Luzerne County Recorder Information

Land records in Luzerne County are recorded by the Recorder of Deeds. The office is held by Paula L. Radick.

Landex Remote (account-based) and Landex Webstore (free index, fee per document) cover images from 1968, indexed from December 1980. IQS Infodex/E-Film Reader offers free searching of older deeds (1786 to 1967) and Grantor/Grantee Index 1 through 5 (1786 to August 1, 1993). Certified copies are available in office only. Books from 1787 through August 1993 are kept at the Records Center in Hanover Township.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Realty Transfer Tax - PA Department of Revenue · ROD Fee Schedule Effective 7-1-26 · Recorder of Deeds | Luzerne County

These government fees are separate from any Deeds.com service fees. Confirm current charges with the recorder's office.

Other charges

Fee schedule effective July 1, 2026.

StatewideEach county sets its own recording fees, and the totals counties publish include the state charges collected with every deed, mortgage and similar filing: a $20.00 judicial computer system and access to justice fee and a temporary $21.25 surcharge that runs until December 31, 2027 (204 Pa. Code 29.351). Counties also add their own records improvement, affordable housing and demolition fees.

Recording fees include up to four pages, four names and one PIN; additional pages over four are $2.00 per page and each additional PIN is $0.50. The Statement of Value and its exhibits are counted as pages. Deed, deed exempt and mortgage fees include a $15.00 Luzerne County Demolition Fund fee beginning July 1, 2026. Documents requiring a PIN must be certified by the County Assessor's Office before recording at $20.00 per PIN, payable to Luzerne County Treasurer. Satisfactions: $5.00 each additional satisfaction on the same document. Copy by mail: $5.00 first page, $2.00 each additional page. Fax charge: $2.00 per page. Time-stamped copy: $5.00. Sheriff's deed certification: $5.00. Document rejection fee: $10.00 each time a document is rejected by mail, $5.00 for eRecordings; $2.00 for rejected documents with no return postage. Returned check fee: $35.00. No more than 10 documents per check; the office does not issue refunds. UCC financing statements: $100.00 flat. Maps: $30.00, plus $10.00 per additional page of the same plan.

Paying the office

No cash is accepted at the Hazleton Annex. All recording fees and transfer taxes are payable at the time of recording.

Transfer tax

Realty Transfer Tax. 1 percent on the value of real estate (including contracted-for improvements to property) transferred by deed, instrument, long-term lease or other writing. The tax is collected when the document is recorded. (statewide, 72 P.S. § 8101-C et seq.)

StatewideCounty Recorders of Deeds collect the state realty transfer tax, often together with an additional local realty transfer tax levied by municipalities and school districts (Tax Reform Code of 1971, Article XI-D, 72 P.S. § 8101-D et seq.). The Department of Revenue describes the rate as one percent for the state and usually one percent for the local portion; local rates vary by place.

Local realty transfer tax: 0.5% to the municipality and 0.5% to the school district (2% total with the state tax). Wilkes-Barre City municipal tax is 2.5% (3.5% total); Kingston Borough 1% (2.5% total); Pittston City 2.5% (3.5% total). Deeds and leases covering property in more than one municipality must state the proportional share for each municipality.

Checked October 2026 against the sources below. Some of them are not official publications, so confirm with the recorder's office. Sources: Realty Transfer Tax - PA Department of Revenue · Recorder of Deeds - Pennsylvania Department of Revenue (Answer Center) · ROD Fee Schedule Effective 7-1-26 · Recorder of Deeds | Luzerne County · About Filing Deeds · Recorder of Deeds FAQs

Confirm current requirements with the recorder's office before submitting documents.

A 2½" margin is required at the bottom of at least two pages for Recorder of Deeds stamps; PIN certification goes on the top margin.

StatewideRecorders refuse a mortgage, assignment, or agreement given to secure payment of money unless a certificate signed by the mortgagee, assignee, or person entitled to interest, or an authorized attorney or agent, setting forth that person's precise residence is attached and recorded with it (21 P.S. § 625).

Foreign language documents must include written English translations. The written consideration must match the numerical amount on deeds and mortgages. White-out is not accepted. Multiple documents in one transaction must be numbered in recording order. Exempt deeds must state on the document why they are exempt. Subdivision plans must be at least 24 x 36, rolled or flat, and recorded within 90 days of signature.

Forms filed along with a transfer

• Realty Transfer Tax Statement of Value (REV-183) Statewide Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, Bureau of Individual Taxes
  Filed in duplicate with the Recorder of Deeds when (1) the full value/consideration is not set forth in the deed, (2) the deed is without consideration or by gift, or (3) a tax exemption is claimed

Submitting documents

eRecordings can be submitted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, but are accepted and recorded only during normal working hours. Documents submitted by mail without a return envelope of sufficient size will not be returned. At the Hazleton Annex, customers must wait for their documents; they cannot be left with staff.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: 1979-1980 Regular Session HB 946 PN 3432 Bill Text · REV-183 Realty Transfer Tax Statement of Value and Instructions · Pennsylvania Statutes Title 21 P.S. Deeds and Mortgages § 625 · ROD Fee Schedule Effective 7-1-26 · Recorder of Deeds | Luzerne County · About Filing Deeds · Recording & Filing Documents · eRecording