Berks County, Pennsylvania • deeds and land records since 1752
Berks County Recorder of Deeds Search: Deeds, Mortgages, Liens and Historic Records
The Berks County Recorder of Deeds records and preserves
deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, subdivision plans, real-estate-related UCC
liens and other instruments affecting property in Berks County, Pennsylvania.
Berks County’s online archive is unusually deep. The Recorder states that
its staff has indexed and imaged records from the county’s formation in
1752, with historical Index Books available inside the
same research system for older deeds, mortgages, easements and other records.
Best beginner route:
if you know only an address, first search Berks County Assessment to find
the exact parcel ID / Property Identification Number and current owner.
Then open the Recorder’s Online Records Search, use the regular name search
for newer records, or choose Index Books for historical
research. Verify the legal description and Property ID before relying on a deed.
Recorder
Fred Sheeler
Office
633 Court Street, 3rd Floor, Reading, PA 19601
Hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
County land records
1752-present
Current fee note:
Berks County’s current notice says documents conveying an interest in
real estate have a $88 base recording fee.
The full charge can vary with document type, pages, parcels, Statement of
Value pages, transfer tax and other statutory charges. Use the live fee
schedule immediately before filing.
Independent guide:
County-CAD.us is not Berks County Government, the Recorder of Deeds,
Assessment Office, Mapping Office, Tax Claim Bureau, Pennsylvania
Department of Revenue or any eRecording provider.
Complete final searches, recordings, copy purchases and tax payments
through the official resources linked below.
Choose your task
What Are You Trying to Do?
A 274-year land-record archive
How Berks County Records Evolved
Understanding the archive format helps explain why an older deed may
require a different search method even though the Recorder has imaged the
county’s historical records.
1752
Berks County formed; deed records begin.
1752-1953
Original handwritten and typed record books preserved.
1953-2004
Original records retained on microfilm.
2004-present
Digital records retained with electronic backup.
Historical advantage:
the Recorder states that documents recorded since the county’s founding
have been indexed and imaged, but older transactions can require
Index Books rather than the normal modern search fields.
Official destinations
Which Website Should You Open?
ROD
Berks County Recorder of Deeds
Office information, fees, forms, recording requirements and FAQs.
Open Official Recorder
SEARCH
Online Records Search Instructions
Deeds, mortgages, plans, miscellaneous documents and historical Index Books.
Open Official Record Search
FEE
Recorder Fee Schedule
Current recording charges and payment instructions.
Check Current Fees
ALERT
Property Alert Fraud Protection
Free email monitoring for matching recorded information.
Open Property Alert
eREC
Berks County eRecording
Electronic submission providers and local low-cost option.
Open eRecording
Scenario 1: only a street address
How to Find a Berks County Deed From an Address
The Recorder’s database is strongest when you already know which property
and which owner you are researching. Start with Assessment before trying
broad names in the deed index.
Open Berks County Assessment.
Find “Berks County Property Records Search.”
The official Assessment page says the database can be searched by
Name, Address or Parcel Number.
Choose Address when that is all you know.
Enter the simplest useful street information.
If a full formatted address produces no result, remove unnecessary
directional or formatting details and try again.
Open the correct parcel.
Verify owner, municipality and property location.
Save the parcel / Property Identification Number.
This identifier is also important when recording new documents.
Save the current owner name exactly as displayed.
Now open the Recorder’s Online Records Search instructions.
Select “Search Public Records.”
Search the owner or former owner and compare the resulting deed to the parcel information you saved.
Property Identification Number / UPI
Why the Berks County Property ID Matters
Berks County’s recording standards require a
Property Identification Number / UPI on documents
presented for recording.
For ordinary public research, the parcel ID is also your strongest bridge
between the Assessment database, tax/GIS information and the Recorder’s
recorded document.
Assessment search
Use owner, address or parcel number to locate the property.
Recorder document
Compare the property ID and legal description when verifying a deed.
New recording
Berks County requires the UPI / Property ID on recorded property documents.
GIS / maps
Parcel ID helps you locate the matching tax-map record.
