Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds: Search Records, Fees & Office

By /
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania · Deeds, mortgages, copies, recording and office information

Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds: Search Records, Fees & Office Guide

If you landed here because you need a Luzerne County deed, mortgage record, recorded property document, certified copy, recording fee or the Recorder of Deeds office address, start with the task—not a generic property-search website.

Luzerne County provides different official tools for modern deeds, historic records, document copies, recording, PIN certification and liens. This guide shows exactly which system to use, what information to enter, what current fees to expect and how to avoid common recording rejections.

Open official document search guide Search Landex Webstore Office address & hours
Important: an address search and a deed search are not the same thing. Recorder records are primarily indexed by people, companies and recording references. If you only know the street address, first identify the current or former owner and Property Identification Number through Luzerne County assessment information, then return to the Recorder search.
Main office

153 N River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711.

Office hours

Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Filing cutoff

County lists 4:20 p.m. as the filing deadline.

Recorder phone

570-825-1641.

Current deed fee

$87.75 base fee under the schedule effective July 1, 2026.

Start here

Which Luzerne County office or search do you need?

Many failed searches happen because the user is in the wrong county system. Use this routing board before spending money on a document image or driving to Wilkes-Barre.

Recorded land document Deed, mortgage, release or easement

Use the Recorder of Deeds search systems described below.

Search recorded documents
Property identification Owner, assessment or PIN

Use the Luzerne County Assessment Office before searching Recorder records by party or PIN.

Open Assessment Office
Legal filing Judgment or many property liens

Use the Prothonotary. Landex itself warns Pennsylvania liens are not simply a Recorder-only search.

Open Prothonotary
Official proof Certified deed copy

Contact or visit the Recorder. Online Landex images are useful research copies, not certified courthouse copies.

Copy options
New recording Record a deed or mortgage

Prepare the original document, PIN certification, transfer-tax material and correct fees before submission.

Recording checklist
Fraud monitoring Watch future recordings

Register with the county-linked free Landex Record Alert service using your name or PIN.

Set up Record Alert

Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds guide

Jump directly to the task you need to complete.

Micro walkthrough

Landex Webstore: step-by-step Luzerne County deed search

For a homeowner who wants to confirm a deed, sale document, mortgage or satisfaction, Landex Webstore is usually the simplest starting point because it runs in a browser and lets you search before purchasing a document image.

Open the official county-linked Landex Webstore. Go to Landex Webstore and choose the Search option.
Select Pennsylvania and Luzerne County. On the general document-search screen, check LUZERNE. Do not accidentally choose a neighboring county.
Choose the document category. Select the appropriate type, such as deed, mortgage, mortgage satisfaction/discharge or other.
Search the party name correctly. Enter the person’s surname in the Company/Last Name field. For a person, Landex also requires something in First Name. A partial first name followed by an asterisk can help locate spelling variations.
Add an approximate date range. If you know the property was purchased around 2018, do not search decades of records. Use a narrow date range first, then widen it if needed.
Compare every plausible result before buying an image. Confirm grantor, grantee, document type, recording date and recording reference. If you know the PIN, property municipality or prior owner, use that information as an additional reality check.
Purchase only the document you need. Landex explains that selected documents are added to the cart, paid by credit card and made available online as PDFs. Landex currently lists a $5 order-processing charge in addition to document charges.
Fastest search strategy: start with the grantee name when you are looking for the deed by which the present owner acquired the property. Start with the grantor if you are tracing what that person conveyed away.
1787 forward

How to find older Luzerne County deeds

Luzerne County states that the first Recorder of Deeds document was recorded in 1787. Older research works differently from a modern street-address database because historic deeds were indexed through grantor and grantee names and recording books.

Choose the record source by approximate date
Approximate period Best starting source What to know
1787–1967 IQS E-Film / Infodex County identifies IQS as the online source for older deeds. Start with grantor/grantee indexes and approximate year.
1968–1993 Landex / older indexes Deeds and mortgages extend into this period, while general modern document coverage becomes broader after August 1993.
August 1993–present Landex Modern computerized indexing makes party-name and recording-reference searches much easier.

For difficult chains of title, use the seller named in one deed as the buyer in the prior deed, then continue backward. Historic spelling, initials, married names, estate conveyances and company names can all interrupt a simple name chain.

Copies & certification

How to get a copy of a Luzerne County deed

Online research copy

Use Landex to locate and purchase a downloadable document image. This is convenient when you need to read the deed but do not need official certification.

In-office ordinary copy

The county lists standard copies made at the office at $0.50 per page.

Copy by mail

The current Recorder fee schedule lists $5 for the first page and $2 for each additional page for a copy requested by mail.

Certified copy

The Recorder’s official page says certified copies are obtained through the office. Landex states it cannot deliver certified copies online.

