Stark County, Ohio • deeds, mortgages, liens and recorded real-estate documents
Stark County Recorder: Search Deeds, Mortgages and Property Records Online
The Stark County Recorder’s Office maintains the permanent
public record of deeds, mortgages, easements, releases, liens, land contracts,
affidavits, powers of attorney, plats and other instruments affecting real
estate in Stark County, Ohio.
The Recorder currently uses Kofile CountyFusion for its
online recorded-document search. For a first-time visitor who knows only a
street address, however, the easier route is to identify the parcel and
owner first through the official Stark County Real Estate Search, then move
into CountyFusion for the actual deed or mortgage image.
Fastest beginner route:
Stark County Real Estate Search → search address or owner →
save the permanent parcel number and sale/owner information →
open Recorder CountyFusion → search the owner or known recording reference →
open the recorded image → verify the legal description and parties.
Current Stark County Recorder
Jamie Walters
Recorder office
110 Central Plaza South, Suite 170, Canton, OH 44702
Recorder fax
330-451-7394
Online records
CountyFusion recorded-document search
Property fraud monitoring
Free FraudSleuth email alerts
Useful 2026 Stark County detail:
the Recorder states that recorded real-estate documents are made available
online, allowing most users to research before making an office visit.
Independent guide:
County-CAD.us is not the Stark County Recorder, Stark County Auditor,
Stark County Treasurer, Engineer, Board of Revision or another Ohio
government agency. Use the linked official government systems for actual
document searches, recordings, transfers, payments and certified copies.
Start with your actual task
What Are You Trying to Do?
Practical search workflow
Address → Parcel → Sale Clue → Recorder → Document
1
Address
Start with what you know.
2
Parcel search
Confirm the exact property.
3
Sales history
Get seller/buyer clues.
4
CountyFusion
Search recorded documents.
5
Verify image
Match legal property.
6
Copy / certify
Obtain only what you need.
Official Stark County resources
Which Official Website Should You Open?
REC
Stark County Recorder
Official office information, fees, search help and recording services.
Open Official Recorder
TAX
Stark County Real Estate Tax Search
Parcel, owner or property-address tax search and payment.
Search Property Taxes
SAFE
FraudSleuth
Free Stark County Recorder property-record monitoring.
Open FraudSleuth
Scenario 1: street address only
How to Find a Stark County Deed by Address
Do not begin by guessing names in the Recorder database. Stark County’s
combined Auditor/Treasurer Real Estate Search is a much better address-first
tool because it gives you the parcel number, owner and sale history.
Open the Stark County Real Estate Search.
Accept the county disclaimer when the system requests it.
Choose Basic Search.
Use Advanced Search only when a simple owner, address or parcel search
does not solve the task.
Enter the property address.
Begin with the street number and main street name rather than filling
every possible detail.
Open the correct parcel.
Compare the owner name, parcel number, situs address and property profile.
Copy the permanent parcel number.
Save it before moving to another county website.
Open the Sales section.
Stark County’s property record can show sale date, sale price,
conveyance number, seller, buyer and instrument type.
Write down the seller and buyer names.
These are useful Recorder grantor/grantee search clues.
Note the deed type.
Examples visible in the county system include General Warranty Deed,
Survivorship Deed, Quit Claim Deed and other deed categories.
Open CountyFusion.
Search the Recorder records using the names and approximate recording year.
Open the actual recorded image.
Verify the parties and legal description rather than relying only on
the Auditor’s sales summary.
Local shortcut:
Stark County’s property Sales tab can function as a free pre-screen before
Recorder research. It can give you the transaction date, parties and deed
type needed to make a much tighter CountyFusion search.
If the Stark County Address Search Finds Nothing
Use fewer address details
Try only the house number and street name before adding direction,
suffix or ZIP information.
Try the owner name
Search the last name or one distinctive business/trust word.
Search the former owner
A newly recorded deed can reach the Recorder before every property
display has fully refreshed.
Use GIS / Map Search
Map-based research can help with rural parcels, vacant land or addresses
that differ from tax records.
Check adjoining parcels
One residence, farm, business or development can involve several parcel numbers.
Use Recorder names after identifying the parcel
The recorded instrument is the stronger source for legal transfer research.
Official recorded-document system
How to Search Stark County Recorder Records in CountyFusion
Open CountyFusion using the official link above.
Confirm that the county shown is Stark County, Ohio.
Use the public recorded-document search.
Depending on the system view, account creation may be useful for archive
or FraudSleuth features, but begin with the public search options available.
