Maricopa County, Arizona • official deed and recording workflow
Maricopa County Recorder: Search Deeds, Recorded Documents, Liens and Copies
The Maricopa County Recorder’s Office is the official
county office for recording and preserving deeds, deeds of trust, releases,
liens, plats, easements and many other public documents.
You can search most recorded documents online without beginning with a
paid third-party property-record website. The Recorder’s official search
supports several routes, including a recorded document number,
docket/book and page, person or business name, document code and date range.
Fastest beginner route:
if you know the owner’s name, open the official Recorded Document Search
and enter the last name and first name. If you know only the property
address, first use the Maricopa County Assessor to identify the parcel and
current deed number, then open that recording through the Recorder.
Current Recorder
Justin Heap
Main office
301 W. Jefferson St., Second Floor, Suite 200, Phoenix, AZ 85003
Office hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., excluding holidays
Most recording fees
$30 per document
Copy fee
$1 per page; certification adds $3 per document
Independent informational guide:
County-CAD.us is not the Maricopa County Recorder, Maricopa County
Assessor, Treasurer, Arizona Department of Revenue or another government
agency. Official searches, document purchases and recordings must be
completed through the government systems linked below.
Start with the task you actually need
What Are You Trying to Find or Record?
Beginner deed-search workflow
Property Address → APN → Deed Number → Recorder Document → Copy
1
Property
Start with address or owner.
2
Assessor
Confirm APN and ownership record.
3
Deed #
Save the current deed number.
4
Recorder
Open the recorded document.
5
Verify
Match names, legal details and date.
6
Copy
View free or purchase if required.
This progress graphic uses lightweight CSS only and does not add
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Use the correct official system
Maricopa County Recorder Official Websites
REC
Maricopa County Recorder
Main office website, recording services, fees and resources.
Open Recorder Website
APN
Maricopa County Assessor
Search property address, APN, ownership and current deed number.
Open Official Assessor
The Recorder provides several search paths
How Can You Search Maricopa County Recorded Documents?
What you know
Search field
Best use
Recording number
Recorded Document Number
Fastest route when you already have the exact recording reference.
Old docket/book and page
Docket/Book + Page
Older document references and historical title research.
Person’s name
Last Name + First Name
Deeds, deeds of trust, releases, liens and other documents indexed to a party.
Trust, company or HOA
Business Name
Trust-owned property, companies, associations and subdivision records.
Type of document
Document Code
Narrow results to deeds, plats, trustee-sale notices or another document class.
Approximate time period
Beginning / Ending Date
Reduce same-name results and isolate a known transaction period.
Best search combination:
use a name plus a date range and document code when you have those details.
A broad surname-only search can produce a large number of unrelated documents.
Most common Recorder task
How to Find a Maricopa County Deed by Owner Name
Open the official Recorded Document Search above.
Do not begin with a commercial people-search or title website if your goal
is only to locate a public recording.
Scroll to the general document-search area.
You will see fields for Business Name, Last Name, First Name,
document code and dates.
Enter the owner’s Last Name and First Name.
Use the name under which the deed was likely recorded.
If the property is held by a trust or company, use Business Name instead.
Do not keep searching an individual’s name when title is held by a named trust or LLC.
Add an approximate recording date if you know it.
A purchase or refinance year can greatly reduce irrelevant results.
Narrow by document code if needed.
Select the deed-related code instead of searching every type of recording.
Open the likely result.
Compare all indexed names, recording date and document description.
Select the colored Pages box to view the available unofficial image.
The Recorder allows online viewing of available document images.
Save the recorded document number.
Use that exact number for future searches, official copies and questions to staff.
If you know the address but not the owner’s recorded name
How to Find a Maricopa County Deed from a Property Address
The Recorder’s traditional index is primarily document- and name-oriented.
A beginner who has only a street address can usually save time by identifying
the parcel through the Maricopa County Assessor first.
Open the Maricopa County Assessor website.
Search the property using its street address.
Open the exact parcel rather than assuming the first similar address is correct.