Parcel maps are research tools, not boundary surveys.
Berks Mapping explains that tax maps are created primarily to administer
property assessment. Use a licensed surveyor and recorded legal
description when exact boundaries matter.
Modern and historical search in one system
How to Search Berks County Deeds Online
SEARCH
Online Records Search Instructions
Start here so you are routed to the current public search rather than
an outdated saved portal URL.
Start Recorder Search
Open the official instructions page above.
Click “Search Public Records.”
Berks County also provides a newer Cloud Search option; read its
Cloud Search Instructions before using it.
For a normal modern deed, use the Names search.
Enter the grantor or grantee name.
A grantor generally conveys the interest; a grantee generally receives it.
Use the approximate transaction date when known.
This is especially helpful with common surnames.
Open the matching record.
View the document image.
Berks County says deed images are available in the online system.
Compare property location, parties and legal description.
Save the instrument number or book/page reference.
Exactly what is indexed
Berks County Online Land Record Coverage
Record
Published coverage
Best search method
Deeds
1752-present
Names search; Index Books for older transactions.
Mortgages
Fully computerized from January 1, 1949-present
Modern mortgage search.
Older unsatisfied mortgages
1752-January 1, 1949
Online index / historical Index Books as appropriate.
Miscellaneous documents
Computerized from 1900-present
Modern search; older documents through Index Books.
Subdivision / highway plans
All available; oldest recorded plan dates to 1873
Online plan/index search.
Business / organization charters
Dating to 1840
Recorder online index.
One of the strongest sections of the Berks system
How to Search a Deed Recorded Before the Modern Electronic Index
Berks County specifically recommends its online
Index Books for older deeds, mortgages and miscellaneous
records.
Open the Recorder’s Online Records Search.
Under “General Criteria / Search Type,” choose “Index Books.”
For an individual, enter the party’s last name and first initial.
For a company or organization, enter the organization name in the Last Name field.
Leave First Initial blank.
Decide whether to search all available index books.
The system defaults to displaying all matching books.
Open matching index entries.
Follow the book/page or document reference to the recorded image.
For pre-1900 easements and rights-of-way, check the Miscellaneous index books.
Why Index Books help with genealogy:
the Recorder notes that older names are grouped with similar-sounding
names, which can be useful where a surname’s spelling changed over generations.
How to Search Berks County Mortgage Records
The direct computerized mortgage index is strongest for mortgages recorded
from January 1, 1949 to the present.
Berks County also provides access to unsatisfied mortgages from
1752 through the end of 1948, while older index books can assist with
historical mortgage research.
Confirm the owner/property first.
Search borrower / mortgagor name.
Search lender / mortgagee when necessary.
Open the mortgage document.
Save its recording reference.
Search later Satisfaction Pieces to determine whether the mortgage was released.
Understand what you found
Berks County Deed Search Result Decoder
Grantor
Generally the person/entity conveying or granting the property interest.
Grantee
Generally the person/entity receiving the interest.
Instrument Number
Modern recording reference useful when returning to a document or
ordering a copy.
Book & Page
Historical recording reference especially useful with older instruments.
Property ID / UPI
Parcel identifier connecting the recorded document to county property records.
Legal Description
Formal property description or reference to a prior recorded description/plan.
Consideration
Dollar amount associated with the conveyance when stated.
Recording Date
Date the instrument entered the Recorder’s official public archive.
Low-cost document access
How Much Does a Berks County Deed Copy Cost?
$0.50
Website copy per page
Current regular online copy price.
$0.50
Office copy per page
Current ordinary office copy rate for documents other than the special own-home situation noted by the Recorder.
$10
Online certified copy
Current certification price per document.
Credit-card processor charge:
the Recorder says online certified-copy credit-card transactions include
a separate processing fee that is not retained by the County.
Find the exact deed online first.
Verify the property and parties.
Download or purchase the ordinary image if you only need a research copy.
Ask the receiving institution whether certification is actually required.
If certification is required, use the online certification option or contact the Recorder.
Missing your original deed?