The Recorder does not keep your original deed indefinitely. The county explains that originals are returned after recording. The Recorder keeps the recorded copy. If a closing company or attorney recorded your original and you never received it, contact that presenter first.
Visit or contact the office

Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds office address, hours and parking

Main Recorder of Deeds Office
Physical address:
153 N River Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
Phone: 570-825-1641
Fax: 570-970-4580
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Filing deadline: 4:20 p.m.
Closed: county holidays
Official Recorder page
Mailing address
Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds
200 N River Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711

Courthouse Annex parking

The county says the Annex parking lot is for visitors to departments located in the Courthouse Annex, including the Recorder of Deeds and Assessor. One- and two-hour spaces and accessible spaces are available; numbered spaces are reserved for staff.

County directions say drivers entering from River Street can turn onto W. Jackson Street, take the first left and bear left into the lower lot.

Hazleton Recorder services

Luzerne County also operates Recorder of Deeds services at the Hazleton Annex in Hazleton City Hall, 40 North Church Street, Hazleton, PA 18201. County-listed hours are Tuesday and Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., excluding holidays.

The county states that Recorder documents can be filed at the Hazleton location, but PIN certification must be completed before recording. The Hazleton Annex does not accept cash; money orders, cashier’s checks, personal/business checks and credit cards are listed for Recorder filings.

Check Hazleton Annex information
Effective July 1, 2026

Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds fees

Luzerne County adopted a $15 Demolition Fund fee increase for deeds, exempt deeds and mortgages beginning July 1, 2026. The county specifically warns that the third-party statewide fee calculator linked from its website may not yet include that $15 charge.

Selected Recorder fees from the county schedule effective July 1, 2026
Document / service Recorder fee Important note
Deed $87.75 Transfer tax and Assessor PIN-certification costs are separate.
Mortgage $87.75 Additional pages, names or PINs can increase the total.
Assignment of mortgage $64.75 County schedule says blanket assignments are not accepted.
Release / partial release of mortgage $64.75 Blanket releases are not accepted.
Mortgage satisfaction $64.75 $5 is listed for each additional satisfaction on the same document.
Easement deed $64.75 A Statement of Value may be required when not taxable.
Power of attorney / revocation $23.50 Check whether the specific document affects real estate and requires PIN treatment.
In-office copy $0.50/page Certified copies have separate certification charges.

What the standard recording fee generally includes

Up to four pages
Up to four names
One property PIN
$0.50 for each name over four
$2 for each page over four
$0.50 for each additional Recorder PIN entry
Do not confuse the Recorder’s PIN line-item with PIN certification. The Luzerne County Assessor separately certifies required Property Identification Numbers. The county fee page currently lists that certification at $20 per PIN, payable to the Luzerne County Treasurer.
Check current official fee page
Recording workflow

How to record a deed or other document in Luzerne County

A deed search is something the public can do independently. Preparing a new deed is different: Recorder staff explicitly state that they cannot draft a deed, give legal advice or decide whether a document legally accomplishes your intended transfer.

Make sure the property is actually in Luzerne County. County recorders only record instruments affecting real estate within their county.
Prepare the original recordable document. The county requires original documents for in-person recording, properly executed, signed, dated and acknowledged before a notary when required.
Get the Property Identification Number certified. Before presenting most real-estate documents to the Recorder, take the document through the Luzerne County Assessment Office PIN-certification process.
Open the official Assessment Office page
Check names and notary acknowledgment. Names in the body, signatures and acknowledgment should match. County instructions warn that suffixes such as Jr. or III must also be consistent.
Check the grantee or mortgagee address certificate. Luzerne County requires deeds and mortgages to include a signed certificate of residence with a precise address and ZIP code.
Determine transfer-tax and Statement of Value requirements. A taxable deed must arrive with applicable transfer taxes. An exempt or below-market transfer may require Pennsylvania Form REV-183.
Read Luzerne County deed requirements
Calculate recording fees accurately. Count pages, names and PINs and use the current July 1, 2026 Recorder fee schedule. Do not rely solely on an outdated fee calculator.
Submit in person, by mail or electronically. The county permits counter recording, mail and eRecording. Mailed documents need a sufficiently sized self-addressed stamped return envelope.
Keep the recording receipt and instrument reference. Accepted documents receive an instrument number, book/page reference, recording time and Recorder certification. Save those identifiers for future searches.
The county says an in-person recording generally takes about 10–15 minutes to review, receipt and scan when the document is complete and acceptable.
Avoid rejection

Property Identification Number certification comes before recording

Luzerne County’s process is unusual enough that it deserves its own checklist. Most documents affecting real estate require the parcel’s Property Identification Number, also called a PIN or Uniform Parcel Identifier, to be certified by the County Assessment Office before the Recorder accepts the filing.

