Find the parcel.
Use the assessor or tax record to find the listed owner, parcel number, legal description and any deed reference. An assessor record is not the deed.
PROPERTY RECORDS / UNITED STATES
Your deed search.
One clear next step.
A practical path to recorded deeds in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Find the right office, search the index, then request the document.
This is a records navigator, not a nationwide deed database. Availability, image coverage, accounts and copy fees vary by office.
01 / LOCATE THE RECORDING OFFICE
Where is the property?
No street address or owner name is required here. Selections stay in this page; clicking an external search link sends its displayed jurisdiction query to Google.
YOUR SEARCH PATH
Local records.
Clear next steps.
Select a location to build a route. Where a direct official portal is listed, start there. Elsewhere, use the labeled web searches to find the responsible office.
Not sure of the county? Check the property tax bill or the local assessor’s parcel record. A mailing city is not always the recording jurisdiction.
YOUR SEARCH DESK
Keep the clues together.
Fill these in as you search. Your notes stay in this tab and clear on reload. Copy your search packet before leaving.
MATCH BEFORE YOU DOWNLOAD
Is it the right deed?
0 of 4 checks complete
These checks help avoid the wrong document. They do not verify current ownership, clear title or the legal effect of a deed.
Deed vs. deed of trust vs. tax record
A deed records a transfer of an interest in property. A deed of trust or mortgage secures financing. An assessor’s record helps identify a parcel, but is not the recorded deed.
I have the name, but nothing comes up
Try the full legal name, surname first, prior owners, trusts or company names. Expand the date range. Ask the office whether older indexes are separate from its online system.
The online image is missing
Keep the instrument number or book/page. Ask the recording office for that specific document and whether it offers an ordinary or certified copy.
From address to recorded deed
THE FOUR-STEP ROUTEFollow the index.
Try grantee (buyer) or grantor (seller), then instrument number or book and page. Street-address searching is not available everywhere. Try prior owners and name variations.
Check the document.
Compare parties, legal description, recording date and document type. A mortgage or deed of trust secures a loan; it is not the ownership-transfer deed.
Get the right copy.
View or download an image if offered. Ask the recording office about certified copies, older books, fees and mail or in-person requests if the image is unavailable.
NEED HELP FROM THE OFFICE?
A request you can use.
WHEN THE SEARCH GETS COMPLICATED
No image?
Keep looking.
I can’t find the owner or deed
Search prior owners, trusts, business names and spelling variations. Ask the office about older or unindexed records, recording delays and the correct jurisdiction. Some transactions require related probate or court records.
I need proof of ownership or clear title
A deed copy alone does not establish the complete current title or reveal every lien or interest. For a transaction or ownership dispute, use a title professional or attorney for the appropriate title examination.
What if the land has a different records system?
Tribal or trust land, registered land, federal land and territorial property can require different offices or procedures. This tool covers the 50 states and D.C.; it does not guarantee access to every property record.
Should I pay a third-party deed service?
Check the responsible government office first. Copies may be free or available for a stated fee. Use a private portal only when linked by that office, and review any account or purchase terms.
Sources & coverage
Official guidance checked November 3, 2026. Jurisdiction names come from the site’s county reference list; this is not a verified directory of every recording office. Connecticut planning regions and Alaska boroughs do not necessarily match land-record jurisdictions. Use the town or district field when needed.