Start with the seller/grantor or buyer/grantee name.
Use the names found in the Auditor Sales history, closing papers or prior deed.
Use a simple surname first.
Add the first name only after confirming how the index formats the party.
Search trusts and companies independently.
Property may be held by an LLC, trustee, estate or business rather than
the individual name a user expects.
Narrow by approximate recording year.
Use the transaction date from the Auditor Sales page or closing records.
Use a known instrument number when available.
It is preferable to a broad name search because it points to one specific recording.
Open the document details and image.
Compare the legal description.
Make sure the deed concerns the parcel you intended to research.
Save the instrument number, recording date and parties.
Those are the best references for certified copies and later title research.
Best Search Method Based on What You Know
Information
Start here
Best next step
Street address
Auditor Real Estate Search
Save parcel, seller/buyer and sale date, then use Recorder.
Current owner
Auditor + CountyFusion
Confirm parcel first, then search the owner in recorded documents.
Seller / buyer
CountyFusion
Search the transfer year and open likely deed instruments.
Instrument number
Recorder search
Use the exact recording reference to retrieve the document.
Book and page
Recorder archive
Use historical deed-book resources and related indexes.
Mortgage lender
Recorder name search
Search mortgage plus later release/satisfaction instruments.
Useful Stark County pre-screen
Use the Auditor Sales Tab Before Searching a Recent Deed
Stark County’s current property system can show transaction details such as:
- sale date;
- sale price;
- conveyance number;
- seller;
- buyer;
- instrument type;
- number of parcels; and
- whether the sale was categorized as qualified or unqualified for appraisal analysis.
Do not confuse the Auditor sales summary with the legal deed.
The property system is useful for identifying the transaction, but Stark
County itself warns users to rely on original recorded documents for legal transactions.
Find the parcel in Real Estate Search.
Open Sales.
Locate the relevant transaction.
Copy seller, buyer, sale date and deed type.
Open CountyFusion.
Search those parties around the transaction date.
Read the recorded instrument itself.
What to Verify on a Stark County Recorded Deed
Instrument Number
The Recorder’s unique document reference. Save it.
Recording Date
Date the instrument entered the official county land records.
Grantor
Generally the party transferring or granting the interest.
Grantee
Generally the party receiving the interest.
Legal Description
Formal description of the land. This is more important than merely matching a mailing address.
Parcel Reference
Compare any parcel reference with the Auditor parcel you researched.
Prior Instrument
Follow book/page or instrument references when tracing title backward.
Document Type
Warranty deed, survivorship deed, quitclaim deed, mortgage, lien,
release, affidavit or another instrument.
Research copy vs certified copy
How to Get a Stark County Deed Copy
Search CountyFusion first. If the image you need is available online,
it may be sufficient for ordinary research, property review or reference.
If a court, lender, title company, probate matter or other official process
specifically requires certification, request a certified copy from the Recorder.
Find the exact recorded instrument online.
Confirm every page belongs to the correct document.
Save the instrument number.
Determine whether an ordinary image is sufficient.
If certification is required, contact the Recorder.
Give staff the instrument number rather than only an address.
Ohio Recorder Copy and Certification Fees
Ohio Revised Code Section 317.32 currently provides the statutory framework
for Recorder copy and certification charges.
$2
Recorded Document Copy
Current statutory photocopy fee per page under the Recorder fee provisions.
$2
Certified Copy Page
Current combined statutory certification-copy charge per page.
+$1
Recorder Seal
Current statutory charge when a certification seal is required.
Verify before ordering:
the precise amount can depend on the requested service and document.
Call the Recorder at
330-451-7443
with the instrument number and number of pages.
Verify Ohio Recorder Fee Law
Current statutory base recording fee
How Much Does It Cost to Record a Deed in Stark County?
$34
First Two Pages
Current Ohio statutory basic recording charge.
$8
Each Additional Page
After the first two pages.
+$20
Nonstandard Document
Additional charge when a document subject to Ohio standardization rules does not conform.
Ohio law also permits a county Recorder to adopt a document-preservation
surcharge of up to $5 per instrument. Check Stark County’s current Recorder
fee page immediately before preparing payment rather than relying solely
on the base statutory amount.
Mailing a document?
Stark County Recorder instructions historically require a self-addressed
stamped envelope for returning recorded documents. Confirm the current
mail-recording procedure and exact payment before sending the original.
