Washington County Deed Records

Washington County deed records are maintained by the Recorder of Deeds, with all deeds from 1781 to the present available online through the Landex system at LANDEX.com. The Washington County Recorder of Deeds office was established in 1781 and has maintained a continuous record of all real estate instruments recorded in the county since that year. Carrie Perrell serves as the Recorder of Deeds. Documents are recorded, indexed, verified, and scanned within one business day of receipt. Searching Washington County deed records online gives access to nearly 250 years of property history.

Washington County Deed Records Overview

Washington County is located in southwestern Pennsylvania and was established in 1781, making it one of the older counties in the state. The Recorder of Deeds office was established the same year and has maintained a continuous record of all land transactions since then. All deeds from 1781 to the present are available online through the Landex system, making Washington County's deed records among the most comprehensively digitized in Pennsylvania. The office records deeds, mortgages, and subdivisions, and collects fees and taxes on all recorded instruments.

The Landex system provides two access options for Washington County deed records. The Webstore option at the Landex website is best for infrequent users who prefer to pay per document without setting up an account. The Landex Remote option is designed for attorneys, title companies, and abstractors who need frequent access and prefer a dedicated account. You can reach Landex support by calling 1-800-370-2836, Option 4, if you need help accessing Washington County records through either system. The statewide portal at pa.uslandrecords.com also connects to Washington County's recording system.

Washington County deeds are processed quickly after receipt. Documents are recorded, indexed, verified, and scanned within one business day of filing. This rapid processing means that newly recorded deeds appear in the online system very quickly. Under the race-notice recording statute at 21 P.S. § 351, this quick processing means that buyers who file their deeds promptly will have their interests secured in the county's index within one business day.

Washington County Recorder of Deeds

Carrie Perrell serves as the Washington County Recorder of Deeds. The office is located at the county courthouse in Washington, Pennsylvania. The office handles deed and mortgage filings, subdivision recordings, and the collection of recording fees and realty transfer taxes. Veterans are encouraged to file their military discharge papers (DD-214) with the recorder. These papers are not public records once filed, but the recorder maintains them for the veteran's benefit. The recorder's office no longer accepts legal-size pages submitted electronically. Documents must be in letter-size format with minimum font sizes as specified by the office.

Searching Washington County Deed Records

All Washington County deeds from 1781 to the present are accessible through Landex at LANDEX.com. This makes Washington County one of the best-served counties in Pennsylvania for online historical deed research. Select Washington County within the Landex system to begin your search by grantor name, grantee name, or document type. The Webstore option is available for one-time searches, while the Remote option provides account-based access for regular users. The statewide portal at pa.uslandrecords.com is the companion gateway for Pennsylvania-wide access.

The Washington County Recorder of Deeds page at washingtoncopa.gov provides complete information about Landex access, subdivision recording requirements, and other deed-related services. Carrie Perrell's page is the authoritative source for current recording procedures and fee schedules.

CourthouseDirect aggregates Washington County property data and provides contact information for the recorder, treasurer, and other county offices. Use this platform to get a quick overview of a property's recorded status before accessing the full deed text through Landex.

For historical deed research in Washington County, the Landex system's coverage from 1781 to the present is comprehensive. Washington County has some of the most complete digitized historical deed records in Pennsylvania, making it particularly well suited for long title chain research. The Pennsylvania State Archives also holds warrant registers and early survey records for the area predating the county's formation in 1781.

Recording and Transfer Requirements

Deeds submitted for recording in Washington County must meet Pennsylvania's standard requirements. A proper notary acknowledgment with the county and state of signing, the date, and a clear notary signature and stamp is required. A Certificate of Residence for the grantee must be included. Taxable transfers require a completed Form REV-183 Realty Transfer Tax Statement of Value. The recorder collects the state's 1% realty transfer tax plus any applicable local rate at recording.

Subdivision recordings in Washington County have specific additional requirements. Plans must bear the signatures of the local Planning Commission, Local Planning office, Board of Supervisors, and all property owners. An engineer's seal is required on all subdivision plans. Subdivisions must be recorded within 90 days of approval. Washington County no longer accepts legal-size pages submitted electronically, so documents must be in letter-size format with minimum font sizes specified by the office. Use the fee calculator at padeeds.com to estimate all recording fees and transfer taxes before filing in Washington County.

Note: Washington County's deed records run continuously from 1781 to the present, all available through Landex. This makes it one of the most complete online deed archives among Pennsylvania's 67 counties.