Adams County, Colorado • deeds, deeds of trust, liens and recorded documents
Adams County Recorder: Search Deeds, Liens and Recorded Property Documents
In Adams County, Colorado, deed and land-record functions are handled by
the Adams County Clerk & Recorder’s Recording Department.
The office records and preserves deeds, deeds of trust, releases, liens,
easements, maps, plats, surveys and other documents placed in the public record.
Adams County provides a particularly useful free online system called
Landmark Web. It supports searches by name, document,
book/page, consideration, recording-date range, reception number and legal
information. Users can currently view, download and print available
uncertified documents without creating an account.
Best beginner workflow:
search the Adams County Assessor Property Portal by address →
save the parcel/account number, owner and legal description →
open Landmark Web →
use Name Search or Legal Search →
verify the deed and reception number →
download the document for free or order certification only when required.
Clerk & Recorder
Josh Zygielbaum
Recording office
4430 S. Adams County Pkwy., Suite E2400, Brighton, CO 80601
Standard recording fee
$43 per document
Online uncertified copy
Free download/print
Property fraud alerts
Free Recording Activity Notification
No Landmark account is currently required for an unwatermarked
document copy.
Search the record, open the result and download or print the available image.
Adams County provides a grantor/grantee index—not a tract index.
That distinction matters. Start with owner/seller/buyer names, a reception
number, book/page or available legal-description search rather than looking
for a separate county tract-index database.
Independent guide:
County-CAD.us is not Adams County Government, the Adams County Clerk &
Recorder, Assessor, Treasurer/Public Trustee or another Colorado government
agency. Official documents, certified copies, recordings, releases,
foreclosure files and property records must be obtained through the
government resources linked below.
Choose your task
What Are You Trying to Find?
Address-to-deed workflow
The Cleanest Route From a Street Address to the Recorded Deed
1
Address
Start with the property.
2
Assessor
Confirm correct parcel.
3
Save clues
Owner, parcel, legal.
4
Landmark
Search recordings.
5
Verify
Match document.
6
Download
Save reception number.
Official Adams County tools
Use the Right Government Website for Each Task
DOC
Landmark Web Recorded Documents
Deeds, liens, releases, legal searches and downloadable images.
Search Recorded Documents
PROP
Adams County Property Lookup
Parcel, account, owner, address and assessment information.
Search Real Property
FEE
Recording Fee Schedule
Current $43 recording fee, copies and payment charges.
Check Current Fees
TRST
Treasurer & Public Trustee
Deed of Trust releases, foreclosure search and tax-related processes.
Open Public Trustee
Scenario 1: street address only
How to Find an Adams County Deed by Address
Landmark is excellent for recorded documents, but the Assessor Property
Portal is usually a cleaner starting point when all you have is an address.
1
Start at the Adams County Property Portal
Search parcel/account information first.
Open Property Lookup
Open the official Property Lookup.
Search the street address.
The Adams County Property Portal supports address, parcel number,
account number, owner and county permit number searching.
Keep the first address search simple.
Start with the street number and main street name.
Open the correct property record.
Match location, owner, property type and mapped parcel.
Save the parcel number and account number.
Save the owner name exactly as displayed.
Copy the legal-description information.
It can help you distinguish similarly named owners in Landmark.
Open Landmark Web.
Choose Name Search.
Start with the current or former owner’s name.
Use Legal Search when the name search is too broad.
Open the candidate deed.
Compare the legal description and parties.
Save the reception number.
This is the strongest reusable Recorder identifier.
Recent purchase tip:
if the buyer is not producing the expected deed, search the seller or
previous owner. Assessment ownership and Recorder indexing do not always
update at exactly the same time.
Landmark Web has more than one search route
Which Adams County Recorder Search Should You Use?
Search
Use when
Best example
Name Search
You know a buyer, seller, lender, owner, trust or company.
Search a current or former property owner.
Document Search
You need a particular document category.
Narrow to deed, lien, release, survey or another indexed document type.
Book / Page
An older deed or title report provides a book/page citation.
Historical chain-of-title research.
Consideration
Sale consideration is a useful distinguishing clue.
Separating similar transactions in a known period.
Record Date
You know approximately when the instrument was recorded.
