Berks County, Pennsylvania • deeds, mortgages and recorded land records
Berks County Recorder of Deeds: Search Deeds, Mortgages, Liens and Property Records
The Berks County Recorder of Deeds is the official county
office for recorded deeds, mortgages, mortgage satisfactions, real-estate
UCC liens, subdivision plans, easements and many other documents affecting
property in Berks County, Pennsylvania.
The county’s online records system is unusually useful for historical
research. Berks County says its computerized deed index reaches back to
1752, the year the county was formed.
Fastest beginner route:
if you know only the property address, first use the free Berks County
Property Records Search to identify the correct parcel and
Property ID / UPI. Save the owner name and UPI, then open
the Recorder’s Online Records Search and locate the deed or other recorded
instrument.
Recorder
Fred Sheeler
Office
Berks County Recorder of Deeds
Address
633 Court Street, 3rd Floor, Reading, PA 19601
Hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Deed index
1752 to present
2026 transfer-tax valuation update:
Berks County currently publishes a Realty Transfer Tax
Common Level Ratio Factor of 3.12 for documents accepted
from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.
Independent guide:
County-CAD.us is not Berks County Government, the Berks County Recorder of
Deeds, Assessment Office, Tax Claim Bureau, Pennsylvania Department of
Revenue or another public agency. Official searches, recordings, copy
purchases and tax transactions must be completed through the government
systems linked below.
Choose the task you actually need
What Are You Trying to Do?
Beginner workflow
Address → Parcel → Recorder Search → Document → Copy
1
Address
Start with what you know.
2
Find UPI
Verify the parcel.
3
Search names
Grantor / grantee.
4
Open record
Match the instrument.
5
Verify
Property + parties + date.
6
Save / certify
Buy only what you need.
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Official destinations
Which Berks County Website Should You Use?
REC
Berks County Recorder of Deeds
Office information, fees, forms, recording rules and services.
Open Official Recorder
SRCH
Recorder Online Records Search Instructions
Start here for Search Public Records, Cloud Search and Index Books.
Open Official Records Search
MAP
Berks County Mapping / GIS
Tax parcel maps, GIS resources and property-location context.
Open Official Mapping
Route 1 — you only know the property address
How to Find a Berks County Deed by Property Address
The Recorder’s historical index is fundamentally a recorded-document system.
If you only know a street address, a cleaner starting point is the
Berks County Assessment property search.
Open the Berks County Assessment page above.
Find the Berks County Property Records Search section.
Choose Parcel Search.
The county property database supports searches by owner name,
street address or parcel number.
Search the physical property address.
If the exact address fails, simplify it to the house number and
principal street name.
Open the correct parcel.
Match the physical site address, owner, municipality and parcel details.
Save the Property ID / UPI.
This is one of the most useful identifiers when moving between
Berks County property systems.
Save the current and previous owner names when available.
A recently recorded deed may still be easier to find under the seller
or prior owner.
Click “Search Public Records.”
Sign in, register or continue according to the current portal prompts.
Search the owner / grantor / grantee.
Use the approximate recording date to separate similarly named parties.
Open the likely deed image.
Compare the parties, municipality, UPI/property clues, legal description
and recording information before relying on it.
Berks-specific shortcut:
once you find the UPI, keep it with the owner name and deed date.
Those three pieces of information make Recorder, Assessment and mapping
research substantially easier.
Critical Berks recording identifier
What Is the Berks County Property ID / UPI?
Berks County uses a Universal Parcel Identification number
(UPI / Property ID) for real-estate documents.
Recorder instructions require the Property ID on real-estate-related
documents and verify the number before recording.
Ordinary parcel
The county’s current recording material describes the Property ID as
at least 14 digits.
Condominium
Condo identifiers can contain 17 digits.
Where to find it
Use the Berks County Property Records Search through the Assessment Office.
Do not confuse identifiers
Recorder guidance specifically distinguishes the required Parcel ID
from unrelated account, label-point or map identifiers.
If You Are Preparing a Document for Recording
- Use the correct Property ID / UPI.
- Do not substitute a different assessment-map identifier.
- Use the complete physical property address and municipality.
- Verify newly created, divided or combined parcels before submission.
