Lawrence County, PA Property Records

    Approximately 84,472 residents are in Lawrence County. The county seat and only city of comparable size is New Castle, located along the Shenango River in the county's commercial and governmental center.

    The county's economy built itself on steel, pottery, and manufacturing through the 19th and 20th centuries. New Castle was once known as a major producer of tinplate and porcelain enamelware and has experienced the same post-industrial transition as much of the Greater Pittsburgh corridor. Westminster College in New Wilmington, a liberal arts institution founded in 1852, is a notable presence in the county's northeastern corner.

    The county is one of the 423 counties served by the Appalachian Regional Commission. Major waterways include the Shenango River, Neshannock Creek, and the Mahoning River, which together form the Beaver River downstream. Lawrence County borders Ohio to the west, making it one of the county's defining geographic features.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records

    The official custodian of all land records in Lawrence County is the Lawrence County Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds, a combined elected office. The elected official is Tammy R. Crawford. The office is located at the Lawrence County Government Center, 430 Court Street (Mail Level), New Castle, PA 16101-3503.

    Online records from approximately 1970 to the present are accessible through two portals: a quick cloud search and the full CountyFusion (Kofiletech) system for searching, viewing, and printing documents. E-recording is available. Records in the office date back to the formation of Lawrence County in 1849.

    What Lawrence County Property Records Include

    The Recorder of Deeds maintains all instruments affecting real property within the county. Recorded document types include deeds (warranty, quitclaim, correction, trustee, personal representative, and mineral deeds), mortgages, mortgage satisfactions, releases, assignments, subordinations, easements and rights-of-way, installment land contracts, memoranda of agreement, oil and gas leases, condominium declarations and codes of regulation, subdivision plans, powers of attorney, UCC financing statements, orders of court, ordinances, and notary and official commissions.

    Pennsylvania uses a recorded land title system statewide. Documents are indexed by grantor/grantee name, instrument number, and book and page reference upon recording. Parcel ID numbers (called “Control Numbers” in the County Assessment Office) are required on all recorded documents and must be certified at $20.00 per parcel before recording. The county's Common Level Ratio (CLR) is 1.97 for the July 2025–June 2026 assessment year, a figure used in Statement of Value calculations.

    Lawrence County's manufacturing and industrial heritage means that title chains for New Castle properties and former industrial sites may include legacy instruments, such as easements, rights-of-way, and recorded plans from 19th- and early-20th-century industrial operations. Researchers studying former industrial parcels should allow additional time for searching pre-1970 records, which are available only in the office.

    How to Access Lawrence County Property Records

    Records can be accessed online via the Quick Cloud Search or CountyFusion, in person at the Government Center, by phone, by mail, or via e-recording.

    Online Access

    Lawrence County offers two online access paths. The quick cloud search provides a fast public index search. The CountyFusion (Kofiletech) system offers full search, view, and print functionality for records from approximately 1970 to the present. For pre-1970 records, in-person research at the office is required.

    In Person

    • Address: 430 Court Street (Mail Level), New Castle, PA 16101. Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (closed holidays), copies: $0.50 per page; certified copy: $0.50/page + $1.50 certification fee; blue-backed certified copy: an additional $5.00 on top of certification charges. In-person records are available from 1849 (county formation) to the present.

    By Phone

    Call (724) 656-2128 during office hours. The fee schedule explicitly instructs submitters to call before recording to confirm the total fee, as surcharges and Parcel ID fees make the final amount variable.

    By Mail

    Mail documents and payment to Lawrence County Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds, 430 Court Street, New Castle, PA 16101. A self-addressed stamped envelope is required for the return of recorded documents; a $2.00 postage/handling fee is added if no SASE is included.

    E-Recording

    E-recording is available. Contact the e-recording vendors listed on the county website (see the “eRecording Deeds” link). Confirm current vendors directly with the office at (724) 656-2128 before submitting electronically for the first time.

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

    The Register of Wills function is combined with the Recorder of Deeds in the same office, so estate and probate records are accessible through the same elected official. Note, however, that marriage licenses in Lawrence County are handled by the Prothonotary's Office, not the Register of Wills. Contact the Prothonotary at (724) 658-2541 for marriage license inquiries.

    Property assessments and Parcel ID (Control Number) certification are administered by the Lawrence County Assessment Office at the Government Center. The Tax Claim Office handles delinquent taxes.

    Zoning is administered at the municipal level for incorporated municipalities and through the Lawrence County Planning & Community Development Department at (724) 656-2144 for unincorporated areas. Court-filed liens and judgments are maintained by the Prothonotary's Office separately. For statewide financial data, consult the Pennsylvania DCED.

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

    Lawrence County offers two online routes:

    • Quick search: Go to lawrence.pa.publicsearch.us for a fast public index search.

    • Full access (view and print): Go to countyfusion1.kofiletech.us and log in. Search by grantor/grantee name, document type, Parcel ID, municipality, recorded date range, document number, or book/page reference.

    • Review index results and locate the instrument. The CountyFusion system allows viewing and printing of document images from approximately 1970 to the present.

    • Notebook and page references for all related instruments, satisfactions, assignments, and releases.

    • For pre-1970 records or certified copies, contact the office at (724) 656-2128 or visit in person at 430 Court Street

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

    All recorded property documents for every municipality in Lawrence County are maintained by the single Lawrence County Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds in New Castle.

    • Selected Boroughs: Bessemer, Enon Valley, New Beaver, New Wilmington, Pulaski, Volant, Wampum, and others.