Identify every parcel affected by the document.
Use the Assessment Office to confirm the official PIN.
Have the county certification placed on the document.
Budget the separate $20-per-PIN certification fee.
Then calculate Recorder fees for additional PIN entries.
Keep sufficient clear margin for Recorder stamps.

General powers of attorney and UCC filings that do not affect real estate are among the exceptions described by the county. When unsure whether your instrument needs certification, contact the Assessment Office before paying Recorder fees.

Deed tax

Realty transfer tax and the Pennsylvania Statement of Value

Recording fee and realty transfer tax are separate charges. Pennsylvania imposes a 1% state realty transfer tax on taxable transfers, and county/municipal/school local transfer taxes can add to the total.

The Recorder collects the applicable transfer taxes when the deed is recorded. Luzerne County states that a deed cannot be accepted without the tax due at recording.

Transfer-tax points that commonly affect Luzerne County deed filings
Situation What to check Practical action
Normal arm’s-length sale State and local tax based on taxable value/consideration. Confirm the municipality and current combined tax before preparing payment.
Gift or nominal consideration Actual taxable value may differ from stated consideration. Review REV-183 requirements and the current common-level-ratio factor.
Claimed exemption Certain family and other statutory transfers may qualify. State the exemption correctly and determine whether REV-183 must accompany the deed.
Property in multiple municipalities Local tax must be allocated. County instructions require the deed to state the consideration attributable to each municipality.
Current valuation factor: Pennsylvania’s factor published for documents accepted from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 lists the Luzerne County realty-transfer-tax CLR factor as 1.14.
PA realty transfer tax Open REV-183 Current CLR factors
Electronic recording

Can you eRecord a Luzerne County deed?

Yes. Luzerne County accepts eRecording through approved vendors. Electronic submissions can be sent 24 hours a day, seven days a week, although county acceptance and official recording occur during normal working hours.

The county currently identifies CSC, ePN and Simplifile as eRecording providers. Most document types can be electronically submitted, with the county listing notary commissions/bonds and subdivision maps as exceptions.

Documents returned through eRecording for insufficient information are subject to a $5 rejection fee under the county’s eRecording instructions.
Official Luzerne eRecording instructions
Critical distinction

Deed search vs. lien search vs. full title search

A Recorder search can reveal deeds, mortgages, mortgage assignments, satisfactions, releases, easements and many other recorded land instruments. It is not automatically a complete title search.

Where to look for common property-related records
What you need Primary office / source Why
Deed / mortgage / satisfaction Recorder of Deeds These are recorded land instruments.
Property assessment / parcel PIN Assessment Office Assessment maintains parcel identification and assessed-property information.
Judgment / many liens Prothonotary Pennsylvania civil judgments and many lien records are searched through the civil-record system.
Estate ownership issue Register of Wills Estate administration can affect how title passed after an owner’s death.
Delinquent property tax issue Tax Claim / county tax resources Tax delinquency is not resolved simply by reading the deed.
The Recorder will not perform a title search for you. Luzerne County explains that a true title search can involve the Recorder of Deeds, Prothonotary, Tax Claim Bureau, Register of Wills and other records. Staff also cannot prepare deeds or provide legal advice.
Free monitoring tool

Use Luzerne County’s Record Alert to monitor new filings

The Recorder links to Landex Record Alert, a free monitoring service for Luzerne County property owners. Users can register a name or Property Identification Number and monitor up to five names and/or PINs.

Open Luzerne’s Landex Record Alert registration. Go to Record Alert.
Add the owner name or property PIN. Use the same spelling that appears in official records and add the PIN when available.
Monitor future recordings. Treat the alert as an early-warning tool when a document containing the registered name or PIN is recorded.
Record Alert does not block a document. The Recorder explains that its office must record a properly executed document when recording requirements and payment are satisfied. The alert notifies the owner; it is not a fraud-prevention lock.
Troubleshooting

Why you cannot find a Luzerne County deed—and what to try next

Common search failures and the next practical step
Problem Likely reason Next step
Searching only by street address Recorder indexes are primarily party/document based. Find the owner/PIN through assessment records, then search the Recorder.
No result for full first name Middle initials, suffixes or spelling may differ. Use a shorter first-name entry or wildcard in Landex.
Too many matches Common surname or unrestricted date range. Add first name, document type and approximate transaction year.
Older deed missing from Landex Record predates modern coverage. Use IQS E-Film/Infodex or visit the Recorder’s office.
Cannot find a judgment lien Wrong office. Search the Luzerne County Prothonotary records.
Need official certified proof Webstore provides digital copies, not courthouse certification. Request the certified copy through the Recorder.
New deed rejected PIN certification, notary, address certificate, transfer tax, margins or fee issue. Compare the document against the official filing checklist before resubmission.