Recent purchase, refinance, lien or release.
Reception Number
You already know the Recorder’s exact instrument identifier.
Returning directly to one known deed or Deed of Trust.
Legal Search
You have legal-description clues.
Subdivision, lot or other recorded land-description research.
Official county walkthrough
How to Search Adams County Recorder Records by Name
NAME
Landmark Web Name Search
Free public recorded-document search.
Open Landmark Web
Open Landmark Web.
Click the Name Search icon.
Accept the county disclaimer.
Enter the person’s name as LASTNAME FIRSTNAME.
This is the format used in Adams County’s current search instructions.
Add a record-date range when known.
A transaction year can remove hundreds of unrelated name matches.
Click Submit.
Review the returned documents.
Pay attention to document type and recording date.
Open the likely document.
Compare the legal description.
A matching name alone is not enough.
View, print or download the document.
Current Landmark access does not require login for an unwatermarked copy.
Do not search only one spouse or one spelling.
Try former owners, co-owners, middle-name variations, trusts, estates,
LLCs and business names when the expected document does not appear.
Reception Number: The Best Identifier to Save
Adams County’s Landmark interface labels its instrument-number search
as a Reception Number search.
1
Find the reception number.
It may appear on a recorded document, title commitment, prior Landmark result
or Public Trustee file.
2
Open Landmark Web.
3
Select Instrument Number / Reception Number Search.
4
Enter the exact number.
5
Verify document type and parties.
6
Download the available image.
Keep the reception number with your permanent property records.
It is more precise than reconstructing the search later from only an address.
When Legal Search Is Better Than Owner Name
Adams County does not provide a separate tract index, but Landmark does
include a Legal Search. That makes recorded legal-description
information useful when common names produce too many results.
Get the legal-description clue from the Assessor or known deed.
Open Landmark Web and choose Legal Search.
Enter only the legal information you can verify.
Review document types and recording dates.
Open the image and compare the complete legal description.
Do not treat the Assessor’s GIS parcel line as the final legal boundary.
For a boundary dispute or construction decision, use the recorded description
together with a professional survey.
Adams County Recorded Document Decoder
Reception Number
Unique Adams County recording identifier. Save it.
Record Date
Date the Clerk & Recorder accepted the document into the public record.
Grantor
Generally the party conveying or granting an interest.
Grantee
Generally the party receiving the interest.
Document Type
Deed, Deed of Trust, release, lien, easement, assignment, survey or other instrument.
Legal Description
Recorded description used to identify the affected land.
Book / Page
Especially useful for older documents and referenced recordings.
Consideration
Recorded consideration can help identify a conveyance and may affect documentary fees.
Property Documents You May Find in Adams County Records
Warranty / Special Warranty Deeds
Ownership-transfer instruments with differing warranty language.
Quitclaim Deeds
Instruments conveying whatever interest the grantor has without ordinary warranties.
Deeds of Trust
Common Colorado real-estate security instruments.
Releases of Deeds of Trust
Documents showing release of the recorded security interest.
Liens
Recorded claims that can affect real property.
Easements
Recorded rights affecting use or access.
Assignments
Transfers of certain recorded interests.
Subdivision / Condominium Plats
Recorded mapping and development documents.
Land Survey Plats
Surveys recorded through the Recording Department.
Mineral-related instruments
Deeds and reservations can contain clues about severed mineral ownership.
Public Notices
Current public postings are also searchable through Adams County recording tools.
Marriage / Civil Union Records
Also maintained by Recording, but separate from real-property research.
Free online research copies
How to Get an Adams County Deed Copy
Adams County currently makes available uncertified recorded-document
images free through Landmark Web.
Free
Online Uncertified Image
Download or print an available Landmark document yourself.
$0.25
Office Regular Copy
Current county copy charge per page.
$0
Small Email Copy Request
County currently lists limited 2-3-copy email requests at no charge.
Research online first.
If all you need is a readable deed for personal research, the free Landmark
download may eliminate the need to order anything.
How Much Is an Adams County Certified Deed Copy?
$0.25
Certified Copy Pages
Current charge per page.
+$1
Certification
Current certification charge per document.
Certified copies cannot be sent electronically.
