Search Cambria County Deed Records

Cambria County deed records date back to 1804 and are managed by the Recorder of Deeds in Ebensburg. The county includes Johnstown and covers a significant part of central Pennsylvania. The Recorder's office maintains deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other land documents for Cambria County. You can search records online through the county's official system, view them in person, or use public library internet access to reach online databases. This page covers where to find Cambria County deed records and how the recording process works.

About Cambria County Deed Records

Cambria County was established in 1804 and land records began in the same period. The Recorder of Deeds in Ebensburg maintains a collection that covers more than 220 years of property transactions in the county. This includes deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and any other instrument that affects real property ownership in Cambria County. The county's records reflect its industrial and coal-mining history as well as the residential areas surrounding Johnstown and Ebensburg.

All Cambria County properties are assigned unique parcel identification numbers under the Pennsylvania Uniform Parcel Identifier Law. These numbers link deed records to the tax assessment system maintained by the Cambria County Assessment Office at 200 South Center Street, Suite 105. The Assessment Office's GIS portal provides interactive mapping of property boundaries and parcel locations that complement the deed record search. The 24-hour online access available through the county's systems lets you search Cambria County deed records at any time.

Pennsylvania's race-notice recording law under 21 P.S. § 351 applies to all Cambria County deed recordings. Recording a deed promptly protects your ownership against later claimants. The Recorder of Deeds assigns each document a book and page number and indexes it by grantor and grantee name. Public access terminals at the Recorder's office allow free in-person viewing of Cambria County land records. Public libraries in the county also offer free internet access to online record systems.

Searching Cambria County Property Records

Cambria County provides several ways to search deed records. The most direct is the official county recorder system, accessible through the county government website. You can also use the county's open records resources or third-party search platforms. Free in-person inspection of records is available at the county offices during business hours, and public library terminals offer internet access to online record systems at no cost.

The official Cambria County Recorder of Deeds page at cambriacountypa.gov provides comprehensive information about the office. It lists e-recording options through Simplifile (1-800-460-2617), InDecomm Global Services (1-877-272-5250), and CSC Global (1-866-403-5272). Using e-recording allows title companies and attorneys to submit Cambria County deed recordings electronically without visiting the courthouse in Ebensburg.

The guide at cambriarecords.us covers free public records options in Cambria County. Free access includes in-person inspection at county offices, commissioner meeting minutes and agendas online, basic property ownership through the assessment office, court docket information through the PA Unified Judicial System, and public terminals at the Prothonotary's Office and Recorder of Deeds. Document printing, certified copies, and complex searches involve fees.

The property records guide at cambriarecords.us/property-records walks through the steps to search Cambria County deed records. The process involves determining what type of document you need, gathering identifying information such as the parcel number or owner name, completing a records request form, submitting it to the appropriate office, and paying applicable fees. The guide also describes the GIS portal and the tax assessment online database, which includes current ownership, valuation data, tax payment status, property characteristics, and land use classification.

Cambria County Recorder of Deeds

The Cambria County Recorder of Deeds is at 200 South Center Street, Suite 114 in Ebensburg. Melissa Kimla serves as Recorder of Deeds. The office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, excluding holidays. Staff can assist with recording new documents and locating existing deed records in the county system. Public access terminals at the office allow free in-person searching during business hours.

The Cambria County Open Records Office is at 1150 Wilmore Road, Ebensburg, PA 15931. Open Records Officer Melissa Kestermont can be reached at (814) 472-2353 or at mkestermont@co.cambria.pa.us. Hours are 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. For formal Right-to-Know requests related to Cambria County deed records, submit your request in writing to this office. Under 65 P.S. § 67.101, the county must respond within five business days.

Recording Requirements in Cambria County

Deeds submitted for recording in Cambria County must meet Pennsylvania's standard requirements. The document must identify the grantor and grantee by full legal name and include a complete legal description of the property. The grantor's signature must be notarized. The grantee's certificate of residence is required under 16 P.S. § 9781. The Uniform Parcel Identifier must appear on the deed to link it to the Cambria County tax assessment system.

Pennsylvania's realty transfer tax under 72 P.S. § 8102-C applies to most deed recordings in Cambria County. The state levies 1% of the property value or consideration. Local municipalities in Cambria County add their own transfer tax, typically bringing the total to around 2% for most transfers. Form REV-183 must accompany taxable deed recordings. The PRODA fee calculator at padeeds.com provides estimates for total recording and transfer tax costs in Cambria County. Exempt transfers include certain family conveyances, charitable transfers, and correctional deeds that correct errors without altering the actual property interest.

Note: The Cambria County Recorder's office offers e-recording through Simplifile, CSC Global, and InDecomm Global Services for approved professional filers, which speeds up processing time for deed submissions.