Lackawanna County Deed Records

Lackawanna County deed records are maintained by the Recorder of Deeds in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The office protects property ownership rights by recording and indexing all real estate documents filed in the county. Lackawanna County is located in northeastern Pennsylvania and has maintained official land records since 1878. The county offers online access to deed records through the Eagle Recorder system for documents from 1957 to the present and through a Laserfiche historical index for records from 1878 to 1956. You can also visit the courthouse to search using public access terminals.

Lackawanna County Deed Records Overview

Lackawanna County was formed in 1878 from Luzerne County and named after the Lackawanna River. The county seat is Scranton, the largest city in northeastern Pennsylvania. The county has a rich history rooted in coal mining and industrial production, and that history is reflected in its land records. Deed books document the transfer of mine properties, company towns, and individual lots as the region developed through the industrial era. Today the county contains a mix of urban, suburban, and rural communities, all of which generate deed records through the Recorder's office.

The Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds serves two primary functions. The first is to record and index all property documents to create an official record of real estate ownership. The second is to act as a collection agent for the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue by collecting the realty transfer tax on deed transfers. The office handles a wide range of documents beyond deeds: mortgages, mortgage satisfactions, mortgage assignments, powers of attorney, leases, UCC filings, real estate agreements, non-profit corporation charters, notary commissions, elected official commissions, and DD-214 military discharge papers. Evie Rafalko McNulty serves as the Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds.

Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds is designated as a fee office under Pennsylvania law, meaning it collects fees set by the state legislature. The office is self-sufficient and generates revenue for the county's general fund. By law, the recorder's office must remain separate from other county offices involved in land transactions to avoid conflicts of interest. Under 21 P.S. § 351, recording in the correct county is essential to protect the validity of a deed transfer.

Note: As of January 1, 2026, Lackawanna County applies a $0.50 per page fee for attachments on e-recorded documents to cover printing costs for the Department of Revenue. Documents brought directly to the office are not subject to this additional fee.

Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds

The Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds office is located in the Lackawanna County Courthouse in Scranton. The office is part of the elected officials section of county government. You can find full information on the county website at lackawannacounty.org. The recorder's office offers both in-person and online services for recording documents and searching records. The AOPC fee was adjusted as of November 17, 2025, with the CJEA fee increasing from $2.50 to $3.50. Electronic recording calculates fees automatically, while mailed documents with incorrect fees are returned.

Searching Lackawanna County Deed Records Online

Lackawanna County offers two separate online search systems for deed records, covering different time periods. The Eagle Recorder system at lackawannacountypa-web.tylerhost.net covers documents from 1957 to the present. This system lets you search by name, document type, date range, and other criteria. Document images are viewable and printable. Subscription access is available for frequent users, and pay-per-document access is available for occasional researchers.

The Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds official page on lackawannacounty.org describes the office's functions, document types accepted, and links to the online search systems for property records in Scranton and throughout the county.

The historical online index book search at portal.laserfiche.com covers Lackawanna County deed records from 1878 to 1956, providing free public access to grantor and grantee indexes and document references from the county's earliest years.

The Lackawanna County Assessment Office at lcao.lackawannacounty.org offers a searchable database of property assessments that connects to deed record references, making it a useful companion tool for property research in the county.

For older records from 1878 to 1956, use the free Laserfiche portal at portal.laserfiche.com. This historical index lets you search grantor and grantee names and provides book and page references to locate physical or microfilmed documents. The statewide portal at pa.uslandrecords.com is also available as a secondary search resource for Lackawanna County records.

Recording Requirements in Lackawanna County

All documents submitted to the Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds must meet Pennsylvania's standard recording requirements. Documents should be on white 8.5 by 11 inch paper and typed in a legible font of at least ten points. Notary acknowledgments must be complete, with the notary's signature, county, state, date, names of parties, and expiration date. The municipality, county, and state where the property is located must appear on the document. Staples and bindings that interfere with scanning are not permitted.

The realty transfer tax under 72 P.S. § 8102-C applies to most deed transfers in Lackawanna County. Pennsylvania collects one percent at the state level, and local municipalities add their own rate. A Statement of Value form must accompany taxable transfers. The recorder collects the tax as an agent for the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. Exemptions must be clearly stated in the deed. For electronic recordings, fees are calculated automatically by the e-recording system. Mailed documents with incorrect fees are returned without recording.

Lackawanna County also offers a fraud notification program for property owners. You can register to receive alerts when a document is recorded against your property. This free service helps detect unauthorized transfers or fraudulent recordings. Information about the fraud notification program is available at lackawannacounty.org. Note: Registering for the fraud alert program is a simple process and is recommended for all Lackawanna County property owners as a precaution against deed fraud.

Property Fraud Prevention in Lackawanna County

Lackawanna County's Recorder of Deeds offers a fraud notification and prevention program for property owners in Scranton and throughout the county. Property deed fraud involves unauthorized transfers of property through forged or falsified documents. Early detection is critical because once a fraudulent deed is recorded, unwinding the transaction can be complex and time-consuming. The county's notification system sends an alert to registered property owners whenever a document is recorded against their property, giving them an early warning of any unauthorized activity.

Registering for the program is free and requires only basic information about the property and the owner's contact details. The alert system monitors the recording index and triggers a notification when any document lists the registered property as its subject. This includes legitimate documents like mortgage satisfactions as well as any unexpected or suspicious filings. The program is available to all Lackawanna County property owners regardless of whether their property is in Scranton or in one of the surrounding boroughs and townships.