Save the APN.
APN means Assessor’s Parcel Number and uniquely identifies the parcel in the
Assessor’s system.
Find the Owner Information section.
Confirm the current owner carried by the Assessor.
Look for the Deed Number.
The Recorder specifically directs users to the Assessor’s current-property
page when they want the current deed for a known parcel.
Copy the deed number.
Enter the recorded document number.
This avoids a broad owner-name search.
Open the document and verify the parties/property description.
Why this is useful:
the Assessor helps you identify the parcel and current deed reference;
the Recorder provides the actual recorded document.
Newer-document research tool
Search Recent Maricopa Recordings by Address or Legal Description
The Recorder’s full-text research tool currently searches document data
from approximately the last two years. It can search terms
such as a name, address or legal description.
John Smith
Broadly finds content containing the terms John and Smith.
“John Smith”
Quotes search for the exact phrase.
Judgment OR Deed
Searches for either word.
Deed – Trust
Searches for Deed while excluding Trust.
Coverage warning:
this full-text feature is not a replacement for the Recorder’s complete
historical index. For documents older than its current approximately
two-year coverage, use recording number, book/page, indexed names,
document codes and date ranges.
Unofficial view vs official copy vs certified copy
How to Get a Copy of a Maricopa County Deed
View
Unofficial Online Image
Open the document and select the colored box under Pages.
$1
Official Copy
Per recorded-document page.
+$3
Certification
Additional charge per document, on top of the page-copy cost.
Locate the correct document in the Recorded Document Search.
Open it and verify the names and recording details.
Use Pages if you only need to review an unofficial image.
For an official copy, choose “Buying/Purchasing Options.”
Select “Edit” before checkout.
The Recorder specifically tells users to edit the purchase so the desired
delivery and certification options can be selected.
Choose email download or physical mail when offered.
Select certified copy only if required.
Courts, lenders, probate matters or other formal transactions may require
certification; ordinary research often does not.
Save your invoice and document number.
Money-saving tip:
verify the document using the online image before paying for an official
or certified copy.
Where the transaction amount may appear
How to Find a Maricopa County Property Sale Price
A recorded deed does not always display the sale price in the way a buyer
expects. In Arizona, sale information may appear on the
Affidavit of Property Value that accompanies the deed.
Find the deed in the Recorded Document Search.
Open the deed result.
Look for the option labeled “View Affidavit.”
This appears when an Affidavit of Property Value was recorded with
the deed and is available through the record.
Open the affidavit Pages.
Review the sale information.
The affidavit is used to report the selling price, sale date and
other transaction information.
No View Affidavit option?
The transfer may have used a statutory exemption instead of an Affidavit
of Property Value. The Recorder states that a sale price will not be
available through this route when an exemption code was used.
Important Arizona deed-recording requirement
Affidavit of Property Value or Exemption Code?
The Maricopa County Recorder states that a deed must include either an
Affidavit of Property Value or an applicable
exemption code to be accepted for recording.
Affidavit required
For many real-property sales/transfers, Form 82162 accompanies the
deed and reports transaction information.
Exempt transfer
When a statutory exemption applies, the proper Arizona statute
reference and exemption code are placed on the face of the deed.
Important date detail:
the Arizona Department of Revenue states that the “date of sale” entered
on the Affidavit of Property Value is the date the transfer agreement
or contract of sale was signed—not automatically the escrow closing date.
The Recorder cannot choose your exemption code.
The office specifically states that it cannot provide legal assistance
with the affidavit or advise which exemption applies to a deed.
Recorded lien research
How to Search Maricopa County Property Liens
Confirm the current and prior owner names.
Use the Assessor and known deed history when necessary.
Open the Recorder search.
Search the person’s or business name.
Use document codes or dates to narrow the results.
Review every potentially relevant recording.
Search releases or satisfactions as well as original claims.
The existence of an older lien document does not by itself tell you
its current status.
Recorder search ≠ title clearance.
