Frederick County Deed Records Search

Frederick County deed records are held by the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 100 W. Patrick Street in Frederick, Maryland. The land records go back to July 1777 and are available both online and in person. Recording a deed in Frederick County involves a two-step process through the Treasurer's Office before reaching the clerk. This page explains how to search deed records, what the fees are, and what special steps Frederick County requires before a deed can be recorded.

Frederick County Circuit Court Clerk

Sandra K. Dalton serves as Clerk of Court for Frederick County. The office is at 100 W. Patrick Street in Frederick. The Land Record Room is in the North Tower on the 2nd floor. General inquiries go to (301) 600-1976. For land recording specifically, call (301) 600-1965. The Land Record Room number is (301) 600-1957. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The Frederick County Circuit Court page lists current office hours and any changes to services.

The Treasurer's Office plays a key role in Frederick County deed recording. The Treasury phone number is (301) 600-6718. Before any deed can be recorded at the clerk's window, it must first pass through Treasury review. This is the two-step process unique to Frederick County. Drop-off and mail-in service are available for deed submissions. The office handles a high volume of real estate transactions, so drop-off is often faster than waiting in line.

Frederick County Deed Records Online

Three online systems cover Frederick County deed records. The main tool is MDLandRec.net, the statewide platform run by the Maryland State Archives. Free registration is needed. Once logged in, select Frederick County and search by grantor, grantee, or liber and folio. The system has records from 1777 to the present, which is one of the most complete online sets in the state. You can view deed images at no charge after creating your account.

The second tool is Plats.net for subdivision plats and boundary maps. Log in with plato/plato#. The third is the SDAT Real Property Search, which shows current ownership, assessment values, and parcel data. SDAT does not require a login and is useful for confirming who owns a property before you pull the underlying deed from MDLandRec.

The link below goes to the Frederick County Circuit Court clerk page, which is the starting point for official deed record access in the county.

The Circuit Court site has links to the land record room, forms for copy requests, and details on the two-step recording process specific to Frederick County.

Frederick County also publishes a dedicated guide for recording deeds at the county level.

The Record a Deed guide walks through every step from document preparation through final recording at the clerk's office.

MDLandRec gives online access to Frederick County deed records going back to 1777.

Use your free MDLandRec account to search and view Frederick County deed images from the comfort of your home or office.

How to Look Up Frederick County Deed Records

Online deed searches for Frederick County start at landrec.msa.maryland.gov. Register for a free account, then select Frederick County. Use the grantor or grantee name fields to search. If you know the approximate recording date, narrow the date range to get faster results. The index shows the document type, parties, and liber and folio reference. Click the result to view the scanned deed image. You can download or print what you find.

In-person access is at the Land Record Room in the North Tower on the 2nd floor at 100 W. Patrick Street. Public terminals are available and free to use. Staff in the Land Record Room can help if you are not finding what you need. Old deed records in Frederick County, some of which go back to the late 1700s, are indexed and available in the system. Bring the owner's name or the property address to narrow your search.

For title research requiring a complete chain of title in Frederick County, working through a title company or real estate attorney is common given the volume of records. The Maryland Courts legal help page has guidance for individuals doing their own deed record research.

Frederick County Deed Fees and Taxes

Copy fees are $0.50 per page for standard copies and $5.00 per document for certified copies plus the per-page fee. Recording fees follow the statewide schedule: $20 for instruments of 9 pages or fewer, $75 for instruments of 10 or more pages, $10 for releases, and a $40 surcharge on most instruments.

Frederick County has the highest recordation tax rate in Maryland at $7.00 per $500 of consideration. This is rounded up to the nearest $500. On a $400,000 home purchase, the recordation tax alone comes to $5,600. The state transfer tax is an additional 0.5% of the sale price. These taxes are due at the time of recording. The Treasurer reviews the deed and collects taxes as part of the two-step process before the clerk records the document.

A lien certificate is also required for all Frederick County property transfers. The lien certificate costs $20 plus a convenience fee per parcel and must be requested online. It confirms that no outstanding county liens are attached to the property. The certificate is only valid for a limited time, so request it close to the settlement date. Contact the Division of Water and Sewer Utilities at (301) 600-2354 to get the Property Transfer Request form as well.

Frederick County Two-Step Recording Process

Frederick County uses a two-step deed recording process that differs from most other Maryland counties. Step one is submitting the deed to the Treasurer's Office for review and tax collection. The Treasury reviews the document, collects all recordation and transfer taxes, and stamps the deed. This step typically takes 24 to 48 hours. You can drop off the deed or mail it in. Once the Treasurer stamps it, you take it to step two.

Step two is submitting the stamped deed to the Clerk of the Circuit Court for official recording. The clerk assigns a liber and folio, enters the document in the index, and scans it. The deed is then part of the Frederick County land records. If you mail in the deed for recording, the clerk mails back the original after it is recorded. The full process can take several days if done by mail, or same-day if done in person after Treasury stamping. Frederick County's Record a Deed guide walks through both steps in detail.

Properties inside the City of Frederick have an extra requirement. The City of Frederick must review the deed before it goes to Treasury. Contact the City at (301) 600-1421 to find out what the city-specific review involves. Under Real Property Article Section 3-104, all deeds must be acknowledged before they are submitted to any office in this process. Deeds without proper notarization will be rejected at any stage.

Note: Always get the lien certificate before settlement day. It expires quickly, and a lapse can delay the entire recording process in Frederick County.

Cities in Frederick County

All deed records for Frederick County properties are held by the Circuit Court Clerk in the city of Frederick. The City of Frederick is the county's largest community and has its own page for deed records information on this site.

Other communities in Frederick County include Thurmont, Emmitsburg, Middletown, Brunswick, and Mount Airy. Deed records for all of these are at the Circuit Court in the city of Frederick.

Nearby Counties

Frederick County borders five other Maryland counties. Each one has a separate Circuit Court for deed recording and land records. If a property sits near a county boundary, confirm which county holds the deed by checking the parcel's legal description.