Check Stark County Recorder Fees
Transfer workflow
How to Record a Deed in Stark County, Ohio
Recording a deed is different from searching one. A conveyance can require
Auditor and Engineer review before the Recorder accepts the final instrument.
1
Prepare deed
Correct legal instrument.
2
DTE form
100 or 100EX.
3
Legal review
Engineer when required.
4
Auditor
Transfer/conveyance.
5
Recorder
Record instrument.
6
Verify
Find it online.
Prepare the correct deed.
Do not assume a warranty, survivorship or quitclaim deed has the same
legal effect.
Use the complete legal description.
Do not rely solely on a street address or simplified tax description.
Identify every parcel being transferred.
Multi-parcel conveyances need complete parcel information.
Determine whether DTE 100 or DTE 100EX applies.
Prepare any additional applicable conveyance statement.
Homestead/owner-occupancy or CAUV circumstances can trigger additional
transfer paperwork.
Check whether Engineer approval is needed.
New or changed legal descriptions can require additional review.
Complete Auditor transfer/conveyance processing.
Pay Auditor conveyance/transfer fees separately from Recorder fees.
Make sure the deed meets Ohio recording-format rules.
Submit to the Stark County Recorder.
Use the current in-person, mail or authorized e-recording method.
After recording, search CountyFusion.
Confirm the instrument number and final recorded image.
The Recorder does not choose or draft the proper deed for you.
Ownership, survivorship, trust, estate, creditor and tax consequences can
require advice from an Ohio attorney or title professional.
Auditor transfer step
DTE 100, DTE 100EX and Stark County Conveyance Fees
DTE 100
Ohio Real Property Conveyance Fee Statement of Value and Receipt,
generally used for a taxable conveyance.
DTE 100EX
Statement of Reason for Exemption From Real Property Conveyance Fee,
used when a statutory exemption is claimed.
Ohio Base Conveyance Charges
$1 / $1,000
State Conveyance Fee
Ohio statutory fee based on property value/consideration for taxable conveyances.
$0.50
Transfer Entry Fee
State statutory transfer-entry charge for each applicable parcel/entry.
Ohio counties can also impose a permissive real-property transfer tax.
Use Stark County’s current Auditor transfer information to calculate the
complete local conveyance charge rather than using the state base alone.
Open Stark County Auditor Transfer Resources
Can Stark County Ohio Documents Be E-Recorded?
Yes. The Stark County Recorder provides an electronic-recording option
for eligible submitters and document types.
Open the Recorder’s E-Recording page.
Review currently approved e-recording providers.
Set up an account with the selected provider.
Upload the complete recordable document package.
Pay Recorder and provider fees through the service.
Monitor the submission for acceptance or rejection.
After acceptance, verify the public recording in CountyFusion.
E-recording is especially useful for title companies, lenders, attorneys
and repeat professional submitters. It does not eliminate legal,
conveyance or formatting requirements.
Open Stark County E-Recording
Mortgage payoff research
Paid Off a Mortgage? Search for the Release or Satisfaction
A mortgage payoff normally does not produce a new ownership deed.
The useful Recorder question is whether the mortgage was later released,
satisfied or otherwise discharged in the public record.
Find the parcel in the Auditor property search.
Open CountyFusion.
Search the owner/borrower and lender names.
Locate the original mortgage.
Save its instrument number.
Review later mortgage release/satisfaction documents.
Confirm that the later instrument references the same mortgage.
If you expected a release but cannot find one, contact the lender/servicer
and the Stark County Recorder with the mortgage instrument number ready.
Free Recorder security tool
How Stark County FraudSleuth Works
Stark County Recorder provides FraudSleuth free of charge.
The service emails users when a new document is recorded containing one
of the exact names configured in the user’s alert profile.
Open FraudSleuth and create/sign in to a CountyFusion account.
Open Preferences.
Choose Configure FraudSleuth Profile.
Create a separate profile for each name variation.
Example: first + last, first + middle + last, first + middle initial + last.
Add nicknames or alternate spellings when useful.
Do not use periods or commas in the alert names.
Save the profiles.
Review every unexpected email alert.
The alert includes matching data, document reference, document type
and recording date/time.
Exact-name matching is important.
Stark County says a separate profile is needed for each variation because
the alert name must exactly match the recorded document.
An alert does not prove fraud. Another Stark County property owner can
legitimately have the same name. Search the actual recording before
concluding that your property has been affected.
Historic Canton and Stark County deeds
How to Research Older Stark County Deeds
Stark County’s land records reach back to the county’s early nineteenth-century
history. CountyFusion includes archive resources for older deed indexes and
deed books in addition to the modern searchable document system.