The Recorder advises checking first with the title company or attorney
that handled the closing because recorded originals are often returned
to the submitter rather than directly to the new owner.
Pennsylvania-specific mortgage workflow
Paid Off Your Mortgage? Look for the Satisfaction Piece
In Pennsylvania, paying off a mortgage does
not produce a new ownership deed.
Berks County explains that the lender must record a
Satisfaction of Mortgage / Satisfaction Piece
after receiving final payment.
Berks County’s stated timing:
the lender must file the mortgage satisfaction within
60 days after receiving the final payment.
Open the Recorder’s Online Records Search.
Search your name.
Find the original mortgage.
Save its instrument or book/page reference.
Search for a later Satisfaction Piece.
Confirm it references the correct mortgage.
If it is missing after payoff, contact the lender immediately.
Recheck Recorder records after the lender says it filed the satisfaction.
You keep your deed ownership even while a mortgage exists.
Pennsylvania lenders do not “hold the deed” in the sense that paying off
the loan would cause the county to issue you a new one.
How to Research a Berks County Lien
Recorder records can include real-estate-related UCC filings and other
recorded interests, but one county database does not automatically answer
every lien-priority or title question.
Search the owner/property in Recorder records.
Open the original lien or related instrument.
Identify the creditor, agency or claimant.
Save the recording reference.
Search later documents for satisfaction, release or termination.
Check Tax Claim separately when the issue involves delinquent real-estate taxes.
Use an attorney/title company when lien priority or enforceability matters.
Free fraud-monitoring tool
Berks County Property Alert
Berks County Recorder provides a free
Property Alert system that can email registered users
when a document is recorded containing information matching their alert.
ALRT
Official Property Alert
Recorder fraud-detection notification service.
Open Property Alert
Open Property Alert through the official Recorder page.
Create an alert using the current online service.
Include the Property Identification Number.
The Recorder specifically encourages this because the PIN is unique to the property.
Add owner-name variations.
Monitor the registered email account.
If an alert arrives, independently open the official Recorder search.
Verify the actual recorded document before assuming fraud.
Property Alert does not prevent a recording.
Berks County explicitly describes it as a detection/notification tool
that sends an email after matching information has been recorded.
Current schedule effective November 14, 2025
Berks County Recorder Recording Fees
$88
Current real-estate conveyance base
County notice states documents conveying an interest in real estate have a base fee of $88.
$10
Certified copy online
Current published certification amount per document.
$0.50
Regular copy per page
Current online ordinary-copy charge.
Do not calculate a deed filing from the $88 figure alone.
The final amount can change with document type, number of pages,
additional parcels, transfer tax, Statement of Value pages and other
statutory fees. Call
610-478-3380
and choose the recording-fee option if the transaction is unusual.
Mail return requirement:
the Recorder requires an appropriately sized self-addressed stamped
envelope for return of recorded documents. Without one, the office holds
the documents until an envelope is supplied.
Avoid recording rejection
Berks County Document Standards
Paper
White 8.5 × 11-inch, 20-pound paper.
Legal-size paper
No longer accepted.
Margins
Recorder suggests a 1-inch top, side and bottom margin.
Font
No smaller than 10-point.
Ink
Black recommended for scan quality.
Double-sided printing
Allowed if printing does not bleed through.
Prepared By / Return To
Must appear with required name, address and submitter information.
Property address
Complete location including municipality.
UPI / Property ID
Required on recorded property documents.
Grantee address
Must be legible and certified on deeds.
Recording a new conveyance
How to Record a Deed in Berks County
Confirm the parcel / Property ID first.
Use the Assessment property-record search.
Use the legally correct deed.
Adding or removing an owner requires preparation and recording of a new deed.
Include the correct municipality.
Berks requires Borough, City or Township information.
Include the Property Identification Number / UPI.
Check grantee mailing address.
It must be current and legible.
Check consideration.
Written and numerical amounts on the deed must agree.
Check the legal description.
A metes-and-bounds description may be replaced by a valid reference
to a prior recorded deed or plan when appropriate.
