Bradford County, PA Property Records

    Located in the northeastern corner of the state along the New York border, Bradford County is predominantly rural, with about 73% of residents living outside of urban areas. Bradford County has a population of 59,699, and its county seat is Towanda. The boroughs of Athens, Sayre, and South Waverly together form the county's main population cluster and constitute the Sayre, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area.

    The typical home value in Bradford County is $194,083, up 2.7% over the past year. This sits well below Pennsylvania's statewide median of $275,155, consistent with the county's rural, low-density character. The appreciation rate matches the statewide pace exactly, reflecting steady rather than exceptional demand.

    Bradford County's housing market moves at a measured pace. Listings go to pending in around 62 days on average, more than three times Pennsylvania's statewide median of 20 days, reflecting low transaction volume and limited buyer competition in this rural market. With roughly 109 active listings countywide, buyers generally have time to conduct thorough research before committing.

    According to Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED), approximately 26% of Bradford County households spend 30% or more of their income on housing costs (ACS 5-year estimate). With a county median household income of around $57,000, housing affordability pressures are most pronounced among lower-income renters in the county's borough centers.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records

    All official land records in Bradford County are maintained by the Bradford County Register and Recorder's Office, a combined office responsible for both the Recorder of Deeds and Register of Wills functions under one elected official. The Recorder of Deeds division handles all real property documents. The office is located at the Bradford County Courthouse in Towanda.

    Remote access to Bradford County's recorded documents is available through Landex, the fee-based platform used by many Pennsylvania counties. Two access tiers are available: Landex Remote (a Windows-based subscription service with time- and page-based billing, suited for frequent searchers) and Landex WebStore (a browser-based, pay-per-document option for occasional use on both Windows and Mac). The deed and mortgage index is currently available online from 1970 to the present; scanning of earlier records is ongoing. The office also offers a free Record Alert service that notifies property owners whenever a document is recorded in their name.

    What Bradford County Property Records Include

    Bradford County property records are the official documents that document real estate ownership, financial encumbrances, and land use rights throughout the county. The Recorder of Deeds division maintains deeds, mortgages, powers of attorney, satisfaction pieces, assignments and releases of mortgages, oil and gas leases, ordinances, liens, easements, subdivision plans approved by the Bradford County Planning Commission, and military discharge records.

    The specific inclusion of oil and gas leases as a named category is significant. Bradford County sits atop the Marcellus Shale formation and has been one of Pennsylvania's most active natural gas-producing counties.

    A meaningful portion of the recorded documents in this county relate to mineral rights, gas lease filings, assignments, and release documents that any researcher conducting a thorough title examination should include in their search.

    Pennsylvania uses a recorded land title system across all 67 counties. Documents are recorded in the order received, assigned a book and page number, and indexed by grantor, grantee, name, date, location, parcel number, and instrument type. All recorded instruments are public records, except Veterans' Discharge documents.

    The deed and mortgage index is available through Landex from 1970 to the present; earlier records are held physically at the courthouse and are being progressively digitized. Subdivision plans approved by the Bradford County Planning Commission are also recorded in this office.

    How to Access Bradford County Property Records

    Bradford County property records can be accessed through Landex online, in person at the courthouse, by phone or fax, by mail, or through e-recording.

    Online Access (Fee-Based via Landex)

    Recorded documents are accessible remotely through Landex. Searches can be conducted by name, date, location, parcel number, and instrument type. The index covers records from 1970 to the present. Choose Landex Remote for frequent subscription-based access or Landex WebStore for occasional pay-per-document searches. Account setup is required for both.

    In Person

    Visitors may search records and request copies at the courthouse. Staff can assist with navigation but cannot conduct title searches or provide legal advice.

    • Address: Bradford County Courthouse, 301 Main Street, Towanda, PA 18848.

    • Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Copy fees: $0.25 per page (self-made); $0.50 per page (staff-made); $2.00 per page (fax).

    By Phone or Email

    Reach the office at (570) 265-1702, fax (570) 265-1721, or email bcregrec@bradfordcountypa.gov. Staff can assist with recording requirements, fee schedules, and general inquiries.

    By Mail/Overnight

    Documents for recording may be mailed to Bradford County Register and Recorder, Bradford County Courthouse, 301 Main Street, Towanda, PA 18848. Include the appropriate fees with your submission. The office processes mail-in recording packages in approximately three business days: each instrument is received, scanned, proofed, verified, and then returned by mail.

    E-Recording (Professionals)

    Bradford County supports e-recording for authorized professional submitters. Contact the Register and Recorder's Office at (570) 265-1702 for information on approved vendors and setup requirements.

    What's Not at the Recorder's Office (But Matters for Property Research)

    The Register and Recorder's Office holds recorded title instruments but does not maintain assessed values, parcel characteristics, tax records, or exemption data. These are managed by a separate office.