- Recheck the current Recorder requirements before filing.
Route 2 — search grantor / grantee names
How to Search Berks County Deeds by Owner Name
Open the Recorder search instructions.
Click Search Public Records.
Enter the party name you know.
Search the seller/grantor, buyer/grantee, lender or other indexed party
relevant to the transaction.
Begin broad if spelling is uncertain.
Older Berks records can contain spelling variations, initials,
changed surnames and historical handwriting/index differences.
Add an approximate recording period.
A transaction year can dramatically reduce false matches.
Find the correct document type.
Do not assume every document under an owner’s name is a deed.
Open the image.
Compare grantor, grantee, date, municipality, legal description and
property identifiers.
Save the instrument number or book/page reference.
Use that exact identifier for future copy requests or related-document research.
Same name does not prove same person.
Always verify the property and transaction context before associating a
recorded deed, lien or mortgage with a particular individual.
Actual recorded-document lookup
How to Use the Berks County Recorder Online Records Search
Open the official Recorder page above.
Do not begin with a commercial deed-copy company.
Choose Search Public Records.
The Recorder also provides a newer Cloud Search option.
Read its current instructions before switching systems.
Use the best identifier you have.
Start with the party name and approximate date.
Keep the UPI/property information beside you for verification.
Review the document list.
A property’s history can contain deeds, mortgages, satisfactions,
easements, rights-of-way, liens, plans and other instruments.
Select the document type that matches your question.
Ownership transfer normally requires a deed rather than simply the
newest document recorded against the parties.
Open the recorded image.
Berks County states that images are available for deeds, mortgages,
subdivision plans and miscellaneous documents.
Verify the property.
Compare municipality, legal description, parcel information and
references to earlier instruments.
Save the exact recording reference.
Keep the instrument number or book/page with your property notes.
Follow earlier or later instruments when necessary.
A single deed rarely explains an entire title, mortgage or lien history.
Berks has unusually deep online history
How Far Back Do Berks County Recorder Records Go?
1752+
Deeds
The computerized deed index reaches back to the county’s formation.
1949+
All Mortgages
All mortgages recorded from January 1, 1949 forward are indexed.
1752–1949
Unsatisfied Mortgages
Older unsatisfied mortgages are included in the computerized index.
1900+
Miscellaneous Documents
The modern computerized miscellaneous-document index starts in 1900.
1873+
Subdivision / Highway Plans
The Recorder identifies the oldest plan in this category as dating to 1873.
1840+
Business / Organization Charters
Historical charters are included in Recorder holdings.
Historical-research advantage:
Berks County says it has indexed and imaged documents extending back
to the county’s founding. This makes the Recorder system useful for
genealogy, chain-of-title research and historical property investigation.
Especially important for pre-1926 research
How to Search Old Berks County Deeds Using Index Books
The Recorder specifically recommends its online
Index Books when researching documents recorded before
the electronic index.
Open the Recorder Online Records Search.
Choose “Index Books” under General Criteria / Search Type.
For a person, enter last name and first initial.
This follows the Recorder’s historical-search instructions.
For a company or organization, use the organization name
in the last-name field.
Leave the first-initial field blank.
Review matching index books.
You can leave all books selected or narrow the available indexes.
Expect spelling variations.
Historical surnames may have changed spelling over generations,
immigration or handwritten indexing.
For pre-1900 easements and rights-of-way, check miscellaneous indexes.
The Recorder specifically calls attention to these books for older
property-interest documents.
Save book/page references.
Use them to locate the corresponding image and trace related documents.
If an old deed still cannot be found:
call the Recorder at
610-478-3380
or email
recorder@berkspa.gov.
Have names, approximate year and any book/page or property clues ready.
Understand the record before relying on it
Berks County Recorder Result Decoder
Grantor
Usually the party transferring or granting the interest described
by the instrument.
Grantee
Usually the person or entity receiving the recorded interest.
Instrument Number
Unique recording reference. Save it once you identify the correct document.
Book / Page
Historical recording reference frequently useful for older documents.
UPI / Property ID
Parcel identifier used to connect the recording with Berks County property data.
