Buckeye Property Deeds

The City of Buckeye does not record property deeds. All deed recording for Buckeye homes and land takes place at the Maricopa County Recorder's office in Phoenix. Buckeye City Clerk staff handle city records like ordinances and council minutes, but they do not maintain real property documents. Anyone buying or selling Buckeye property must file deeds with Maricopa County. The county has handled this function since Arizona statehood. You can search Buckeye property deeds online for free through the county's public database, which covers records from 1871 forward.

County Office Handles Buckeye Deeds

Buckeye is in Maricopa County. The Maricopa County Recorder maintains all property deeds for Buckeye. The office is at 111 South Third Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85003. Office hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays. The office closes for federal holidays. You can call (602) 506-3535 for help with deed searches or recording questions.

Buckeye sits in the far west valley of the Phoenix metro area. It is one of the fastest growing cities in Arizona. Despite this growth, Buckeye still relies on the central county office for deed recording. This is the same system used across the state. Cities in Arizona do not handle property records. The county system keeps all deeds in one central location.

If you contact Buckeye City Hall about property deeds, staff will refer you to the County Recorder. The city maintains records like council agendas, city code files, and building permit records. Those are city matters. Deeds, mortgages, and liens are county matters. The City of Buckeye City Clerk page explains what types of records the city keeps. Property deeds are not on that list.

Search Buckeye Deeds Online

You can search all Buckeye deeds at no cost. Visit recorder.maricopa.gov and use the document search tool. The database has records from 1871 to today. Search by owner name, date range, or document type. Results show up as a list. Click any item to view the full deed image. You can print these images from your browser for free.

Most people search by the current owner's name to find the deed that gave them the property. You can also search by the seller's name if you are tracing the chain of title. Date filters help narrow results if the name is common. The system shows all document types, so you might see deeds, mortgages, and liens in your results. Use the document type filter to see only deeds if that is what you need.

Buckeye has grown fast in recent decades. Many Buckeye deeds are from the 2000s and 2010s as subdivisions expanded. Older deeds from before Buckeye incorporated in 1888 also exist in the county database. All are available online. The images are usually clear and readable. If you need a certified copy for legal purposes, you must order that from the Recorder's office. Certified copies cost $1 per page plus a $3 fee for the seal.

Note: Online search results do not guarantee clear title or reveal all liens on Buckeye property.

How to Record a Buckeye Deed

Take your deed to the Maricopa County Recorder at 111 South Third Avenue in Phoenix. Bring the original signed deed. Make sure it meets Arizona format rules. The first page must have a two-inch top margin. All text must be at least 10-point font. The deed must be signed by the grantor and notarized. Use standard letter-size paper in white or near-white color. Black ink only. The county will reject deeds that do not meet these standards.

Recording costs $30 per document under state law. If your deed transfers ownership, you must also submit an Affidavit of Property Value. This is a simple form that lists the sale price and other details about the transaction. Both buyer and seller sign it. The form is available at the Recorder's office or on the county website. There is no separate fee for the affidavit in Maricopa County. The $30 recording fee covers both the deed and the affidavit.

Staff will stamp your deed with the date and time of recording. They give you a receipt. The deed is usually processed the same day if you submit it before 4:00 PM. After that time, it will be recorded the next business day. You can pick up the recorded copy in person or ask staff to mail it to you. Mailing within Maricopa County is free.

Electronic Recording for Buckeye

E-recording is popular with title companies and attorneys in Buckeye. Systems like Simplifile, CSC, and Data Services connect directly to the County Recorder. You upload the deed through the vendor's system. The system checks for format errors before submission. If everything is correct, the deed is recorded within hours. The recorded copy comes back electronically. This is faster than driving to Phoenix and filing in person.

The recording fee is still $30 for e-recorded deeds. Some vendors charge an extra service fee for using their system. Ask your title company or attorney about total costs before you proceed. E-recording is available 24 hours a day, though the county processes documents during business hours. This is convenient for Buckeye residents because the Recorder's office is far from the west valley.

Arizona Laws Governing Buckeye Deeds

Arizona Revised Statutes 33-401 sets the formal requirements for deeds. A deed must be in writing and signed by the grantor. Arizona does not require witnesses on deeds, only a notary. The notary confirms the signer's identity and ensures they sign voluntarily. This applies to all deeds in Buckeye and across Arizona.

The County Recorder's duties are set by Arizona Revised Statutes 11-461. The Recorder must keep an index of all recorded documents by grantor and grantee name. Anyone can search these indexes during business hours. The Recorder must also preserve the original documents or permanent images. This system protects Buckeye property owners by keeping a permanent public record of all deeds.

Recording fees are set by Arizona Revised Statutes 11-475. The standard fee is $30 per instrument. This applies to deeds, mortgages, and most other documents. Government agencies pay a reduced fee of $15 per document. The fee structure is the same in all 15 Arizona counties, including Maricopa County where Buckeye is located.

Beneficiary deeds are allowed under Arizona Revised Statutes 33-405. A beneficiary deed transfers property on death without probate. The owner records the deed while alive. The beneficiary has no rights until the owner dies. The owner can revoke the deed at any time. This can be a useful estate planning tool for Buckeye homeowners who want to pass property to family members simply.

Fraud Protection for Buckeye Homeowners

Maricopa County offers a free Title Alert service. Register your Buckeye property at recorder.maricopa.gov/maricopatitlealert. The system emails you when any document affecting your property is recorded. This helps catch fraud early. If someone files a false deed on your Buckeye home, you will know the same day.

Title Alert does not prevent fraud. It only notifies you after a document is recorded. If you get an unexpected alert, contact the Recorder's office and local police immediately. You may need an attorney to clear your title. But early detection makes the problem easier to fix. Many Buckeye homeowners use this free service for added security.

Legal Assistance for Buckeye Deed Matters

The County Recorder cannot give legal advice. They can explain the recording process or how to search for deeds. But they cannot tell you which type of deed to use or how to handle a title dispute. For legal help with Buckeye property deeds, contact an attorney or title company in the area.

Community Legal Services provides free legal help to low-income Maricopa County residents. They handle some property matters. Call (602) 258-3434 to see if you qualify for their services. The State Bar of Arizona runs a lawyer referral service at 1-866-338-9519. They can connect you with a real estate attorney near Buckeye. The first consultation usually costs around $50 for 30 minutes through the referral program.

Title companies can help with deed searches and recording in Buckeye. They also issue title insurance, which protects against title defects. Most lenders require title insurance on Buckeye properties. The cost varies based on the sale price. Your real estate agent or lender can recommend title companies that serve the west valley.

Nearby Cities in Maricopa County

Other cities near Buckeye also use the Maricopa County Recorder for deeds.

Maricopa County Recorder

All Buckeye deed records are maintained by Maricopa County.