Delaware County OH Recorder: Deeds & Records

Delaware County, Ohio • deeds, mortgages, liens and recorded real-estate records

Delaware County Recorder: Search Deeds, Mortgages, Liens and Property Records

The Delaware County Recorder’s Office maintains and indexes deeds, mortgages, IRS liens, mechanic’s liens, land contracts, plats, zoning resolutions and other instruments affecting real property in Delaware County, Ohio.

The Recorder provides a public online search for real-estate documents recorded from 1990 to the present. Search options include name, book/page and instrument number. Records before 1990 generally require research through the Recorder’s Office.

If you only know the street address: use the Delaware County Auditor Real Estate Property Search first → identify the correct owner and parcel → open Recorder Public Access → search the owner as grantor or grantee → verify the legal description and recorded image → save the instrument number.
Current Recorder Melissa Jordan
Recorder address 145 N. Union St., 1st Floor, Delaware, OH 43015
Recorder phone 740-833-2460
Recordings Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Document submission cutoff 4:00 p.m.
Online coverage Real estate records from 1990-present
Privacy warning from the Recorder: recorded documents are generally public records. Review documents before recording and do not leave a Social Security number or other unnecessary sensitive information in a publicly recorded instrument.
Independent informational guide: County-CAD.us is not the Delaware County Recorder, Delaware County Auditor, Delaware County Treasurer, Engineer, Board of Revision or another Ohio government agency. Official searches, recordings, transfers, taxes and certified copies are completed through the linked government resources.
Choose your task

What Are You Trying to Do?

Beginner property-record workflow

Address → Auditor → Owner → Recorder → Document

1 Address Start with property location.
2 Auditor Confirm parcel and owner.
3 Search clues Save names and parcel.
4 Recorder Search public records.
5 Verify Read recorded document.
6 Copy Save or certify if needed.
Official government resources

Which Delaware County Website Should You Open?

REC
Delaware County Recorder Main office, hours, fees, public search and Recorder resources.
Open Official Recorder
DOC
Recorder Public Access Search Search existing deeds, mortgages, liens and recorded documents.
Search Recorded Documents
AUD
Auditor Real Estate Property Search Owner, address and parcel-number search.
Open Property Search
MAP
Delaware County Auditor GIS Parcel map and related appraisal information.
Open Official GIS
SAFE
AlertMe Free notification when a newly recorded document contains your registered name.
Register for AlertMe
FORM
Delaware County Auditor Forms DTE 100, DTE 100EX, DTE 101, DTE 102 and other county property forms.
Open Current Auditor Forms

Searching a Delaware County Record by Book and Page

Book/page references remain particularly useful in older deeds and documents that reference a previously recorded instrument.

Copy the volume/book and page exactly.
Open the Recorder search.
Select Book/Page.
Enter the recorded reference.
Open the document and verify the property.
Follow prior-record references when tracing ownership backward.
Know the online limits before assuming a record is missing

Delaware County Recorder Online Coverage

Record type
Online detail
What it means
Real Estate Documents
1990-present
Records before 1990 generally require Recorder office research.
Federal Tax Lien Images
After January 1, 1995
Older lien filings can require different research.
UCC prior to Oct. 1, 1993
Historically manual indexing
Real-estate-affecting filings were also indexed in the tract system by name.
UCC Oct. 1, 1993-Jan. 25, 2005
Financing Statement System
Real-estate-related filings were also indexed in the tract system.
UCC after Jan. 20/25, 2005
Recorder directs users to the tract index
Use the current indexing route rather than only the historical UCC index.
No online result does not automatically mean no document exists. Search spelling variations, check coverage dates and contact the Recorder for pre-1990 or incompletely imaged material.

What Types of Property Records Does the Delaware County Recorder Maintain?

General Warranty Deeds Common ownership-transfer instrument containing title warranties.
Quitclaim Deeds Conveys the grantor’s interest without ordinary title warranties.
Special Warranty Deeds Contains more limited warranties than a general warranty deed.
Mortgages Security instruments creating a lien against real estate.
Mortgage Releases / Satisfactions Records showing discharge or release of recorded mortgage interests.
IRS / Federal Tax Liens Federal claims and related releases.
Mechanic’s Liens Construction- and improvement-related lien documents.
Land Contracts Certain executory agreements for real-property purchase.
Plats Subdivision and other recorded map material.
Zoning Resolutions Statutorily recorded zoning resolutions and amendments.
Powers of Attorney Certain powers of attorney accepted into Recorder records.
Transfer on Death / Survivorship-related instruments Recorded documents that can affect ownership succession.
Copies and certification

Delaware County Recorder Copy Fees

$2 Photocopy Current Recorder charge per page.
$2/page Certified Copy Pages Current charge per page.
+$2 Certification Current Delaware County Recorder certification charge.
Save money by searching first. Find and verify the exact document online before asking Recorder staff to produce or certify it.
The Recorder also currently lists fax copies at $2 per page for local fax service and $4 per page for long-distance fax service.
Verify Current Copy Fees
Delaware County includes preservation surcharge

How Much Does It Cost to Record a Deed in Delaware County?

