Lehigh County, Pennsylvania - Recorder Information

Register of Deeds

You are NOT on the Lehigh County official website, you are on Deeds.com, a private website that is not affiliated with any government agency.

The Recorder of Deeds division of the Clerk of Judicial Records is responsible for recording and maintaining real property records in Lehigh County.

Recording Fees

The fees below include a maximum of 4 pages, 4 names, and 1 PIN certification unless otherwise noted.
*Includes 1 electronic notation
Each Additional Page....................... $2.00
Each Additional Name...................... $0.50
Each Additional PIN........................ $10.00
Each Electronic Notation................. $2.00

MORTGAGES & RELATED DOCUMENTS
Mortgage........................................................$80.25
Satisfaction Piece......................................... $70.75*
Amendment of Mortgage............................... $30.50*
Assignment of Mortgage................................$70.75*
Assignment of Rents & Leases......................$28.50
Assumption of Mortgage................................$30.50*
Extension....................................................... $30.50*
Modification of Mortgage............................... $30.50*
Postponement of Mortgage........................... $30.50*
Release of Mortgage..................................... $70.75*
Rider.............................................................. $30.50*
Stipulation of General Mortgage.................... $18.50
(Additional fee if PIN Certification is required)
Subordination of Mortgage............................ $30.50*
Termination of Assignment of Mortgage....... $70.75*

DEEDS
Deeds (all types)............................................$80.25
Deed of Dedication........................................ $68.75
Quiet Title Action........................................... $28.50

OTHER REAL ESTATE
Amendment................................................... $30.50*
Assignment.................................................... $30.50*
Assignment of Easement............................... $70.75*
Assignment of Lease..................................... $70.75*
Assumption.................................................... $30.50*
Covenant Act 515.......................................... $33.00
(no fee for additional pages or names)
Declaration.....................................................$28.50
Declaration of Acquisition.............................. $28.50
Dedication......................................................$28.50
Easement.......................................................$68.75
Installment Sales Agreement........................ $68.75
Lease (over 30 years)....................................$58.75
License.......................................................... $28.50
Memorandum without RTT............................ $28.50
Memorandum with RTT................................. $68.75
Modification....................................................$30.50*
Notice.............................................................$28.50
Ordinance...................................................... $28.50
Preferential Assessment Act 319...................$33.00
(no fee for additional pages or names)
Release..........................................................$30.50*
Right of First Refusal..................................... $28.50
Right-of-Way..................................................$68.75
Satisfaction.................................................... $30.50*
Subordination.................................................$30.50*
Termination....................................................$30.50*

MAPS/PLANS (no fee for additional names)
Agricultural Security Area, Development,
Right-of-Way, Stormwater Management,
Subdivision, Survey..................... First page $35.00
Each additional page $25.00
Condo.......................................... First page $40.00
Each additional page $25.00
Highway, Mining, Railroad........... First page $15.00
Each additional page $3.00
Map Proof of Recording..................................$1.50

MISCELLANEOUS DOCUMENTS
Affidavit.......................................................... $28.50
Agreement..................................................... $28.50
Agricultural Security Area Ordinance.............$28.50
Certificate.......................................................$28.50
Consent......................................................... $28.50
Highway Occupancy Permit...........................$28.50
Miscellaneous................................................ $28.50
Name Change/Merger................................... $28.50
Order..............................................................$28.50

Power of Attorney.......................................... $18.50
(Additional fee if PIN Certification is required)
Praecipe.........................................................$28.50
Resolution......................................................$28.50
Revocation.....................................................$28.50
Revocation of Power of Attorney................... $30.50*
Vacation.........................................................$28.50
Waiver............................................................$28.50
Financing Statements/Secured Transactions
UCC1, UCC3, & UCC5................................ $110.00
(no fee for additional pages, names, or notations)

MILITARY DISCHARGE (DD-214)................. FREE
COMMISSIONS
Notary Bond & Commission...........................$33.50
Notary Signature Registration Civil Fee...........$4.00
Notary Name or Address Change..................$18.50
(Contact the PA Dept of State for requirements)
Police Commission........................................ $18.50