Check acknowledgment / notary information.
State, county, date, parties, notary signature and clear stamp information must be complete.
Determine whether a Statement of Value is required.
Calculate state and local realty transfer tax.
Check the live Recorder fee schedule.
Submit in person, by mail or through an approved eRecording route.
For mail, include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Keep the final recorded instrument number.
Same-day processing:
the Recorder says documents received by approximately
3:30 p.m. are generally recorded the same day,
then typically returned to the submitter the following day.
Changing names on a deed is not a clerical edit.
Berks County advises using an attorney to prepare a new deed because a
deed is a legal instrument and ownership language can affect inheritance,
creditor rights and future transactions.
Pennsylvania Realty Transfer Tax
When Does Berks County Require a Statement of Value?
Pennsylvania uses REV-183, Realty Transfer Tax Statement of Value
in transactions where additional transfer-value information is required.
Berks County states that a Statement of Value must accompany
all deeds that do not state the full and complete value
of the property being conveyed, except where a qualifying family exemption
is stated directly in the deed.
Prepare in duplicate
Berks instructs users to submit the Statement of Value in duplicate.
Counts as another page
Statement of Value forms count as additional pages when recording fees are calculated.
Easements / rights of way
Statement of Value generally accompanies these too, except exempt public utilities.
Use current CLR
Berks County’s Common Level Ratio factor changes each July 1.
Current Berks CLR factor:
3.12 for documents in the period
July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.
SOV
Pennsylvania Realty Transfer Tax Forms
Use the current state forms page rather than an old saved REV-183 file.
Open Pennsylvania Tax Forms
Pennsylvania Realty Transfer Tax: Do Not Assume Every Transfer Is the Same
Pennsylvania’s state Realty Transfer Tax rate is generally
1% of taxable real-estate value.
Local realty transfer tax is also imposed, and local rates depend on the
municipality and school district. One percent local tax is common in
Pennsylvania, but the correct Berks County local total must be verified
for the property’s municipality.
Do not automatically multiply the sale price by 2% without checking
the actual municipality and any exemption.
Taxability, exemptions, assessed value calculations and local rates can
change the amount.
Berks County states that cash and personal checks are not accepted
for transfer tax. Verify acceptable current payment methods before
travelling or mailing a document.
Electronic submission
Can You eRecord a Deed in Berks County?
Yes. The Berks County Recorder currently accepts electronic documents
through multiple eRecording platforms.
Simplifile
Recorder-listed eRecording provider.
CSC eRecording Solutions
Recorder-listed provider.
EPN
Recorder-listed provider.
Indecomm
Recorder-listed provider.
Open the official Berks eRecording page.
Choose a Recorder-listed platform.
Confirm your document type is supported.
Complete transfer-tax and Statement of Value requirements first when applicable.
Review county recording fees and vendor fees separately.
Submit electronically and monitor for rejection messages.
If rejected, correct the defect and resubmit.
Local Berks submitters:
the Recorder says businesses/offices located within Berks County may call
610-478-3380 about the office’s own
low-cost eRecording option.
What Does the Berks County Recorder Record?
Deeds
Recorded property conveyances and ownership-related instruments.
Mortgages
Real-estate financing instruments.
Mortgage satisfactions
Satisfaction Pieces showing mortgage releases.
Subdivision plans
Recorded subdivision and development plans.
Highway maps
Recorded highway-related plans.
Real-estate UCC liens
Applicable real-estate-related UCC records.
Easements
Recorded rights affecting use/access.
Rights of way
Historical and modern property-interest records.
Older charters
Historical corporate/nonprofit charters maintained by the office.
Which Berks County Office Handles Your Property Question?
Your task
Correct office
What to do
Deed / mortgage / satisfaction / easement
Recorder of Deeds
Search the official Recorder database.
Owner / parcel / assessed value
Assessment Office
Search by Name, Address or Parcel Number.
Parcel map / tax map
Mapping Office
Use GIS/tax-map resources for mapping context.
Delinquent real-estate taxes
Tax Claim Bureau
Check delinquent tax balance, tax claims and sale matters.