$39 First Two Pages Deeds, mortgages, leases, powers of attorney, releases, assignments and many other standard instruments.
$8 Each Additional Page For pages after the first two.
$4 Marginal Reference Current charge for each release, amendment, assignment or comparable reference.
Why Delaware County shows $39 rather than $34: the Recorder’s current fee page states that its first-two-page charge includes the $5 document-preservation surcharge.
The fee above is the Recorder’s document-recording charge. A deed transfer can separately involve Auditor transfer/conveyance fees.
Open Current Recorder Fee Schedule

Mailing a Deed or Other Document to the Recorder

Delaware County specifically instructs customers who want documents returned by mail to include a postage-paid return envelope or sufficient money to cover both postage and an envelope.

Recorder mailing / office address

Delaware County Recorder
145 N. Union St.
Delaware, OH 43015

Confirm the document is legally ready to record.
Verify Auditor/Engineer transfer requirements if it is a conveyance.
Calculate the current Recorder fee.
Include a sufficiently large postage-paid return envelope.
Keep a full copy of everything you mail.
After processing, verify the instrument online.
Third-party courier warning: the Recorder currently warns that FedEx/UPS tracking may identify a staff member as the recipient even when the package was actually left in the building foyer or with security. Do not use a carrier tracking name alone as proof that Recorder staff physically accepted the filing.
Ohio standard recording format

Check These Deed Formatting Rules Before Recording

Item
Ohio standard
Practical check
Font
Minimum 10-point
Ensure exhibits and legal descriptions remain legible.
Paper size
8.5 × 11 through 8.5 × 14
Delaware County’s ordinary fee applies to 8.5 × 14 or smaller instruments.
Ink
Black or blue
Avoid highlighting in recorded text.
Side/bottom margins
1 inch
Keep essential text outside margin space.
First-page top margin
3 inches
Leave room for required county endorsements.
Later-page top margin
1.5 inches
Check every page before submission.
Ohio’s Recorder law permits an additional charge for non-standard instruments. It is cheaper to correct document formatting before filing.
Review Current Ohio Recorder Law
New deed / ownership transfer

How to Record a Deed in Delaware County, Ohio

A deed transferring ownership can involve several county functions before final recording. The Recorder creates the permanent land record; the Auditor handles ownership transfer/conveyance processing; and the Engineer Map Department can become relevant when a legal description or parcel change requires technical review.

1 Prepare deed Correct legal instrument.
2 DTE form Taxable or exempt.
3 Map review Engineer when required.
4 Auditor Transfer ownership.
5 Recorder Record instrument.
6 Verify Search instrument online.
Prepare the correct deed for the transaction. Warranty, survivorship, fiduciary and quitclaim deeds can have different legal effects.
Use the complete legal description. Do not treat the property mailing address as a substitute.
Confirm every parcel being conveyed.
Open the Delaware County Auditor Forms page.
Choose DTE 100 for a taxable conveyance when applicable.
Choose DTE 100EX when a statutory conveyance-fee exemption applies.
Check DTE 101 when homestead property circumstances require it.
Check DTE 102 when agricultural/CAUV circumstances require it.
Determine whether Engineer Map Department approval is required. Changed legal descriptions, lot splits and other parcel-configuration issues can require separate technical review.
Complete Auditor transfer/conveyance processing.
Pay applicable Auditor transfer/conveyance fees separately.
Make sure the document meets Recorder formatting rules.
Submit to the Recorder before the 4:00 p.m. document cutoff for same-day intake planning.
After recording, search the new instrument online.
The Recorder cannot tell you which deed you should use. Changing ownership can affect survivorship, probate, creditors, Medicaid, capital gains, estate planning and other legal matters. Use an Ohio attorney or title professional when those consequences matter.
Delaware County Auditor transfer forms

DTE 100 vs DTE 100EX

DTE 100 — Real Property Conveyance Fee Statement

Used for a real-property conveyance subject to the applicable Ohio conveyance-fee rules.

