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Lancaster County, Pennsylvania public records

In Lancaster County, deeds are recorded by the Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds; property values come from the Lancaster County Property Assessment Office; court files are divided among the Lancaster County Clerk of Courts, the Lancaster County Prothonotary and the Lancaster County 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. Historical records
  11. Good to know about Lancaster County records
  12. Office addresses, phones and hours
  13. Records that are not online: public records requests
  14. Questions people ask
  15. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  16. Sources

Where to get each record

RecordOfficeSearch onlineFee
Deeds and land recordsLancaster County Recorder of Deeds4Search deeds2$.25 per page3
Property values and ownersLancaster County Property Assessment Office5Property search6—
Property tax billsLancaster County Treasurer5Tax bill search7Fee charged—
Court casesLancaster County Clerk of Courts5
Lancaster County Prothonotary5
Lancaster County Register of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Court5		Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County (2nd Judicial District), criminal8
Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County, civil and family9
Orphans' Court Division / Register of Wills1011
Magisterial District Courts12		Clerk of Courts 2026: copies $0.25 per page; certified copy $9.25; search of records $22.75; redaction $2.00 per page. Prothonotary: hard copies $0.25/page; certifications $7.25 first page, $2.50 each additional; divorce certification $20.5013
Marriage recordsLancaster County Register of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Court5Search marriage records1415—
Divorce recordsLancaster County Prothonotary5—Divorce certification $20.5016
Birth certificatesStatewide: PA Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, for births registered in Pennsylvania since 190617——
Death certificatesStatewide: PA Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, for PA deaths since 190618——
Probate and willsLancaster County Register of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Court5—Register of Wills photocopies $1.00/page; short certificate $10.00; certification and seal $25.0019
Business names (DBA)Statewide: Fictitious names (DBAs) are registered with the PA Department of State, not the county (since early 1980s)20——

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in Lancaster County are recorded by the Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds.4

About this search
Record Search; historical Online IQS Infodex2
Years online
Digital images of all historical deeds and indexes since 1729 (through the Recorder's Infodex)21
Copy fee
$.25 per page3
Certified copy fee
$10.00 per certification3
Recording fee
Deeds and mortgages base fee $71.25 (maximum 4 pages); each additional page after 4 is $2.003
Fraud alerts
Fraud Notify (Tyler) instructions linked from the Recorder site2
Military discharge
DD-214 recording free; military discharges are not public record22

How deeds work in Pennsylvania

Property values, owners and tax bills

The Lancaster County Property Assessment Office sets property values5; the Lancaster County Treasurer bills and collects the tax5.

Property search
lancasterpa.devnetwedge.com (Assessment Record Information, wEdge; 2027 reassessment records at lancasterpa-reval.devnetwedge.com)6
Tax bill search
County real estate tax paid online at lancastercountypa.gov/…; the County is tax collector for 40 municipalities, others use local tax collectors7
Parcel map (GIS)
LanCo View (GIS Maps) lancastercountypa.maps.arcgis.com/…6
Appealing a value
Board of Assessment Appeals; yearly appeal deadline August 1 (next annual appeal opportunity 2028 after the 2027 reassessment); 40 days after an assessment change notice6
Reassessment
Countywide reassessment effective January 1, 2018 (100% predetermined ratio); a 2027 reassessment is under way6

How property tax works in Pennsylvania

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

CourtCasesRecords kept byCase search
Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County (2nd Judicial District), criminalCriminal division records, expungements, summary appeals, criminal background searchesLancaster County Clerk of Courtsujsportal.pacourts.us UJS Public Web Docket Sheets8
Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County, civil and familyCivil actions, judgments and liens, divorce, custody, PFA, name change, naturalizationLancaster County Prothonotaryportal.lancaster.pa.countysuite-azuregov.us/… Civil Record Search and E-Filing9
Orphans' Court Division / Register of WillsProbate, estates, adoptions, guardianships, marriage licensesLancaster County Register of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Courtpaperless.lancastercountypa.gov/… Probate Record Search; pay-per-page document purchase1011Fee charged
Magisterial District CourtsMinor criminal, traffic, small civil claims—court.lancastercountypa.gov/…12
Fees
Clerk of Courts 2026: copies $0.25 per page; certified copy $9.25; search of records $22.75; redaction $2.00 per page. Prothonotary: hard copies $0.25/page; certifications $7.25 first page, $2.50 each additional; divorce certification $20.5013

How Pennsylvania courts keep their files

Marriage records

Kept by the Lancaster County Register of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Court.5

About this search
Search Marriage Records1415
Copy
Certified copy $20.00 payable to the Clerk of Orphans' Court (Lancaster-issued licenses only), by mail with the Certified Marriage Request Form; fee waived with proof of U.S. Armed Forces service23
Marriage license fee
Application and License $75.00 ($.95 card convenience fee); valid 60 days; valid the third day after the oral examination23

Pennsylvania marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Prothonotary; use the Divorce Decree Request Form9

Fee
Divorce certification $20.5016
Index
Index Book (Divorce 1851-1997; Judgement 1983-93) online at it.lancastercountypa.gov/imagesync9

Birth certificates

Where Pennsylvania keeps it: PA Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, for births registered in Pennsylvania since 1906.17

Older records
Archives online indexes include Birth Registrations 1852-1855 and 1893-1907 and Delayed Birth Index 1870-190621

Ordering a Pennsylvania birth certificate

Death certificates

Where Pennsylvania keeps it: PA Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, for PA deaths since 1906.18

Older records
Archives indexes: Death Registrations 1852-1855 and 1893-1907; Death Affidavit Index 1874-197821

Ordering a Pennsylvania death certificate

Probate records and wills

Kept by the Lancaster County Register of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Court.5

Copy fee
Register of Wills photocopies $1.00/page; short certificate $10.00; certification and seal $25.0019

Historical records

Lancaster County Archives (est. 1975) holds court and county records from 1729: deeds, wills, commissioners' minutes; online historical indexes24

Good to know about Lancaster County records

  • Deeds were recorded from May 10, 1729, when Lancaster County was formed, and images of all historical deeds and indexes since 1729 are online through the Recorder.21
  • The County Archives, established in 1975, moved in 2010 from the Old Courthouse to the basement of the Government Center tower.24
  • The Assessment Office warns there is no special senior form that freezes or eliminates property taxes (viral AI-generated video scam).6
  • Assessment covers over 195,000 parcels; county, 17 school districts and most of 60 municipalities levy property tax.6
  • Prothonotary filings must include an affidavit regarding generative artificial intelligence (court administrative order).9

Office addresses, phones and hours

Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds

Address
150 N. Queen St., Suite 315, Lancaster, PA 176032
Mail
County of Lancaster, Recorder of Deeds, 150 North Queen Street, Suite 315, Lancaster PA 1760325
Phone
717-299-8238; fax 717-299-83932
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm; document recording concludes 4:30pm25

Lancaster County Property Assessment Office

Address
150 N. Queen St., Suite 310, Lancaster, PA 176036
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.6

Lancaster County Treasurer

Address
150 North Queen Street, Suite 122, Lancaster, PA (page shows ZIP 17608)26
Hours
8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mon-Fri; 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 2nd Thursday of the month; 8:00-8:30 a.m. and 4:30-5:00 p.m. by appointment26

Lancaster County Prothonotary

Address
50 N. Duke St., Lancaster, PA (Lancaster County Courthouse, 2nd floor); the Prothonotary page shows ZIP 176089
Mail
50 N. Duke St., P.O. Box 83480, Lancaster, PA 176089
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; filing 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.9

Lancaster County Clerk of Courts

Address
50 N. Duke St. (2nd floor), Lancaster, PA 176028
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; filing 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.8

Lancaster County Register of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Court

Address
50 N. Duke St., Lancaster, PA 17602 (Lancaster County Courthouse, 2nd floor)14
Phone
(717) 295-5994; Marriage hotline 717-295-3533; probate copies (717) 299-824214
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Marriage Department 9:00 a.m.-3:45 p.m.14

Lancaster County Archives

Address
150 N. Queen St., Suite 10 (basement of the Government Center tower), Lancaster, PA 1760324
Hours
Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.24

