Not a government site. We do not sell records or host personal data. About us

County Records Guide
Menu

Chester County, Pennsylvania public records

In Chester County, deeds are recorded by the Recorder of Deeds; property values come from the County Assessment Office; court files are divided among the Prothonotary, the Clerk of Courts and the Register of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Court.

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. Where to get each record
  2. Deeds and land records
  3. Property values, owners and tax bills
  4. Court records: which clerk keeps which case
  5. Marriage records
  6. Divorce records
  7. Birth certificates
  8. Death certificates
  9. Probate records and wills
  10. Business names (DBA)
  11. Voter records
  12. Historical records
  13. Good to know about Chester County records
  14. Office addresses, phones and hours
  15. Records that are not online: public records requests
  16. Questions people ask
  17. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  18. Sources

Where to get each record

RecordOfficeSearch onlineFee
Deeds and land recordsRecorder of Deeds5Search deeds23Free search, fee for copiesCertified copy fee: $5.00 for certification (library copies); $1.50 for certification (mailed copies)4
Property values and ownersCounty Assessment Office6Property search7—
Property tax billsTreasurer8——
Court casesProthonotary9
Clerk of Courts10
Register of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Court11		Court of Common Pleas, civil9
Court of Common Pleas, criminal12
Orphans' Court / Register of Wills11		Fees: criminal: Certified copies $5 per document; copies $0.25 per page up to 1,000 pages, $0.20 beyond; microfilm copies $2 per page; criminal record search $2113
Marriage recordsRegister of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Court11——
Divorce recordsProthonotary9—Copy fees as civil; Letter of No Divorce Appeal $23.0014
Birth certificatesPA Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, for births registered in Pennsylvania since 190616—$20 per certified copy; online orders add a non-refundable $10 service fee15
Death certificatesPA Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, for PA deaths since 190617—$20 per certified copy; online orders add a $10 service fee17
Probate and willsRegister of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Court11——
Business names (DBA)Fictitious names (DBAs) are registered with the PA Department of State, not the county (since early 1980s)18——

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in Chester County are recorded by the Recorder of Deeds.5

Online search
chestercountypa-web.tylerhost.net/web2Free search, fee for copies
Cost
Free to view; downloads carry a fee (per-download price not stated)3
Who runs it
Tyler Technologies (linked by the county)19
Years online
Images of documents recorded after 1993 in Records Public Access; older documents through the IQS Search database. The Archives says all deeds from 1688 to the present can be reached through the Recorder's systems20
Certified copy fee
$5.00 for certification (library copies); $1.50 for certification (mailed copies)4
Fax fee
$5.00 per page plus a $1.00 fax fee per order; faxed copies cannot be certified4
How to order
Download and buy official copies from the online database, or ask Search Library staff at 313 West Market Street, Suite 3502. Staff do not research for the public20
Search library
Search Library, 313 West Market Street, Suite 3502; 8:30am to 4:15pm Monday - Friday21
Formats
Images 1994 to present online and on Eagle Web; 1984-1993 on microfilm in the Search Library; Book A1 through 1984 on IQS E-Film at library workstations21
Not tracked
The office does not track foreclosures, home sales data or lien filings21
Recording fee
$94.75 for a deed: one UPI, up to four pages, one notation fee and four names; each additional page $4.00, name $1.00, UPI $20.004

How deeds work in Pennsylvania

Property values, owners and tax bills

The County Assessment Office sets property values6; the Treasurer bills and collects the tax8.

Property search
ChescoViews: arcweb.chesco.org/cv3 (search by address, owner name, UPI or PIN); cost not stated7
Paid system
ChescoPIN: $50.00 one-time application fee, then $10.00 for up to 100 transactions and $0.10 per additional transaction per month; covers Prothonotary, Real Estate, Tax Claim and Sheriff Civil Service2
Tax payment
County Treasurer takes card (2.25%) or e-check ($1.80) payments for county tax and 25 municipalities22
Who collects
The Treasurer bills and collects municipal taxes for 25 contracted municipalities; delinquent taxes go to the Tax Claim Bureau23
Tax certification
Per parcel: county $25; local municipal $15; both $40. Online county request $25 plus $2 convenience fee. Two-week processing period24
Parcel map (GIS)
Chesco Maps and GIS Data hub: chester-county-s-gis-hub-chesco.hub.arcgis.com25
Appealing a value
Annual appeals May 1 through the first business day in August; $150 processing fee for Commercial/Industrial and Exemption appeals as of January 1, 20266
Appeal right
Owners are mailed a Change In Assessment notice and may appeal26
Common level ratio
31.84%, for annual appeals heard during 2025 and interim appeals effective 7/1/2025-6/30/20266

