Elk County, PA Property Records

Elk County had a population of approximately 30,198, and the county seat is Ridgway Borough. The county's largest community is the City of St. Marys, which is roughly twice Ridgway's population and is a significant manufacturing center known for powder metallurgy, advanced materials (SGL Carbon, Domtar), and a deeply rooted Catholic culture.

Two features of Elk County are nationally distinctive. First, approximately 69% of residents identify as Roman Catholic, one of the highest proportions of any county in the United States, a legacy of the German and Italian immigration that built St. Mary's as a Catholic colony in 1842. Second, Elk County is home to Pennsylvania's free-roaming elk herd, the largest wild elk herd in the eastern United States. The elk herd draws significant ecotourism to Benezette Township each fall.

The typical home value in Elk County is approximately $98,665, up roughly 9.2% over the past year. With a homeownership rate of approximately 78.9% and a median household income of about $64,103, the housing cost burden here is among the lowest in Pennsylvania. The ACS indicates that only about 13% of households spend more than 30% of their income on housing.

Who Keeps the Official Land Records

All official land records in Elk County are maintained by the Elk County Register of Wills, Recorder of Deeds, and Clerk of Orphans' Court, a triple-function combined office handling land records, estate proceedings, Orphans' Court filings, marriage licenses, birth and death records (1893–1906), and guardianships under a single elected official. The current Register and Recorder is Lee A. Neureiter (elected since 2020), supported by First Deputy Angie Emmert, Second Deputy Chellie Updyke, and Third Deputy Danielle Butterfuss.

The office is located at the Elk County Courthouse, 250 Main Street, P.O. Box 314, Ridgway, PA 15853. All document records since 1843, except Military Discharges, are available for public inspection.

Online access to recorded deeds is available through the Kofiletech County Web portal. Deeds from 1864 to the present are searchable online. Deeds before 1864 must be searched in the office. Guest access is available (some information will be redacted); a registered account with a credit card allows full access and document printing at $0.50 per page. A Live Chat button is available at the bottom of the portal screen for vendor support.

E-recording is available through CSC (866-652-0111; erecording@cscglobal.com) and Simplifile. The office also offers FraudSleuth, a property fraud alert service for registered property owners. Important new requirement: the office has recently implemented an automated document stamping system. Every page of every document submitted for recording must now have a 1-inch top margin to avoid the stamp overwriting document text.

What Elk County Property Records Include

The Elk County Register and Recorder's Office maintains all instruments affecting real property within the county. Recorded documents include deeds, mortgages, leases, subdivisions, and other property-related documents. The office also maintains notary commissions and other non-property documents. It collects realty transfer taxes on behalf of the Commonwealth, local school districts, and municipalities, and distributes those taxes accordingly.

Pennsylvania uses a recorded land title system statewide. Documents are recorded in the order received and indexed for public retrieval. Elk County's records extend to 1843, the year the county was formed. The county's manufacturing and industrial character means that easements, rights-of-way, and deed restrictions tied to industrial operations in St. Marys, Johnsonburg, and Ridgway may appear in title chains alongside standard residential instruments.

The office also holds birth and death records from 1893 through 1906, and marriage records from 1885 to the present through the Clerk of Orphans' Court function. Military Discharges are maintained but not open to public inspection.

How to Access Elk County Property Records

Elk County property records can be accessed via the Kofiletech online portal, in person at the courthouse, by phone/email, by mail, or via e-recording (CSC and Simplifile).

Online Access (Kofiletech Portal, Guest or Registered)

The county's Kofiletech portal provides searchable access to deeds from 1864 to the present. Guest access is free, but returns redacted results. Registered accounts (linked to a credit card) provide full access and the ability to save or print documents at $0.50 per page. Use the Live Chat button for portal support. Deeds before 1864 must be searched in person at the office.

In Person

Visitors may search records at the Register and Recorder's Office using public terminals. Address: Elk County Courthouse, 250 Main Street, Ridgway, PA 15853, Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m, Copy fees: $0.50 per page.

By Phone/Email

Call (814) 776-5349 or email recorder@countyofelkpa.gov during office hours. The office cannot provide legal advice.

By Mail/Overnight

Mail documents for recording to Elk County Register and Recorder, 250 Main Street, P.O. Box 314, Ridgway, PA 15853. Include the appropriate fees and a self-addressed return envelope.