The Recorder itself warns that searching its website does not guarantee
that property is free and clear from liens. Use a title company or
Arizona real-estate attorney when legal certainty is required.
What If You Find an Erroneous or Invalid Lien?
The Recorder’s FAQ points property owners to
A.R.S. § 33-420 for issues involving certain erroneous
or invalid recorded documents and advises seeking legal assistance.
Preserve the evidence
Save the recorded document number, date, names and an image of the document.
Do not assume Recorder staff can remove it
The Recorder records qualifying documents but cannot adjudicate a
title or lien dispute.
Check for later releases/corrections
Search the same names and references for subsequent documents.
Get legal guidance
An Arizona attorney can advise whether A.R.S. § 33-420 or another
remedy may apply.
HOA / subdivision research
How to Find Maricopa County CC&Rs
The Recorder says Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions are commonly
recorded under a subdivision name or the name of the
Homeowners Association.
Find the subdivision name first.
If you do not know it, search the property through the Maricopa County Assessor.
Open the Recorded Document Search.
Use the Business Name field.
Enter the HOA or subdivision name.
If no results appear, shorten the subdivision name.
The Recorder specifically recommends trying only the first portion of a
longer subdivision name.
Review CC&Rs, amendments and later related recordings.
An older declaration may have been supplemented or amended.
Subdivision map / parcel context
How to Find a Maricopa County Plat Map
You have two useful official routes.
Route 1 — Assessor MCR Number
- Search the address or APN on the Maricopa County Assessor.
- Open the property.
- Find the MCR number in the property information.
- Select that reference to reach the recorded map information.
Route 2 — Recorder Search
- Open Recorded Document Search.
- Use Business Name.
- Enter the subdivision name.
- Select document code Plat Maps.
- Shorten the subdivision name if the exact wording gives no result.
Plat ≠ boundary survey.
A recorded subdivision plat is useful research, but a property owner
dealing with an exact boundary dispute should use a qualified surveyor
and appropriate legal/title records.
Notice of Trustee Sale search
How to Search Maricopa County Trustee-Sale Notices
Arizona deeds of trust can lead to a recorded
Notice of Trustee Sale. The Recorder’s document search
can be filtered using that document code.
Open Recorded Document Search.
Select document code “Notice of Trustee Sale.”
Add a date range.
Use a narrower period when researching recent notices.
For one specific property, search the owner’s name.
Open the recorded notice and read the property/legal information.
Search for later related documents.
A recorded trustee-sale notice does not by itself prove that a sale
ultimately occurred.
Do not treat a Notice of Trustee Sale as a live property listing.
Sales can be postponed, canceled or otherwise affected. Verify the current
trustee and sale status before relying on an old recording.
Recording a document instead of searching one
How to Record a Deed or Other Document in Maricopa County
The Recorder currently accepts qualifying documents
in person, by mail or electronically.
In person
Main Downtown Office. No appointment is required during ordinary office hours.
By mail
Send the original/certified document and correct payment to the Recorder.
Electronic
Digital recording is designed mainly for eligible recurring/high-volume users;
one-time filers may use eligible third-party submitters.
Determine which legal document is appropriate.
The Recorder cannot choose or prepare the deed, release or other legal instrument for you.
Use an original or government-issued certified copy when required.
The Recorder states that an original or qualifying government-certified copy
is required for ordinary recording.
Check the document format requirements.
Review caption, signatures, page size, type size and margins before submission.
For a deed, include the Affidavit of Property Value or proper exemption code.
Check the current recording fee.
Most documents currently cost $30, but plats, surveys and statutory exceptions differ.
Choose in-person, mail or eligible digital recording.
Keep proof of recording.
Save the recorded document number and final stamped/recorded copy.
Arizona A.R.S. § 11-480 formatting basics
Document Requirements Before Recording
Document caption
Include a caption that briefly states the nature of the instrument,
such as Warranty Deed or Release.
Legible original
The instrument must be sufficiently legible for certified reproduction.
