Delaware County Deed Records

Delaware County deed records are maintained by the Recorder of Deeds office in Media, the county seat. Located in southeastern Pennsylvania adjacent to Philadelphia, Delaware County is one of the most densely populated counties in the state. The Recorder of Deeds keeps all land records and property documents for the county. Searching Delaware County deed records provides access to deeds, mortgages, plans, and related instruments. Records are available online and in person at the courthouse in Media.

About Delaware County Deed Records

Delaware County was established in 1789 from a portion of Chester County. The county sits directly west and southwest of Philadelphia and includes dozens of townships and boroughs. Its proximity to Philadelphia means Delaware County has one of the highest recording volumes in Pennsylvania, with active residential and commercial real estate markets driving constant deed and mortgage filings at the Recorder's office in Media.

The Recorder of Deeds is an elected row office in Delaware County, operating independently from the county commissioners. Under 21 P.S. § 351, all deeds for Delaware County property must be recorded with the Recorder of Deeds. Recording creates the public record that protects buyers and lenders. The office assigns each document a book and page number, scans it into the county's computer system, and maintains microfilm archives. All recorded documents are available to the public.

Delaware County deed records include warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, sheriff's deeds, mortgages, mortgage satisfactions, easements, UCC financing statements, subdivision plans, power of attorney documents, and notary commissions. The county also participates in the Delco Alert emergency notification system, which illustrates the county's commitment to public information access. The county's main portal at delcopa.gov provides access to county services including the Recorder of Deeds.

Delaware County Recorder of Deeds

The Delaware County Recorder of Deeds is located in the Government Center building in Media. The county government portal at delcopa.gov/government lists the Recorder of Deeds among the county's row offices. Office hours are Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Check the county website for current hours and any changes to submission deadlines for same-day recording.

At the Media courthouse, you can search Delaware County deed records by grantor or grantee name, book and page number, instrument number, document type, or date range. Staff can help locate documents and provide certified copies for a fee. Keep in mind that Recorder's office staff cannot give legal advice, draft deeds, or provide title opinions. For legal questions about a specific property's title, consult a licensed Pennsylvania title company or real estate attorney.

Searching Delaware County Deed Records Online

The Pennsylvania statewide land records portal at pa.uslandrecords.com provides online access to Delaware County deed records. Given the county's high recording volume, this portal is especially useful for searchers who need to review multiple documents without visiting Media. You can search by party name, document type, and date range from any internet-connected device.

The image below is from the Delaware County official website, which serves as the main access point for county government information including the Recorder of Deeds.

The Pennsylvania Association of Recorders of Deeds provides a county directory and a fee calculator at padeeds.com/fee-calculator. For access to assessor data and GIS mapping for Delaware County parcels, NETROnline links to county and state resources that can supplement deed record searches.

Delaware County Recording Requirements

Documents submitted for recording in Delaware County must comply with Pennsylvania's standard requirements. Every deed must include a complete legal description, the names of all parties, a notary acknowledgment, and a Uniform Parcel Identifier (UPI) under 16 P.S. § 9781. The UPI connects the deed to the county's tax parcel map. Documents without a valid UPI will be rejected at the counter.

Pennsylvania charges a 1% state realty transfer tax on the greater of the consideration or assessed value adjusted by the common level ratio. Delaware County municipalities impose local transfer taxes in addition to the state rate. All deeds must be accompanied by Form REV-183, the Realty Transfer Tax Statement of Value. Tax exemptions apply to certain family transfers, charitable conveyances, and corrective deeds. The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue at pa.gov lists current rates and exemptions. Note that Philadelphia, which borders Delaware County, charges a significantly higher local transfer tax rate.

Delaware County Property Records and Additional Resources

Beyond the Recorder of Deeds, Delaware County has a robust set of property-related resources. The county assessment office maintains parcel data, assessment values, and tax records that complement the deed records kept by the Recorder. When researching a specific property in Delaware County, combining the Recorder's deed records with the assessment office data gives you the most complete picture of ownership and value.

Delaware County's location near Philadelphia also means that some historical land records may trace back through Chester County. Delaware County was formed from Chester County in 1789, so very early property records for the area may be found in Chester County archives. The Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg holds land warrant records and survey data for Delaware County parcels going back to the earliest grants. These records are available through the Archives' online research guides at pa.gov/agencies/phmc and provide context for the earliest layers of property ownership in the county.