DTE 100EX — Conveyance Exemption

Used when a transfer qualifies for a statutory exemption from the conveyance fee.

DTE 101

Statement of Conveyance of Homestead Property. Check whether the seller’s homestead circumstances trigger this form.

DTE 102

Agricultural Conveyance form. Check when qualifying agricultural or CAUV property is transferred.

Open Official Delaware County DTE Forms
Do not select DTE 100EX simply to avoid a fee. An exempt transfer must fit an applicable legal exemption. Contact the Auditor at 740-833-2900 when the correct transfer form or exemption reason is unclear.

Auditor Conveyance Fees Are Separate From Recorder Fees

Ohio law provides a state conveyance-fee component for taxable transfers and a separate transfer-entry fee. Counties may also impose a permissive real-property transfer tax.

$1 / $1,000 Ohio State Base Statutory conveyance-fee component for taxable real-property transfers.
$0.50 Transfer / Entry Statutory Auditor entry charge per applicable transfer/entry.
Do not calculate the complete Delaware County transfer charge from the state base alone. Confirm the current county permissive-transfer component and transaction treatment directly with the Delaware County Auditor before closing or recording.
Confirm Transfer Fees With Delaware County Auditor

How to Search a Delaware County Mortgage or Mortgage Release

Delaware County’s Recorder search specifically supports mortgage research through the mortgagor and mortgagee names.

Open Recorder Public Access.
Search the homeowner/borrower as mortgagor.
Search the bank/lender as mortgagee when useful.
Identify the original mortgage instrument.
Save its instrument number, volume/page and recording date.
Search later records for release, satisfaction, assignment or modification documents.
Confirm that the later document actually references the same mortgage.
Mortgage payoff tip: paying off a mortgage normally does not produce a new ownership deed. The record you are usually looking for is a release or satisfaction of the prior mortgage.

Does Delaware County Accept Electronic Recording?

The Recorder currently states that it accepts mortgages electronically.

Because electronic-recording eligibility and providers can vary by document type and submitter, call the Recorder at 740-833-2460 before assuming a deed or other instrument can be submitted electronically.

Professional title companies and lenders often use electronic-recording networks. Individual owners should not assume e-recording eliminates the need for correct legal preparation, transfer approval or recording fees.
Free future-recording alerts

How to Use Delaware County AlertMe

Delaware County Recorder offers AlertMe, a voluntary notification service that sends an email when a document containing a registered name is newly recorded through the Recorder’s Office.

SAFE
AlertMe Notification Service Future recording alerts by registered name.
Register for AlertMe
Open the AlertMe registration page.
Create or recover your account. Former Property Check users from the prior service period were migrated into AlertMe and can use the forgot-password option.
Register the names you want to monitor. Include relevant personal, trust or business names.
Watch your email for future alerts.
When an alert arrives, open the Public Access Recorder search.
Read the actual newly recorded document.
If you suspect fraud, contact local law enforcement promptly.
AlertMe does not search older records for you. The Recorder states that the service applies to documents recorded after enrollment. Use Public Access to research existing documents.
The Recorder cannot guarantee the truthfulness of a document merely because it was recorded. Ohio law defines the Recorder’s recording duties, while ownership disputes and fraudulent transfers can require law enforcement, court action or legal counsel.
Pre-1990 records

How to Find a Delaware County Deed Recorded Before 1990

The Recorder’s current online search page states that real-estate records before 1990 are available only through the Recorder’s Office rather than the ordinary web search.

Start with the newest known deed.
Write down the grantor, grantee, recording date and book/page.
Follow any prior deed reference backward.
Call the Recorder at 740-833-2460. Explain the approximate year and names you are researching.
Use the Recorder Exam Room when office research is necessary. Current Exam Room hours are 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday except holidays.
Bring every known historical clue. Names, spelling variations, book/page, legal description and approximate recording period can shorten the search.
Genealogy shortcut: a known deed’s prior book/page reference is often more valuable than a broad surname search when tracing property through several generations.

Does a Recorder Search Prove Clear Title?

No. The newest deed is only one component of a property’s recorded history.

Depending on the purpose, research can also require:

  • earlier deeds;
  • mortgages;
  • mortgage releases;
  • assignments;
  • mechanic’s liens;
  • federal tax liens;
  • land contracts;
  • easements;
  • restrictions;
  • plats;
  • affidavits;
  • powers of attorney;
  • trust documents;
  • probate-related documents; and
  • court orders affecting ownership.
Buying, refinancing, handling probate or resolving an ownership dispute? Use an Ohio title company or attorney for a complete title examination.