Required signatures
Original signatures are generally required unless another law provides otherwise.
Maximum ordinary page size
Documents executed on or after January 1, 1991 generally may not exceed
8.5 × 14 inches.
Minimum type size
Generally no smaller than 10-point type for documents covered by the rule.
Ordinary margins
At least one-half inch across the top, bottom and sides.
First-page top margin
At least two inches reserved for recording information.
Return information
The permitted portion of the first-page top area can identify the person
requesting recording and the return name/address.
Document modifies an older recording?
Arizona law can require the new instrument to reference the recording
information of the document being modified. Review the current Recorder
requirements before submission.
Current Recorder fee schedule
Maricopa County Recording and Copy Fees
$30
Most Documents
Standard recording fee for documents other than plats/surveys.
$24
Plat / Survey First Page
Current first-page charge.
$20
Additional Plat / Survey Page
Current additional-page fee.
$1
Recorded Copy
Per page.
$3
Certification
Per document in addition to copy charges.
$0
Certain Statutory Documents
Some military discharge, child support and other specifically exempt
recordings have no recording fee.
No appointment required
Record a Document in Person
Check your document before traveling.
Make sure signatures, margins, affidavit/exemption and fee requirements
are complete.
Confirm that the office is open.
Check holidays and any current service alert.
Bring the original/certified document and payment.
Submit the document at the recording counter.
Keep the recording number and returned original.
The Recorder states that an in-person recorded original is returned
immediately after recording.
Check Current Location & Hours
Mail-in recording
How to Record by Mail
Prepare the original or acceptable certified document.
Include the correct recording fee.
By mail, the Recorder accepts check, cashier’s check or money order
under its current instructions.
Make checks payable to Maricopa County Recorder.
Provide a clear return address.
The recorded document will be returned after processing.
Mail to the Recorder’s Downtown Office.
Return time:
the Recorder currently says recorded mail submissions are generally
mailed back to the return address within approximately 2-4 weeks.
The office does not guarantee a mailed document will be recorded on
the day it is received.
High-volume digital recording
Can You E-Record a Maricopa County Deed?
Yes, but the Recorder’s direct Digital Recording Program is primarily
designed for qualifying parties that record regularly rather than a
homeowner submitting one deed.
The Recorder reports that more than 90% of documents
are currently recorded digitally.
Recurring / eligible filer
Eligible title companies, financial institutions, attorneys,
government entities and trusted submitters can apply for direct
digital recording access.
One-time filer
The Recorder directs single-document filers toward an eligible
third-party electronic submitter when they want to e-record.
The Recorder currently states that there is no separate extra charge
simply for direct electronic recording; ordinary applicable recording
fees still apply.
Free recording notification service
Maricopa Title Alert: Free Deed and Recording Monitoring
Maricopa Title Alert is a free Recorder program that
sends notifications when a document is recorded using an individual
or business name that you have registered for monitoring.
Open the Title Alert page above.
Enter your email address.
Select Individual or Business.
Add the names you want monitored.
The Recorder recommends entering variations of your name to improve notification coverage.
Choose Email, Mobile Text or Both.
Select English or Español.
Submit the registration.
Activate the account from the email sent by the Recorder.
Check spam/junk folders if the activation message is not visible.
Title Alert does not retroactively monitor old recordings.
The service applies to documents recorded after you sign up.
An alert does not prove fraud.
A legitimate refinance, lien release, HOA document, court filing or other
transaction may trigger an alert. Open the recording and verify it before
assuming the document is fraudulent.
Recorder vs Assessor: Which Maricopa County Office Do You Need?
Your task
Correct office
What to do there
Recorded deed
County Recorder
Search and view the recorded ownership instrument.
Current property owner / APN
County Assessor
Search property records by address or parcel number.
Recorded lien / release
County Recorder
Search indexed recorded documents by party name and document type.
Assessed / full cash value
County Assessor
Review valuation and parcel characteristics.
CC&Rs / plat
Recorder + Assessor
Use Assessor to identify subdivision/MCR, then Recorder for recorded documents.