How property tax works in Pennsylvania

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

CourtCasesRecords kept byCase search
Court of Common Pleas, civilLawsuits involving money or property, judgments and liens, divorce, name changesProthonotaryepin.chesco.org/EPIN ChescoPIN (paid subscription; free at the Prothonotary's Office and Chester County libraries)9Fee charged
Court of Common Pleas, criminalCriminal cases, bail and bonds, summary appeals, expungementsClerk of Courtsujsportal.pacourts.us/CaseSearch UJS Web Portal (statewide, free)12Free search
Orphans' Court / Register of WillsWills and estates, guardianships, marriage licensesRegister of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Courtportal.chester.pa.countysuite-azuregov.us/… Free public portal for Register of Wills and marriage license searches11Free search
Magisterial District Courts (16 offices)Cases at the Magisterial District Court level— UJS Web Portal (statewide)27
Overview
Court of Common Pleas of Chester County, a general jurisdiction trial court in West Chester; it supervises 16 Magisterial District Court offices28
Fees: criminal
Certified copies $5 per document; copies $0.25 per page up to 1,000 pages, $0.20 beyond; microfilm copies $2 per page; criminal record search $2113
Fees: civil
Copies 25¢ per page; certified copies $7.00 including first 4 pages, 65¢ per page after 414
Public access policy
Chester County Public Access Policy, with the UJS portal for dockets29

Criminal records and background checks

Which court
Criminal records and court documents: Clerk of Courts, 610-344-6135; docket sheets on the UJS portal12
State check
$22 per individual check; notarization +$530

How Pennsylvania courts keep their files

Marriage records

Clerk of the Orphans' Court for 1931 to present; older county records 1852-1855 and 1885-1930 are indexed by the Archives31

Applications
In person by appointment; extended hours on Wednesdays until 6:00PM11
Waiting period
License may not issue before the third day after application32

Pennsylvania marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Prothonotary for divorce records after 1902; Archives for 1804-190233

Fee
Copy fees as civil; Letter of No Divorce Appeal $23.0014

Birth certificates

PA Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, for births registered in Pennsylvania since 190616

Fee
$20 per certified copy; online orders add a non-refundable $10 service fee15
Online fee
$10 non-refundable service fee via VitalChek (only authorized vendor)15
Restrictions
Birth records become public 105 years after birth, then available at the State Archives15
County
County Archives holds birth registers 1852-1855 and 1893-1907 and delayed birth records 1857-1906; no certificates on file for the registers34

Ordering a Pennsylvania birth certificate

Death certificates

PA Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, for PA deaths since 190617

Fee
$20 per certified copy; online orders add a $10 service fee17
Online fee
$10 processing fee online17
Restrictions
Death certificates 50+ years old are public and held at the State Archives; those less than 50 years old are restricted and held by the DOH Division of Vital Records35
County
County Archives holds death records 1852-1855, registers 1893-1906 and proof of death registers 1875-189336

Ordering a Pennsylvania death certificate

Probate records and wills

Kept by the Register of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Court.11

Historic
Archives holds probate records 1714-1923; before 1714 records were filed in Philadelphia37

Business names (DBA)

Fictitious names (DBAs) are registered with the PA Department of State, not the county (since early 1980s)18

Voter records

Kept by the Voter Services.38

Access
Public information list (name, address, DOB, voting history) available for inspection; use limited to elections, political activities or law enforcement39
Copies
Copies to any PA registered elector within 10 days of written request plus reproduction/postage cost39