    The Bradford County Assessment Office, led by Chief Assessor Colleen Klein, maintains uniform and fair market values on over 36,000 properties countywide and certifies deeds before they are recorded. Public access to assessment records is available online at Bradford County, PA Online Assessment Database (registration required), with additional information at Bradford County Property Record System. The Assessment Office is located at the Bradford County Courthouse, 301 Main Street, Towanda.

    Current and historical mill rates for all Bradford County municipalities are published on the county website. For statewide tax data and local government finance statistics, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) is the authoritative resource.

    Step-by-Step: How to Pull a Deed Online

    Bradford County's records are accessible through Landex on a subscription or pay-per-use basis. Here are the steps:

    • Visit Landex.com and choose Landex Remote (subscription) or Landex WebStore (pay-per-document). Create an account and select Bradford County, Pennsylvania.

    • Search by grantor/grantee name, recording date, location, parcel number, or instrument type. The index covers records from 1970 to the present. For records before 1970, contact the office directly at (570) 265-1702.

    • Review results and select the relevant instrument to view document details, including book and page number, recording date, and parties involved.

    • Purchase and download the document. Note the book and page number and recording date for your chain-of-title research.

    • For certified copies, submit a written request by mail to 301 Main Street, Towanda, PA 18848, with the appropriate fee. Include the book and page number if known.

    Cities & Towns in Bradford County (and Their Record Custodians)

    The Bradford County Register and Recorder's Office is the single official custodian of recorded property documents for all 54 incorporated municipalities in Bradford County. The county has no incorporated cities; all municipalities are boroughs and townships:

    • Boroughs: Alba, Athens, Burlington, Canton, LeRaysville, Monroe, New Albany, Rome, Sayre, South Waverly, Sylvania, Towanda (county seat), Troy, Wyalusing, and Wysox.

    • Townships: Albany, Armenia, Asylum, Athens, Burlington, Canton, Columbia, Franklin, Granville, Herrick, LeRoy, Litchfield, Monroe, North Towanda, Orwell, Overton, Pike, Ridgebury, Rome, Sheshequin, Smithfield, South Creek, Springfield, Standing Stone, Stevens, Terry, Towanda, Troy, Tuscarora, Ulster, Warren, Wells, West Burlington, Wilmot, Windham, Wyalusing, and Wysox.

    All instruments affecting real property in any of these municipalities are recorded with and retrievable from the single Register and Recorder's Office at the Bradford County Courthouse.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    Property assessments in Bradford County are handled centrally by the Assessment Office, not by individual municipalities. The office maintains market value assessments for over 36,000 parcels and administers the Clean and Green farmland preservation program as well as homestead and farmstead databases for local school districts.

    Property owners and researchers can access assessment data online (registration required). Annual mill rates for all municipalities, a tax collector's list, and appeal forms are available at the Assessment Office. For statewide tax data, consult the Pennsylvania DCED.

    Bradford County-Specific Nuances

    • Oil and gas leases are a recorded instrument category. Bradford County sits atop the Marcellus Shale and has been among Pennsylvania's leading natural gas producers. Oil and gas leases, assignments, and releases are explicitly listed as recorded instruments in this county.

    Anyone conducting a title search here should include a gas lease review, these documents can affect mineral rights and surface access in ways that may not appear in a deed-only search.

    • Assessment Office certifies deeds before recording. A distinctive step in Bradford County's recording workflow: the Assessment Office certifies deeds before recording them with the Register and Recorder. Submitters should factor this into their process and confirm requirements with both offices.

    • Parcel number mandatory on the face of every document. All documents submitted for recording must display the parcel number typed or written on the instrument itself. Documents missing the parcel number will not be accepted.

    • Legibility standard enforced. The office applies a plain legibility rule: if a document cannot be read clearly, it will not be recorded. This applies to any instrument that would produce a poor scan image.

    • Certificate of Residence requires an original signature. All deeds, mortgages, assignments of mortgage, and land contracts must include a Certificate of Residence with an original handwritten signature. Rubber stamps are explicitly prohibited.

    • Three-day mail-in turnaround. Mail-in recording packages are processed in approximately three business days. Each instrument is received, scanned, proofed, verified, and returned.

    • Online index from 1970; earlier records are being scanned. Landex provides access to the deed and mortgage index from 1970 to the present. Scanning of earlier records is ongoing. For pre-1970 research, direct contact with the office or an in-person visit is required.

    • Free Record Alert service. Property owners can register up to five names for free email or text notifications through Landex's Record Alert system.

    • Bordering two counties named Tioga. Bradford County is one of a very small number of U.S. counties that border two separate counties with the same name in different states. Tioga County in New York to the north, and Tioga County in Pennsylvania to the west. This geographic nuance can occasionally be relevant when researching historical land grants or early-period deeds.

    Typical Contents of a Bradford County Property Record

    When reviewing official property records at the Bradford County Register and Recorder's Office, you will typically encounter instruments containing:

    • Deeds:

      • Grantor and grantee names.

      • Full legal description of the property.

      • Parcel number on the face of the instrument.

      • Consideration amount.

      • Certificate of Residence with original signature.

      • Prior book and page references.

      • Acknowledgment details: notary signature, stamp, and expiration date.