Start with the newest known deed.
Record the grantor, grantee, book/page and legal description.
Open CountyFusion.
Choose the Archives area for historical research.
Use the deed index for the relevant period.
Locate the surname and corresponding book/page reference.
Open the deed book/page image.
Follow the prior deed reference backward.
This creates a more reliable chain than repeatedly searching one surname.
Genealogy shortcut:
older deed research is often much faster when you work backward from a
known deed using the referenced book and page rather than starting with
a broad family-name search.
Does the Newest Deed Prove Clear Title?
No. The newest deed is one important piece of a property’s title history,
but it does not automatically prove that no other recorded interest affects
the property.
A complete investigation can require reviewing:
- current and prior deeds;
- mortgages;
- mortgage releases and satisfactions;
- mechanic’s liens;
- federal or other liens;
- easements;
- restrictions;
- land contracts;
- affidavits;
- powers of attorney;
- probate-related instruments; and
- other later documents affecting the property.
Use a qualified Ohio title company or attorney for a purchase, foreclosure,
probate matter, ownership dispute, easement question or other transaction
where legal title must be determined.
Is the Stark County Parcel Map a Legal Survey?
No. Auditor GIS and Tax Map tools are useful for identifying and locating
parcels, but online parcel boundaries should not be treated as survey-grade
proof of the exact legal boundary.
Before placing a fence, driveway, building, septic system or other
improvement near a boundary, compare the recorded deed and plat and obtain
a professional survey when exact boundary location matters.
Which Stark County Office Handles Your Property Task?
Your task
Correct office
What to do
Deed, mortgage, easement or lien
Stark County Recorder
Search CountyFusion or request a recorded copy.
Owner, parcel, value or sales history
Stark County Auditor
Use Real Estate Search.
Property-tax payment
Stark County Treasurer
Search the tax account and make/verify payment.
Transfer/conveyance
Auditor + Engineer + Recorder
Complete required transfer review before final recording.
Challenge property value
Board of Revision
Use the Ohio valuation-complaint process, not the Recorder.
Exact boundary/title opinion
Surveyor / title company / attorney
Use professional legal and survey evidence.
Stark County-specific shortcuts
Local Tips That Save Time
Use the Auditor Sales tab before CountyFusion.
It can reveal seller, buyer, deed type and transaction date.
Search the seller after a very recent purchase.
Recorder and assessment ownership data can update on different schedules.
Save the parcel number and instrument number separately.
One identifies the appraisal parcel; the other identifies the recorded document.
Search trusts and LLCs separately.
Do not assume a property is indexed only under the homeowner’s personal name.
Use FraudSleuth name variations.
The service requires an exact match, so one profile may not catch every legitimate spelling.
Do not add punctuation to FraudSleuth profiles.
Stark County specifically advises against periods and commas.
Use historical book/page references.
They are often more useful than names for older chain-of-title research.
Do not confuse Auditor conveyance number with Recorder instrument number.
They serve different administrative functions.
Keep Recorder and Auditor fees separate.
Recording and ownership-transfer processing are different charges.
Check formatting before printing the deed.
A nonstandard Ohio recording can add $20.
Search a mortgage release after payoff—not a new deed.
Mortgage payoff does not normally change title ownership.
Use an online image for research before purchasing certification.
Certified copies are necessary only for certain formal uses.
What to Have Ready Before Calling the Recorder
- property address;
- permanent parcel number;
- current owner;
- former owner, if relevant;
- grantor/grantee names;
- approximate recording year;
- document type;
- instrument number, if already found;
- book/page for historical documents; and
- whether you need a plain or certified copy.
County-CAD.us Editorial Resources
Independent Website Disclaimer
Understand the difference between this guide and official county services.
Read Disclaimer
Primary source ledger
Official Sources Used for This Stark County Recorder Guide
Stark County Recorder
Used for current Recorder services, CountyFusion access, fees,
FraudSleuth and office resources.
Open Recorder
Kofile CountyFusion
Official online Stark County recorded-document and archive search system.
Open Recorder Search
FraudSleuth
Used for exact-name profile instructions, free alert status and
notification behavior.
Open FraudSleuth
Stark County Real Estate Search
Used for parcel, ownership, 2026 property data, sales history,
tax, map and property-search workflow.
Open Property Search
Stark County Tax Search
Used to verify tax-account searches by parcel, owner or property address.
