Luzerne County Recorder Information

About Luzerne County Recorder

The Recorder of Deeds office is responsible for recording real property documents for the county. The office also acts as a collection agent for realty transfer tax for the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, along with all of the municipalities and school districts in Luzerne County.

Recording Fees

$23.50 Adverse Possession
$23.50 Affidavit
$63.75 Agreement of Sale/Installment Sales Agreement
$23.50 Agreements -- Deed and Mortgage
$23.50 Agricultural Security Area
$23.50 Amendments -- Deed and Mortgage
$63.75 Assignment of Mortgage *no blanket assignments accepted
$71.75 Award of Real Estate
$23.50 Certificate of Completion
$23.50 Charter
$18.50 Clean & Green
$23.50 Contractual Consent of Landowner
$23.50 Court Order
$63.75 Declaration of Taking/Condemnation
$63.75 Deed Easement (requires Statement of Value if not taxable)
$71.75 Deeds
$23.50 Deed Miscellaneous -- Addendum, Assignment of Rents and Leases(or the satisfaction of) (no blankets accepted), Bill of Sale, Declaration of Acquisition, Protective Covenants & Restrictions, Disclaimer, Easement Termination Agreement, Right of first refusal
$63.75 Highway Permits
$23.50 Lease (Exempt)-- Under 30 Years (requires Statement of Value)
$63.75 Lease (All Taxes) -- Over 30 Years & State Tax Only
$23.50 Mortgage Subordination

$71.75 Mortgages
Notice of Assessment $38.00
Plus Writ Tax -- $ 0.50
Taxes Recording Fee -- $34.50 plus taxes due
due Archives -- $ 3.00

$23.50 Power of Attorney/Revocation of Power
$63.75 Power to Satisfy
$23.50 Release of Gas and Oil Lease
$63.75 Release of Mortgage and Partial Release of
Mortgage *no blanket releases accepted
$63.75 Right of Way
$63.75 Satisfactions
* $5.00 each additional satisfaction on same document
$33.50 Timber Conveyance

MISCELLANEOUS DOCUMENTS
$100.00 Financial Statements (UCC 1's/3's Flat Fee) *Non-Standard forms not accepted
$ 0.50 *** Each Additional PIN After First PIN

All deeds, mortgages and assignments require a signed, certified address of the grantee or mortgagee for recording.

All Municipalities Transfer Taxes -- 2% Except:
(Wilkes-Barre City --3.5%)
(Kingston Borough -- 2.5%)
(Pittston City -3.5%)

PITTSTON CITY REALTY TRANSFER TAX IS NOW A TOTAL OF 3.5%
HAZLETON CITY TRANSFER TAX IS NOW A TOTAL OF 2%

RECORDING FEES FOR DOCUMENTS
* Fees include up to four pages, four names and one PIN
* Each name over four -- $0.50 per name
* Additional pages over four -- $2.00 per page
* Each additional PIN -- $0.50
* Certifications -- $2.00
* Fax charge -- sending & receiving (per page) -- $2.00
* Copy machine and computer printouts (per page) -- $0.50
* Copy by mail -- $5.00 first page, $2.00 each additional page
* Returned check fee -- $35.00
* Sheriff's deed certification -- $5.00
* Please instruct Assessor's Office to PIN certify documents on top margin. We require a 2 " margin at the bottom of at least two pages for Recorder of Deeds stamps
* The Assessor office charges a separate fee to certify each PIN number -- please call 570-825- 1525 for the current fee.

The Recorder of Deeds cannot accept a deed unless the tax is paid at the time of recording. In most sales agreements, this is split between the buyer and seller.

Call the Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds at (570) 825-1641 if you have questions about fee schedules or payment options.

Document Formatting Requirements

* All documents presented for recording must be original, properly executed, signed, dated, and acknowledged before a notary public with the notary's signature and seal. The maximum size paper accepted is 8.5 x 14 inches, and the minimum size is 8.5 x 11 inches. Use white, standard weight copy paper.

* The entire document must meet legibility requirements in order to be recorded. After the document has been imaged, the copy must be readable without magnification.

* All foreign language documents must include a written or typed English language translation to be recorded along with the original.

* The names given throughout the document need to be consistent. Original signatures in dark blue or black ink are required. Corresponding names should be printed or typed beneath signatures.

* The text should be in black ink, with a font size of at least 10 point.

* Margins should be at least 1 inch, unless otherwise noted, and clear of all markings.

* PIN numbers assigned to the property are required on all documents. The Assessor's Office will certify PINs on documents on the top margin. The Luzerne County Recorder's office requires a 2.5 inch margin at the bottom of at least two pages for the recording stamp.

* The acknowledgment date should not predate the execution date. Seals or stamps should not cover any printed material or signatures.

* All deeds, mortgages, and assignments require a signed certificate of address for the grantee or mortgagee.

* Multiple documents in one transaction must be clearly numbered as to the proper order for recording. The document presenter is responsible for paying any re-recording expenses resulting from an improper order of documents.

* On the first page of the document, provide a legal description of the real property and the address related to the real property. The legal description needs to include the municipality, county, and state of the property.

* Deeds or leases presented for recording with property in more than one municipality must clearly state in the document what the proportional share is (in percentage) as to the division of the local realty transfer taxes.

* Re-recorded or correction documents must clearly state the reason for re-recording and must have a new acknowledgment.

STATEMENT OF VALUE

A Statement of Value is required whenever the transfer tax is not paid or when the true value of the land is not shown on the deed (such as in a 1$ consideration). State investigators will check the property to see if the value is as stated or if the reason given for exemption is valid.

When a deed transfer requires a Statement of Value, the Recorder of Deeds requires one original and one copy (to be sent to the state). All information is to be completed on the Statement of Value (i.e. school district, assessed value, common level ratio). It must also be signed and dated by a person connected with the transaction. When fees are assessed, the Statement of Value will be counted as a page, as will any exhibits attached to the form.

Non-family tax exemptions must have a Statement of Value. If a deed is exempt, the reason for exemption must be stated on the document.