To get a copy of your house title, request your recorded deed from the county recorder’s office where the property sits. That office (sometimes called the county clerk, register of deeds, or land records office) keeps the official record of every property transfer and will provide a copy online, by mail, or in person for a small per-page fee. Before you pay anything, check your closing paperwork: a copy of the deed should already be in there.
Title and Deed Are Not the Same Thing
“Title” is a legal concept, not a piece of paper. It refers to your bundle of ownership rights: the right to live in the property, sell it, lease it, or pass it to heirs. The deed is the document that proves those rights transferred to you. When people say they need a copy of their “house title,” what they almost always need is a copy of their recorded deed.
The distinction matters at the counter. Ask a clerk for “my title” and they may not know what to pull. Ask for a copy of the recorded deed to your property and you will get exactly what you need. A recorded deed typically shows the buyer and seller names, a legal description of the property, the date of transfer, notarization, and a recording stamp from the county.
Check Your Closing Documents First
The fastest and cheapest way to get a copy of your deed is to look through the paperwork from when you bought or refinanced. A copy of the deed should have been included with your closing documents, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau lists the deed among the key documents to review at closing.1Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Review Documents Before Closing If you kept those papers in a filing cabinet, safe deposit box, or scanned them to a hard drive, start there.
No closing package? Contact the title company, settlement agent, or attorney who handled your purchase. They typically keep closing files for years and can often send you a duplicate at no charge.
Which County Office to Contact
Every county in the United States has a public office responsible for recording property documents. The name depends on where you live. The most common ones are:
- County Recorder’s Office
- County Clerk’s Office
- Register of Deeds
- Land Records Office
They all do the same job: file and preserve the public record of property transfers, mortgages, liens, and easements, and make copies available on request. Deeds are public records, so you don’t have to be the current owner to request one.
How to Request the Copy
Before you contact the office, pull together a few details so the clerk can find your document quickly. At minimum, you need the property’s full street address and the current owner’s name as it appears on the deed. The parcel number (sometimes called the assessor’s parcel number, usually printed on your property tax bill) speeds things up considerably, especially in counties where similar addresses repeat.
Online
Many counties maintain online portals where you can search recorded documents by owner name, address, or parcel number. Some let you view and download document images for free; others charge a small fee to view or print. Search for your county’s name plus “recorder” or “property records” to find the portal. Quality varies. Large counties often offer searchable databases going back decades. Smaller or rural counties may have limited or no online access at all.
In Person
Walking into the recorder’s office is often the most straightforward route. Bring ID and your property details. Staff can look up the document, let you review it on-screen or in a record book, and print a copy on the spot. Most offices handle in-person requests the same day. This is also the easiest way to get a certified copy, since the clerk can stamp and sign it while you wait.
By Mail
If the office has no online portal and you’d rather not visit in person, you can submit a written request by mail. This usually means filling out a short form (often downloadable from the county website), paying by check or money order, and including a self-addressed stamped envelope. Expect mail requests to take anywhere from one to four weeks depending on how busy the office is.
What It Costs and How Long It Takes
Fees vary by county but are generally small. Most offices charge somewhere between $0.25 and a few dollars per page for a standard uncertified copy. Certified copies cost more, with certification surcharges typically adding a few dollars on top of the per-page fee. A typical deed runs two to four pages, so even a certified copy rarely costs more than $10 to $20. Online portals sometimes tack on a small convenience fee.
Timing depends on the method. Online and in-person requests are usually filled immediately or within a few business days. Mail requests can take one to four weeks. If you need the document for a closing or legal deadline, plan ahead or go in person.
Certified or Uncertified: Which One You Need
An uncertified copy is a simple photocopy or digital image of the recorded document. It’s fine for personal reference, checking boundaries, or confirming what the record says. A certified copy includes a stamp, seal, or attached certificate from the recorder’s office verifying that the copy is a true and accurate reproduction of the official record.
You’ll need a certified copy for most legal and financial transactions: refinancing, selling the property, settling an estate, or submitting evidence in court. If you’re unsure which you need, pay the small extra fee for the certified version. The cost difference is minor and it saves you a second trip if the uncertified copy turns out to be rejected.
Title Insurance Is a Separate Document
People sometimes confuse their deed with their owner’s title insurance policy. These are different documents. The deed proves ownership transferred to you. Title insurance protects you financially if someone later challenges your ownership based on a problem that existed before you bought, such as an unpaid tax lien, a recording error, or a fraudulent prior transfer.2Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. What Is Owners Title Insurance
If what you actually need is a copy of your title insurance policy, don’t go to the recorder’s office. The county does not keep title insurance policies on file; those are private contracts, not public records. Check your closing package first, then contact the title company or settlement agent who handled your closing. Your state’s department of insurance can help you track down the insurer if you don’t remember who issued the policy.