Current realty transfer form
Pennsylvania Department of Revenue
Use current REV-183 / Realty Transfer Tax forms.
Boundary dispute
Surveyor / title attorney
Do not treat assessment GIS lines as legal boundary evidence.
Berks County-specific shortcuts
Local Tips That Save Time
Use Assessment before searching a common surname.
Parcel ID + current owner + municipality dramatically narrows Recorder research.
Do not stop when the modern search finds nothing.
Switch to Index Books for historical transactions.
Pre-1926 deed? Index Books are especially useful.
Berks specifically recommends them for very old name searching.
Search historical spelling variations.
Old index books group similar-sounding names.
Pre-1900 easement? Check Miscellaneous Index Books.
Rights of way and easements may not appear where a beginner expects.
Mortgage paid off? Search for “Satisfaction.”
Do not wait for a new deed—it will not be issued merely because the loan ended.
Record before 3:30 p.m. when same-day processing matters.
The Recorder says documents received before then are generally recorded that day.
Bring or mail a SASE.
Without a self-addressed stamped envelope the Recorder will hold returned documents.
UPI is mandatory for recording.
Find it through the county property search before preparing the final document.
Statement of Value adds a page.
Remember it when calculating page-dependent recording costs.
Use the 2026 CLR of 3.12 only for the correct date period.
The factor changes each July 1.
Use black print.
The Recorder rejects light or illegible documents because every instrument is scanned.
Add the PIN to Property Alert.
It is much more property-specific than monitoring only a common surname.
Do not pay a third party just to find a basic deed.
Berks County provides an official online document index and images.
Before Calling the Recorder, Have These Details Ready
- Property Identification Number / parcel ID;
- street address;
- municipality: borough, city or township;
- current owner;
- prior owner when known;
- grantor and grantee names;
- approximate recording year;
- document type;
- instrument number or book/page if known;
- whether the document may predate the modern electronic index;
- whether you need an ordinary or certified copy.
Buyer / investor due diligence
Buying Berks County Property? Check More Than the Assessment Owner
Parcel ID / UPI
Confirm the exact parcel.
Current owner
Check Assessment, then verify with the recorded deed.
Latest deed
Read the actual document image and legal description.
Prior deeds
Follow the ownership chain when title history matters.
Mortgages
Identify recorded financing.
Satisfaction Pieces
Confirm prior mortgages were released.
Liens / easements
Search related Recorder documents.
Delinquent tax status
Check Tax Claim separately.
Tax map / GIS
Use for context, not boundary proof.
Professional title search
Use an attorney/title professional when ownership or lien priority must be established.
County-CAD.us Research and Corrections
Sources & Methodology
See how government property records, Recorder instructions,
fee schedules and state tax guidance are prioritized.
Read Sources & Methodology
Report a Change
Tell us if Berks County changes a fee, portal, Recorder, office hour
or recording requirement.
Contact County-CAD.us
Independent Site Disclaimer
County-CAD.us explains public systems but does not operate them.
Read Disclaimer
Official source ledger
Government Sources Used for This Berks County Guide
Berks County Recorder of Deeds
Current Recorder, office responsibilities, address, hours, mortgage
payoff guidance, copy fees and historical-record information.
Open Recorder
Online Records Search Instructions
Deed/mortgage coverage, Index Books, historical search method and
public document-image access.
Open Search Instructions
Recorder Fee Schedule
Current fee schedule effective November 14, 2025, payment and SASE rules.
Open Fee Schedule
Recorder Document Standards
UPI, paper, margins, font, notary, legal description, Statement of
Value and deed requirements.
Open Document Standards
Property Alert Fraud Protection
Used for current alert functionality and PIN/name registration guidance.
Open Property Alert
eRecording
Used for Simplifile, CSC, EPN, Indecomm and local submitter information.
Open eRecording
Berks County Assessment
Used for public property search by Name, Address or Parcel Number
and Assessment Office contact details.
Open Assessment
Berks County Mapping
Used for tax-map purpose, parcel-ID context and GIS limitations.
