Scottsdale Deed Records

Scottsdale does not record or maintain property deeds. This is a county function in Arizona. All deed recording for Scottsdale properties happens through the Maricopa County Recorder's office in downtown Phoenix. The City of Scottsdale Clerk handles city business like council agendas and city ordinances but does not manage real property documents. If you own property in Scottsdale or plan to buy land here, you must work with Maricopa County for all deed transactions. The county has recorded documents for Scottsdale since 1871. You can search all Scottsdale deeds online through the county database at no charge.

Maricopa County Records Scottsdale Deeds

The Maricopa County Recorder at 111 South Third Avenue in Phoenix handles all Scottsdale property documents. This office serves the entire county. Scottsdale is one of the largest cities in Maricopa County. Office hours run from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays. The office closes for federal holidays.

Scottsdale residents can visit the Recorder in person to file deeds or request certified copies. You can also mail your documents to the address above. Many people use e-recording services which allow deed submission from home. The county phone line is (602) 506-3535 if you need to ask questions about recording requirements for Scottsdale properties.

The City of Scottsdale Clerk is located at 3939 North Drinkwater Boulevard. Their phone number is (480) 312-2412. The Clerk's office handles city meeting minutes and local ordinances. They cannot help with deeds or property records. Staff will direct you to Maricopa County if you call about a Scottsdale deed issue. This division of labor is standard across Arizona cities.

Search Scottsdale Deeds Online

Maricopa County provides free online deed searches at recorder.maricopa.gov. The database includes Scottsdale documents from 1871 forward. Search by owner name, buyer name, or seller name. You can filter by document type to view only deeds. Results show as a list. Click any entry to view the full deed image.

The search tool works well for basic lookups. Type a last name and hit search. The system finds all matching records. You may get hundreds of results if the name is common. Use date ranges to limit your results. Most Scottsdale property sales occur in the last few decades. Older deeds are also online but less common for current research needs.

Document images appear as scanned PDFs in most cases. You can zoom in to read fine print. Print from your browser if you need a paper copy. These are unofficial copies only. Certified copies must come from the Recorder's office and cost $1 per page plus a $3 seal fee. Scottsdale title companies use certified copies when closing transactions.

Note: The online search does not guarantee clear title or reveal all liens on Scottsdale property.

Recording a Deed in Scottsdale

Prepare your deed according to Arizona rules found in A.R.S. 11-480. Use black ink on white paper. Leave a two-inch top margin on the first page. Use at least 10-point font size. Get the deed notarized before you bring it to the Recorder. These requirements apply to all Scottsdale deeds.

The recording fee is $30 as set by A.R.S. 11-475. This is a statewide fee schedule. You must also file an Affidavit of Property Value with any deed that transfers ownership in Scottsdale. The affidavit asks for the sale price and other details. Maricopa County provides blank forms at the Recorder's office or online. Bring payment in cash, check, or credit card. Cards may have a small processing fee.

E-recording is widely used for Scottsdale real estate transactions. Title companies and real estate attorneys use vendors like Simplifile, CSC eRecording, or Data Services to submit deeds electronically. E-recording costs the same $30 fee. The advantage is speed. Electronic submissions process within hours instead of days. You get an email confirmation once the deed is officially recorded in the Maricopa County system.

Walk-in recording at 111 South Third Avenue is also available. Bring your notarized deed and affidavit. Staff will review the documents for basic formatting issues. If everything looks good, they will stamp the deed with the date and time. The deed is now recorded. You can either wait for a copy or provide a return envelope for mailing. Most people choose to mail it back to save time at the office in Phoenix.

Fraud Protection for Scottsdale Property

Maricopa County offers a free Title Alert service. Register your Scottsdale property at recorder.maricopa.gov/maricopatitlealert. Enter your address and email. The system will send you an alert whenever a document is recorded against your property. This includes deeds, mortgages, and liens.

Title Alert helps you catch fraud early. If someone files a false deed on your Scottsdale home, you get an email the same day. You can then contact police and an attorney to resolve it. Early detection makes it easier to fix title problems. Many Scottsdale homeowners use this service for peace of mind. There is no cost to enroll.

Legal Assistance for Scottsdale Deeds

The Recorder's office cannot provide legal advice about Scottsdale property deeds. They can explain the recording process and fees. But they cannot tell you which deed type to use or how to handle a title dispute. For legal help, contact a real estate attorney in Scottsdale or the Phoenix metro area.

The State Bar of Arizona runs a lawyer referral service at 1-866-338-9519. They will connect you with an attorney who handles real estate matters. The first consultation costs about $50 for 30 minutes. Community Legal Services at (602) 258-3434 may assist low-income residents with some property issues. Call to see if you qualify for free help with a Scottsdale deed problem.

Other Maricopa County Cities

These nearby cities also record deeds through Maricopa County Recorder.

Maricopa County Recorder

All Scottsdale deed records are kept at the county level.