E-Recording

E-recording is available through CSC (866-652-0111, erecording@cscglobal.com; erecording.com) and Simplifile. Note for trust transactions: if the property is going into or out of a trust, a copy of the trust document must be included with the e-recording submission; it will be forwarded by the office to the PA Department of Revenue.

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

The Register and Recorder's Office holds recorded title instruments only. Assessed values and parcel data are maintained by the Elk County Assessment Office at the courthouse. GIS mapping and parcel data are maintained by the Elk County IT/GIS Department, which also provides map and data sales and maintains information on oil, gas, and Marcellus shale activity in the county.

Zoning is administered at the municipal level throughout Elk County. The Elk County Planning Department at (814) 776-5335 handles county-level planning and subdivision/land development matters. For statewide millage and finance data.

The City of St. Marys, as Elk County's only city and its largest community, maintains its own city administration, including city zoning, building permits, and local tax functions. Researchers working on St. Mary's properties should confirm which matters are handled at the city level versus the county level. Oil, gas, and Marcellus shale lease activity is also tracked at the county level through the IT/GIS Department.

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

Elk County uses the Kofiletech portal for online access to deeds. Here are the steps:

Visit countyfusion2.kofiletech.us/countyweb/loginDisplay.action?countyname=Elk. For basic index searches: log in as a guest (some document information will be redacted).
For full document access, printing, and saving: create a registered account linked to a credit card. Document copies cost $0.50 per page. Use the Live Chat button at the bottom of the screen for technical assistance.
Search by grantor/grantee name, recording date, document type, or other available criteria. Deeds from 1864 to the present are searchable online.
For deeds dated before 1864, visit the office in person at 250 Main Street, Ridgway, during regular hours.
For certified copies or questions about specific records, call (814) 776-5349 or email recorder@countyofelkpa.gov.

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

The Elk County Register and Recorder's Office is the single official custodian of recorded property documents for all 12 municipalities in Elk County, comprising 1 city, 2 boroughs, and 9 townships.

City: St. Marys (the county's most populous community; major manufacturing center; approximately 69% Catholic; named a Catholic colony by German immigrants in 1842).
Boroughs: Ridgway (county seat; courthouse location) and Johnsonburg (paper manufacturing heritage; along the Clarion River).
Townships: Benezette (primary elk-watching destination in the state), Fox, Highland, Horton, Jay, Jones, Millstone, Ridgway, and Spring Creek.

Municipality list by county, sources, and Wikipedia.

City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

Property assessments are handled centrally by the Elk County Assessment Office at the courthouse. Parcel and GIS data are available through the Elk County IT/GIS Department. Oil, gas, and Marcellus shale data are tracked separately.

St. Mary's City maintains its own zoning, building permits, and local tax administration. Ridgway Borough and Johnsonburg Borough each administer their own municipal functions. The Elk County Planning Department (814) 776-5335 handles county-level subdivision and land development review. For statewide data, consult the Pennsylvania DCED.

Elk County-Specific Nuances

New 1-inch top margin required on ALL document pages. Automated stamping system. The Elk County Recorder of Deeds has recently implemented an automated document stamping system. As a result, every page of every document submitted for recording must have a 1-inch top margin. This is a departure from many PA counties that only impose margin requirements on the first page, and it is a new requirement that practitioners accustomed to prior Elk County standards must update their templates to reflect.
State RTT requires its own separate check. When a deed is subject to Realty Transfer Tax, and payment is made by check, the state's 1% RTT portion must be on its own separate check. The local portion may be paid separately or in combination, but the state check must be distinct.

This is explicitly called out on the county's Recorder of Deeds page and differs from Crawford County (which accepts a single combined check) and most other small PA counties that also require two checks but don't specifically call out this separation.