Is the Delaware County GIS Parcel Map a Legal Survey?

No. The Auditor GIS map is useful for identifying and visualizing parcels and related appraisal information, but GIS parcel lines should not replace a recorded legal description or boundary survey.

Before building a fence, driveway, addition or other improvement near a property line, review the recorded deed and plat and use a licensed surveyor when exact boundary placement matters.
Open Delaware County GIS

Recorder, Auditor, Treasurer or Clerk of Courts: Which Office Do You Need?

Your task
Correct office
Best action
Deed, mortgage, lien or recorded land document
Delaware County Recorder
Use Public Access or contact 740-833-2460.
Owner, address, parcel or property value
Delaware County Auditor
Use Real Estate Data Property Search.
Property-tax bill or payment
Delaware County Treasurer
Search/pay through Treasurer resources or call 740-833-2480.
Deed ownership transfer / conveyance
Auditor + Engineer when applicable + Recorder
Complete transfer review before final recording.
Property value complaint
Board of Revision
Use Auditor BOR procedures; Ohio complaints generally file Jan. 2-March 31.
Foreclosure court case / sheriff-sale case file
Clerk of Courts
Use the court record rather than the Recorder deed search alone.
Delaware County-specific shortcuts

Local Tips That Can Save Time

Use the Auditor first when you only know an address. The Recorder is stronger when you already have the party names or recording reference.
Search LASTNAME FIRSTNAME. This is the Recorder’s own recommended individual-name format.
Search every spelling variation. Delaware County explicitly advises this because indexing follows recorded names.
Save the instrument number immediately. It is much easier to reuse than repeating an owner-name search.
Do not assume a 1990s record must have an online image. Imaging began at different times for different document types.
Federal tax lien image coverage starts later. The Recorder identifies January 1, 1995 as the online image start point.
Know whether you need the UCC Index or tract index. Historical financing-statement indexing changed around 2005.
Use AlertMe only for future activity. Existing records must be researched separately in Public Access.
Former Property Check user? Imported users can use AlertMe’s forgot-password option rather than unnecessarily creating a second profile.
Do not wait until 4:25 p.m. to submit a deed. Recording hours extend to 4:30 p.m., but the document submission cutoff is 4:00 p.m.
Include a proper return envelope for mailed recordings. The Recorder specifically requires adequate postage and envelope size.
Do not trust courier tracking names as proof of staff receipt. The Recorder has published a current warning about third-party delivery practices.
Current Recorder office

Delaware County Recorder Address, Phone and Hours

Delaware County Recorder

Recorder
Melissa Jordan
Address
145 N. Union St.
1st Floor
Delaware, OH 43015
Main Phone
740-833-2460
Fax
740-833-2459
Recording Hours
Monday-Friday
8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Document Submission Cutoff
4:00 p.m.
Exam Room
8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Public Records Request Contact

Records Custodian
Melissa Jordan
Public Records Phone
740-833-2461
Email
mjordan@co.delaware.oh.us
Use this for
Recorder-maintained public-record requests that are not adequately handled by the ordinary online document search.
Directions to Delaware County Recorder

Before Calling the Recorder, Have These Details Ready

  • property address;
  • Auditor parcel number;
  • grantor name;
  • grantee name;
  • mortgagor or mortgagee, if researching a loan;
  • approximate recording year;
  • document type;
  • instrument number, if known;
  • book and page, if known;
  • legal description for historical research; and
  • whether you need a plain copy or certified copy.
Recorder: 740-833-2460

County-CAD.us Editorial Resources

Editorial Policy

Review source verification, updates and correction standards.

Read Editorial Policy
Independent Website Disclaimer

Understand what County-CAD.us can and cannot do for property owners.

Read Disclaimer
Primary government source ledger

Official Sources Used for This Delaware County Recorder Guide

Delaware County Recorder

Current Recorder, address, hours, document cutoff and office services.

Open Recorder
Recorded Document Search

Used for 1990-present coverage, name formatting, instrument/book-page searches, UCC indexing and federal-tax-lien image dates.

Open Search Instructions
Recorder Public Access

Current live search destination for existing recorded documents.

Open Public Access
Recorder Fees and Charges

Used for the $39 first-two-page charge, $8 additional pages, marginal references, photocopies and certified copies.

Open Recorder Fees
Recorder Property Fraud / AlertMe

Used for fraud-alert registration, prior Property Check migration, future-recording limitations and law-enforcement guidance.

Open Fraud Information
Auditor Real Estate Property Search

Used for owner, address and parcel-number search routing.