Legal title opinion
Title company / attorney
Obtain professional title examination rather than relying only on public search results.
Do not use the wrong request system
Do You Need a Public Records Request to Get a Deed?
Usually no. The Recorder specifically directs people
seeking recorded property documents to the
Recorded Document Search.
The separate Public Records Request system is more appropriate for
categories such as office communications, voter/election data and other
government records that are not simply a standard recorded deed or lien
available through the document index.
Looking for your deed?
Use the Recorded Document Search first. Do not create a broad public-record
request for something already available in the Recorder’s recording database.
Can the Recorder Change the Name on Your Deed?
Recorder staff cannot select, prepare or complete a legal document for you.
If a change in ownership or name requires a new legal instrument, the office
records the completed qualifying document—it does not draft it.
Recorder can
Record a properly prepared qualifying instrument and make it part of
the public record.
Recorder cannot
Tell you which deed to use, provide legal advice, prepare the deed
or provide notary service.
Marriage, divorce, trust transfers, estate planning and ownership changes
can have legal and tax effects. Use an Arizona attorney, title company,
estate planner or qualified document-preparation professional when appropriate.
Maricopa County-specific shortcuts
Local Tips That Make Recorder Research Faster
If you only know the address, start with the Assessor.
The current deed number in Owner Information can save you from a broad
Recorder name search.
Search a trust as Business Name.
If ownership is held by a trust or company, repeatedly searching an
individual’s name can miss the document.
Use dates aggressively.
A one- or two-year recording window is much easier to research than
decades of same-name results.
Save the recording number immediately.
Once found, stop repeating broad searches.
Use exact phrase quotes in recent full-text research.
Quoted names or legal phrases can make newer-document searching much cleaner.
Search releases after liens and deeds of trust.
The original recording does not tell you by itself whether the obligation
was later released.
For HOA records, search the subdivision name too.
CC&Rs may not be indexed under the individual homeowner.
Use only part of a long subdivision name when needed.
The Recorder specifically recommends shortening the business/subdivision
search if an exact long name returns nothing.
Check “View Affidavit” for sale price.
If an Affidavit of Property Value exists, that is where transaction
pricing information may appear.
Register name variations in Title Alert.
Hyphenated names, longer versions and business punctuation can matter
for name-based notifications.
Kiosk availability can change.
Check the Recorder’s live Locations and Hours page before traveling
to a satellite recording kiosk.
Do not ask the Recorder to perform a title opinion.
Recorded-document access and professional title examination are different services.
Before Calling the Recorder, Have These Details Ready
- recorded document number, if known;
- owner, grantor or grantee name;
- trust or business name, if applicable;
- approximate recording date;
- APN or property address;
- document type you are trying to find;
- whether you need research, an official copy, certification or recording information.
Recorder phone:
602-506-3535,
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Before Relying on a Maricopa County Recorded Document
-
Correct person:
do not associate a recording with someone based only on a matching name.
-
Correct property:
compare APN, address and legal-description clues.
-
Correct document:
distinguish deed, deed of trust, lien, release, assignment and other records.
-
Correct recording number:
save the exact identifier.
-
Correct chronology:
search for later recordings affecting the same transaction.
-
Correct title conclusion:
one online document image is not a complete title examination.
-
Correct copy type:
know whether an online image, official copy or certified copy is required.
County-CAD.us Research Standards
Sources & Methodology
See how government sources, official record portals and local
procedures are researched.
Read Sources & Methodology
Report an Outdated Link
Tell County-CAD.us if a Recorder URL, fee, office detail or procedure changes.
Contact County-CAD.us
Independent Website Disclaimer
Review the limits of independent public-record guidance.
Read Disclaimer
Official research ledger
Primary Sources Used for This Maricopa County Recorder Guide
Maricopa County Recorder
Used for current office responsibilities, services, main contact
information and legal-assistance limitations.
Open Official Recorder
Recorded Document Search
Used for recording-number, book/page, party, business, document-code,
date and full-text search instructions.
