Columbia County Deed Records and Property Documents
Columbia County deed records are maintained by the Recorder of Deeds office in Bloomsburg, the county seat. This office keeps all land records and property documents for the county, including deeds, mortgages, plans, and other recorded instruments. Searching Columbia County deed records provides access to the history of property ownership throughout the county. Records are available through the county's online resources and in person at the courthouse in Bloomsburg.
Columbia County Quick Facts
About Columbia County Deed Records
Columbia County was established in 1813 from part of Northumberland County. The county seat, Bloomsburg, is one of the few incorporated towns in Pennsylvania and is home to Bloomsburg University. The Recorder of Deeds has maintained land records for the county since its founding, creating a continuous record of property ownership that stretches back more than two centuries.
All deeds for property in Columbia County must be recorded under 21 P.S. § 351 with the Recorder of Deeds in Bloomsburg. Recording creates the public notice that protects the grantee against later claims. The Recorder indexes each document by grantor and grantee name, assigns a book and page number, scans the document into the county's computer system, and preserves a microfilm copy. Both the digital image and the index entry are available to the public.
Columbia County is also known for its covered bridges, historic farms, and rural character. These features mean that many deed records in the county involve agricultural land, stream crossings, and easements tied to historic properties. The county's land use history makes Columbia County deed records particularly interesting for researchers tracing the development of the northeastern Pennsylvania landscape.
Columbia County Recorder of Deeds
The Columbia County Recorder of Deeds operates as part of the Columbia-Montour Courts system. The Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds office serves both Columbia and Montour counties through a shared courts arrangement. This combined office structure is unique in Pennsylvania and provides efficient service to residents of both counties.
Visit the Columbia Montour Courts website at columbiamontourcourts.com for current contact information and services. The county government website at columbiapa.org also provides information about county departments and services. Commissioner meetings are held regularly and are broadcast for public participation. Archived meeting minutes are posted online, which can be useful when researching rezoning actions or other county decisions that affect property.
| Office | Columbia County Register of Wills / Recorder of Deeds |
|---|---|
| Address | 35 West Main Street, Bloomsburg, PA 17815 |
| Phone | 570-389-5600 |
| Online Search | columbiamontourcourts.com |
Searching Columbia County Deed Records Online
The statewide land records portal at pa.uslandrecords.com provides online access to Columbia County deed records. Pennsylvania is divided into 67 recorder districts, and this portal covers all of them, including Columbia County. You can search by name, parcel, document type, or date range from home or the office without visiting Bloomsburg.
The image below is from the Columbia County government website, which provides information about county services including the Recorder of Deeds.
The image below shows the Columbia-Montour Courts website, which handles the Recorder of Deeds function for Columbia County.
The Pennsylvania Association of Recorders of Deeds (PRODA) also maintains a directory at padeeds.com and a fee calculator at padeeds.com/fee-calculator to help estimate recording costs. Using these tools before you visit the office saves time and helps you arrive prepared.
Columbia County Recording Requirements
All documents recorded in Columbia County must meet Pennsylvania's standard requirements. Deeds need a complete legal description, the full names of all parties, a notary acknowledgment, and a Uniform Parcel Identifier (UPI). The UPI is required under 16 P.S. § 9781 and ties each recorded deed to the county's tax mapping system. The Recorder will reject any deed missing a valid UPI.
Pennsylvania's realty transfer tax of 1% applies to most property transfers in Columbia County. Local municipalities and school districts within the county may impose additional local transfer taxes. Parties to a deed transfer must file Form REV-183, the Realty Transfer Tax Statement of Value, with the Recorder at the time of recording. Exemptions apply to certain family transfers, charitable organizations, and corrective deeds. Details on exemptions are available through the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.
Additional Columbia County Property Resources
Beyond the Recorder of Deeds, several other resources can help you research Columbia County property. The county assessment office maintains property value data and parcel maps that complement deed records. When researching a specific parcel, the assessment record can provide current ownership, property dimensions, and tax history that the deed record alone may not show.
The Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg holds early land warrant records and survey maps for Columbia County going back before its 1813 formation. These records are part of Record Group 17 at the State Archives. For genealogy research or tracing land back to its original grant, the Archives' land records research guides explain how to access warrant registers, warrantee township maps, and connected draft maps for the county. Combining State Archives records with modern Columbia County deed records gives a comprehensive ownership history.