Historical records

Kept by the Chester County Archives & Record Services.40

Holdings
Over 3,500 cubic feet of original public records, administered by the Chester County History Center with the County40
How to get it
Email the Archives with the record reference, format and payment method; price quote returned; allow 7-10 days41
Digital collections
Digitized deed books on the Archives Laserfiche portal: portal.laserfiche.com/Portal/Browse.aspx3
Deeds
Archives holds deeds filed before 1918; later deeds are at the Recorder of Deeds3

Good to know about Chester County records

  • The first deed was recorded in 1688; the office has served Chester County since then42
  • Some early residents recorded land conveyances in Philadelphia, and many 18th and early 19th century deeds were never recorded3
  • Parcels use a Uniform Parcel Identifier (UPI); a $20.00 fee per UPI applies at recording, and the UPI differs from the tax parcel number4
  • Transfer tax is 1%, except Malvern and Tredyffrin (1.5%) and Coatesville (2.5%)4
  • Fraud Notify is a free alert for documents recorded under a name or UPI43
  • The Recorder is also the repository for military discharge papers (DD214s)5
  • Name change petitions need a Recorder name search certificate: $10, or $20 same day44
  • The Prothonotary also accepts US passport applications, without appointment since May 1, 20259
  • The county Right to Know page lists two appeal contacts: the state Office of Open Records and a Right to Know Law Chapter 11 Appeals Officer in the District Attorney's Office12

Office addresses, phones and hours

Recorder of Deeds

Address
313 W. Market St, Suite 3302, West Chester, PA 193805
Hours
Office 8:30am-4:30pm; documents for recording by 4pm; Search Library 8:30am-4:15pm; same-day recording 8:30am-4:00pm; same-day large exhibits 8:30am-3:00pm5

County Assessment Office

Address
313 W. Market St., Suite 4202, West Chester, PA 193806
Hours
M-F 8:30AM-4:30PM6

Treasurer

Address
313 West Market St. Suite 3202, West Chester, PA 193808
Mail
313 W Market Street, Ste. 3202, PO Box 2748, West Chester, PA 1938024
Hours
M-F 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.8

Tax Claim Bureau (delinquent real estate taxes)

Address
313 West Market Street, Suite 3602, West Chester, PA 19380-099145
Hours
Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm45

Clerk of Courts

Address
201 W. Market St, Suite 1400, West Chester, PA 1938010
Hours
M-F 8:30am-4:30pm10

Prothonotary

Address
201 W. Market Street, Suite 1425, West Chester, PA 193809
Hours
M-F 8:30AM-4:30PM; no filings or copy requests requiring payment after 4:15PM9

Register of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Court

Address
201 W Market Street, Suite 2200, West Chester, PA 1938011
Mail
Chester County Justice Center, 201 West Market Street, Suite 2200, PO Box 2746, West Chester, PA 1938046
Hours
Estate probates and accounts for audit M-F 8:30am-4pm; marriage licenses M-F 8:30am-4pm, Wed. until 6pm; all other filings M-F 8:30am-4:15pm11

Family Court Administration

Address
201 W. Market St, Suite 5402, West Chester, PA 1938047

Sheriff

Address
201 W Market Street, Suite 1201, West Chester, PA 1938248

Voter Services

Address
601 Westtown Rd, Suite 150, West Chester, PA 1938038

Geographic Information Services

Address
313 W. Market St, Suite 5302, West Chester, PA 1938025

Chester County Archives & Record Services

Address
601 Westtown Rd. Suite 080, West Chester, PA 1938040
Hours
Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.40

Records that are not online: public records requests

Where to send it
Open Records Officer, Chester County Solicitor's Office, 313 West Market Street, Suite 6702, West Chester, PA 19380; 610-344-6195; fax 610-344-547112
Fees
25 cents per page or side; certification $1 per record; deeds and some records carry statutory fees instead12
Response time
Five business days12
Where to ask first
The page lists which department holds common records and says many are available by contacting it directly12

How to write a public records request

Questions people ask

How do I get a copy of a deed in Chester County?

The Recorder of Deeds keeps deed records. To order copies: Download and buy official copies from the online database, or ask Search Library staff at 313 West Market Street, Suite 3502. Staff do not research for the public. Certified copies: $5.00 for certification (library copies); $1.50 for certification (mailed copies).5204

Can I search Chester County land records online for free?

