching foreclosure filings to search recorded records and use the Notice of Trustee Sale document code when looking for that type of filing. Add a useful date range if you are researching a particular period.

Official and certified documents

How to get a copy of a Gila County deed

If you only need to read a recent document, an online image may be enough for research. If a lender, court, attorney, government agency or other recipient requires an official or certified copy, obtain it from the Recorder.

Unofficial online copy Useful for personal research and identifying a document. Images available through the public portal are described by the Recorder as unofficial copies.

Certified copy Prepared by the Recorder and accompanied by the Recorder’s certification. This is the appropriate route when certification is specifically required.

Before requesting a copy, collect these details

Recording or document number

Recording date

Grantor and grantee names

Document type

Approximate number of pages

Whether certification is required

Copy fees published by Gila County

Common Recorder copy charges
Service	Published fee	Practical note
Recorded document copy	$1 per page	Applies to copies such as deeds and mining-claim records.
Certification	$3 per document	Added when a certified copy is requested.
Military discharge copy	Free	Access and eligibility rules may apply to protected military-discharge records.

For an official or certified copy, call the Recorder’s recording office at (928) 402-8740. The county’s fee page says written copy requests should include advance payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope for return. Confirm the total and accepted payment method before mailing.

Check the official Recorder fee schedule

Historical records

What to do when the deed is too old to appear online

Gila County’s online grantor-grantee index generally covers records from 1985 to the present. The county states that document images are generally available online from 1998 forward, while conversion of earlier material continues.

If the document was recorded before 1985: do not assume the record does not exist merely because the online search returns nothing. Contact the Recorder and provide as much identifying information as possible.

Useful details for an older-record request include:

full names of the parties;
approximate year or date of the transaction;
type of document;
property or legal-description information;
book, page, docket or instrument reference if another document mentions it.

Call (928) 402-8740 for older-document assistance. Historic references often become much easier to locate when you first identify a later deed that cites the earlier book, page or recording reference.

Recording a deed or instrument

How to record a document with the Gila County Recorder

The Recorder receives and preserves qualifying instruments, but the office does not prepare deeds for you or provide legal advice about how ownership should be transferred. The legal effect of adding a person, removing an owner, transferring property to a trust, handling a deceased owner or choosing a particular deed can be significant.

Make sure the property is in Gila County Real-property instruments are recorded in the county where the land is located.

Prepare the correct legal instrument The Recorder’s FAQ states that staff cannot prepare the document or provide legal advice. Use appropriate professional assistance when you are unsure what instrument is legally required.

Check Arizona and Gila County formatting requirements Confirm legibility, page size, type size, margins, signatures, acknowledgment/notary requirements and document caption before submission.
Review official Gila County recording requirements →

Handle the property-value affidavit requirement A deed evidencing a transfer of title generally requires Arizona’s applicable affidavit of property/legal value unless a statutory exemption applies. When exempt, the instrument must identify the applicable exemption.

Reference a prior recorded document when required If the new instrument modifies or affects an earlier recorded instrument, include the required prior recording reference.

Calculate the recording fee Gila County currently publishes a standard fee of $30 per instrument for most recordings. Plats, maps, surveys and government filings have separate rates.

Submit the document Documents may be delivered through the applicable Recorder process. Documents mailed for recording must be mailed to the Globe office. Professional submitters may also use one of Gila County’s approved e-recording vendors.

Save the recording number Once an acceptable document is recorded, it receives a unique recording number. Keep that number with your permanent records.

Allow time for online indexing The Recorder’s FAQ says data-entry indexing typically takes approximately 10 to 15 working days. A newly recorded instrument therefore may not immediately be easy to find through the public name index.

Mailing a document? Gila County directs mailed recording documents to the Globe Main Office, 1400 E Ash St, Globe, AZ 85501. Checks should be made payable to Gila County Recorder.

Avoid rejected or problematic documents

Gila County recording requirements checklist

Arizona Revised Statutes and the Gila County Recorder’s published instructions set several formatting rules. Review the official requirements for your exact instrument before submitting it.

