Franklin County Deed Records and Property Search
Franklin County deed records are maintained by the Recorder of Deeds office in Chambersburg, the county seat in south-central Pennsylvania. The Recorder of Deeds is an elected row office that serves as the official custodian of all land records and property documents for the county. Searching Franklin County deed records provides access to deeds, mortgages, easements, and other recorded instruments. Records are available online and in person at the county courthouse in Chambersburg.
Franklin County Quick Facts
About Franklin County Deed Records
Franklin County was established in 1784 from Cumberland County and is located in south-central Pennsylvania along the Maryland border. The county seat is Chambersburg, which has served as the center of county government since the county's founding. Franklin County deed records extend back to 1784 and document the history of land ownership in a region that has seen significant agricultural, commercial, and residential development over more than two centuries.
The county is governed by a board of three commissioners, elected every four years, who have policy-making authority over the county's core functions. These functions include emergency services, the county jail, elections, and human service programs, as well as taxes, land use planning, and transportation. The Recorder of Deeds, however, is a separately elected row office with independent authority over land records. The county government page at franklincountypa.gov/government lists the Recorder of Deeds along with other elected officials including the Controller and Treasurer.
Under 21 P.S. § 351, all deeds for Franklin County property must be recorded with the Recorder of Deeds in Chambersburg. The office records and indexes all instruments relating to real property, including deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, easements, oil and gas leases, UCC financing statements, subdivision plans, power of attorney documents, and notary commissions. The county also maintains legal records such as real estate deeds, licenses, permits, and financial records as part of its broader government function.
Franklin County Archives and Records Management was recognized by NAGARA, the National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators, and was selected as the host for the 2026 NAGARA Internship Program. This recognition reflects Franklin County's commitment to professional records management, which extends to the deed records kept by the Recorder of Deeds.
Franklin County Recorder of Deeds
The Franklin County Recorder of Deeds is located at the Franklin County Courthouse in Chambersburg. The county website at franklincountypa.gov provides information on county government and department contacts. Office hours are Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Call the office before visiting to confirm current hours and any requirements for document submission.
At the Chambersburg courthouse, searches of Franklin County deed records can be done by grantor and grantee name, book and page number, instrument number, or date range. Staff can locate documents and provide certified copies for a fee. They cannot provide legal advice, draft deeds, or conduct title searches. For questions about specific title issues or the legal effect of a recorded document, consult a licensed Pennsylvania title company or real estate attorney.
| Office | Franklin County Recorder of Deeds |
|---|---|
| Address | 157 Lincoln Way East, Chambersburg, PA 17201 |
| Phone | 717-261-3872 |
| Online Search | franklincountypa.gov |
Searching Franklin County Deed Records Online
The Pennsylvania statewide land records portal at pa.uslandrecords.com provides online access to Franklin County deed records. This portal covers all 67 Pennsylvania recorder districts and allows searches by party name, document type, and date range. It is the most direct online tool for searching Franklin County land records without visiting Chambersburg.
The image below is from the Franklin County official website, which lists county departments and provides contact information for the Recorder of Deeds.
The image below is from the Franklin County government page, which organizes county departments and row offices including the Recorder of Deeds.
The Pennsylvania Association of Recorders of Deeds at padeeds.com provides a fee calculator at padeeds.com/fee-calculator and a complete directory of county recorder contacts. Third-party portals such as NETROnline also link to Franklin County assessor and recorder resources.
Franklin County Recording Requirements
All documents submitted for recording in Franklin County must comply with Pennsylvania's requirements. Every deed must include a complete legal description, the names of all parties, a notary acknowledgment from a commissioned Pennsylvania notary, and a Uniform Parcel Identifier (UPI). The UPI requirement under 16 P.S. § 9781 connects each deed to the county's tax parcel map. Deeds without a valid UPI will be rejected at the recording counter.
Pennsylvania imposes a 1% state realty transfer tax on the consideration paid or the assessed value multiplied by the common level ratio, whichever is greater. Franklin County municipalities impose their own local transfer taxes in addition to the state rate. Form REV-183, the Realty Transfer Tax Statement of Value, must be filed with each deed. Certain transfers are exempt, including direct family line transfers, charitable conveyances, and corrective deeds. The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue at pa.gov provides current exemption details and rate information.
Note: Franklin County's Archives and Records Management program has earned national recognition. This level of professional management supports the accuracy and availability of deed records for public research.Franklin County Land Records and the 39th Judicial District
Franklin County is home to the 39th Judicial District Court of Common Pleas, which handles matters that intersect with deed records such as sheriff's sales, estate proceedings, and quiet title actions. When a property goes through a sheriff's sale or estate administration, the resulting deed is recorded with the Recorder of Deeds just like any other property transfer. Understanding the connection between the courts and the Recorder's office helps researchers locate all documents related to a specific property's history in Franklin County.
The Pennsylvania State Archives holds early land warrant records and survey maps for Franklin County going back to its 1784 founding. Because Franklin County was carved from Cumberland County, some of the earliest land history in the region may trace through Cumberland County records. Researchers using the Archives' guides at pa.gov/agencies/phmc can trace warrant registers and warrantee township maps to connect early grants to the modern Franklin County deed record system. The county is also bordered by Maryland, meaning some border properties may have had ownership documented in both Pennsylvania and Maryland records over time.