Open Property Search
Delaware County Auditor Forms

Used for current DTE 100, DTE 100EX, DTE 101 and DTE 102 availability.

Open Auditor Forms
Ohio Revised Code 317.32

Used to verify statutory Recorder recording, copying, certification and preservation-surcharge authority.

Open Recorder Fee Law
Ohio Revised Code 319.54

Used for statutory Auditor transfer-entry and base conveyance-fee provisions.

Open Conveyance Fee Law
Delaware County Engineer

Used to confirm local Transfer and Conveyance Standards and Map Department resources.

Open Engineer Resources
Editorial verification: August 14, 2026. Recorder search interfaces, fees, preservation surcharges, office hours, transfer forms and county procedures can change. Verify a time-sensitive filing directly with the Recorder or Auditor before submitting original documents.

Delaware County Deed Research Checklist

  • Use the Auditor when you only know an address.
  • Save the parcel number and owner name.
  • Open Delaware County Recorder Public Access.
  • For names, use LASTNAME FIRSTNAME.
  • Search both grantor and grantee when researching a deed.
  • Try all reasonable spelling variations.
  • Use book/page or instrument number whenever available.
  • Confirm the legal description before relying on a result.
  • Save the instrument number.
  • Remember that ordinary online coverage begins in 1990.
  • Contact the Recorder for older records.
  • Search mortgage releases after a loan payoff.
  • Use DTE 100 or DTE 100EX correctly for a new transfer.
  • Keep Auditor transfer fees and Recorder fees separate.
  • Submit recording documents before the 4:00 p.m. cutoff.
  • Register for AlertMe for future document notifications.
10 Delaware County Recorder questions

Delaware County Ohio Recorder FAQs

1. What is the official Delaware County Ohio Recorder deed search?

Use the Delaware County Recorder Public Access system at delaware.dts-central-oh.com/PaxWorld. The Recorder’s online real-estate search contains records from 1990 to the present and supports searches by name, book/page and instrument number.

2. How do I find a Delaware County deed if I only know the address?

Start with the Delaware County Auditor Real Estate Data Property Search. Search by address, open the correct property and save the owner and parcel information. Then open Recorder Public Access and search the owner or former owner as a possible grantor or grantee.

3. How should I search an owner name in Delaware County Recorder records?

The Recorder recommends entering an individual in LASTNAME FIRSTNAME order. Search all reasonable spelling variations. For a deed, check both grantor and grantee possibilities. Businesses should be searched under their business name rather than automatically under an individual’s name.

4. How far back are Delaware County Ohio real-estate records available online?

The Recorder states that its online system contains real-estate documents from 1990 to the present. Real-estate documents recorded before 1990 generally must be researched through the Recorder’s Office. Not every post-1990 document is necessarily imaged because imaging start dates vary by document type.

5. How much does it cost to record a deed in Delaware County Ohio?

The Delaware County Recorder currently charges $39 for the first two pages of a standard deed or similar instrument and $8 for each additional page. The $39 charge includes Delaware County’s $5 document-preservation surcharge. Additional charges can apply for marginal references or other document-specific services.

6. How much is a certified deed copy from the Delaware County Recorder?

The Recorder currently lists certified copies at $2 per page plus $2 for certification. Ordinary photocopies are currently $2 per page. Find the correct instrument number online before requesting certification so the office can identify the exact record.

7. Do I need DTE 100 to record a Delaware County deed?

A taxable Ohio real-property conveyance generally uses DTE 100. A qualifying exempt transfer uses DTE 100EX. Delaware County also provides DTE 101 for applicable homestead conveyances and DTE 102 for applicable agricultural conveyances. The Auditor handles the conveyance step before final Recorder recording where required.

8. What should I search after paying off a Delaware County mortgage?

Search the Recorder for the original mortgage using the mortgagor or mortgagee name, save its instrument number and then look for a later release, satisfaction or other discharge referencing that mortgage. Paying off the loan normally does not create a new ownership deed.

9. Does Delaware County offer free property fraud alerts?

Yes. Delaware County Recorder offers AlertMe, which sends an email when a newly recorded document contains a registered name. The service applies to future recordings after enrollment. Existing records should be searched separately through Public Access.

10. Where is the Delaware County Recorder’s Office?

The Delaware County Recorder’s Office is at 145 N. Union Street, 1st Floor, Delaware, Ohio 43015. The main phone number is 740-833-2460. Recording and Exam Room hours are currently Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays, but the document-submission cutoff is 4:00 p.m.

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