Open Mapping
Berks Common Level Ratio
Used to verify the 3.12 CLR factor for July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027.
Open CLR Schedule
Pennsylvania Department of Revenue
Used for the current statewide Realty Transfer Tax rate and
Realty Transfer Tax form resources.
Open Pennsylvania Tax Rates
Editorial verification: August 15, 2026.
This guide reflects the Recorder’s current November 14, 2025 fee schedule,
2026-27 Common Level Ratio, current Property Alert, current eRecording
providers and current online historical search instructions.
Verify account-specific fees, transfer tax and filing requirements on the
official sites immediately before recording.
Berks County Recorder Search Checklist
- Search Assessment first if all you know is the address.
- Save the Property Identification Number / UPI.
- Save the exact current-owner name.
- Open the Recorder’s official search instructions.
- Use Search Public Records for ordinary deed research.
- Use Index Books for older transactions.
- Check spelling variations in historical indexes.
- Verify legal description and property ID.
- Save the instrument number or book/page.
- Look for a Satisfaction Piece after mortgage payoff.
- Use the current $88 base fee only as a starting point.
- Check whether REV-183 Statement of Value is required.
- Use the correct 2026-27 CLR factor of 3.12 when applicable.
- Include a SASE when mailing documents.
- Register for free Property Alert.
10 Berks County deed questions
Berks County Recorder of Deeds FAQs
1. What is the official Berks County deed search?
Start with 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. Use the normal Names search for
many modern records and Index Books for historical transactions.
2. How far back do Berks County deed records go?
Berks County deed records date to 1752, when the county was formed.
The Recorder states that it has indexed and imaged the county’s recorded
documents and provides historical Index Books for older deed, mortgage
and miscellaneous-record searching.
3. How do I find a Berks County deed if I only know the address?
Start with the Berks County Assessment property search. Search by
Address, open the correct parcel, save the Property Identification
Number and current owner, then open the Recorder’s Online Records Search
and search the owner or prior owner. Verify the deed’s legal description
and property information before relying on it.
4. How do I search an old Berks County deed?
In the Recorder search choose Index Books under General Criteria /
Search Type. For a person, enter the last name and first initial.
For a company or organization, enter the organization name in the
Last Name field and leave First Initial blank. The Recorder particularly
recommends Index Books for older deeds and mortgages, including
pre-1926 research.
5. How much does a Berks County deed copy cost?
The Recorder currently lists ordinary online copies at 50 cents per
page and online certified copies at $10 per document. Credit-card
processing charges can be added to online purchases. Confirm current
pricing before ordering a large or certified document.
6. What is the current Berks County deed recording fee?
The Recorder’s current notice says documents that convey an interest
in real estate have a base recording fee of $88. Final charges can vary
according to document type, page count, parcels, Statement of Value,
transfer tax and other statutory charges, so use the live fee schedule
for the final amount.
7. What happens after I pay off my mortgage in Berks County?
You do not receive a new deed. Berks County explains that the lender
must file a Satisfaction of Mortgage, often called a Satisfaction Piece,
within 60 days after receiving final payment. Search your name in the
Recorder system to verify that the satisfaction was recorded.
8. Does Berks County require a Statement of Value?
Berks County requires a Statement of Value with deeds that do not state
the full and complete property value, except where a qualifying family
exemption is stated in the deed. The Statement of Value is submitted in
duplicate and counts as an additional page for recording-fee purposes.
It is also generally required with easements and rights of way except
exempt public utilities.
9. Does Berks County offer property fraud alerts?
Yes. The Recorder offers free Property Alert monitoring. The office
recommends including both the property’s Parcel Identification Number
and owner names when creating alerts. The service sends email after
matching information is recorded; it does not prevent a fraudulent
document from being submitted.
10. Where is the Berks County Recorder of Deeds office?
The Berks County Recorder of Deeds is on the third floor of the Berks
County Services Center at 633 Court Street, Reading, Pennsylvania 19601.
The phone number is 610-478-3380, email is recorder@berkspa.gov, and
current office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m.