Maricopa County Recorder: Find Deeds, Property Records and Recorded Documents
Use the Maricopa County Recorder when you need the actual recorded document behind a property transaction: a deed, deed of trust, release, lien, plat, easement, notice of trustee sale, affidavit or other instrument placed in the county’s permanent public record.
If you landed here with only a street address, this guide also shows the fastest route from the address to the Assessor parcel, current deed number and then the correct Recorder document—without searching the wrong county office.
Recorder database for deeds, liens, plats and other recorded instruments.
$30 per instrument for most documents other than plats and surveys.
$1 per page; certification currently adds $3 per document.
301 W Jefferson St., 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Phoenix.
Recorder procedures and official resources reviewed October 16, 2026.
Which Maricopa County property record do you actually need?
“Property records” can mean several different things. Choosing the controlling office first is usually faster than trying different search websites until something appears.
Use the County Recorder. Search the recorded index, inspect the document image and order an official copy if needed.
Follow Recorder search stepsStart with the Assessor when all you have is a street address or parcel number.
Go from address to deedFind the document first, then use the Recorder purchasing options to request the correct copy type.
See copy steps and feesSearch the subdivision or HOA as a business name and narrow with the appropriate document code.
Search plats and CC&RsUse the Treasurer rather than the Recorder for amounts due, tax history and payment questions.
Choose the right officeReview the Recorder’s form rules, fee schedule and deed-specific requirements before presenting it.
Prepare for recordingMaricopa County Recorder guide
Jump directly to the task that brought you here.
How to search Maricopa County Recorder deeds and records
The official Maricopa County Recorded Document Search supports several search paths. If you already know the recording number, use it first because it is the most direct identifier.
Go from a Maricopa County address or APN to the recorded deed
Many users arrive expecting the Recorder to work like a parcel search. A faster address-first workflow is to use the Assessor as the bridge between the street address and the Recorder’s document index.
Which Maricopa County Recorder search method should you use?
| What you know | Best search | How to use it | Common problem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recording number | Recorded Document Number | Enter the number directly, including a suffix when applicable. | Typing an Assessor parcel number into the recording-number field. |
| Owner name | Last Name + First Name | Start with the indexed name; narrow with dates or document code. | Using a nickname, changed surname or name not matching the recorded instrument. |
| Trust, LLC, HOA or corporation | Business Name | Search the principal organization name and try a shorter version if needed. | Searching a trust or HOA only as a person’s name. |
| Older book/page reference | Docket/Book + Page | Enter the historic record-location reference from an older document. | Confusing map book/page with a recorded instrument reference. |
| Subdivision name | Business Name + Plat Maps | Search the subdivision name and choose the plat-related document code. | Using the homeowner’s personal name to find a subdivision plat. |
| Recent address or legal-description text | Full-text research | Use the Recorder’s research tool for recent documents containing matching text. | Assuming full-text coverage replaces the historical name index. |
Useful full-text operators
Put quotation marks around a phrase when you want the exact wording, such as a complete individual name or phrase.
The Recorder documents an OR operator for searching either of two words or concepts.
The research instructions also show a minus-style search to return one term while excluding another.
Verify the deed or recorded document before relying on it
Maricopa County has a very large recording archive and many people share the same surname. Treat the search results as candidates until the document itself confirms that you have the correct property or transaction.
Does the date make sense for the purchase, refinance, release, lien, estate transfer or transaction you are researching?
Compare grantor, grantee, borrower, lender, trustee, trust, HOA or business names rather than matching only one party.
A deed, deed of trust, release and lien can involve the same person but answer completely different questions.
Compare subdivision, lot, block, section or other legal-description language when available.
Look for references to earlier documents when tracing assignments, releases, corrections or ownership history.
Cross-check the current Assessor parcel and deed information when your research began from a street address.
How to get a Maricopa County deed or certified document copy
You can usually inspect an unofficial image online before spending money on a copy. That allows you to verify the document first.
| Copy type | Current fee | Typical use | Practical note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unofficial online image | View through search | Research and document verification | Confirm the record before buying a copy. |
| Official copy | $1 per page | When a formal copy is requested but certification is not required | Total depends on document length. |
| Certified copy | $1 per page + $3 certification per document | Tasks specifically requiring Recorder certification | Verify the receiving agency’s requirement first. |
Find liens, plats, CC&Rs, sale information and foreclosure records
Search the property owner’s name in Recorded Document Search and review relevant lien and release documents. A database search alone does not establish that title is clear.
