Our records begin in 1784. We were part of Westmoreland County before that date.
The following types of documents are recorded in our office:
For a complete list of documents and recording fees, visit our Fee Schedule page.
All papers presented to us for recording must be original documents, properly executed, signed, dated and acknowledged before a Notary Public with the notary’s signature and date of expiration of the commission, before they can be accepted for recording. The use of a embossed notary seal is now optional for PA acknowledgements. All recordings fees and transfer taxes are payable at the time of recording.
If the document has met all the necessary requirements, the office will accept it for recording. It will be assigned an Instrument Number, a Volume and Page number. The document will also be printed with the time of recording, price, and other information. The instrument, volume and page number will be printed on each page. Then the recorder’s certification will be stamped on the document as well. Receipts are issued at the time of recording.
If the necessary requirements have not been met, the document will be rejected for recording until it is corrected. View a complete list of recording requirements. Please note that the recording of any document is not an approval of the contents of that document. The Recorder’s Office merely records what is presented to us and in no way do we certify that the contents are correct.
When documents have been officially recorded, they are scanned and indexed into the office’s computer system. Documents are then available to the public on our public search stations that are located in the office. Documents recorded before January 1, 2001 are available in books in the office. Learn more about accessing these documents online.
The original documents are returned to the address that is noted on the document at the time of recording. Documents are returned after all necessary recording procedures have been completed.
Yes. Our index and images are now available for most documents using the U.S. Land Records website. The index for most documents from 1950 to present is a free search. The images for most documents from 1950 to present are a pay per access service.
You are welcome to come into the office for copies. They are 50 cents per page. You can print a copy for most documents from 1975 to present using the search stations available in the office. You will pick up the copy from our staff. They will also be available to make copies of the records prior to 1975.
In 2017 we added the Archive Viewer to our public stations and online as explained above. Certified copies are 50 cents per page, plus $3 for the certification.
In the recorder of deeds office we index by name. We have a legal description and municipality also indexed. The physical address or the tax assessment parcel number is not usually on the documents.
We suggest you visit the Fayette County Tax Assessment Property Search webpage, and for current information, visit the Tax Assessment Office Mapping Room, or call them at 724-430-1350, ext. 229.
We do have plans in the Recorder of Deeds Office. Plans are indexed by the property owner’s name and municipality. Not everyone has a plan, subdivision, survey or map filed in our office. Please visit the Fayette County Tax Assessment Property Search webpage, and for current information, visit the Tax Assessment Office Mapping Room, or call them at 724-430-1350, ext. 229.
Once you have found your information at the Assessment Office, make sure you have a list of names of the surrounding property owners, the Deed Book and Page numbers or Record Book and Page numbers of those deeds so you can continue to search in our office.
Subdivisions are recorded in our office. We will be glad to show you how to use our indexes to look at the ones on file. Other questions not dealing with recorded subdivisions can be directed to Planning Zoning and Community Development. You can visit the Office of Planning, Zoning and Community Development on the fourth floor of Fayette County Courthouse, or call at 724-430-1210.
We do not file liens or judgments in our office, but we do record mortgages that might be part of what you are looking for. The information you can view in our office will include the name of the person, the institution they borrowed from, the amount they borrowed, what property the mortgage is on, and if the mortgage is satisfied. To find information on a lien or judgment, visit the Prothonotary’s Office on the first floor of the Fayette County Courthouse, or call the office at 724-430-1272.
We suggest that you have someone with experience in the field prepare it for you to make sure it is correct. Attorneys can perform this service for you. Employees for the Recorder of Deeds Office cannot and will not prepare deeds for you.
You can obtain a certified copy in our office at 61 E Main st. Uniontown, PA 15401
The original deeds are returned as instructed at the time of recording, and this will be noted on the document.
This can only be done by recording a new deed showing the change. Many people think they can come to our office and change the present deed on record. However, once a document or deed is recorded, it cannot be altered or changed in any way. A new deed is needed and can be prepared for you by your attorney.
Please consult your attorney with this type of situation. There could be a special instance when, because of a particular legal situation, the name of the deceased spouse should be deleted. Generally, if the property was held jointly by husband and wife as tenants by entirety. If and when the widow/widower sells or mortgages the property, he or she simply explains in the new deed or mortgage that the other spouse is now deceased.
No. A deed is binding even if it is not recorded. However, for numerous reasons, it is in your best interest to record it. One good reason: the former owner can go on getting mortgages, judgments and suits on your property, since records in the Office would show that he/she still owns it.
No. The original deed usually covers any buildings erected on the lot at a later date. Check your deed for exceptions.
Usually, the same way you change a name – by recording a new deed. In this case, it would be known as a “Deed of Correction.” Contact your title company or attorney in this type of situation.
In most situations Mortgages are returned to the mortgagee (bank or financial institution lending the money). If we have been instructed otherwise, it will be noted on the document. The mortgagor is the party receiving the loan and is usually the purchaser of the property being transferred. Generally, the original mortgage will eventually be returned to the mortgagor, by the mortgagee, when the final payment is made to the lender, and after a Satisfaction is recorded.
A document called a Mortgage Satisfaction Piece is recorded in our office. All the information on this document must match the mortgage exactly.
This action must be initiated by the mortgagee (lender). The mortgagee may send the actual forms to you when you make your final payment. Contact your lender to see how it will be handled.
Bring or mail the original mortgage and the Satisfaction Piece to our office located at 61 E Main Street. Uniontown, PA 15401 with the proper fee.
Lost or destroyed mortgages may be satisfied using a certified copy secured from our office located at 61 E Main Street. Uniontown, PA 15401.
There is a State Tax and a Municipal Tax each amounting to 1% of the value of the property or interest being conveyed. The value could be the sale price or the fair market value of the property.
In most sales agreements, the seller and the buyer split the tax. However, the new owner is responsible if there is any question over the amount of tax paid. The Recorder of Deeds Office will not accept a deed unless the tax is paid at the time of recording. The State and Local Governments do not care who pays the tax as long as it is paid.
Yes. Conveyances between husband and wife, parent and child, grandparent and grandchild, and brothers and sisters are exempt. A deed between ex-spouses is also exempted. There are also other exemptions that are allowed in certain situations. It is best to consult your attorney to find out what these exemptions are. For questions about transfer tax, you may contact the email resource account for the PA Department of Revenue Realty Transfer Tax division