Luzerne County Deed Records
Luzerne County deed records are maintained by the Recorder of Deeds in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The office records deeds, mortgages, releases, and other real estate instruments for land in Luzerne County. Located in northeastern Pennsylvania, Luzerne County has a distinct coal region heritage and a home rule form of county government. You can search Luzerne County deed records online or visit the courthouse in Wilkes-Barre for in-person access. The recorder's office indexes all documents by grantor and grantee name and provides public access to recorded documents.
Luzerne County Quick Facts
Luzerne County Deed Records Overview
Luzerne County was formed in 1786 from Northumberland County and named after a French general who supported American independence. The county seat is Wilkes-Barre, one of the larger cities in northeastern Pennsylvania. The county's history is deeply tied to the anthracite coal industry that drove massive population growth and economic development from the mid-nineteenth century through the mid-twentieth century. Land records from that era document the transfer of mine properties, coal company lands, and the dense urban neighborhoods that grew around the mines.
Luzerne County operates under a home rule charter, which gives it a unique government structure compared to most Pennsylvania counties. The Recorder of Deeds remains an elected position within this home rule framework. The office maintains the permanent official record of all real estate transactions in the county. Documents recorded include deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, easements, UCC filings, notary commissions, and DD-214 military discharge papers. All documents are scanned and indexed by the names of all parties. Public access to these records is available both at the courthouse and online. Under 21 P.S. § 351, recording is essential for establishing the priority of a deed against later competing claims.
Luzerne County's public records portal provides links to multiple online databases, including assessment records, deed records, GIS mapping, and court records. This integrated approach to public records access reflects the county's commitment to transparency. The main public records page at luzernecounty.org/public_records connects researchers to all available online tools. Note: Luzerne County's coal region history means that some older properties may carry mineral rights separations or subsurface easements that appear as separate recorded documents from the surface deed, so thorough research should include a search for these related instruments.
Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds
The Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds office is located in the county courthouse in Wilkes-Barre. The recorder's page at luzernecounty.org/government/elected_officials/recorder_of_deeds provides contact information and service details. The county's main website at luzernecounty.org connects you to all county departments and elected officials. Public access terminals are available at the courthouse for in-person research. Certified copies of recorded documents are available for legal use. The office accepts e-recording as well as in-person and mailed submissions.
| Office |
Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds Luzerne County Courthouse 200 North River Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711 Phone: (570) 825-1641 |
|---|---|
| Website | luzernecounty.org/recorder-of-deeds |
| Public Records | luzernecounty.org/public_records |
| County Site | luzernecounty.org |
Searching Luzerne County Property Records Online
Luzerne County's public records portal at luzernecounty.org/public_records provides links to multiple online databases for searching property records. The deed record search allows you to look up documents by grantor and grantee name, document type, and date range. Assessment records are also searchable online and include deed reference information. GIS mapping tools let you view parcel boundaries and ownership information on an interactive map. All of these tools are available without login for basic searches.
The Pennsylvania US Land Records portal at pa.uslandrecords.com provides access to Luzerne County deed records as part of its statewide coverage, offering a secondary online option for searching grantor and grantee indexes and accessing recorded document images.
The Pennsylvania Association of Recorders of Deeds at padeeds.com lists all 67 county recorders including Luzerne County, and includes a fee calculator that is helpful when preparing to record documents in Wilkes-Barre.
For genealogy research involving historical deed records in Luzerne County, the Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg holds early land survey and warrant records that predate the county's formal deed system. These resources, combined with the microfilmed deed books at the courthouse, can help researchers build a complete picture of property ownership in Luzerne County from its earliest years. Note: For coal-era properties in Luzerne County, always search for separate mineral rights deeds and subsurface documents in addition to the surface deed, as many properties had their mineral rights severed and conveyed separately during the height of the coal industry.
Recording Requirements in Luzerne County
Documents submitted for recording in Luzerne County must meet Pennsylvania's standard requirements. All documents should be on white 8.5 by 11 inch paper and typed in a clear, legible font no smaller than ten points. Notary acknowledgments must be complete, including the state, county, date, names of parties, the notary's signature, and the notary's expiration date. The municipality, county, and state where the property is located must appear on the document. Staples are not permitted.
Most deed transfers are subject to the realty transfer tax under 72 P.S. § 8102-C. Pennsylvania collects one percent at the state level, and local municipalities in Luzerne County add their own rate. A Statement of Value form must accompany taxable transfers. Deeds claiming an exemption from transfer tax must clearly state the exemption basis in the document. Tax parcel ID numbers must appear on all deeds. E-recording is available and speeds up processing. Mailed documents require a self-addressed stamped envelope. The fee calculator at padeeds.com helps estimate costs in advance.
Coal Region Property History in Luzerne County
Luzerne County's coal mining heritage shaped its property landscape in ways that are still visible in the deed records today. Coal companies acquired vast tracts of land during the nineteenth century, and those acquisitions are documented in deed books that span the era from 1840 through 1950. Company towns were built on leased land, and the deed records reflect both the lease arrangements and the eventual sale of town properties to individual residents as the coal industry declined. Researching the history of a property in a former coal town often requires tracing back through company ownership to find the original deed granting land to the coal company.
Subsurface rights are a distinct issue in coal region properties. Many Luzerne County properties have had their mineral rights severed from the surface rights, meaning different owners hold the surface and what lies beneath. These mineral rights deeds are recorded in the same deed books as surface deeds and are indexed under the names of the grantor and grantee in the mineral transaction. A complete title search for a coal region property requires searching for both surface and subsurface records. Some properties also carry surface support waiver documents that allow underground mining to proceed without liability for surface damage, and these agreements are recorded at the Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds as well.