Call the Recording Office at
720-523-6020
to order or obtain a certified copy by an accepted method.
Find the document in Landmark first.
Save the reception number.
Count the document pages.
Call 720-523-6020 or visit the Recording Department.
State that you need a certified copy.
Give the reception number rather than only the street address.
Major Colorado fee change effective July 1, 2025
Adams County Colorado Recording Fees
$43
Standard Recording
Current flat charge per document for ordinary letter/legal documents,
maps, PUDs, surveys and oversized documents.
$0.10
State Documentary Fee
Per $1,000 of consideration when a real-property conveyance exceeds $500.
3%
Credit Card Fee
Current county card-processing charge.
The old page-based recording formula no longer controls ordinary
Adams County recordings.
Effective July 1, 2025, Adams County changed from $13 for the first page
plus $5 for additional pages to the current $43-per-document structure.
Conveyance over $500:
the state documentary fee is added to the $43 recording charge.
The county currently lists no documentary fee when the applicable
consideration is $500 or less.
Current accepted payment methods are cash, check and debit/credit card.
Returned checks or insufficient funds currently carry a $41 processing fee.
Verify Recording Fee Before Filing
New deed recording
How to Record a Deed in Adams County, Colorado
The Recording Department records documents that meet applicable recording
requirements, but the county expressly warns that
recording does not prove that a document is legally valid or authentic.
1
Prepare deed
Correct legal instrument.
2
Verify land
Legal description.
3
Sign
Complete execution.
4
Calculate fee
$43 + doc fee.
5
Submit
Walk-in/mail/e-record.
6
Verify
Search Landmark.
Determine the correct legal document.
Adams County does not supply blank deed forms.
Use the complete legal description.
A property address alone should not be treated as the legal description.
Have the deed properly prepared and executed.
For legal sufficiency, deed type, signatures, acknowledgment,
ownership form or estate-planning consequences, use a Colorado title
company or attorney when necessary.
Determine whether documentary fee applies.
A conveyance with applicable consideration above $500 currently carries
the Colorado documentary fee.
Calculate the Recorder charge.
Standard ordinary recordings are currently $43 per document.
Choose a submission method.
Adams County accepts walk-ins, ordinary mail, FedEx/UPS/certified mail
and eligible e-recording submissions.
Use the correct mailing address.
Ordinary mail and courier deliveries use different county addresses.
Keep a full copy before surrendering the original.
After recording, search Landmark.
Save the reception number and final recorded image.
The Recorder will not choose the deed type for you.
Adding or removing a spouse, transferring property to a trust, creating
joint ownership, gifting property or changing survivorship rights can
produce legal and tax consequences beyond the recording process.
Where to Mail Adams County Recording Documents
Verify the current fee immediately before mailing. A recording package
submitted without the required charge can delay the filing.
Can Adams County Documents Be E-Recorded?
Yes. Adams County offers e-recording for individuals or businesses that
record multiple documents frequently. Third-party e-recording software is required.
CSC
Corporation Service Company
Simplifile
Approved county e-recording vendor.
eRecording Partners
Approved electronic submission service.
Indecomm Global Services
Current county-listed document-management/e-recording provider.
Open the Adams County e-Recording page.
Select a current approved provider.
Establish the required provider account/software access.
Submit the complete recordable document.
Pay the county and provider charges.
Monitor acceptance/rejection through the provider.
Verify the final recording in Landmark Web.
Open Adams County E-Recording
Colorado-specific mortgage payoff process
Paid Off Your Mortgage? The Public Trustee May Handle the Release
Colorado commonly secures a real-estate loan with a
Deed of Trust. Adams County’s Treasurer also serves as
Public Trustee, and that office executes releases of deeds of trust.
Current Adams County Public Trustee release cost:
$73 total — $30 Public Trustee charge +
$43 Recorder filing charge.
Locate the recorded Deed of Trust.
Download a recorded copy from Landmark if needed.
Confirm the original promissory note information.
For a traditional submission, the Public Trustee requires the note to
correspond with the Deed of Trust and be marked paid in full.
Follow assignments to the current holder.
Complete the Request for Release of Deed of Trust.
Required signatures of the holder must be properly notarized.
Put a return address on the release form.
