Bensalem Township Property Records
Bensalem property records are maintained through Bucks County, which records all real estate instruments and maintains assessment data for properties in the township. Bensalem Township is one of the largest townships in Bucks County and sits along the Delaware River northeast of Philadelphia. Deeds, mortgages, liens, ownership histories, and assessment records for Bensalem properties are held at the Bucks County Recorder of Deeds in Doylestown. The LANDEX system provides comprehensive online access to these records. This page explains how to find and access Bensalem property records.
Bensalem Quick Facts
Where to Find Bensalem Property Records
The Bucks County Recorder of Deeds is the primary office for Bensalem property records. The office is located at 55 East Court Street, Doylestown, PA 18901. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Recording closes at 4:00 p.m. The Recorder records all real estate instruments for Bensalem Township properties, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and subdivision plans. Bucks County deed records extend back to 1684, making it one of the oldest ongoing property record systems in Pennsylvania.
Bensalem Township maintains its own office for zoning, building permits, and local property information. Visit bensalempa.gov for township services and contacts. For county-level deed and assessment records, the Bucks County Recorder at buckscounty.gov/601/Property-Records is the primary resource. The county uses the LANDEX system for online property records access, which provides comprehensive search capabilities dating from 1684 to the present.
| Office | Bucks County Recorder of Deeds |
|---|---|
| Address | 55 East Court Street, Doylestown, PA 18901 |
| Phone | (215) 348-6209 |
| Fax | (215) 348-6225 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Recording Closes | 4:00 PM |
| LANDEX Portal | buckscounty.gov/601/Property-Records |
Note: Office employees at the Bucks County Recorder of Deeds are not permitted to conduct searches on behalf of requesters. Plan to use the LANDEX system, hire a title searcher, or visit in person to conduct your own search for Bensalem property records.
How to Search Bensalem Property Records
Bucks County uses the LANDEX system for property records access. LANDEX provides comprehensive online access to Bucks County recorded documents dating from 1684 to the present. To use LANDEX, visit the Bucks County Property Records portal and create a free user account. Document retrieval requires the purchase of search credits, but browsing the index is free after registration. Users can search by owner name (grantor or grantee), property address, parcel number, document type, and date range.
Bucks County also provides a Parcel Viewer GIS tool that allows users to search by address, owner name, or parcel number and view property boundaries, zoning information, and assessment data. The Parcel Viewer provides basic ownership information and allows download of property maps and data reports. This tool is a free alternative for Bensalem property searches when only basic parcel information is needed.
The statewide portal at pa.uslandrecords.com provides another access point for recorded Bucks County documents. The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System at pacourts.us/public-records covers court records, including foreclosure cases and judgment liens affecting Bensalem properties. UCC filings are searchable through the Pennsylvania Department of State at dos.pa.gov.
Property Documents in Bensalem
The Bucks County Recorder of Deeds holds all recorded real estate documents for Bensalem Township properties. These include warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, sheriff's deeds, and other transfer instruments. Mortgage instruments, assignments, and satisfactions are also recorded here. Additional document types include federal tax liens, municipal liens, mechanic's liens, easements, rights-of-way, subdivision plans, UCC filings, notary commissions, and military discharge papers. All document types are searchable through LANDEX by direct and indirect party names.
Bucks County's LANDEX index books group records by year: 1684 to 1919, 1920 to 1941, and successive periods through the present. This structure means that older Bensalem deeds may appear in different index sections than recent records. When researching a complete ownership chain for a Bensalem property, searchers may need to look through multiple index books. The LANDEX system organizes this chronologically and allows filtering by document type.
After recording, Bucks County sends a complimentary copy of the deed to the property owner via email. This practice helps property owners confirm that their deed has been recorded correctly and provides them with a digital record. For Bensalem properties, this automated notification is a useful tool for tracking new transactions.
Pennsylvania Property Law and Public Records
Bensalem property records are public under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (RTKL) at 65 P.S. § 67.301. All records maintained by Bucks County and Bensalem Township are presumed accessible to any person. Agencies must demonstrate an exemption applies before withholding records. No reason is required to request property records.
The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov handles RTKL appeals for denied requests. If Bucks County or Bensalem Township denies a records request, requesters have 15 business days to appeal to the OOR. The OOR provides a standard RTK Request Form that all agencies must accept. The OOR also maintains a directory of agency open records officers for Bucks County and all Pennsylvania municipalities.
The Pennsylvania Land Title Association at plta.org provides resources on professional title search practices for Pennsylvania properties including those in Bensalem. The Pennsylvania State Archives maintains colonial-era land warrants and patents for Bucks County-area properties. The PA State Archives land records overview explains how to research early Bensalem land history using state records.
Note: Bucks County has the longest deed record history of any county in this guide, with records starting in 1684. This makes it one of the best-documented property record systems in Pennsylvania for historical research.
Bensalem Property Assessment Records
Bucks County assesses all Bensalem Township properties for tax purposes. Assessment records are available through the county's GIS Parcel Viewer and the Recorder of Deeds portal. Each assessment record includes the land value, building value, total assessed value, and property class. Physical characteristics such as lot dimensions, building square footage, year built, and number of rooms are also maintained by the county assessor.
Bensalem Township property owners who believe their assessed value is incorrect may appeal to the Bucks County Board of Assessment Appeals. The appeal process requires a formal application and supporting documentation of market value. Contact the Bucks County Recorder at (215) 348-6209 for appeal information, or visit the county website for current deadlines and forms. Assessment notices are typically issued annually and the appeal deadline follows the notice date.
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue at revenue.pa.gov administers state-level property tax programs, including the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program for qualifying Bensalem residents. The Department also tracks tax lien records that may affect Bensalem property titles.
Getting Copies of Bensalem Property Records
Copies of Bensalem property records are available through LANDEX online, in person at the Bucks County Recorder's office, or by mail. The LANDEX system allows online document access with fee-based image retrieval. In-person visits to 55 East Court Street, Doylestown, PA 18901 allow access to public terminals and direct assistance from staff. Copy fees are $1 per page for deeds and mortgages, $5 per sheet for plans, and $1.50 for certified copies.
Mail requests should be sent to the Bucks County Recorder of Deeds at 55 E Court St., Doylestown, PA 18901. Include the property address, party names, document type, and payment. You can also call (215) 348-6209 to request copies by phone. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of documents by mail. Processing times for mail requests are typically several business days.
A name search through the Recorder's office costs $10 per name. For a complete title search on a Bensalem property, most users hire a professional title searcher or use LANDEX with sufficient credits to access all relevant documents in the chain of title. The general information line at (215) 348-6209 can answer basic questions but detailed research requires in-person, LANDEX, or attorney access.
Bucks County Property Records
Bensalem property records are maintained through Bucks County. For full county recorder details, deed search tools, and additional resources, visit the Bucks County property records page.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
These nearby communities also maintain property records through their respective county offices.