How to Search Delaware Recorded Documents (Start Here)

Recorded documents in Delaware — deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other land records — are filed with the Recorder of Deeds in each county.

What this page covers: Delaware recorded document searches — deeds, mortgages, assignments, liens, plats, and other instruments filed in the public land records. What it does not cover: Property valuations or tax data (those are on the Property Records page).

Where to start: Go to the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the property is located. Many county recorder of deedss offer online document search by grantor/grantee name, book/page, or instrument number.

Common mistake: Recorded documents show what was filed — they do not confirm current ownership or lien status without a full title search. A deed in the index does not mean it is the most recent transfer.

Recorder of deeds
Recording statute
No document defined or described in § 5401
Number of counties
3 counties
Population
1,051,917
Households
411,859
Median Income
$81,012
Median Home Value
$299,800
SearchSystems Editorial
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Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: Delaware recorded documents URL verified against the official state publisher at corp.delaware.gov on the review date. 6 primary .gov sources cited below.

Delaware Recorded Documents — Key Facts (2026)

Deeds, mortgages, UCC filings, liens, military discharges in Delaware — 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 — Delaware Recorded Documents

2026
Delaware recorded documents portal active
The official Delaware portal at corp.delaware.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 Delaware state records.
2026
Delaware access in 2026
For 2026, Delaware continues to publish recorded documents information through state-authorized portals; check corp.delaware.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 Delaware's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for the .gov complement.

The 5-Type Delaware Recorded Documents Map

1
Type 1 — Real property (Deeds, Mortgages)
Delaware County Recorder / Register of Deeds. Permanent record.
2
Type 2 — UCC (business collateral)
Most filed with Delaware 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 Delaware for safekeeping. Originals at federal NPRC.
5
Type 5 — Maps & subdivisions
Delaware county recorder; some at state mapping office.

Five Things People Get Wrong About Delaware Recorded Documents

❌ Myth: "All UCC filings are at the Delaware county."
✓ Truth: False. Most UCC filings (Article 9) are at the Delaware 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 Delaware county for easy access.
❌ Myth: "Old Delaware recorded docs are fully digitized."
✓ Truth: False. Most Delaware counties only digitized records back to ~1990-2000. Older docs are paper at the courthouse.

Primary Sources (All .gov / Official)

Related Recorded Documents Resources

Related Public Records
National view of this topic: All states: Recorded docs
Sample Delaware counties: Kent · New Castle · Sussex

Recorded Documents Databases

5 official Delaware recorded documents sources.

Recorded Documents

Recorder of Deeds | New Castle County, DE - Official Website
Official Free
The recorder of deeds is the repository for all land transaction records, corporate filings, and financing statements in New Castle County . Our responsibilities include receiving, recording, processing, and delivering the following: ... The office also collects the transfer taxes for New Castle ...
Kent County Recorder of Deeds KCAR PRESENTATION FEB 27, 2023
Official Free
USA. In Sussex County, last month, six-million-dollar homes were almost · stolen. In NCC, at least one house was stolen and lived in for months, squatters · produced a recorded deed when police came.
New Castle County, DE - Official Website | Official Website
Official Free
Welcome to the New Castle County Homepage, your resource for local news, services, and community events in the area. Explore and stay informed!
Real Property Official Records Search
Official Free
We cannot provide a description for this page right now
Recorder of Deeds - Delaware Public Archives - State of Delaware
Official Free
They were recorded in a newly created public enrollment office located in the county seat. Those transactions occurring beyond the bounds of the province had to be recorded within six months or face the same penalty.6 The Penn family were proprietors here from 1682-1776 through a grant from James, Duke of York. The General Assembly passed a law in the period between 1738-1747 that provided for “an Office of Record in each county” to be called “the office for recording of deeds,” and thereby creating one of the earliest `official’ offices.7 The 1792 constitution empowered the governor

Delaware Counties

All 3 Delaware counties. Click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.

Frequently Asked Questions

In Delaware, deeds, mortgages, liens, and other real-property documents are recorded at the county level by the county Recorder (or Clerk-Recorder). The Official Delaware Recorded Documents at corp.delaware.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 Delaware Recorded Documents at corp.delaware.gov. Fixture filings on real estate are an exception — those go to the county where the property is located.

Most Delaware 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 Delaware Recorded Documents at corp.delaware.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 Delaware Recorded Documents (corp.delaware.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 Delaware are recorded with the county Recorder; title insurance and title searches are private-sector services that examine the chain of recorded deeds. The Official Delaware Recorded Documents at corp.delaware.gov publishes the statewide rules.