Document is clear and reproducible

Minimum 10-point type

First-page top margin of at least 2 inches

At least 1/2-inch margins elsewhere

Page size within Recorder requirements

Document caption identifies the instrument

Original signatures where required

Notary / acknowledgment where required

Property-value affidavit or exemption when applicable

Prior recording reference when modifying another instrument

First-page space matters

Arizona law reserves at least a 2-inch top margin on the first page for recording information. The left portion of that space may be used for the person requesting recording and the return name and address as allowed by statute.

Legibility matters

The instrument must be sufficiently legible to create a reliable recorded reproduction. Avoid faint signatures, undersized text, cropped notary information and documents that reproduce poorly.

Transferring ownership usually requires more than a signature

Under Arizona law, deeds involving transfers of title generally require the applicable property-value affidavit unless the transaction qualifies for a statutory exemption. Exempt instruments should identify the claimed exemption on the document.

Do not use Recorder staff as a deed-drafting service. The county states that staff cannot tell you how to add or remove a person’s name from title or prepare the instrument needed to change ownership. Those questions can involve legal rights, tax consequences, estate planning and lender issues.

Current published charges

Gila County Recorder fees

Common fees published by the Gila County Recorder
Recording or copy service	Published fee	What to know
Most recorded instruments	$30	County states this includes the Affidavit of Property Value, extra indexing, state surcharge and return-postage components applicable to the standard fee.
Government agency instrument	$15	Applies in the circumstances described by the Recorder when fees are paid from public funds.
Map, plat or land survey — first page	$24	Special recording category.
Map, plat or land survey — additional page	$20	Applies to each additional page.
Document copy	$1/page	Examples include deeds and mining-claim records.
Certification	$3/document	Added when certification is requested.
Military discharge recording	Free	County states recording includes three certified copies.

Fees can change. Verify the current amount on the official Recorder fee page before submitting a document, particularly for maps, surveys, government filings or unusual instruments.

View official Gila County Recorder fees

Use the correct county office

Recorder vs. Assessor vs. Treasurer: where should you go?

Property research often requires more than one Gila County office. Sending each question to the correct system will save more time than repeatedly searching the Recorder.

Which Gila County office controls the record?
Your question	Correct office	Official route
I need a deed, deed of trust, lien, release or recorded document	County Recorder	Recorder Self-Service
I only know an address or APN	County Assessor	Assessor property search
I need assessed value or parcel information	County Assessor	Assessor property records
I need my property-tax bill, balance or payment information	County Treasurer	Gila County tax portal
I need a marriage record, divorce decree or court record	Clerk of the Superior Court	Use the appropriate court-record service rather than the Recorder deed index.
I need a birth or death certificate	Arizona vital records	Arizona Department of Health Services

In-person help

Gila County Recorder office locations

Globe Main Office

Gila County Courthouse

1400 E Ash St
Globe, AZ 85501

Recording phone: (928) 402-8740

Fax: (928) 425-9270

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Documents sent by mail for recording should be mailed to the Globe office.

Payson Satellite Office

Gila County Recorder

707 S Colcord Rd
Payson, AZ 85541

Phone: (928) 474-7139

Fax: (928) 472-5346

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Lunch closure: 12:00-1:00 p.m.

Current elected Recorder: Gila County identifies Wendy Mannigel-Smith as County Recorder. For recording and document-copy questions, the recording office number published by the county is (928) 402-8740.

Electronic recording

Can documents be e-recorded in Gila County?

Yes. Gila County publishes a list of e-recording solution providers used to transmit qualifying documents electronically. This is particularly useful for title companies, law offices, lenders and other frequent recording customers.

CSC eRecording Solutions Listed by Gila County as an e-recording provider.

Data Services Inc. Listed by Gila County among available electronic recording contacts.

EPN — eRecording Partners Network Listed by the Recorder as an e-recording solution.

Simplifile Listed by Gila County as an electronic recording provider.

Review the county’s official e-recording vendor page for current vendor contact information. Private vendor service charges, account requirements and submission procedures are separate from county recording fees.

Property protection

Sign up for Gila County Fraud Notify

The Gila County Recorder promotes a free Fraud Notify service designed to alert registered users when a document is recorded under their name. An alert does not by itself determine whether a filing is fraudulent, but it can help an owner discover unexpected activity sooner.

How to start

Open the Gila County Recorder Self-Service system.
Use the registration option provided by the Recorder.
Follow the Fraud Notify enrollment process.
Enter the name or names you want monitored using reasonable name variations.
Keep your notification contact information current.
If an unexpected recording alert appears, open the document information and contact the appropriate professional or agency promptly if further review is needed.

