Fulton County, PA Property Records

    Fulton County has just over 14,000 residents, making it the fourth-least populous county in Pennsylvania. Its county seat is McConnellsburg Borough, a community of roughly 1,000 people situated along US 522 and US 30 in the center of the county.

    The county is one of the most purely rural in Pennsylvania, with no urban or suburban clusters. The county shares borders with Maryland to the south, Franklin County to the east, Huntingdon County to the north, and Bedford County to the west. Interstate 70 cuts through the western portion of the county on its way from Pennsylvania to Maryland and ultimately Baltimore. The county is traversed by US 30 (the Lincoln Highway), running east–west, and by US 522, running north–south through McConnellsburg.

    Fulton is also one of only two Pennsylvania counties with no active railroad lines of any kind, the other being Sullivan County in the north. The unfinished tunnels of the South Pennsylvania Railroad, a never-completed 19th-century rail project, are embedded in the landscape but have never carried freight or passengers. No municipal police department operates anywhere in the county; the Pennsylvania State Police provide all law enforcement.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records

    Recorded land documents in Fulton County are the responsibility of the Fulton County Prothonotary, an elected official who simultaneously holds five offices: Prothonotary, Clerk of Courts, Recorder of Deeds, Register of Wills, and Clerk of Orphans' Court. The current officeholder is Stephanie Sherman.

    The office is located at the Fulton County Courthouse, 201 N. Second Street, McConnellsburg, PA 17233. All deed, mortgage, and related recording functions are carried out through this single office. When calling or emailing, specify that your inquiry relates to the Recorder of Deeds function so staff can route it appropriately within the multi-function office.

    What Fulton County Property Records Include

    The Recorder of Deeds function within the Prothonotary's office maintains all instruments affecting real property in Fulton County: deeds, mortgages, satisfactions/releases, assignments, easements, rights-of-way, powers of attorney, agreements, leases, subdivision and survey maps, and other property-related instruments. Military discharge papers (DD-214s) are also recorded and held confidentially.

    Pennsylvania uses a recorded land title system statewide; there is no Torrens registration anywhere in the Commonwealth. Documents are time-stamped, indexed, and assigned book and page numbers upon recording. The online Infocon County Access system provides remote access to the indexed records.

    Fulton County's rural character means that agricultural land, timberland, hunting tracts, and undeveloped mountain ridgeland make up a large share of recorded real estate transactions. Deed descriptions in older chains of title may rely on metes-and-bounds descriptions referencing natural features that have changed over time. A licensed surveyor may be needed to locate boundary lines on older rural parcels.

    How to Access Fulton County Property Records

    Records can be accessed via Infocon County Access online, in person at the courthouse, by phone or email, or by mail. E-recording is not currently available in Fulton County.

    Online Access (Infocon County Access Fee-Based)

    Fulton County uses the Infocon County Access system for online deed access. There is a setup fee and ongoing usage fees. Researchers can search by party names, instrument numbers, book and page references, and other categorizations.

    In Person

    Researchers may visit the Prothonotary's office at the courthouse during regular hours. Address: Fulton County Courthouse, 201 N. Second Street, McConnellsburg, PA 17233. Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Payment: Cash, check, or money order; Copies: $0.50 per page; $5.00 flat fee for certified copies.

    By Phone/Email

    Call (717) 485-4212 or email prothonotary@co.fulton.pa.us during office hours. Specify that your inquiry concerns the Recorder of Deeds function.

    By Mail/Overnight

    Mail documents or record requests to Fulton County Prothonotary, Fulton County Courthouse, 201 N. Second Street, McConnellsburg, PA 17233. Include appropriate fees and a self-addressed return envelope.

    E-Recording

    E-recording is not currently available in Fulton County. Documents must be submitted in person or by mail. Confirm the current status with the office at (717) 485-4212 in case this has changed.

