Dorchester County Recorder

The Circuit Court Clerk's Land Records Office is responsible for recording and maintaining real property records in Dorchester County.

To record a deed or mortgage 9 pages or fewer, the fee is $20.

For any instrument 10 pages or more, the fee is $75.

The Recordation Tax is $5 per each $500.

The state transfer tax is .50% of the consideration, but is .25% if a first time
Maryland Homebuyer Affidavit is submitted at the time of recording.

The county transfer tax in Dorchester is .75% of the consideration. The first $30,000 of consideration is exempt if the buyer is an owner occupant and the document is submitted with an affidavit of owner occupancy.

* Submit your document on 8.5 x 11 inch or 8.5 x 14 inch paper.

* Printing or typing must be in at least 8 point type with black ink, and on white paper of sufficient weight.

* The first page should have a top margin of 2 inches and 1 inch on other sides. Other pages should have margins of 1 inch on the top, bottom, and sides.

* A preparer's statement is needed, which can be written as follows: "This is to certify that the within instrument(s) has been prepared by a party to the instrument."

* Documents must contain a legal description of the property.

* For an instrument that transfers title and/or effects a change in ownership on the real property tax records, one must first pay municipal and special taxes, assessments, and charges before the instrument can be recorded.

* Signatures contained in the document must have corresponding names printed above or below them.

* Deeds must include the grantor's signature, which must be notarized.

* The Parcel ID# should be typed or printed on the deed.

* An affidavit of total payment should accompany deeds, and if applicable, a certificate of exemption from withholding.

* For quitclaim deeds, submitters need to provide two copies of the quitclaim deed.

You may need to contact the Dorchester County Finance Office, Cambridge City Hall, or other municipalities located within Dorchester County before recording your deed at the County Clerk's Office.

To record a deed or document that effects a change of ownership, it must be accompanied by a completed intake sheet (available at the state of Maryland website), a copy of the deed for submission to the Department of Assessments and Taxation, and an affidavit of residency, and/or a Maryland Form MW 506 NRS for non-residence sale of property.