E-filing trust transactions requires a copy of the trust document. When a deed goes into or out of a trust and is filed via e-recording, a copy of the trust document must be included as part of the submission. The Recorder's Office will forward the trust copy to the PA Department of Revenue. This requirement applies specifically to e-filed trust transactions and is not commonly flagged on county websites.
New fee schedule effective December 1, 2025. The Elk County Register and Recorder's Office updated its fee schedules for all three functions (Recorder of Deeds, Register of Wills, and Orphans' Court) effective December 1, 2025. Download the current Recorder of Deeds fee schedule before submitting documents.
The Kofiletech portal is the same platform as Bedford County. Elk County uses the Kofiletech County Web system for online deed access, the same platform used by Bedford County. Researchers who have used Kofiletech for Bedford County searches will find the interface familiar. Unlike Bedford County (which offers free unlimited access), Elk County charges $0.50/page for registered users to view and print full documents; guest access is free but returns partially redacted results.
In a triple combined office, one elected official handles three functions. Lee A. Neureiter is simultaneously the Register of Wills, Recorder of Deeds, and Clerk of Orphans' Court. When calling or visiting, specify which function your inquiry relates to.
Common Level Ratio updated July 1, 2025. The county has published updated CLR factors effective July 1, 2025. The CLR is used to compute assessed value adjustments when the assessed value is not equal to the market value, which affects Statement of Value calculations. Download current factors.
County seat, largest community. Ridgway Borough is the county seat and courthouse location, but the City of St. Marys, roughly 22 miles northeast, is the county's most populous community and its economic center. All recordings go to the Ridgway courthouse regardless of whether the property is in St. Marys or elsewhere in the county.
Oil, gas, and Marcellus shale lease activity. Elk County falls within the Marcellus and Utica shale formation areas of north-central Pennsylvania. Oil and gas leases, memoranda of leases, and related mineral instruments are recorded at the Register and Recorder's Office and are searchable through the online portal. The county IT/GIS Department also maintains a dedicated oil, gas, and Marcellus shale information page.

Typical Contents of an Elk County Property Record

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

Deeds:
- Grantor and grantee names.
- Full legal description of the property and municipality.
- Consideration amount.
- Certificate of Residence for the grantee.
- Notarial acknowledgment: state, county, date, person appearing, notary signature, seal, and expiration date. Acknowledgment date on or after execution date.
- Deed type (warranty, quitclaim, corrective, distribution, trustee, mineral, etc.).
Mortgages and Discharges:
- Lender and borrower names; loan amount and terms.
- Mortgage satisfactions, releases, and assignments.
Leases, Easements, and Plans:
- Leases, including oil and gas leases.
- Easements and rights-of-way.
- Subdivision plans.
Other Instruments:
- Notary public commissions.
- Miscellaneous documents affecting property title.

Recording Changes to Property Titles

All new deeds, mortgages, easements, leases, and other instruments affecting real property in Elk County must be recorded with the Register and Recorder's Office. Submissions are accepted in person, by mail, or via e-recording (CSC or Simplifile).

Every document must have a 1-inch top margin on every page, a recently implemented requirement due to the office's new automatic stamping system. Notarial acknowledgment must be formal, include all required elements, and have a date on or after the document's execution date.

Pennsylvania's standard 2% realty transfer tax applies to most deed transactions. When paying by check, the state RTT (1%) must be on its own separate check. For trust transactions submitted via e-recording, include a copy of the trust document with the submission it will be forwarded to the Department of Revenue.

New fee schedules took effect December 1, 2025; download the current schedule before submitting. The updated Common Level Ratio factors (effective July 1, 2025) are available at the county website for Statement of Value preparation.

Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

A practical approach for researching property records in Elk County, PA:

Search deeds online via Kofiletech. Visit Recorder of Deeds Online Services. Log in as a guest for index results or register for full document access ($0.50/page).
For deeds before 1864, visit the office in person. 250 Main Street, Ridgway, M–F, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Review assessment data. Contact the Elk County Assessment Office for parcel values and characteristics.
Check oil/gas leases if researching rural property. Search for recorded oil and gas leases and Marcellus shale instruments as part of a complete title review. See Oil, Gas & Marcellus Shale for county-level oil and gas data.
Review easements, subdivisions, and encumbrances. Industrial properties in St. Marys, Johnsonburg, and Ridgway may carry deed restrictions or easements tied to historic manufacturing operations.
Check delinquent tax status. Contact the Elk County Tax Claim Bureau.
Sign up for FraudSleuth. Register at Protect Your Property and Help Combat Fraud with FRAUDSLEUTH for property fraud monitoring.
Verify current fees and margin requirements before submitting. The new fee schedule (Dec 1, 2025) and a 1-inch top margin on all pages are both new. Download the current fee schedule before preparing submissions.

Appendix A: Municipalities in Elk County

Elk County has 1 city, 2 boroughs, and 9 townships, 12 incorporated municipalities in total.

City: St. Marys (largest community; manufacturing center; named a German Catholic colony in 1842; note: Benzinger Township was consolidated into St. Marys Borough in 1992 and subsequently became a city).
Boroughs: Ridgway (county seat) and Johnsonburg.
Townships: Benezette, Fox, Highland, Horton, Jay, Jones, Millstone, Ridgway, and Spring Creek.