Include a self-addressed stamped envelope when required.
Pay the current $73 combined amount.
The Public Trustee’s current instructions say a mailed check should be
payable to the Adams County Public Trustee for the full amount.
After the release records, search Landmark.
Confirm the release appears against the correct Deed of Trust.
Approved electronic-release vendors can use a streamlined documentation
route described by the Public Trustee. Professional submitters should
follow the current vendor instructions rather than assuming the paper
package is identical.
Open Official Deed of Trust Release Requirements
Looking for an Adams County Foreclosure? Use the Public Trustee
Do not search the Recorder alone if your actual question is whether a
property is in an active Colorado Public Trustee foreclosure.
The Treasurer/Public Trustee provides the current foreclosure case search,
status information and sale process.
Open the Adams County Public Trustee.
Choose Foreclosure Search.
Search with minimal information.
The county recommends using a foreclosure number, street name or house number
without overfilling search fields.
Open the blue foreclosure number.
Review the official case file and current sale status.
Then use Landmark for the recorded NED, deed of trust and related recordings.
Do not rely on third-party foreclosure websites.
Adams County specifically warns that the Public Trustee website is the
authoritative current source for its foreclosure information.
Open Adams County Public Trustee
Free Recording Activity Notification
How to Get Adams County Property Fraud Alerts
Adams County’s Landmark system includes a free
Property Fraud Alert / Recording Activity Notification.
It sends an email when a new land-record document is recorded with a
monitored name.
Open the notification registration page.
Select Personal or Business.
Enter the monitored name.
For a person, register useful name variations.
Adams County specifically recommends names both with and without the middle name.
Enter and confirm your email address.
Click “Send Confirmation Email.”
Complete any confirmation step sent by email.
If an unexpected alert arrives, open Landmark and inspect the actual document.
An alert is not proof of fraud and it does not block recording.
Another person with the same name can generate a legitimate match.
Verify the recording before taking further action.
Important Colorado ownership issue
Can the Adams County Recorder Tell You Who Owns the Mineral Rights?
Not with one simple owner field. Adams County itself warns that Colorado
mineral ownership can be complex because
surface rights and mineral rights may be owned by different parties.
A deed is a useful starting point because it can show what type of interest
was conveyed and whether minerals were reserved, excepted or previously severed.
But one deed does not necessarily resolve the complete mineral chain.
Find the current vesting deed.
Read the reservations and exceptions carefully.
Follow prior deed references backward.
Search separate mineral deeds, reservations, leases or assignments.
Do not assume surface ownership equals mineral ownership.
Use a Colorado attorney or mineral-title professional for a definitive ownership conclusion.
Open Adams County Mineral Rights Resources
Special recording type
Searching or Recording an Adams County Land Survey Plat
Beginning January 1, 2025, land survey plats are handled solely by the
Adams County Recording Department.
Search strategy
Search by survey document type, survey-company name or legal description.
Current recording fee
$43 per plat.
Paper/electronic size
At least 18 × 24 inches and no larger than 24 × 36 inches.
Text
At least 10-point type with legible images.
Margins
2 inches left; at least 1/2 inch top, bottom and right.
Electronic image
Current county standard requires at least 300 dpi in black and white.
Survey-plat specifications are not the same as ordinary letter-size deed
requirements. Use the Recorder’s dedicated plat instructions for maps,
PUDs, condominiums, annexations, surveys and CICs.
Open Land Survey Plat Requirements
How to Research Older Adams County Deeds
Landmark Web includes an Alpha Index / Book Index area
for historical record research in addition to the ordinary modern searches.
Begin with the newest known deed.
Save its reception number, book/page, grantor and grantee.
Follow any prior deed citation backward.
Open Landmark’s Alpha Index when ordinary searching no longer reaches the needed record.
Locate the relevant book/index reference.
Retrieve the corresponding deed image or contact Recording when necessary.
Historical title tip:
book/page and prior-record references are often more useful than repeatedly
searching the same surname across decades.
Does a Landmark Search Prove Clear Title?
No. Landmark is a powerful public-record index, but finding the current
deed does not automatically prove that no other recorded interest affects
the property.
