Mesa Property Deeds

Mesa residents record property deeds through Maricopa County, not the city. All deed recording in Mesa happens at the County Recorder's office in downtown Phoenix at 111 South Third Avenue. The City of Mesa does not maintain property records or accept deed filings. City staff direct all deed questions to the county. This applies to warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, trust deeds, and any other real property instruments for Mesa addresses. Maricopa County provides free online search access to all recorded documents from 1871 to present. The database includes every deed filed in Mesa over the past 150 years and can be accessed from home at any time.

Where Mesa Deeds Get Recorded

All Mesa property deeds go to Maricopa County. The Recorder's office is at 111 South Third Avenue in Phoenix. Hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays. The office closes for federal holidays. Reach staff by phone at (602) 506-3535 during those hours. They handle all deed recordings for Mesa and every other city in Maricopa County.

Mesa is about 20 miles east of the county building. You can mail your deed instead of driving downtown. Send it to Maricopa County Recorder, 111 S Third Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85003. Include payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Processing takes a few days by mail. In-person filing is faster if you need the recorded deed back right away for your Mesa property.

The City of Mesa Clerk's office does not handle deeds. Call them at (480) 644-2099 and they will tell you to use the county. The City Clerk manages city ordinances, council minutes, and local elections. Real property recording is a county function under Arizona law. This is true in Mesa and every other Arizona city, no matter the size or location within the state.

Search Mesa Deeds Online

Maricopa County provides a free database at recorder.maricopa.gov. Search by name, date, or document type. The system covers Mesa property records back to 1871. Most searches return results in seconds. Click any result to view the full deed image.

The database updates throughout the day. New recordings appear within hours. Print unofficial copies at home for free. Certified copies must be ordered from the Recorder's office. The fee is $1 per page plus $3 for the official seal. Order in person or by mail. Certified copies are required for some legal matters in Mesa, but unofficial copies work for most purposes like checking a property history or confirming ownership details.

To search for a Mesa property, start with the current owner's last name. The system will show deeds where that person is listed as grantee. You can also search by the seller's name to find transfers out. Date filters narrow the list. Document type filters let you show only deeds if the property has many recorded documents like liens or easements in the Maricopa County system.

Record a Mesa Property Deed

Bring your deed to the Maricopa County Recorder at 111 South Third Avenue. Staff will check the format. The first page needs a two-inch top margin. Text must be 10-point or larger. Use standard size paper. Black ink only. The deed must be signed and notarized. If it meets the rules, they will accept it and stamp it with the date and time.

Recording costs $30 under Arizona Revised Statutes 11-475. This is the same rate in every Arizona county. You must also submit an Affidavit of Property Value with ownership transfers. The form is available from the Recorder or online. Maricopa County accepts cash, checks, and cards. Small card fees may apply at the counter for Mesa property filings.

E-recording is an option for Mesa deeds. Title companies use vendors like Simplifile, CSC, or eRecording Partners Network. These systems submit deeds electronically and check for format errors before filing. The $30 state fee still applies, plus vendor charges. Recorded deeds come back digitally within hours. This is faster than paper filing but costs more due to vendor fees added to the base recording rate.

Note: Deeds recorded after 4:00 PM are processed the next business day in Maricopa County, which affects timing for Mesa property transactions.

Protect Your Mesa Property Title

Maricopa County offers free Title Alert service for Mesa homeowners. Sign up at recorder.maricopa.gov/maricopatitlealert. Enter your Mesa property address. The system emails you when something affecting your property gets recorded. This helps detect fraud early. If someone files a fake deed on your Mesa home, you get an alert the same day.

Title Alert is free but does not prevent fraud. It only notifies you after the fact. Quick response matters if fraud occurs. Contact police and the Recorder right away if you get an unexpected alert. You may need a lawyer to clear your title. Most Mesa homeowners never have this problem, but the free alert system provides peace of mind at no cost or effort to maintain once set up.

Deed Requirements Under Arizona Law

Arizona requires deeds to be in writing and signed by the person transferring the property. The signature must be notarized. These rules appear in Arizona Revised Statutes 33-401. Recording is not required to transfer ownership, but it protects the buyer from later claims by creating a public record of the Mesa property transfer.

Format rules for recorded deeds are in Arizona Revised Statutes 11-480. The two-inch top margin on page one is mandatory. Font must be at least 10-point. Use white or near-white paper in standard size. Black ink only. Deeds that do not meet these rules get rejected at the Recorder's counter in Maricopa County for Mesa properties and all other locations.

Beneficiary deeds are common in Mesa for estate planning. This deed type transfers property to a named person when the current owner dies. It avoids probate. The owner keeps full control during life and can cancel the deed anytime. Rules for beneficiary deeds are at Arizona Revised Statutes 33-405. Many Mesa residents use this instead of a will for real estate because it is simpler and cheaper than probate proceedings.

Find Legal Help in Mesa

The Recorder's office cannot give legal advice. They explain how to record a deed and what the fee is. They cannot tell you which deed to use or how to fix a title problem. For legal advice about Mesa property, contact an attorney or title company.

Community Legal Services provides free help to low-income residents. They handle some property matters. Call (602) 258-3434 to see if you qualify for their Mesa services. The State Bar of Arizona runs a lawyer referral service at 1-866-338-9519. They connect you with real estate attorneys in the Mesa area. The first meeting through the referral service costs about $50 for half an hour of consultation time.

Title companies in Mesa will search property records for a fee. They explain what they find and issue title insurance if you are buying real estate. The insurance protects against hidden defects that the search may miss. Most lenders require title insurance before approving a mortgage on Mesa property, so buyers typically get this service as part of the purchase process anyway.

Nearby Cities in Maricopa County

Other Maricopa County cities also use the County Recorder for property deeds.

Maricopa County Recorder

All Mesa deed records are maintained by Maricopa County.