Sullivan County Deed Records
Sullivan County deed records are managed through the Prothonotary's Office in Laporte, Pennsylvania, which also handles recorder of deeds functions for the county. The office records deeds, mortgages, easements, and subdivision plats for all 13 municipalities in Sullivan County. Searching Sullivan County deed records is available online through the Landex system, and in person at 245 Muncy Street, Suite 100 in Laporte. Copy fees are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 per certification. Fax delivery is available at $3.00 per page for mail requests up to 12 pages.
Sullivan County Quick Facts
Sullivan County Deed Records Overview
Sullivan County was formed in 1847 and is one of Pennsylvania's least-populated counties, located in the north-central part of the state. The county seat is Laporte. Deed records in Sullivan County date to 1847, and grantor and grantee indexes begin with 1847 to 1876 as documented in the Pennsylvania State Archives digitized records guide. Deed Books from 1848 to 1866 (volumes A through various) are held at the State Archives for research. More recent records are accessible through the Landex online system and through the Prothonotary's Office in Laporte.
Sullivan County consists of 13 municipalities with a median home value of $177,900 and a median household income of $61,875. The county's rural character means that many recorded properties are large parcels of forest land, hunting camps, and farm acreage. The recorder's function in Sullivan County is part of the Prothonotary's Office, which oversees five different offices. The Landex system provides online access to deed records, and Landex Record Alert is also available for property owners who want to monitor their name in the index.
Pennsylvania's race-notice recording statute at 21 P.S. § 351 applies to all deed recordings in Sullivan County. The first party to record a valid deed in good faith and for value holds priority. With rural land transactions that sometimes involve complex family histories, prompt recording in Sullivan County is especially important to establish clear title.
Sullivan County Recorder of Deeds Office
Sullivan County's recorder of deeds functions are handled by the Prothonotary's Office at 245 Muncy Street, Suite 100 in Laporte. The office records deeds, mortgages, easements, and plats for the county. Important to know: copies of deeds are not requested through the Right-to-Know process in Sullivan County. Instead, deed copies are obtained directly from the Prothonotary's Office. The Open Records Office at 570-946-7331 handles RTK requests for other county records, but deeds are separate from that process.
| Office | Sullivan County Prothonotary's Office 245 Muncy Street, Suite 100 Laporte, PA 18626 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 570-946-7351 |
| Copy Fees | $0.50 per page; Certified: $5.00; Fax: $3.00 per page |
| Mail Delivery | $3.00 for up to 12 pages, then $0.25 per additional page |
| Online Records | Landex system (index and images) |
Searching Sullivan County Deed Records
The Landex system provides online access to Sullivan County deed records. You can search the index at no charge and pay a per-document fee to download images. The statewide portal at pa.uslandrecords.com also connects to Sullivan County's recording system. Select Sullivan County from the list to begin your search by name, document type, or date. For recent recordings that may not yet be in the online system, contact the Prothonotary's Office in Laporte directly.
The Pennsylvania Property Checker database provides deed, tax, and lien information for Sullivan County parcels. Use this overview tool to get property details before searching the recorder's full index through Landex or the statewide portal.
The Sullivan County Open Records office handles general right-to-know requests, but deed copies specifically should be requested from the Prothonotary's Office rather than through the RTK process. This page clarifies what types of records go through each channel.
The Sullivan County Prothonotary's Office handles deed recording functions for the county. The page at sullivancountypa.gov also provides information about the Landex Record Alert system and Landex Notary Alerts for monitoring documents recorded in your name.
For historical research, the Pennsylvania State Archives holds digitized records for Sullivan County including grantor and grantee indexes from 1847 to 1876 and deed books from 1848 to 1866. Researchers can access these records through the Archives at no charge for basic index searches. The State Archives research room in Harrisburg provides access to digitized microfilm copies for in-person visitors.
Recording and Transfer Requirements
Documents submitted for recording in Sullivan County must meet Pennsylvania's standard requirements. A proper notary acknowledgment with the county, state, and date of signing is required, along with a clear notary signature and stamp. A Certificate of Residence is required for deed recordings. Taxable transfers must include a completed Form REV-183 Realty Transfer Tax Statement of Value. The Prothonotary's Office collects the state's 1% realty transfer tax and any applicable local municipal rate at the time of recording.
Most Sullivan County municipalities apply a local realty transfer tax of 1%, bringing the combined rate to 2% on most taxable transfers. Exemptions from the transfer tax include family conveyances, charitable transfers, and corrective deeds. Under 16 P.S. § 9781, the recorder must maintain a complete index of all instruments. The PRODA fee calculator at padeeds.com can help you estimate your total costs before submitting documents in Sullivan County.
Note: Effective December 1, 2025, the JCS fee in Sullivan County increased to $41.25. Confirm current fee schedules with the Prothonotary's Office before recording documents.