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

    All five courthouse functions (Prothonotary, Clerk of Courts, Recorder of Deeds, Register of Wills, and Clerk of Orphans' Court) are handled by the same office. Assessment and tax data, however, are maintained separately by the Fulton County Assessment Office, whose data can be accessed online (property owners can use a free notice-based login to view their own property; general public access is available on a pay-per-access basis).

    Free GIS tax maps are available without charge at the county's online portal. Zoning is administered at the municipal level; Fulton County has no county-wide zoning ordinance. For each parcel, contact the relevant township supervisors or borough officials to determine applicable zoning, if any. Several of Fulton County's townships may have limited or no formal zoning given the county's sparse population and predominantly agricultural/forested land use.

    For statewide millage and municipal finance data, consult the Pennsylvania DCED. For boundary questions on rural parcels, a licensed surveyor familiar with the county's ridge-and-valley terrain is often necessary.

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

    Fulton County uses the Infocon County Access platform. Here are the steps:

    • Go to infoconcountyaccess.com and select Fulton County.

    • Create an account and pay the setup fee. Review the FAQ pricing page on the Infocon site for current fee details.

    • Search by grantor/grantee name, instrument type, book and page, or instrument number.

    • Select a result to view the index entry and associated document image.

    • For records not accessible online or for certified copies, contact the Prothonotary's office at (717) 485-4212 or prothonotary@co.fulton.pa.us.

    • For assessment data and parcel information, use courthouseonline.com or the county's free GIS tax map tool.

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

    All recorded property documents for every municipality in Fulton County are maintained by the single Fulton County Prothonotary/Recorder of Deeds office in McConnellsburg. The county has 13 incorporated municipalities: 2 boroughs and 11 townships.

    • Boroughs: McConnellsburg and Valley-Hi.

    • Townships: Ayr, Belfast, Bethel, Brush Creek, Dublin, Licking Creek, Taylor, Thompson, Todd, Union, and Wells.

    Municipality list per county website (co.fulton.pa.us/municipalities.php) and Wikipedia.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    Property assessments are administered at the county level by the Fulton County Assessment Office. Assessment data is accessible online (free for property owners using their notice login; pay-per-access for general searches). Free GIS-based tax maps are available.

    For local tax information, municipal tax collectors operate at the township and borough level. Contact the relevant municipality for the current tax collector's contact information. Statewide financial data is available from the PA DCED.

    Fulton County-Specific Nuances

    • Five-function office: Prothonotary Clerk of Courts, Recorder, Register of Wills, Clerk of Orphans' Court. Stephanie Sherman holds all five of these offices simultaneously. Researchers should be aware that

    • All property recording, civil court filings, criminal court records, estate probating, and Orphans' Court matters funnel through one office and one staff;

    • Call volume during busy periods may be higher;

    • If visiting in person for Recorder of Deeds research, let staff know which function you need.

    • No e-recording available. E-recording is not currently available in Fulton County. All documents must be submitted in person or by mail.

    • Fulton County uses the same Infocon County Access platform as Clarion, Clinton, and Forest counties. The platform requires an account with a setup fee and has ongoing usage costs; pricing details are on the Infocon site's FAQ page. Researchers familiar with Infocon from other PA counties will recognize the interface.

    • 100% rural county, no urban areas. The Census Bureau categorizes 100% of Fulton County's population as living in rural areas. This is significant for property research: standard comparable searches, online valuation tools, and MLS-based market analyses will return sparse or unreliable results.

    There is no county-level ZHVI from Zillow; transaction volumes are typically fewer than 100 per year countywide. A local appraiser or title searcher with specific Fulton County experience is particularly valuable here.

    • No active railroad, one of only two such counties in Pennsylvania. Fulton County has no active railroad lines of any kind, sharing this distinction only with Sullivan County. Infrastructure-related easements in Fulton County tend to be highway, utility, and pipeline-based rather than rail.

    • Cash, check, or money order only. The Prothonotary's office does not accept credit or debit cards. Plan accordingly when visiting in person or submitting by mail.