Yes, searching is free; copies cost extra. Free to view; downloads carry a fee (per-download price not stated). The official search: chestercountypa-web.tylerhost.net/web32

Where do I get a divorce decree in Chester County?

Prothonotary for divorce records after 1902; Archives for 1804-1902.33

How do I look up who owns a property in Chester County?

Use the property search of the County Assessment Office: arcweb.chesco.org/cv37

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Chester County office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Other counties in Pennsylvania with a full guide: Adams County, Allegheny County, Beaver County, Berks County, Blair County, Bucks County, Butler County, Cambria County, Centre County, Clearfield County, Crawford County, Cumberland County, Dauphin County, Delaware County, Erie County, Fayette County, Franklin County, Lackawanna County, Lancaster County, Lawrence County, Lebanon County, Lehigh County, Luzerne County, Lycoming County, Mercer County, Monroe County, Montgomery County, Northampton County, Northumberland County, Philadelphia County, Washington County, Westmoreland County, York County. Every county in the state: Pennsylvania county list.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from; all 49 sources were checked on November 4, 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureau
  2. ChescoPIN main pageChester County, Pennsylvania
  3. Archives: Deeds, 1688-1871Chester County, Pennsylvania
  4. Recorder of Deeds Fee ScheduleChester County, Pennsylvania
  5. Recorder of DeedsChester County, Pennsylvania
  6. AssessmentChester County, Pennsylvania
  7. ChescoViewsChester County, Pennsylvania
  8. TreasurerChester County, Pennsylvania
  9. ProthonotaryChester County, Pennsylvania
  10. Clerk of CourtsChester County, Pennsylvania
  11. Register of Wills / Orphans' CourtChester County, Pennsylvania
  12. Right to Know RequestsChester County, Pennsylvania
  13. Clerk of Courts Fee ScheduleChester County, Pennsylvania
  14. Prothonotary Fee Schedule (PDF)Chester County, Pennsylvania
  15. Ordering a Birth CertificatePennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records
  16. GenealogyPennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records
  17. Ordering a Death CertificatePennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records
  18. Fictitious NamesPennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations
  19. Chester County Recorder of Deeds Records Public Access (disclaimer page)Tyler Technologies for Chester County Recorder of Deeds
  20. Records SearchChester County, Pennsylvania
  21. Search LibraryChester County, Pennsylvania
  22. Taxes - Pay OnlineChester County, Pennsylvania
  23. Municipal TaxChester County, Pennsylvania
  24. Tax CertificationChester County, Pennsylvania
  25. GIS ServicesChester County, Pennsylvania
  26. Assessment AppealsChester County, Pennsylvania
  27. Public Records | Unified Judicial System of PennsylvaniaUnified Judicial System of Pennsylvaniaarchived copy
  28. County Court of Common PleasChester County, Pennsylvania
  29. Clerk of Courts Public AccessChester County, Pennsylvania
  30. Request a Criminal History Background CheckPennsylvania State Police
  31. Archives: Marriage RecordsChester County, Pennsylvania
  32. 23 Pa.C.S. § 1303 Waiting period after applicationPennsylvania General Assembly
  33. Archives: Divorce Records, 1804-1902Chester County, Pennsylvania
  34. Archives: Birth RecordsChester County, Pennsylvania
  35. Death Records (State Archives)Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Pennsylvania State Archives
  36. Archives: Death RecordsChester County, Pennsylvania
  37. Archives: Wills & Administrations, 1714-1923Chester County, Pennsylvania
  38. Voter ServicesChester County, Pennsylvania
  39. 25 Pa.C.S. § 1404 Public information listsPennsylvania General Assembly
  40. Archives & Record ServicesChester County, Pennsylvania
  41. Archives: Requesting RecordsChester County, Pennsylvania
  42. Recorder of Deeds HistoryChester County, Pennsylvania
  43. Fraud Prevention InitiativesChester County, Pennsylvania
  44. Name SearchChester County, Pennsylvania
  45. Tax Claim BureauChester County, Pennsylvania
  46. Orphans' Court Clerks | Courts of Common PleasUnified Judicial System of Pennsylvaniaarchived copy
  47. Family CourtChester County, Pennsylvania
  48. SheriffChester County, Pennsylvania
  49. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureau