How to Search District of Columbia Public Records

District of Columbia's court, criminal, vital, property, voter, and licensing records are maintained by D.C. government agencies. Use the tabs to filter by record type, or jump directly to any source.

  • Courts: The D.C. Court of Appeals sits at the top of the system; trial-court business is handled by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Most courts publish dockets and case lookups online.
  • Criminal history: The state's criminal-history repository handles official background checks. Fees and procedures are set by the state agency — see the linked official source.
  • Vital records: Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are issued by the DC Health Vital Records Division. Marriage records are filed with the Marriage Bureau of the D.C. Superior Court.
  • Property & recorded documents: Maintained by the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue (Real Property) and the D.C. Recorder of Deeds.
  • Business filings: The Secretary of State (or equivalent) operates the official business-entity search.
Population
1,051,917
Households
411,859
Median Income
$101,027
Median Home Value
$705,000
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Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: District of Columbia recorded documents URL verified against the official state publisher at dlcp.dc.gov on the review date. 6 primary .gov sources cited below.

District of Columbia Recorded Documents — Key Facts (2026)

Deeds, mortgages, UCC filings, liens, military discharges in District of Columbia — what gets recorded and where in 2026.
County
Where deeds live
Permanent record
SoS
Where UCC live
Secretary of State
Article 9
UCC governs
Secured transactions
Public
Most recorded docs
With redaction
Federal
DD-214 / IRS liens
National-level
Common recorded document types — typical volume
Deeds
100
Mortgages
95
Liens (property)
70
UCC (business)
55
Powers of attorney
25
Military DD-214
10
Unit: relative volume (deeds=100).

What Changed in 2026 — District of Columbia Recorded Documents

2026
District of Columbia recorded documents portal active
The official District of Columbia portal at dlcp.dc.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for recorded documents in 2026.
2026
Latest federal complement for recorded documents
The NASS UCC Filings overview at www.nass.org provides federal-level context that complements District of Columbia state records.
2026
District of Columbia access in 2026
For 2026, District of Columbia continues to publish recorded documents information through state-authorized portals; check dlcp.dc.gov for current fees and processing times.
2026
Federal records framework refresh
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE District of Columbia's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for the .gov complement.

The 5-Type District of Columbia Recorded Documents Map

1
Type 1 — Real property (Deeds, Mortgages)
District of Columbia County Recorder / Register of Deeds. Permanent record.
2
Type 2 — UCC (business collateral)
Most filed with District of Columbia Secretary of State. Some real-estate UCCs are county.
3
Type 3 — Liens (tax, mechanic's, judgment)
Property liens at the county. IRS federal tax liens may file at county OR state.
4
Type 4 — Personal documents (POA, military DD-214)
Often optional county recording in District of Columbia for safekeeping. Originals at federal NPRC.
5
Type 5 — Maps & subdivisions
District of Columbia county recorder; some at state mapping office.

Five Things People Get Wrong About District of Columbia Recorded Documents

❌ Myth: "All UCC filings are at the District of Columbia county."
✓ Truth: False. Most UCC filings (Article 9) are at the District of Columbia Secretary of State, not county.
❌ Myth: "All liens show up in a deed search."
✓ Truth: False. Federal tax liens may file at county OR state. Judgment liens vary. Always cross-check.
❌ Myth: "Recording a deed transfers title."
✓ Truth: False. The deed transfers title when delivered. Recording gives public notice — important but different.
❌ Myth: "DD-214 is only federal."
✓ Truth: Partially false. The original is federal (NPRC), but many veterans record a copy at their District of Columbia county for easy access.
❌ Myth: "Old District of Columbia recorded docs are fully digitized."
✓ Truth: False. Most District of Columbia counties only digitized records back to ~1990-2000. Older docs are paper at the courthouse.

Primary Sources (All .gov / Official)

Related Recorded Documents Resources

📍 Other District of Columbia records:
🇺🇸 Recorded Documents in other states:
Related Public Records
National view of this topic: All states: Recorded docs

Recorded Documents Databases

3 official District of Columbia recorded documents sources.

Recorded Documents

Recorder of Deeds | otr - DC Office of Tax and Revenue
Official Free
The meaning of SITE is the spatial location of an actual or planned structure or set of structures (such as a building, town, or monuments). How to use site in a sentence. Cite, Sight, and Site
🌐 otr.cfo.dc.gov
Real Property Tax Database Search | otr
Official Free
The Office of Tax and Revenue's (OTR) real property tax database provides online access to real property information that was formerly available only through manual searches and at various DC public libraries . You can obtain property value, assessment roll, and other information for more than ...
🌐 otr.cfo.dc.gov
Home - Office of the Secretary - DC Office of Public Records and Archives
Official Free
Browse digital collections available from the DC archives including genealogical records, land records and other digital records. Submit records requests to the Office of Public Records · Access resources and support for Records Management needs in the government of the District of Columbia.
🌐 archives.dc.gov

Frequently Asked Questions

In District of Columbia, deeds, mortgages, liens, and other real-property documents are recorded at the county level by the county Recorder (or Clerk-Recorder). The Official District of Columbia Recorded Documents at dlcp.dc.gov handles statewide filings such as UCC-1 financing statements and corporate documents.

UCC-1 financing statements covering personal property and business collateral are filed centrally with the Official District of Columbia Recorded Documents at dlcp.dc.gov. Fixture filings on real estate are an exception — those go to the county where the property is located.

Most District of Columbia countys publish a free online index of recorded documents (by name, document type, or date). Image access (the actual deed image) is often available either free or for a small per-page fee. Statewide UCC and corporate filings are searchable through the Official District of Columbia Recorded Documents at dlcp.dc.gov.

Certified copies of deeds, mortgages, and other recorded documents are issued by the county Recorder where the document was originally recorded. Fees and ID requirements vary; see your specific county page below. The Official District of Columbia Recorded Documents (dlcp.dc.gov) handles certified copies of statewide filings such as UCCs and articles of incorporation.

A deed is the recorded instrument that conveys ownership; the title is the legal concept of ownership itself. Deeds in District of Columbia are recorded with the county Recorder; title insurance and title searches are private-sector services that examine the chain of recorded deeds. The Official District of Columbia Recorded Documents at dlcp.dc.gov publishes the statewide rules.