Document Type
Distinguishes deed, mortgage, satisfaction, easement, lien, plan
and other instruments.
Recording Date
Date the Recorder accepted and recorded the instrument.
Legal Description
Property description that can be more reliable than a modern
street address for older title research.
What Does the Berks County Recorder Record?
Deeds
Recorded transfers and other instruments affecting ownership interests.
Mortgages
Real-estate financing instruments.
Mortgage satisfactions
Documents showing a recorded mortgage lien has been satisfied.
Assignments
Transfers of certain previously recorded interests.
Easements / rights-of-way
Recorded access, utility and other property-use rights.
Real-estate UCC liens
Certain UCC documents affecting real property.
Subdivision plans
Recorded subdivision and land-development plans.
Highway maps
Recorded highway map records.
Other miscellaneous instruments
Documents affecting property interests and historical land records.
Paid off your mortgage?
How to Check Whether a Berks County Mortgage Was Satisfied
Pennsylvania homeowners do not normally receive a new deed when a mortgage
is paid off. The original ownership deed and the mortgage lien are separate records.
The Berks County Recorder FAQ states that after final payoff, the lender
must file a Satisfaction of Mortgage within 60 days of
receiving the final payment.
Find the original mortgage if possible.
Save its parties, recording date and instrument or book/page information.
Search the borrower / owner name.
Review later mortgage-related documents.
Look for a Satisfaction Piece / Satisfaction of Mortgage.
Do not confuse an assignment with a satisfaction.
Compare the satisfaction with the original mortgage.
Verify that it refers to the correct mortgage and property.
Save or purchase the recorded satisfaction if needed.
It can serve as evidence that the lien was released from the public record.
If no satisfaction appears, contact the lender.
The Recorder advises property owners to follow up with the lender and
recheck the public record.
Do not wait for a “new deed.”
Berks County specifically explains that lenders do not hold deeds in
Pennsylvania and payoff does not create a new ownership deed.
Avoid paying unnecessary private-company prices
How to Get a Berks County Deed Copy or Certified Copy
The Recorder provides ordinary document images online and certified copies
when certification is required.
Regular online copy
Current published price:
$0.50 per page.
Online certified copy
Current Recorder FAQ price:
$10 per document,
plus the applicable online payment processing charge.
Search the deed or document first.
Do not pay until you confirm the correct instrument.
Save the instrument number or book/page.
Decide whether certification is actually required.
Ask the court, lender, title company, government agency or organization
requesting the document.
For ordinary research, purchase/download the regular image.
Current online copies are published at 50 cents per page.
For an official certified version, select the certification option.
Review the current total before payment.
Save the receipt and downloaded document.
Deed-copy solicitation warning:
Berks County has specifically warned residents about official-looking
private solicitations charging substantially more for public deed and
assessment information. Start with the Recorder before paying a third party.
Missing your original deed after closing?
First ask the title company or attorney who handled the closing.
If the original cannot be located, the Recorder states that a certified
copy can be obtained from the public record.
Recording is different from searching
How to Prepare a Deed or Real-Estate Document for Recording
The Recorder publishes detailed formatting and document standards.
A document can be rejected when required information is missing or the
image cannot be scanned legibly.
Paper
White 8½ × 11-inch paper is the current Recorder standard.
Margins
Recorder guidance calls for approximately 1-inch margins.
Font
Use at least 10-point text.
Ink
Use clear dark/black printing so the document scans properly.
Prepared By
Include the preparer’s information on the first page.
Return To
Include the return party, address and relevant contact information.
Property address
Include the complete property location and municipality.
Property ID / UPI
Required for documents referencing Berks County real estate.
Grantee address
Deeds require a current, legible grantee mailing address.
Acknowledgment
Check state/county, date, party information, notary signature and stamp.
Prior instrument reference
Include instrument number or book/page where the new document refers
to a previously recorded instrument.
Return envelope
Mailed submissions require an appropriate self-addressed stamped envelope.
Privacy check before recording:
the Recorder places responsibility on the submitter to avoid unnecessary
Social Security numbers, bank-account numbers, loan numbers and other
personal information in a public recorded document.
Berks County Deed Recording Checklist
- Correct legal instrument prepared.