Open Official Search
Recorder FAQs
Used for deed-copy instructions, fees, Assessor deed-number route,
CC&Rs, plat maps, lien searches, sale price and recording methods.
Open Official FAQs
Recording Fees
Used for current document, plat, survey, copy and certification fees.
Open Fee Schedule
Document Form Requirements
Used for Arizona recording-format rules including captions, signatures,
page dimensions, margins and first-page recording space.
Open Form Requirements
Maricopa Title Alert
Used for free name-based recording monitoring and notification instructions.
Open Title Alert
Arizona Department of Revenue
Used for Affidavit of Property Value Form 82162 and Arizona transfer information.
Open Form 82162
Recorder Locations & Hours
Used for the Downtown Office, current hours, kiosk status and holiday information.
Open Locations & Hours
Editorial verification: August 14, 2026.
Recorder fees, kiosk availability, officeholders, online tools and
recording procedures can change. Recheck the linked government source
immediately before paying, recording or traveling.
10 Maricopa County Recorder questions
Maricopa County Recorder FAQs
1. How do I search Maricopa County deeds online?
Open the official Maricopa County Recorded Document Search. If you
know the owner’s name, enter the Last Name and First Name and use a
date range or document code to narrow the results. If title is held by
a trust or business, search the Business Name instead. Open the likely
result, verify the indexed parties and select the colored Pages box to
view the available document image.
2. How can I find a Maricopa County deed if I only know the property address?
Start with the Maricopa County Assessor. Search the street address,
open the correct parcel, save the APN and look in Owner Information
for the current Deed Number. Then open the Maricopa County Recorder’s
Recorded Document Search and enter that recording number to locate the deed.
3. How much does a Maricopa County deed copy cost?
The current Recorder fee schedule lists recorded-document copies at
$1 per page. Certification costs an additional $3 per document.
First locate and verify the document online, then use the
Buying/Purchasing Options if you need an official or certified copy.
4. How much does it cost to record a deed in Maricopa County?
The current standard recording fee for most documents other than plats
and surveys is $30 per document. Some documents have different or
statutory zero-fee treatment. Always check the Recorder’s current
Recording Fees page immediately before filing.
5. What do I need to record an Arizona deed in Maricopa County?
The document must satisfy Arizona recording requirements, including
applicable caption, legibility, signature, page-size and margin rules.
The Maricopa County Recorder also states that a deed must include either
an Affidavit of Property Value or the applicable statutory exemption
notation before it can be accepted for recording.
6. Can the Maricopa County Recorder prepare a deed for me?
No. The Recorder states that its staff cannot provide legal advice,
select forms or help complete recording documents. The office also
does not provide notary services. Use an Arizona attorney, title company,
estate planner or other qualified professional when document preparation
or legal advice is needed.
7. How do I search liens on a Maricopa County property?
Search the Maricopa County Recorded Document Search using the current
and prior property owner’s names, and narrow the results using document
types and dates. Also search for releases or later related documents.
The Recorder warns that its online search does not guarantee that a
property is free and clear of all liens, so use a professional title
search when legal certainty is required.
8. How do I find HOA CC&Rs in Maricopa County?
Open the Recorded Document Search and use the Business Name field.
Search the HOA or subdivision name. If the full subdivision name does
not return results, the Recorder recommends trying only the first part
of the name. Review the original CC&Rs together with later amendments
or related recordings.
9. What is Maricopa Title Alert?
Maricopa Title Alert is a free Recorder service that notifies registered
users when a new document is recorded using an individual or business
name they are monitoring. Users can receive email, text or both.
The service monitors new recordings after registration and does not by
itself determine whether a document is fraudulent.
10. Where is the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office?
The main Maricopa County Recorder’s Office is at 301 W. Jefferson St.,
Second Floor, Suite 200, Phoenix, AZ 85003. The current public hours
are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding
holidays. The main phone number is 602-506-3535. Check the live
Locations and Hours page before visiting.