MISCELLANEOUS FEES
Mail Back Fee.......................... $3.00 per document
Email Fee........................................ $3.00 per email
Overpayments.......... $10.00 or less will be forfeited
Rejection Fee.... $10.00 each time a doc is rejected
Return Check Fee......................................... $20.00
PHOTOCOPIES:
Per page (in person).........................................$0.25
Per page (mail/email)...................................... $1.00
Certified Copies..................... +$1.50 per document
Map................................................. $5.00 per sheet
When no fee is specified, the fee shall be set by the Recorder of Deeds
Any recording expenses resulting from accidentally submitting a document in error or submitting the same document more than once will be paid by the submitter -- NO REFUNDS WILL BE GIVEN.
**A stamped, self-addressed envelope of sufficient size and postage must accompany all documents in order for the document to be returned or a $3.00 per document mail back fee will be applied.

REALTY TRANSFER TAX:
The 1% State Realty Transfer Tax and 1% Local Realty Transfer Tax are due at the time of recording. The Realty Transfer Tax and recording fee may be combined in one check.
Statements of Value must accompany all transfers not paying a full transfer tax or stating the full consideration, or transfers claiming an exemption (except for a family exemption which must be clearly stated on the document).
One copy of the Statement of Value is counted as a page of the document when determining recording fees.
All taxable documents with property in more than one municipality must contain a signed statement clearly stating the percentage of Local Realty Transfer Tax to be paid to each municipality.
PAYMENTS:
Cash, checks, money orders, and credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover) accepted. Credit cards are accepted for recording fees ONLY.Credit cards may NOT be used for the payment of Realty Transfer Tax. There is a 2.5% credit card company service fee ($2.00 minimum).
Make all checks and money orders payable to "Recorder of Deeds" -- blank checks are NOT accepted. All checks must include the account holder's address.
Any overpayments of $10.00 or less will be forfeited. If the check is over by more than $10.00, the document(s) will be rejected and a $10.00 rejection fee will be charged for documents received by mail. Overpayments will not be refunded.

If you need more information about recording fees or transfer taxes, contact the Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds at 610-782-3162.

Document Formatting Requirements

* The maximum paper size accepted for recording is 8.5 x 14 inches. Paper should be white and of at least 20 pound weight. 8.5 x 11 inch paper is also accepted.

* All documents submitted for recording must be legible. After the document has been imaged, the copy must be readable without magnification.

* Foreign language documents must be accompanied by a written English translation.

* Documents must have original signatures, which should be in black or dark ink and suitable for imaging. Corresponding names should be written beneath signatures; these names should match the names printed in the acknowledgment. Seals or stamps should not cover signatures or any printed text in the document. The acknowledgment date should not predate the date of execution on the document.

* A document must have proper acknowledgments by a notary public in order to be recorded and should include the following: County, state, date, name of person(s) signing, notary signature, notary stamp/seal (must be clear, legible, and in dark ink), and the notary expiration date. If any of these items are missing, the acknowledgment will be considered defective.

* On the first page, a 3-inch top margin should be provided. The right side of this margin will be used by the Recorder of Deeds. All other margins on the first page and on subsequent pages must be at least 1 inch.

* The UPI number (PIN and PARNUM) must appear on all documents relating to real estate and will be certified by the GIS department. To obtain PIN and PARNUM information, visit the Assessor's Records on the Lehigh County website.

* All real estate related documents must indicate the correct municipality, county, and state where the parcel is located.

* The written consideration amount must match the numerical amount on all deeds and mortgages.

* If a document has "legal attached" or "Exhibit A attached" written on it, the appropriate pages must be attached.

* A complete certified address for the grantee, clearly written or typed by the grantee or designee, must be on the deed.

* Multiple documents constituting one transaction must be clearly numbered in the proper order in which they are to be recorded.

* Any document that references a previously recorded document must state the original recording information and the book and page or instrument number.

* A statement of value is required to be submitted in duplicate with deeds.

A Correction Deed must include a Statement of Value form (in duplicate) along with a complete copy of the original deed that is being corrected.

Re-recorded documents must have a new acknowledgment, along with a typed or written explanation on the document that explains why it is being re-recorded.