- All grantor and grantee information complete.
- Grantee mailing address legible and certified where required.
- Complete property address including municipality.
- Correct Berks Property ID / UPI.
- Legal description or valid reference to prior recorded description.
- Written and numerical consideration agree.
- Valid acknowledgment and legible notary stamp.
- Prior instrument number / book and page included when referenced.
- REV-183 Statement of Value attached when required.
- Current Common Level Ratio factor used where applicable.
- Recording fee calculated from the current fee schedule.
- Transfer tax calculated separately where applicable.
- No prohibited or unnecessary sensitive personal information.
- Self-addressed stamped envelope included for mailed documents.
Current Recorder fee information
Berks County Recorder of Deeds Fees
Berks County’s current fee page states that its fee schedule became
effective November 14, 2025. The Recorder later announced a $1 Pennsylvania
Judicial Fee increase affecting documents conveying interests in real estate.
Real-estate interest document base
The Recorder currently announces a
$88 base fee for documents conveying an interest
in real estate.
Additional pages, parcels, taxes or other applicable charges can increase
the actual total.
Regular online copies
$0.50 per page.
Online certified document
$10 per document, plus applicable processor fee.
Statement of Value
A REV-183 Statement of Value counts as an additional page for recording-fee purposes.
Transfer-tax payment warning:
the Recorder currently states that it no longer accepts
cash or personal checks for transfer tax.
Verify the accepted payment method before mailing or visiting.
Pennsylvania Realty Transfer Tax
Realty Transfer Tax When Recording a Berks County Deed
Pennsylvania imposes a 1% state Realty Transfer Tax
on the value of real estate transferred by taxable deed, instrument,
long-term lease or other qualifying writing.
The state tax is commonly collected by the county Recorder together with
an additional local realty transfer tax. The exact local tax can depend
on the property municipality and school district.
Identify the property municipality and school district.
Do not calculate local tax from a postal city alone.
Determine whether the transaction is taxable or exempt.
Pennsylvania law includes numerous specific exemptions.
Determine the taxable value.
Ordinary arm’s-length transactions and non-arm’s-length transactions
can require different valuation treatment.
Check whether REV-183 is required.
The Statement of Value is explained in the next section.
Use the correct Berks County CLR factor where required.
For July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, the Recorder currently publishes
a factor of 3.12.
Check the exact Recorder total before submission.
Recording fees and transfer taxes are separate components of the transaction.
Use an accepted transfer-tax payment method.
Do not send cash or a personal check for transfer tax.
Do not assume “family transfer” automatically means no tax.
Pennsylvania exemptions depend on the exact relationship and transaction.
Review REV-183 instructions or obtain qualified legal/title advice before
claiming an exemption.
Pennsylvania Form REV-183
When Does a Berks County Deed Need a Statement of Value?
Pennsylvania’s REV-183 Realty Transfer Tax Statement of Value
supplies information needed to determine taxable value or document an
exemption when that information cannot be established from the deed itself.
The Pennsylvania instructions generally require the Statement of Value
to be filed in duplicate with the Recorder when:
- the deed does not state the full value or consideration;
- the conveyance is made without consideration or as a gift; or
- a realty-transfer-tax exemption is being claimed.
Information the REV-183 Asks For
Transfer data
Date of acceptance, grantor/lessor and grantee/lessee information.
Real-estate location
Street address, municipality, county, school district and parcel number.
Actual cash consideration
Cash or cash-equivalent consideration received in the transfer.
Other consideration
Noncash consideration and applicable existing obligations.
County assessed value
Assessment of the entire property from county records.
Common Level Ratio factor
Applicable Pennsylvania transfer-tax valuation factor.
Exemption information
Type and amount of exemption plus supporting documentation.
Responsible correspondent
Name, contact details and signature of a responsible party connected with the transaction.
Berks-specific recording detail:
the Recorder states that a Statement of Value counts as an additional page
when calculating recording fees.
Incomplete REV-183:
Pennsylvania’s form warns that failure to properly complete the form or
attach required supporting documentation may cause the Recorder to refuse
the deed for recording.
Do not confuse two different Pennsylvania ratios
Berks Recorder Common Level Ratio Factor: 3.12
For Realty Transfer Tax valuation, the Berks County Recorder currently
publishes a Common Level Ratio Factor of 3.12 effective
July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.
This is the transfer-tax valuation factor used with documents such as
REV-183 where applicable. It should not be confused with assessment-appeal
ratios or percentages shown elsewhere in Berks County property resources.
CLR
Pennsylvania Common Level Ratio Factors
State list used for REV-183 and related transfer-tax valuation.
Check Official CLR Factors
Professional / repeat submitter workflow
Can You E-Record Documents in Berks County?
Yes. The Recorder accepts documents through electronic recording,
in person or by mail.
Its current e-recording page lists third-party platforms including
Simplifile, CSC eRecording Solutions, EPN and Indecomm.
Open the Recorder e-recording page.
Select an available e-recording platform.
Registration, eligibility and vendor fees differ by provider.
Prepare the document to Berks County standards.
Electronic submission does not remove UPI, acknowledgment,
transfer-tax or formatting requirements.
Upload the instrument and required attachments.
Review automatically calculated fees and taxes.
Correct rejected submissions and resubmit.
The Recorder notes that electronic recording can simplify correction
of rejected documents.
Save the recorded return image and confirmation.
Local submitter option:
the Recorder asks document submitters located within Berks County to call
610-478-3380
about the office’s own lower-cost electronic-recording option.
Property monitoring
How to Set Up Berks County Property Alert Fraud Protection
Berks County’s public-facing service is called
Property Alert. It can email you after a document is
recorded that matches the information in your alert profile.
The Recorder recommends monitoring both the property
Parcel Identification Number and owner names.
ALRT
Official Property Alert
Berks County Recorder of Deeds fraud-monitoring service.
Open Property Alert
Open the official Property Alert page above.
Open the Recorder’s Online Services / Search Public Records system.
Create a user account if you do not already have one.
Sign in and open Preferences.
The Recorder’s instructions refer to the monitoring configuration
as FraudSleuth Preferences.
Configure a monitoring profile.
Available profile criteria include a person’s name and parcel number.
Add your name in useful variations.
Consider full name, middle initial or suffix where relevant.
Add the 14–17 digit Parcel ID.
This is especially useful because the parcel identifier is property-specific.
Confirm each profile is marked active.
Keep your email address current.
Alerts are delivered by email after a matching document is recorded.
Property Alert does not block a fraudulent deed.
The Recorder specifically describes it as a detection/notification service,
not a preventative system.
If You Receive an Unexpected Alert
- Do not assume fraud immediately.
- Open the official Recorder search yourself.
- Find the matching instrument.
- Verify the property, parties and document type.
- Save the instrument number and image.
- Call the Recorder at 610-478-3380 if the document is unfamiliar.
- Obtain appropriate legal/law-enforcement help when actual fraud is suspected.
Useful local research feature
Berks County Also Publishes Weekly Real Estate Transactions
The Recorder homepage publishes weekly real-estate transaction lists.
These can be useful for quickly browsing recently recorded activity.
Use the weekly list as a discovery tool only. When a transaction matters,
open the actual Recorder document and verify the recorded instrument.
Berks Recorder Search Problems and What to Try
No result by current owner
Search the former owner or seller, especially after a recent transfer.
Name spelling differs
Broaden the surname search or use Index Books for historical phonetic/spelling variants.
Address does not work
Find the parcel through Assessment first; Recorder research is usually
stronger with owner and UPI information.
Old deed missing
Use Index Books and book/page references rather than assuming no record exists.
Mortgage still appears
Search for the lender’s Satisfaction Piece and follow up with the lender if absent.
Wrong parcel number
Return to Assessment and confirm the Property ID / UPI rather than using another map/account number.
Document was rejected
Recheck UPI, acknowledgment, grantee address, property location,
document image quality, fee and Statement of Value.
Portal unavailable
Return through the Recorder’s official Online Records Search Instructions
rather than relying on an old bookmarked vendor URL.
Berks County-specific practical shortcuts
Local Tips That Make Berks County Deed Research Easier
Find the UPI before doing serious deed research.
It gives you a stable property identifier that can be checked against
Assessment and Recorder information.
Use Assessment for address-to-parcel research.
Do not force an address-only query into a historical grantor/grantee index.
Use Index Books for older documents.
This is especially valuable before 1926 when spelling and historical
indexing can make modern exact-name searches unreliable.
Check pre-1900 Miscellaneous Index Books.
Rights-of-way and easements may be located there rather than in a deed index.
Paid-off mortgage? Search “Satisfaction,” not a new deed.
Berks County explicitly says mortgage payoff does not generate a new ownership deed.
Do not buy a $90+ deed copy before checking the Recorder.
The county warns about commercial solicitations selling readily available
public information at much higher prices.
Keep the municipality with every property note.
Berks includes Reading plus many boroughs and townships; the postal city
alone may not adequately identify the legal municipality.
Do not confuse transfer-tax CLR with assessment-appeal CLR.
The current Recorder REV-183 factor is 3.12 for July 2026 through June 2027.
Use black/dark print for documents.
Light copies can fail the Recorder’s imaging requirements and be returned.
Do not send a personal check for transfer tax.
Confirm the current accepted payment method before mailing the deed.
For recent activity, check weekly real-estate transactions.
Then verify the actual recording before relying on the transaction.
Activate Property Alert using both name and parcel.
Name-only alerts can be broader; the UPI helps connect monitoring with the property.
Have These Details Ready Before Calling the Recorder
- property address;
- municipality;
- Property ID / UPI;
- current owner name;
- former owner / seller name, if relevant;
- approximate recording year;
- document type;
- instrument number or book/page, if already found;
- whether you need research, an ordinary copy, certified copy or recording help.
Recorder vs Assessment vs Tax Office: Use the Correct Berks County Office
Question
Correct office
What it handles
Where is my deed?
Recorder of Deeds
Deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, liens, plans and recorded documents.
What is my UPI?
Assessment / Property Search
Parcel identification, owner display and assessed property information.
Where is the parcel?
Mapping / GIS
Parcel-map context and geographic information.
Why is my assessment high?
Assessment / Appeals
Assessment values and assessment-appeal procedures.
Are old property taxes delinquent?
Tax Claim Bureau
Delinquent real-estate taxes and tax-claim matters.
Before Relying on a Berks County Deed
-
Property:
confirm the correct Berks County parcel and UPI.
-
Municipality:
verify city, borough or township.
-
Parties:
match grantor and grantee rather than one surname.
-
Document type:
distinguish deed, mortgage, satisfaction, lien or easement.
-
Recording reference:
save instrument number or book/page.
-
Legal description:
compare property description where identity is uncertain.
-
Chronology:
inspect later recordings that may affect the property.
-
Certification:
determine whether an ordinary image or certified copy is required.
-
Legal reliance:
obtain professional title/legal review for purchases, probate,
foreclosure, boundary disputes or contested ownership.
County-CAD.us Research and Corrections
Editorial Policy
Review standards for source verification, updates and corrections.
Read Editorial Policy
Report an Outdated Link
Tell us when Berks County changes a portal, fee, form, phone number
or recording procedure.
Contact County-CAD.us
Independent Website Disclaimer
Understand the limits of this informational property-record guide.
Read Disclaimer
Primary-source research ledger
Official Sources Used for This Berks Recorder Guide
Berks County Recorder of Deeds
Current Recorder, office contact, duties, announcements,
copies, CLR and recording services.
Open Recorder
Online Records Search Instructions
Search Public Records, Cloud Search, historical index coverage
and Index Books instructions.
Open Records Search Instructions
Recorder Document Standards
UPI, paper size, margins, acknowledgment, address, SOV,
privacy and return-envelope requirements.
Open Document Standards
Current Recorder Fee Schedule
Recording fees, payment rules and document-return requirements.
Open Fee Schedule
Berks Property Alert
Fraud-monitoring purpose, name/parcel recommendations and alert limitations.
Open Property Alert
Berks E-Recording
Electronic recording providers and local submitter information.
Open E-Recording
Berks County Assessment
Property Records Search and Parcel / UPI identification.
Open Assessment
Berks County Mapping
Parcel maps, GIS applications and geographic property context.