Fraud Notify is an alert service, not title insurance. It can help you learn that a document was recorded in a monitored name, but it does not determine the legal validity of the document or guarantee title.

Common search failures

Why you cannot find the deed — and what to try next

Troubleshooting the Gila County Recorder search
Problem	Likely reason	Best next action
Address produces no result	Recorder does not search by address.	Use the Assessor to get the owner name, then search Recorder records by name.
APN produces no result	Tax parcel number is not a Recorder search field in the public index.	Use Assessor records first.
Owner name produces too many results	Common name or broad search.	Add recording dates and review document types.
Full name produces nothing	Index format, spelling, initials or prior owner variation.	Use last name first, no comma, and try shorter name variations.
Record is listed but no image appears	Older material may not have an online image.	Save the recording reference and contact the Recorder.
Recent recording is missing	Index data entry may not yet be complete.	The Recorder says indexing typically takes 10-15 working days; use your recording receipt or call if timing is critical.
Pre-1985 transaction is missing	Outside the principal online index period.	Contact the Globe recording office for older-record research.

Official resources

Gila County Recorder links worth saving

Recorder Home gilacountyaz.gov Recorder

Official Records Search Recorder Self-Service

Legacy EagleWeb Search Recorder EagleWeb

Recording Fees Official fee schedule

Recording Requirements County requirements

Recorder FAQs Official recording FAQs

Arizona Recording Fee Law A.R.S. § 11-475

Arizona Document Format Law A.R.S. § 11-480

Frequently asked questions

Gila County Recorder FAQs

Where can I search Gila County deeds online?

Use the official Gila County Recorder Self-Service portal. The online grantor-grantee index generally covers 1985 to the present, with images generally available from 1998 forward.

Can I search the Gila County Recorder by street address?

No. Gila County states that the Recorder’s public index cannot be searched by street address, legal description or tax parcel number. Use the Gila County Assessor to identify the parcel and owner first.

How should I enter a person’s name?

Gila County says its records are indexed alphabetically by name using last name first with no comma. If a full-name search fails, try a shorter first name, an initial or another reasonable variation.

How much does it cost to record a deed in Gila County?

The Recorder currently publishes a standard recording charge of $30 per instrument for most documents. Special charges apply to maps, plats, surveys and qualifying government documents.

How much does a certified deed copy cost?

Gila County publishes a charge of $1 per page for document copies plus $3 per document for certification. Contact the office before mailing a request so you can confirm the total.

How do I get a deed recorded before 1985?

Contact the Recorder at (928) 402-8740. Give staff the parties’ names, approximate recording date, document type and any docket, book/page or recording reference you have.

Can the Recorder tell me whether a property has no liens?

No. You can research recorded liens in the county index, but the Recorder specifically warns that searching its records is not a guarantee that a property is free and clear of liens. A title company can perform a professional title search and provide title insurance when appropriate.

Can the Recorder add or remove a person from my deed?

Recorder staff can record a legally acceptable instrument but cannot decide how ownership should be changed or prepare the deed for you. The county directs these legal-document questions to an attorney, paralegal or other qualified professional.

How do I find the sale price of a Gila County property?

Search the Recorder records for the transaction and determine whether an Affidavit of Property Value was recorded with it. The Recorder’s FAQ notes that the affidavit may contain sales-price information. The Assessor can also be useful for sale and parcel research.

Why is a deed I just recorded not showing in the name search yet?

The Recorder states that after a document is accepted and assigned a recording number, data-entry staff create the searchable index and that this process typically takes about 10 to 15 working days. Keep your recording number while waiting for indexing.

Bottom line

The fastest way to get the right Gila County record

For most users, the process is simple once the offices are separated correctly: use the Assessor when you need to turn an address or APN into an owner name, use the Recorder when you need the deed or another recorded instrument, and use the Treasurer when your question is about the property-tax bill or payment.

When searching the Gila County Recorder, enter names last name first with no comma, narrow broad searches with approximate dates, save the recording number, and read the actual document rather than relying on an index summary. For older documents, certified copies, unusual filings or records that are not imaged online, contact the Recorder directly.

Start official deed search Open Recorder website