Search the subdivision name under Business Name and select the Plat Maps document code. If a full subdivision name fails, shorten it and try again.
CC&Rs are commonly recorded under the homeowners association or subdivision name. Use Business Name rather than a current homeowner’s name.
To research potential foreclosure-related recordings, use the document code for Notice of Trustee Sale and narrow by dates or owner name.
First locate the deed. If an Affidavit of Property Value was recorded with that transfer, the search result may provide a “View Affidavit” option containing the reported sale price.
A transfer using an applicable exemption code may not have an Affidavit of Property Value, so the Recorder may not have sale-price information attached to that deed.
How to record a deed or document with the Maricopa County Recorder
In-person recording
The main downtown office currently accepts walk-in recording without an appointment during regular office hours. The Recorder states that an original recorded document presented in person is returned after recording.
Maricopa County Recorder’s Office
301 W Jefferson St
Second Floor, Suite 200
Phoenix, AZ 85003 Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., excluding applicable holidays.
Recording by mail
The Recorder currently instructs customers to mail recording submissions to the downtown office. Its current FAQ states that the recorded original is mailed back to the return address shown on the document or envelope, generally within approximately two to four weeks.
Attn. Copy Desk
Maricopa County Recorder’s Office
301 W Jefferson St Suite 200
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Electronic recording
The Recorder’s Digital Recording Program supports digital upload and eRecording services for eligible customers. The office notes that someone recording only a single document may instead use an approved third-party electronic submitter.
Maricopa County recording fees and basic form requirements
| Service | Current published fee | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Most recorded documents | $30 per instrument | Applies to most documents other than plats and surveys. |
| Plat or survey, first page | $24 | Separate statutory fee category. |
| Plat or survey, additional page | $20 | Applied per additional page. |
| Recorded-document copy | $1 per page | Certification is separate. |
| Certification | $3 per document | Added to the applicable copy-page charge. |
Basic instrument formatting rules
Arizona’s recording-form statute includes requirements that can affect whether an instrument is accepted. The Recorder links directly to these rules.
The instrument should briefly state its nature, such as the applicable deed, release or other document type.
The instrument must satisfy the statutory requirements for an original and be legible enough for reproduction.
Original signatures are generally required unless another law provides otherwise.
For instruments covered by the statute, maximum page size is 8.5 × 14 inches and print cannot be smaller than 10-point type.
The statute specifies general margins and reserves a larger top area on the first page for recording information.
An instrument modifying a previously recorded document must include the required reference to the earlier recording.
Use Maricopa Title Alert to monitor new recordings under your name
Maricopa Title Alert is a free Recorder service that can notify subscribers when a new document is recorded under a monitored individual or business name.
Maricopa County Recorder office and recording kiosk locations
Confirm current hours on the official Locations and Hours page before traveling. The Recorder currently states that recording kiosks accept credit card as the payment method for recordings.
301 W Jefferson St, Second Floor, Suite 200
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Hours: 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday
16828 N 99th Ave
Sun City, AZ 85351
Hours: 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Monday–Friday
775 N Greenfield Rd
Gilbert, AZ 85234
Hours: 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Monday–Friday
1900 N Civic Square
Goodyear, AZ 85395
Hours: 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Monday–Friday
18380 N 40th St, Unit 130
Phoenix, AZ 85032
Hours: 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Monday–Friday
9330 E Riggs Rd
Sun Lakes, AZ 85248
Hours: 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Monday–Friday
Maricopa County Recorder vs Assessor, Treasurer and other offices
| Your question | Correct office | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| I need a deed, lien, release, plat or recorded document | Maricopa County Recorder | Search recorded documents |
| I only know the property address or APN | Maricopa County Assessor | Find parcel, owner and current deed number |
| I need property value or parcel details | Maricopa County Assessor | Search assessment records |
| I need my tax amount, payment status or tax history | Maricopa County Treasurer | Search tax records |
| I need a marriage license or divorce decree | Clerk of the Superior Court | Use Clerk records |
| I need a birth or death certificate | Maricopa County Vital Registration | Open Vital Records |
Fix a Maricopa County Recorder search that produces no useful result
Remove middle initials or extra terms, then inspect the broader result set.