      • Type of deed (warranty, quitclaim, trustee, etc.).

    • Mortgages and Discharges:

      • Lender and borrower names.

      • Principal loan amount, interest rate, and repayment terms.

      • Book and page reference and recording date.

      • Satisfaction, release, or partial release when paid off.

      • Assignments of mortgage to another lender.

    • Oil and Gas Leases:

      • Lessor and lessee names.

      • Description of the leased premises and total acreage.

      • Lease term, royalty rates, and any bonus provisions.

      • Assignments and releases of lease interests.

    • Plans and Maps:

      • Subdivision plans as approved by the Bradford County Planning Commission.

      • Lot references, boundary dimensions, and adjoining property information.

    • Encumbrances and Notices:

      • Easements and rights-of-way.

      • Mechanics' liens and judgment liens.

      • Lis pendens (notice of pending litigation).

      • Restrictive covenants and land use agreements.

    Additional documents may include powers of attorney for real estate transactions, ordinances, and genealogically significant records such as birth and death certificates from 1893 through 1905, which are also held by this office.

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

    All new deeds, mortgages, lien filings, satisfactions, releases, oil and gas leases, assignments, and other instruments affecting title to real property in Bradford County must be recorded with the Register and Recorder's Office. Submissions may be made in person, by mail, or through approved e-recording vendors.

    In-person submissions are accepted Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Bradford County Courthouse, 301 Main Street, Towanda, PA 18848.

    Every document submitted must satisfy these requirements: the parcel number must appear on the face of the instrument; the document must be fully legible and suitable for imaging; all signatures must be original; and deeds, mortgages, assignments, and land contracts must include a Certificate of Residence with an original handwritten signature.

    Additionally, deeds are certified by the Bradford County Assessment Office before recording. Submitters should confirm this step with both offices before presenting documents.

    Pennsylvania's standard 2% realty transfer tax applies to most deed transactions (1% state, 1% collected on behalf of local school districts and municipalities). A Statement of Value is required when the full consideration is not stated on the deed or when a transfer tax exemption is claimed. For current fee schedules, visit Register & Recorder or call (570) 265-1702.

    Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

    Here is a practical approach for researching property records in Bradford County, PA:

    • Confirm the parcel number. All recorded instruments must carry the parcel number on their face. Obtain it through the Assessment Office at Bradford County, PA, the Online Assessment Database, or epaymentnow.

    • Search recorded documents via Landex. Visit Landex.com. Search by name, date, location, parcel number, or instrument type. The index runs from 1970 to the present; for earlier records, contact the office directly.

    • Record key reference numbers. Note the book and page number, instrument type, and recording date for each relevant document.

    • Trace the chain of title. Follow prior book and page references on the current deed backward through time to confirm all legal transfers and identify any gaps or encumbrances.

    • Search oil and gas lease filings. For Bradford County properties, include a specific review of oil and gas leases, assignments, and releases in your search. These can affect mineral rights and surface access.

    • Review plans and encumbrances. Check for recorded subdivision plans, easements, rights-of-way, liens, lis pendens notices, and restrictive covenants.

    • Verify parcel data with the Assessment Office. Cross-reference findings with the Assessment Office to confirm assessed value, ownership details, and tax status.

    Appendix A: Municipalities in Bradford County

    Bradford County, PA, has 17 boroughs and 37 townships, for a total of 54 incorporated municipalities. There are no incorporated cities.

    • Boroughs: Alba, Athens, Burlington, Canton, LeRaysville, Monroe, New Albany, Rome, Sayre, South Waverly, Sylvania, Towanda (county seat), Troy, Wyalusing, and Wysox.

    • Townships: Albany, Armenia, Asylum, Athens, Burlington, Canton, Columbia, Franklin, Granville, Herrick, LeRoy, Litchfield, Monroe, North Towanda, Orwell, Overton, Pike, Ridgebury, Rome, Sheshequin, Smithfield, South Creek, Springfield, Standing Stone, Stevens, Terry, Towanda, Troy, Tuscarora, Ulster, Warren, Wells, West Burlington, Wilmot, Windham, Wyalusing, and Wysox.

    Municipality list per Wikipedia and Bradford County GenWeb.

    Appendix B: Key Contacts & Portals

    • Bradford County Register and Recorder's Office (Recorder of Deeds):

        • Address: Bradford County Courthouse, 301 Main Street, Towanda, PA 18848.

        • Phone: (570) 265-1702 | Fax: (570) 265-1721.

      • Email: bcregrec@bradfordcountypa.gov.

      • Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

      • Website: Register & Recorder

    • Landex (Online Property Records – Fee-Based; Index from 1970):

      • Website: landex.com

      • Landex Remote: subscription for frequent searchers.

      • Landex WebStore: pay-per-document for occasional use.

    • Record Alert Sign-Up (Free):

    • Bradford County Assessment Office:

    • Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED):

      • Website: dced.pa.gov

      • Use for statewide millage rates, municipal finance data, and local government statistics.

    • Bradford County Official Website: