Adams County Property Records

Adams County property records are maintained by the Recorder of Deeds office in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The office keeps deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other land documents that trace the history of every parcel in the county. Whether you are buying land, researching ownership, or verifying title, the Recorder of Deeds is your primary source. You can search records online through the statewide portal or visit the office in person. Staff can help guide you to the right document and explain how the indexing system works.

Adams County Recorder of Deeds

The Adams County Recorder of Deeds office sits in the heart of Gettysburg, at 111-117 Baltimore Street, Room 202. The office has been recording land transactions since Adams County was formed in 1800. Every deed, mortgage, lien, and easement filed in the county passes through this office. The staff processes new documents and maintains the historical record going back over two centuries.

The Recorder indexes documents by grantor and grantee name, which means you can search by the buyer or seller in a transaction. Documents are also assigned a book and page number when recorded. Staff can help you find records in person, but for detailed searches, you may want to use the online systems or work with a title professional. Recording hours run from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, which is slightly shorter than the general office hours.

The statewide PA USLandRecords portal provides online access to Adams County deed records. The image below shows the statewide portal, which covers all 67 Pennsylvania counties including Adams.

The portal allows you to search Adams County records by name or property address from any computer or mobile device, without visiting the courthouse.

How to Search Adams County Property Records

Searching Adams County property records starts with knowing the property owner's name or the address. The grantor-grantee index is the primary tool for finding deeds and mortgages. Grantor refers to the seller; grantee refers to the buyer. Once you find a document in the index, you can pull up the full record by its book and page number.

The easiest online path is pa.uslandrecords.com, the Pennsylvania State Real Property Official Records Search. This portal aggregates recorded documents from all 67 Pennsylvania counties, including Adams. You can search by name, address, or parcel identifier. Document images are available to view and print directly from the portal.

For assessment and parcel mapping, Adams County offers a GIS mapping system at adamscountypa.gov/maps-and-documents. This tool displays parcel boundaries, dimensions, and basic tax assessment information. You can search by parcel ID, street address, or municipality. The GIS system does not include deed images, but it connects the parcel to the property owner and assessment data.

In-person searches at the Gettysburg courthouse give you access to older index books and staff assistance. Bring the property address or owner name and allow enough time to trace the chain of title through the grantor-grantee books.

Note: Office staff are available to assist with general questions, but detailed title searches are best handled by a licensed title professional or attorney.

Property Records Available in Adams County

The Adams County Recorder of Deeds maintains a wide range of documents related to real property. Deeds are the most commonly sought records and date back to the county's formation in 1800. The office also holds mortgages, mortgage satisfactions, easements, and rights-of-way that affect how land can be used or transferred.

Beyond basic ownership documents, the office keeps subdivision plans, which show how larger tracts of land were divided into lots. These plans are important when researching the legal description of a specific parcel. Uniform Commercial Code filings, notary commissions, and military discharge papers (DD-214 forms) are also maintained here.

• Warranty deeds and quit claim deeds
• Mortgages and mortgage satisfactions
• Easements and rights-of-way
• Subdivision plans and lot descriptions
• UCC filings affecting real property fixtures
• Liens and judgments on property
• Military discharge records (DD-214)

For liens and court judgments that affect property title, the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal provides access to civil case dockets, foreclosure filings, and judgment records across all county courts.

Pennsylvania Property Records Law

Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law (RTKL), codified at 65 P.S. § 67.301, presumes that all records held by public agencies are public. This means the burden falls on the government to show that a record should be withheld, not on you to justify your request. Property records at the Recorder of Deeds are generally public documents available to anyone without explanation or qualification.

The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records enforces the RTKL and serves as an appeals body when requests are denied. If the Recorder of Deeds or any other county office denies your records request, you have 15 business days to appeal to the OOR. The OOR issues binding decisions and can compel agencies to release records that meet the public access standard.

Certain documents contain personal data that is shielded under RTKL Section 708 exemptions, including specific personal identification numbers and security-sensitive details. However, the core property information in a deed, including the parties, the legal description, and the sale price, is fully public. Pennsylvania has no residency requirement for accessing property records.

Note: The OOR's new mailing address as of November 2025 is 555 Walnut Street, Suite 605, Harrisburg, PA 17101.

Adams County Property Assessment Records

The Adams County Assessment Office maintains property valuation records used for tax purposes. Every parcel in the county has an assessed value that determines the property tax owed each year. Assessment records include the land value, building value, property class, and any exemptions or abatements applied to the parcel.

You can search assessment records through the county's GIS mapping portal, which links parcel boundaries to assessment data. Fields include owner name, property address, parcel ID, municipality, tax district, lot size, and building characteristics. This data is updated annually as assessments are reviewed or appealed.

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue oversees property tax regulations at the state level. The Department maintains records related to tax liens and delinquencies that can affect property ownership. Local tax claim bureaus handle unpaid taxes and tax sales under the Department's framework. Understanding current assessment values is essential when buying or selling property in Adams County.

How to Request Adams County Records

There are several ways to request copies of Adams County property records. The simplest method for many users is the online statewide portal at pa.uslandrecords.com, which provides document images you can view and print at home. For official certified copies, you will need to contact the Recorder of Deeds office directly.

To request by mail, write to the Recorder of Deeds at 111-117 Baltimore Street, Room 202, Gettysburg, PA 17325. Include the property address or owner name, the approximate date of the document, and a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of copies. Copy fees are $0.50 per page and certified copies carry an additional $1.50 charge.

In-person requests at the Gettysburg office allow you to search the index books directly and request copies on the spot. The Pennsylvania State Archives holds historical land records predating county formation, which can be useful for tracing ownership back to the original colonial grants. For UCC filings related to property fixtures, the Pennsylvania Department of State maintains a searchable statewide database.

Nearby Counties

If you are researching property near the Adams County border, these neighboring counties also maintain their own property records offices.

View All 67 Counties