Open Tax Search
Ohio Revised Code 317.32
Used for current Recorder recording, copying and certification fee rules.
Open Recording Fee Law
Ohio Revised Code Chapter 317
Used for standard-format requirements including font, paper size,
ink and recording margins.
Open Ohio Recorder Law
Ohio Revised Code 319.54
Used for statutory Auditor transfer and conveyance-fee rules.
Open Auditor Fee Law
Editorial verification: August 14, 2026.
Search interfaces, recording surcharges, office hours, e-recording
providers and transfer procedures can change. Confirm time-sensitive
details through the responsible official office before recording,
paying or relying on a document for a legal transaction.
Stark County Deed Research Checklist
- Start with Real Estate Search when you only know an address.
- Save the permanent parcel number.
- Review the Auditor Sales tab for seller/buyer and deed-type clues.
- Open the official CountyFusion Recorder system.
- Search current and former owners.
- Search trusts, estates and LLCs separately.
- Narrow by transaction year.
- Open the recorded document image.
- Compare the legal description.
- Save the Recorder instrument number.
- Search later mortgages, releases, liens and easements when title matters.
- Order certification only when required.
- Use DTE 100/100EX correctly for a new conveyance.
- Check current Recorder fees before submitting.
- Register multiple exact-name variations in FraudSleuth.
10 Stark County Recorder questions
Stark County Ohio Recorder FAQs
1. What is the official Stark County Ohio Recorder deed search?
The Stark County Recorder uses Kofile CountyFusion for its online
recorded-document search. Use the Recorder’s Search Records link or
open the Stark County CountyFusion system. If you only know a street
address, first use the official Stark County Real Estate Search to
identify the parcel, owner and recent sale information.
2. How do I find a Stark County deed if I only know the address?
Search the address in the Stark County Real Estate Search, open the
correct parcel and save the permanent parcel number. Review the Sales
section for seller, buyer, transaction date and deed type. Then open
CountyFusion and search the Recorder records using the party names and
approximate recording year.
3. Can I view Stark County deed and mortgage records online?
Yes. The Stark County Recorder provides online recorded-document access
through CountyFusion. Available records can include deeds, mortgages,
easements, releases and other real-estate instruments. Historical archive
resources are also available for older deed research.
4. How much does it cost to record a deed in Stark County, Ohio?
Ohio’s current statutory basic recording fee is $34 for the first two
pages and $8 for each additional page. A document that does not comply
with Ohio’s standard-format requirements can incur an additional $20
fee. Ohio law also permits a document-preservation surcharge of up to
$5, so verify Stark County’s current total immediately before filing.
5. What are the Stark County deed formatting requirements?
Ohio’s standard recording format generally requires at least 10-point
print, 8.5-by-11 to 8.5-by-14-inch paper, black or blue ink, no
highlighting, one-inch side and bottom margins, a three-inch blank
first-page top margin and a one-and-one-half-inch top margin on later pages.
6. Do I need DTE Form 100 to transfer Stark County property?
A taxable Ohio real-property conveyance generally uses DTE Form 100.
A qualifying exempt transfer uses DTE Form 100EX. Additional conveyance
paperwork can apply when Homestead, owner-occupancy or CAUV status is
involved. The Auditor and Engineer may need to review the transfer before
the deed reaches the Recorder.
7. What should I search after paying off a Stark County mortgage?
Search the original mortgage in CountyFusion and then review later
recordings for a release, satisfaction or related discharge instrument.
Paying off the loan does not normally create a new ownership deed.
8. Does Stark County offer free property fraud alerts?
Yes. The Recorder provides FraudSleuth at no charge. It sends email
alerts when a newly recorded document contains an exact name configured
in your profile. Stark County recommends creating separate profiles for
different name forms, middle-name variations, initials, nicknames or
alternate spellings and advises users not to include periods or commas.
9. How do I research an old Stark County deed?
Use the Archives area in CountyFusion and work from a known deed
backward. Save the grantor, grantee, book/page and legal description,
locate the applicable historical deed index and then open the referenced
deed-book image. Following prior book/page references is usually more
efficient than searching one surname across many decades.
10. Where is the Stark County Recorder’s Office?
The Stark County Recorder’s Office is located in the Stark County Office
Building at 110 Central Plaza South, Suite 170, Canton, Ohio 44702.
The Recorder’s main phone number is 330-451-7443 and the fax number is
330-451-7394. Confirm current counter hours on the official Recorder page
before a time-sensitive visit.