Common reasons a new document may be rejected

PIN was not certified before recording.
Required notary information is incomplete or inconsistent.
Names do not match throughout the instrument.
Grantee/mortgagee residence certificate is missing.
Transfer tax or Statement of Value issue.
Incorrect recording fee.
White-out or unacceptable alteration appears on document.
Mailed filing lacks adequate return envelope/postage.
Practical examples

Which search should you use in a real situation?

“I bought a house and want to see my recorded deed.”

Start in Landex Webstore. Select Luzerne County, choose Deed, search your surname and first name, and narrow the date to the period around your closing. Confirm the seller and recording date before purchasing the image.

“I only have the property address.”

Start with the Assessment Office to identify the owner and PIN. Then search Recorder records using the owner name and approximate year. This usually works better than forcing an address into a name-indexed system.

“I want to know whether my mortgage was satisfied.”

Search the Recorder for a mortgage satisfaction/discharge under the borrower name and lender name. Compare the original mortgage recording information with the satisfaction record.

“I want to know whether the property has any liens.”

Do not stop with the Recorder. Search the Prothonotary and other title-related county sources. If the result affects a purchase, refinance, estate or lawsuit, professional title research may be appropriate.

“I need to transfer property to a family member.”

The Recorder can record a properly prepared deed but cannot decide which deed form to use or give legal advice. Review Pennsylvania transfer-tax rules, determine whether an exemption applies, prepare any required Statement of Value and complete PIN certification before recording.

Frequently asked questions

Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds FAQs

Where is the Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds office?

The public Recorder office is at 153 N River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711. The county lists 200 N River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711 as the mailing address.

What are the Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds hours?

The main office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding county holidays. The county lists 4:20 p.m. as the filing deadline.

Can I search Luzerne County deeds online for free?

Landex Webstore allows free index searching, but fees apply when you view or download document images. IQS provides free searching of older indexes/deeds, with fees for copies. In-person searching at the Recorder’s public terminals is also listed as free.

What information should I have before searching for a deed?

Try to have at least one grantor or grantee name and the approximate year of the transaction. A PIN, municipality, instrument number or book/page reference can make verification much easier.

How far back do Luzerne County Recorder records go?

The county says the first Recorder document was recorded in 1787. IQS covers historic deeds, while Landex is used for modern records and deeds/mortgages extending back into 1968.

How much is the Luzerne County deed recording fee in 2026?

The county’s fee schedule effective July 1, 2026 lists the Recorder base fee for a deed at $87.75. Additional pages, names and PINs, transfer taxes and the Assessor’s PIN-certification fee may increase the total.

Can the Recorder prepare a deed for me?

No. Luzerne County states that Recorder staff cannot prepare deeds or provide legal advice. The office records documents that satisfy recording requirements.

Can the Recorder tell me whether a property has a clean title?

No. Recorder staff do not perform title searches. A complete title examination can require Recorder, Prothonotary, Tax Claim, estate and other records.

Can I get a certified deed through Landex?

No. Landex states that certified copies must be obtained directly from the courthouse. Use Landex for research images and contact the Recorder when official certification is required.

Does Luzerne County offer property fraud alerts?

Yes. The Recorder links to a free Landex Record Alert system that can monitor up to five names and/or PINs. It alerts users to new recordings but does not prevent a document from being filed.

Official links

Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds official resources

Use these direct government or county-linked resources instead of searching through unrelated commercial record sites.

Recorder of Deeds
County office page
Document Search
Official search-options page
Landex Webstore
Browser-based recorded document search
Landex Remote
Frequent-use land record access
Historic IQS records
Luzerne E-Film / Infodex
Current Recorder fees
Luzerne County fee schedule page
Filing deed requirements
About Filing Deeds
Recording procedure
Recording & Filing Documents
eRecording
Official electronic-recording page
Assessment / PINs
Luzerne County Assessment Office
Judgments / civil liens
Luzerne County Prothonotary
Record Alert
Register for Luzerne Record Alert
Bottom line

The fastest way to complete your Luzerne County Recorder task

If you need a recent deed or mortgage, begin with Landex Webstore. If the deed is historic, use IQS E-Film/Infodex. If you only know a street address, first identify the owner and PIN through the Assessment Office.

For a new recording, do not arrive with only a signed deed. Confirm PIN certification, notary requirements, certificate of residence, transfer-tax or Statement of Value requirements, current Recorder fees and return instructions before submitting the document.

And if the real question is whether a property has clear title, expand the research beyond Recorder records. Luzerne County itself explains that a true title search can involve several county offices.

Accuracy note: Office information, online record systems, filing procedures, the July 1, 2026 Recorder fee schedule, PIN-certification information and Pennsylvania transfer-tax resources were reviewed against current Luzerne County and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania sources. Government fees, office hours, vendor pricing and filing rules can change; confirm the applicable official page before submitting a document or payment.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top