A deed may be indexed to an LLC, trust, corporation or HOA rather than the individual you expected.
If you chose the wrong code, the correct filing can disappear from the results. Search all codes first, then narrow.
The signing date, closing date and Recorder filing date are not always the same day.
For a current property, the Assessor’s owner-information section can provide a much stronger search clue.
Older documents may be easier to locate with a docket/book-and-page reference appearing in another recorded instrument.
Maricopa County Recorder FAQs
Where do I search Maricopa County deeds and recorded documents?
Use the official Maricopa County Recorded Document Search. It supports recording-number, book/page, party-name, business-name, document-code and date-based searches.
How do I find the deed for my house?
If you know the owner name, search it directly in the Recorder database. If you only know the property address or APN, first use the Maricopa County Assessor, open the correct parcel, find the deed number under owner information and then search that number with the Recorder.
Can I search Maricopa County Recorder records by street address?
For an address-first property search, the Assessor is generally the most dependable starting point. The Recorder also provides a full-text research feature that can search recent records using names, legal descriptions and addresses, but the Recorder currently describes that full-text coverage as approximately the last two years.
How much does a Maricopa County deed copy cost?
The Recorder’s current fee schedule lists copies of recorded documents at $1 per page. Certification currently adds $3 per document. Check the live fee schedule before ordering.
How much does it cost to record a deed in Maricopa County?
The standard fee currently listed for most recorded documents other than plats and surveys is $30 per instrument. Special document categories can have different fees.
Does a deed need an Affidavit of Property Value?
The Recorder states that a deed must include either an Affidavit of Property Value or an applicable exemption code. The Recorder does not select an exemption code or provide legal advice about which one applies.
Can I use the Recorder search to prove there are no liens?
No. You can research lien and release documents by owner name, but the Recorder expressly warns that its online research does not guarantee that property is free and clear of liens. Consider a qualified title professional when certainty is required.
How do I find CC&Rs for a Maricopa County subdivision?
Search the subdivision or HOA name using the Recorder’s Business Name field. If you do not know the subdivision name, locate the property first in the Assessor system and review the property’s subdivision information.
Can the Maricopa County Recorder change the owner name on my property?
The Recorder records properly presented instruments but does not choose or prepare the legal document needed to change property ownership. If you do not know which document is appropriate, the Recorder directs users to seek appropriate legal, title, estate-planning or document-preparation assistance.
Is Maricopa Title Alert free?
Yes. Maricopa Title Alert is a free county service that can provide email and/or text notifications when a new recording matches a monitored individual or business name.
Maricopa County Recorder links worth saving
Deeds, liens, releases, plats and other recorded instruments.
Open document searchOfficial instructions for recording documents, buying copies, property research and common questions.
Open Recorder FAQsCurrent document, copy, certification, plat and survey charges.
Check feesRecorder guidance and Arizona requirements for instruments presented for recording.
Check requirementsFree name-based notification service for new recorded documents.
Set up Title AlertMain Recorder office and current recording kiosk locations.
Check locationsUse the Recorder for the document—not every property question
For most users, the fastest Maricopa County workflow is simple: use the Assessor when you need to identify the parcel or current owner, use the Recorder when you need the deed or another recorded instrument, and use the Treasurer when the question is about property taxes.
If you already know a recording number, start directly with the Recorder. If you only know an address, locate the parcel and current deed number through the Assessor first. Once you reach the Recorder document, verify the parties, recording date, document type and property information before purchasing a copy or using the record for an important decision.
This guide was reviewed against current Maricopa County Recorder document-search instructions, FAQs, recording fees, form requirements, Digital Recording Program, Title Alert information, locations and hours, Maricopa County Assessor resources and applicable Arizona recording statutes.
Review date: October 16, 2026. Live search interfaces, office hours, fees, kiosk availability, statutes and recording procedures can change after publication.