Lancaster County Board of Elections / Voter Registration

Address
150 N. Queen St., Suite 117, Lancaster, PA 17603-356227
Mail
P.O. Box 2139, Lancaster, PA 1760827
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.27

Lancaster County IT - GIS Division

Address
150 N. Queen St., Suite 322, Lancaster, PA 1760328
Hours
Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.28

Lancaster County Sheriff's Office

Address
50 N Duke Street, PO Box 83480, Lancaster, PA 1760829
Hours
Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM29

Records that are not online: public records requests

Request page
lancastercountypa.gov/… (County of Lancaster Open Records Request Form)30
Where to send it
Right to Know Policy per Resolution No. 29 of 2012; appeals to the PA Office of Open Records4

How to write a public records request

Questions people ask

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

The Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds keeps deed records. Plain copies: $.25 per page. Certified copies: $10.00 per certification.43

Where do I get a divorce decree in Lancaster County?

Prothonotary; use the Divorce Decree Request Form.9

How much does a marriage license cost in Lancaster County?

Application and License $75.00 ($.95 card convenience fee); valid 60 days; valid the third day after the oral examination.23

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

Use the property search of the Lancaster County Property Assessment Office: lancasterpa.devnetwedge.com6

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 Lancaster 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, Chester County, Clearfield County, Crawford County, Cumberland County, Dauphin County, Delaware County, Erie County, Fayette County, Franklin County, Lackawanna 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. Looking for another Lancaster County? Lancaster County, Nebraska; Lancaster County, South Carolina.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureauchecked November 4, 2026
  2. Recorder of Deeds home (via lancastercountypa.gov/1474)Lancaster County Recorder of Deedschecked November 4, 2026
  3. Select FeesLancaster County Recorder of Deedschecked November 4, 2026
  4. Right to KnowCounty of Lancasterchecked November 4, 2026
  5. Site MapCounty of Lancasterchecked November 4, 2026
  6. Property AssessmentLancaster County Property Assessment Officechecked November 4, 2026
  7. Pay County Tax Bill OnlineLancaster County Treasurerchecked November 4, 2026
  8. Clerk of CourtsLancaster County Clerk of Courtschecked November 4, 2026
  9. ProthonotaryLancaster County Prothonotarychecked November 4, 2026
  10. Search Probate RecordsLancaster County Register of Willschecked November 4, 2026
  11. Search Probate | Lancaster County, PA - Official WebsiteLancaster County, PAchecked November 8, 2026
  12. Lancaster County, PA - Official WebsiteCounty of Lancasterchecked November 4, 2026
  13. Clerk of Courts 2026 Filing Fees (PDF)Lancaster County Clerk of Courtschecked November 4, 2026
  14. Register of WillsLancaster County Register of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Courtchecked November 4, 2026
  15. Register of Wills | Lancaster County, PA - Official WebsiteLancaster County, PAchecked November 8, 2026
  16. Prothonotary Fee Bill (PDF)Lancaster County Prothonotarychecked November 4, 2026
  17. GenealogyPennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Recordschecked November 4, 2026
  18. Ordering a Death CertificatePennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Recordschecked November 4, 2026
  19. 2026 Register of Wills' Bill of Costs (PDF)Lancaster County Register of Willschecked November 4, 2026
  20. Fictitious NamesPennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizationschecked November 4, 2026
  21. Historical IndexesLancaster County Archiveschecked November 4, 2026
  22. AboutLancaster County Recorder of Deedschecked November 4, 2026
  23. Marriage LicensesLancaster County Register of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Courtchecked November 4, 2026
  24. Archives DivisionLancaster County Archiveschecked November 4, 2026
  25. ContactLancaster County Recorder of Deedschecked November 4, 2026
  26. TreasurerLancaster County Treasurerchecked November 4, 2026
  27. Voter Registration / Board of ElectionsLancaster County Board of Electionschecked November 4, 2026
  28. GIS DivisionLancaster County IT/GISchecked November 4, 2026
  29. Sheriff's OfficeLancaster County Sheriffchecked November 4, 2026
  30. County of Lancaster Open Records Request FormCounty of Lancasterchecked November 4, 2026
  31. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureauchecked November 4, 2026