A title investigation can require review of:
- current and prior deeds;
- deeds of trust;
- releases;
- assignments;
- judgment or other liens;
- easements;
- restrictions;
- mineral reservations;
- plats and surveys;
- foreclosure documents;
- probate/estate-related recordings; and
- other later instruments.
Adams County records qualifying documents; it does not certify
that the contents are legally valid or authentic.
Use a Colorado title company or attorney for a purchase, title dispute,
inheritance issue, lien-priority question or mineral-rights determination.
Recorder, Assessor, Treasurer or Public Trustee: Which Office Do You Need?
Your task
Correct office
What to do
Deed, lien, easement, release
Clerk & Recorder
Search Landmark Web.
Address, owner, parcel, value
Assessor
Use Adams County Property Lookup.
Property-tax bill/payment
Treasurer
Use Treasurer tax-payment resources.
Release a paid Deed of Trust
Public Trustee
Follow Release of Deed of Trust requirements.
Active foreclosure case
Public Trustee
Search the official foreclosure file.
Divorce or court case
Judicial Center / Courts
Do not use the Recorder for court-file requests.
Exact property boundary
Licensed surveyor
Do not treat county GIS as legal boundary proof.
Adams County-specific shortcuts
Local Tips That Make Recorded-Document Research Faster
Use the Assessor before Landmark if you only have an address.
Save the parcel, account, owner and legal-description clues first.
Enter names LASTNAME FIRSTNAME.
That matches the county’s current public search instructions.
Do not look for a separate tract index.
Adams County explicitly says it provides grantor/grantee indexing, not tract indexing.
Save the reception number.
It is the cleanest identifier for returning to one exact recorded document.
You no longer need a login for an unwatermarked online copy.
Download or print directly after finding the document.
Do not pay for certification unless you actually need it.
Ordinary online images are free.
Use both middle-name and no-middle-name fraud alerts.
Adams County specifically recommends both versions.
Mortgage payoff? Think Public Trustee.
Colorado Deed of Trust releases are not merely a generic Recorder copy task.
Remember the fee changed in 2025.
The ordinary Recorder charge is now $43 per document, not the former page-based formula.
Check consideration before calculating deed fees.
Conveyances over $500 can have the separate Colorado documentary fee.
Mineral ownership may be severed from the surface.
One owner on the Assessor property record does not settle mineral title.
Use the Public Trustee website for foreclosure status.
The county specifically warns against relying on third-party foreclosure sources.
Before Calling the Recording Department, Have These Details Ready
- property address;
- parcel number;
- account number;
- current owner;
- former owner, if relevant;
- grantor/grantee name;
- approximate recording date;
- document type;
- reception number, if known;
- book/page, if known;
- legal-description clue; and
- whether you need an uncertified or certified copy.
Found an Outdated Adams County Link or Fee?
Government portals, fees, office contacts and recording procedures can
change. Report a broken official link or outdated detail so it can be
rechecked against the county source.
Contact County-CAD.us
Primary government source ledger
Official Sources Used for This Adams County Recorder Guide
Adams County Recording Department
Verified current Clerk & Recorder, office contact, hours,
submission methods and $43 fee change.
Open Recording Department
Landmark Web
Verified name, document, book/page, consideration, record-date,
reception-number and legal search options plus no-login document downloads.
Open Landmark Web
Public Records & Recorded Documents
Verified the current name-search sequence and free uncertified
download/print process.
Open Search Instructions
Recording Department Fee Schedule
Verified $43 recording fee, documentary fee, copy fees,
certification and card charge.
Open Fee Schedule
Adams County Assessor
Verified property-search fields including parcel number, account,
owner, address and permit number.
Open Assessor
Recording Activity Notification
Verified free email alerts, personal/business registration and
middle-name variation guidance.
Open Fraud Alert
E-Recording
Verified current electronic-recording availability and county-listed providers.
Open E-Recording
Release of Deed of Trust Requirements
Verified Public Trustee documentation and current $73 release total.
Open Release Requirements
Public Trustee
Verified Colorado foreclosure and Deed of Trust release responsibilities.
Open Public Trustee
Mineral Rights Resources
Verified county warning that surface and mineral ownership can differ
and deed review is only a starting point.
Open Mineral Rights Resources
Land Survey Plats
Verified current 2025+ Recording Department responsibility,
size, margin, image and filing-fee requirements.
Open Survey Requirements
Maps & Public Records
Verified official routing between Assessor, Recording, Public Trustee,
GIS and Treasurer resources.
Open Maps & Public Records
Editorial verification: August 15, 2026.
Recording fees, documentary fees, Public Trustee procedures, e-recording
vendors, office hours and search interfaces can change. Verify a
time-sensitive filing or payment directly with Adams County before
submitting original documents or funds.
Adams County Deed Search Checklist
- Use the Assessor Property Portal when you only know an address.
- Save the parcel number, account number and owner.
- Copy the legal description.
- Open Landmark Web.
- Use Name Search as LASTNAME FIRSTNAME.
- Add a recording-date range when possible.
- Try the previous owner after a recent purchase.
- Use Legal Search when name results are too broad.
- Use reception number whenever available.
- Open and read the actual recorded image.
- Match the legal description.
- Save the reception number.
- Download an uncertified copy free when sufficient.
- Order certification only when required.
- Use Public Trustee for Deed of Trust releases and foreclosures.
- Register multiple name variations for recording alerts.
- Check the current $43 recording fee before filing.
- Add Colorado documentary fee when applicable.
10 Adams County Recorder questions
Adams County Colorado Recorder FAQs
1. Where can I search Adams County Colorado deeds online?
Use the Adams County Clerk & Recorder’s Landmark Web system.
It provides Name, Document, Book/Page, Consideration, Record Date,
Reception Number and Legal searches. Available uncertified document
images can currently be downloaded or printed without creating an account.
2. How do I find an Adams County deed if I only know the address?
Start with the Adams County Assessor Property Lookup. Search the address,
open the correct property and save the parcel number, account number,
owner and legal-description information. Then open Landmark Web and
search the owner or former owner by name, adding the approximate
transaction date or legal information when useful.
3. How should I search a person’s name in Adams County Landmark Web?
Adams County’s current instructions tell users to select the Name Search,
accept the disclaimer and enter a person as LASTNAME FIRSTNAME.
Add a date range when known, submit the search, then open the relevant
document and compare its legal description before relying on the match.
4. Can I download an Adams County deed for free?
Yes. Adams County currently allows users to search Landmark Web and
download or print available uncertified recorded-document images without
a login or copy charge. Recorder-produced ordinary copies are currently
$0.25 per page.
5. How much is a certified Adams County deed copy?
The current county fee schedule lists certified copies at $0.25 per page
plus $1 per document for certification. Certified copies cannot be
delivered electronically. Call the Recording Department at 720-523-6020
with the reception number for ordering help.
6. How much does it cost to record a deed in Adams County Colorado?
Effective July 1, 2025, the standard Adams County recording charge is
$43 per document rather than the former first-page/additional-page formula.
A Colorado state documentary fee of $0.10 per $1,000 is also assessed
on applicable real-property conveyances when the consideration exceeds
$500.
7. What is an Adams County reception number?
The reception number is the Recorder’s unique identifier for a recorded
document. Landmark Web includes a dedicated Instrument Number /
Reception Number search. Save the number whenever you find a deed,
Deed of Trust, release, lien or other important recording.
8. What happens after I pay off an Adams County Deed of Trust?
Colorado’s Public Trustee process is used to release many paid Deeds of
Trust. Adams County currently lists a combined $73 release cost:
$30 for the Public Trustee and $43 for recording the release.
The traditional submission process can require the paid original note,
the original or recorded copy of the Deed of Trust, a notarized Request
for Release, return address and return envelope.
9. Does Adams County offer property fraud alerts?
Yes. Landmark Web provides a free Recording Activity Notification service.
It sends email when a land-record document is recorded using a monitored
personal or business name. Adams County recommends registering a person’s
name both with and without the middle name to improve matching.
10. Where is the Adams County Colorado Recording Office?
The Recording Department is at the Adams County Government Center,
4430 S. Adams County Parkway, 1st Floor, Suite E2400, Brighton,
Colorado 80601. The Recording phone is 720-523-6020. Current hours are
8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and
8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Wednesday, excluding holidays.
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