    • Rural metes-and-bounds descriptions are often needed by surveyors. Many older deed descriptions in Fulton County reference natural features (streams, ridge lines, trees, rocks) that may have changed over the course of a century or more. For rural parcels with older title chains, a licensed surveyor familiar with the local terrain is frequently necessary to establish boundary lines. Do not assume that a legal description alone is sufficient to locate a parcel on the ground.

    • All areas use the Pennsylvania State Police. No municipal police department operates anywhere in Fulton County. The PSP provides all law enforcement. This does not affect property recording, but it reflects the county's minimal governmental infrastructure, which also means fewer local zoning and code-enforcement resources.

    • No county zoning is entirely municipal (and may not exist in some townships). Fulton County has no county-level zoning ordinance. Zoning, if any, is administered by individual townships and boroughs. Given the county's sparse population and agricultural/forested character, some townships may have no formal zoning at all. Before purchasing or developing, confirm directly with the relevant municipality whether any zoning ordinance applies to the specific parcel.

    Typical Contents of a Fulton County Property Record

    When reviewing official property records at the Fulton County Prothonotary / Recorder of Deeds office, you will typically find instruments containing:

    • Deeds:

      • Grantor and grantee names.

      • Legal description (often metes-and-bounds for rural parcels).

      • Consideration amount (or Statement of Value for exempt or unstated transactions).

      • Certificate of Residence for the grantee.

      • UPI/parcel identifier.

      • Notarial acknowledgment.

    • Mortgages and Releases:

      • Lender/borrower names, loan terms, and property description.

      • Satisfaction pieces and mortgage releases.

    • Other Instruments:

      • Easements and rights-of-way (highway, utility, pipeline).

      • Powers of attorney.

      • Agreements and installment sales contracts.

      • Survey and subdivision maps.

      • Leases.

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

    All new deeds, mortgages, easements, and other instruments affecting real property in Fulton County must be recorded with the Prothonotary Recorder of Deeds office. Submissions must be made in person or by mail; e-recording is not available.

    Before submitting, ensure the document includes the UPI/parcel identifier (required for real estate transactions; $20 fee). Pennsylvania's standard 2% Realty Transfer Tax (1% state + 1% local) applies to most deed transactions. Include a Certificate of Residence for the grantee.

    A Statement of Value is required when consideration is not stated or an exemption is claimed. Submit in person or by mail with payment by cash, check, or money order. Include a self-addressed return envelope for mail submissions.

    Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

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

    • Search records online via Infocon. Go to infoconcountyaccess.com and select Fulton County. Requires a setup fee and an account.

    • For in-person research, visit the courthouse. 201 N. Second Street, McConnellsburg; M–F 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Bring cash or a check.

    • Look up assessment and parcel data. Use courthouseonline.com (pay-per-access) or the free GIS tax map tool.

    • For rural parcels, consider engaging a local surveyor. Older deed descriptions in this county often use metes-and-bounds referencing natural features that may have changed. A surveyor's field review is frequently needed.

    • Verify municipal zoning (if any). Contact the specific township or borough. Some municipalities may have no zoning ordinance.

    • Check for delinquent taxes. Contact the Fulton County Tax Claim Bureau.

    • Confirm that your parcel is in Fulton County. The county's ridge-and-valley terrain can make boundary counties ambiguous. If there is any uncertainty, verify with the Assessment Office before filing a recording.

    Appendix A: Municipalities in Fulton County

    Fulton County has 13 incorporated municipalities: 2 boroughs and 11 townships.†

    • Boroughs: McConnellsburg and Valley-Hi.

    • Townships: Ayr, Belfast, Bethel, Brush Creek, Dublin, Licking Creek, Taylor, Thompson, Todd, Union, and Wells.

    Per the county website (co.fulton.pa.us/municipalities.php).

    Appendix B: Key Contacts & Portals