Open Mapping
REV-183 Statement of Value
Official Pennsylvania form, valuation fields, exemption categories
and completion instructions.
Open REV-183
Editorial verification: August 21, 2026.
Search interfaces, Recorder fees, copy charges, transfer-tax factors,
officeholders, recording standards and vendor systems can change.
Confirm the final live requirement before filing a deed, paying transfer
tax or ordering a certified record.
Berks County Deed Search Checklist
- Start with the property address if that is all you know.
- Use Berks Assessment to find the correct Property ID / UPI.
- Save the municipality and current owner name.
- Try the former owner after a recent sale.
- Open the official Recorder Search Public Records system.
- Identify the correct deed rather than simply the newest document.
- Verify grantor, grantee, UPI, municipality and legal description.
- Save instrument number or book/page.
- Use Index Books for difficult older records.
- Search for a Satisfaction Piece after mortgage payoff.
- Pay only for the copy type you actually need.
- Activate Property Alert for ongoing recording monitoring.
10 Berks Recorder questions
Berks County PA Recorder of Deeds FAQs
1. Where can I search Berks County deeds online?
Open the Berks County Recorder of Deeds Online Records Search Instructions
page and select Search Public Records. The Recorder also provides a newer
Cloud Search option. If you only know the street address, first identify
the parcel and UPI through the Berks County Property Records Search and
then use the owner names and property details to verify the deed.
2. How far back do Berks County deed records go online?
Berks County states that its computerized deed index includes deeds
recorded since 1752, when the county was formed. All mortgages from
January 1, 1949 forward are indexed, along with unsatisfied mortgages
from 1752 through the end of 1948. Miscellaneous records are indexed
from 1900, and older material can also be researched through online
Index Books.
3. How do I find a Berks County deed if I only know the address?
Open the Berks County Assessment page and use Property Records Search
to search the owner, address or parcel. Open the correct property and
save its Property ID or UPI and owner name. Then open the Recorder’s
Online Records Search, click Search Public Records, search the relevant
owner or prior owner and verify the deed against the parcel information.
4. What is a Berks County UPI or Property ID?
The UPI is the Universal Parcel Identification number used to identify
Berks County real estate. The Recorder requires the applicable Property
ID on real-estate-related recording documents. Find it through the
official Berks County Assessment property-search system and do not
substitute another account, map or label-point identifier.
5. How much does a Berks County deed copy cost?
The Recorder currently lists ordinary online document copies at
50 cents per page. Its FAQ lists online certified copies at $10 per
document, with an additional credit-card processing charge where
applicable. Confirm the live total before purchasing because county
copy and processor charges can change.
6. What happens after I pay off my mortgage in Berks County?
You normally do not receive a new deed. Berks County explains that
Pennsylvania lenders do not hold the deed. The lender should record
a Satisfaction of Mortgage after payoff. Search the Recorder records
for the satisfaction and contact the lender if the expected release
has not been recorded.
7. What is the current Berks County Recorder Common Level Ratio factor?
The Berks County Recorder currently lists a Realty Transfer Tax Common
Level Ratio Factor of 3.12 for July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.
This is a transfer-tax valuation factor used with Pennsylvania forms
such as REV-183 where applicable and should not be confused with an
assessment-appeal ratio.
8. When is Pennsylvania REV-183 required for a Berks County deed?
Pennsylvania generally requires the REV-183 Statement of Value when the
full value or consideration is not stated in the deed, the transfer is
made without consideration or as a gift, or an exemption from Realty
Transfer Tax is claimed. Berks County also states that the Statement
of Value counts as an additional page when calculating recording fees.
9. Does Berks County offer property deed-fraud alerts?
Yes. The Berks County Recorder offers Property Alert. After creating
an account and monitoring profile, owners can receive email notification
when a newly recorded document matches configured names or parcel
information. The service is a notification tool and does not prevent a
document from being recorded.
10. Where is the Berks County Recorder of Deeds office?
The Berks County Recorder of Deeds is located in the Berks County
Services Center, 3rd Floor, 633 Court Street, Reading, PA 19601.
The office phone is 610-478-3380 and published hours are Monday through
Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Check the county website for holiday
closures before traveling.