Phoenix Property Deed Records

Phoenix is the capital of Arizona and the fifth largest city in the United States with over 1.6 million residents. Property owners in Phoenix record deeds through the Maricopa County Recorder, not through the city government. The City of Phoenix does not maintain real property records. All deeds, mortgages, and liens for Phoenix properties must be filed with the Maricopa County Recorder's office located at 111 South Third Avenue in downtown Phoenix. The office has been recording Phoenix property documents since 1871. You can search the entire database online for free at the county website.

Where Phoenix Residents Record Deeds

Phoenix property deeds are handled by Maricopa County, not the city. The Maricopa County Recorder's office is at 111 South Third Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85003. This is the same building that houses other county offices in downtown Phoenix. Office hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. The office closes for federal holidays. You can reach staff by phone at (602) 506-3535 during business hours.

The City of Phoenix Clerk's office handles city records such as council minutes, ordinances, and city contracts. They do not handle property deeds. If you visit or call the City Clerk at (602) 262-6811, they will direct you to the County Recorder for deed matters. This is true for all cities in Maricopa County. Counties handle real property recording in Arizona, not cities.

Phoenix spans over 500 square miles and is the county seat of Maricopa County. All Phoenix addresses fall within Maricopa County jurisdiction. Some areas on the outskirts of Phoenix may be in unincorporated county territory, but they still use the same Recorder's office. The entire metro area relies on one central recording office for deeds in Phoenix.

Search Phoenix Deeds Online

The Maricopa County Recorder provides free online access to all recorded documents at recorder.maricopa.gov. The database covers Phoenix properties from 1871 to the present day. You can search by the property owner's name, the seller's name, or the buyer's name. Date ranges help narrow your results. Document type filters let you see only deeds if that is all you need.

The search system returns a list of documents that match your criteria. Click on any result to view the full document image. Most deed images are clear and readable on screen. You can print unofficial copies from the website at no cost. Certified copies must be ordered from the Recorder's office in person or by mail. Certified copies cost $1 per page plus a $3 fee for the official seal in Maricopa County.

To search for Phoenix property deeds effectively, start with the current owner's name. The system will show any deeds where that person is the grantee. You can also search backward through previous owners to trace the chain of title. Title companies do this professionally, but anyone can access the same records. The online search is not a substitute for a professional title search or legal advice about Phoenix property.

How to Record a Phoenix Deed

Bring your deed to the Maricopa County Recorder at 111 South Third Avenue during office hours. The deed must meet Arizona format rules. The first page needs a two-inch top margin. All text must be 10-point font or larger. The deed must be signed and notarized. Pages must be standard size on white or near-white paper. Black ink only.

Recording costs $30 per document under Arizona law. You must also submit an Affidavit of Property Value with any deed that transfers ownership. The affidavit form is available from the Recorder's office or online. Maricopa County accepts cash, checks, and credit cards. There may be a small fee for card payments. Staff will stamp your deed with the date and time, then either hand you a recorded copy or mail it to the address you provide.

E-recording is common for Phoenix properties. Title companies and attorneys use systems like Simplifile or CSC to submit deeds electronically. This is faster than paper filing. The system checks for format errors before submission. You get confirmation right away. The recorded deed comes back electronically within hours in most cases. E-recording still costs $30 plus any vendor fees charged by your title company.

Note: Recording is not required to transfer ownership, but it protects the buyer from later claims in Phoenix and all of Arizona.

Protect Your Phoenix Property

Maricopa County offers a free Title Alert service for Phoenix property owners. Register your property address at recorder.maricopa.gov/maricopatitlealert. The system emails you whenever a document affecting your property is recorded. This helps catch fraud early. If someone tries to file a false deed on your Phoenix home, you will get an alert the same day.

Title Alert does not prevent fraud. It only notifies you after something is recorded. If you get an unexpected alert, contact the Recorder's office and police right away. You may need an attorney to clear your title. But early detection makes it easier to fix. Many Phoenix homeowners use this free service for peace of mind in Maricopa County.

Legal Help for Phoenix Deed Matters

The Recorder's office cannot give legal advice. They can explain how to search records or what the recording fee is. But they cannot tell you which type of deed to use or how to handle a title dispute. For legal help with Phoenix property deeds, contact an attorney or title company in the Phoenix area.

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

Nearby Cities in Maricopa County

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

Maricopa County Recorder

All Phoenix deed records are maintained by Maricopa County.