    • Selected Townships: Beaver, Big Beaver, Mahoning, Mercer, Neshannock, North Beaver, Perry, Plain Grove, Pulaski, Scott, Shenango, Slippery Rock, Taylor, Union, Washington, and Wilmington.

    • Recent boundary change: South New Castle Borough was annexed by Shenango Township effective January 1, 2026. If researching properties in that area, confirm the current jurisdiction. Pre-annexation records for South New Castle Borough remain in the Recorder's index under that name.

    Municipality list per Wikipedia and county sources. Confirm the current list (including post-annexation status) at lawrencecountypa.gov.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    Property assessments are administered at the county level by the Lawrence County Assessment Office at 430 Court Street, which also issues Parcel ID (Control Number) certifications. The Lawrence County Tax Claim Office handles delinquent tax proceedings.

    The Lawrence County Planning & Community Development Department at (724) 656-2144 provides zoning and land-use assistance for unincorporated areas and can direct inquiries for incorporated municipalities.

    Note: Ellwood City straddles the Lawrence–Beaver county line. Properties within the Ellwood City area may be recorded at either Lawrence County's or Beaver County's Recorder of Deeds, depending on which side of the boundary the parcel falls. Always confirm the county of record before ordering documents or preparing a recording for an Ellwood City address.

    Lawrence County-Specific Nuances

    • The deed recording fee is $86.75, notably higher than most PA counties. Lawrence County's base deed recording fee is $86.75. Most PA counties charge $58.75–$80.75 for a standard deed (4 pages, 4 names). Mortgages, correction deeds, re-recordings, amendments, and modifications also carry the $86.75 rate. Budget accordingly and confirm the current total fee by calling (724) 656-2128 before submitting.

    • $15.00 Demolition Fund surcharge on deeds and mortgages. Per Act 152 of 2016, Lawrence County imposes a $15.00 Demolition Fund surcharge on applicable instruments to fund demolition of blighted and abandoned structures in the county and to reflect the post-industrial vacancy challenges in New Castle and surrounding communities.

    Combined with the $3.50 Affordable Housing surcharge (Act 137 of 1992/Ordinance No. 3 of 2016), these surcharges add $18.50 to the recording cost of affected instruments beyond the base fee.

    • Parcel ID (Control Number) must be certified before recording, $20.00 per parcel. Lawrence County refers to its parcel identifier as the “Control Number” in the Assessment Office. The Parcel ID Certification fee is $20.00 per parcel (per Resolution R-2023-481). This certification must be obtained before presenting a document for recording. For a power of attorney to transfer a specific piece of real estate, the fee is $20.00 plus $10 for each parcel ID.

    • Call before recording the fee schedule; it explicitly says so. The fee schedule itself instructs submitters to “PLEASE CALL BEFORE RECORDING TO GET TOTAL FEE” at (724) 656-2128. With the Demolition Fund surcharge, Affordable Housing surcharge, Parcel ID fees, AOPC/JCS fees, and variable additional-page charges, the total can be difficult to calculate independently. This is not boilerplate; it is a direct operational instruction from the office.

    • No blanket assignments or blanket releases. Lawrence County does not accept blanket assignments or blanket releases. Special fees may be charged for exceptions. This is particularly relevant for lenders and servicers who commonly use blanket instruments to release or assign multiple mortgages in a single filing. Each transaction must be handled on an instrument-by-instrument basis.

    • $5.00 rejection fee, no refunds under $5.00; overages go to the county. A $5.00 rejection fee is charged on all documents that are returned for failure to meet recording requirements. The office makes no refunds under $5.00 (because the rejection fee would consume them); fee overages above what was owed are turned over to the county general fund rather than refunded. Submit the correct fees the first time.

    • CountyFusion (Kofiletech) same Kofile platform as Bedford and Elk counties. Different URL. Lawrence County's full-document search portal uses Kofiletech CountyFusion. The URL structure differs: Lawrence uses countyfusion1.kofiletech.us with the county name parameter “Lawrence.” A second, lighter portal provides a quick cloud search of the index.

    • South New Castle Borough annexed by Shenango Township as of January 1, 2026: This municipal boundary change affects property research: parcels formerly in South New Castle Borough are now part of Shenango Township for governance and zoning purposes. However, all historically recorded instruments for those parcels remain in the Recorder's index under the South New Castle Borough designation. When preparing new recording documents for these properties, use Shenango Township as the municipality. Confirm the current jurisdiction with the Assessment Office if uncertain.

    • Ellwood City straddles the Lawrence-Beaver county line: Ellwood City Borough is split between Lawrence and Beaver counties. Properties with Ellwood City addresses may be recorded at either county's Recorder, depending on the parcel location. Title searches and new recordings for Ellwood City properties require confirmation of the county of record first.

    Typical Contents of a Lawrence County Property Record

    When reviewing recorded instruments at the Lawrence County Recorder of Deeds, you will typically find:

    • Deeds:

      • Grantor and grantee names.

      • Complete legal description of the property, including municipality and county.

      • For multi-municipality properties: transfer tax percentage applicable to each municipality.

      • Consideration amount or Statement of Value (with CLR of 1.97 for July 2025–June 2026).

      • Certificate of Residence for the grantee.

      • Parcel ID (Control Number) with certification.

      • Notarial acknowledgment (county, state, date, names, notary signature, stamp, expiration).

    • Mortgages and Related:

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

      • Satisfactions, releases (individually, no blanket releases accepted), assignments, subordinations.

    • Other Common Instruments:

      • Easements and rights-of-way.

      • Oil and gas leases.

      • Installment land contracts.

      • Condominium declarations and codes of regulation.

      • Subdivision plans.

      • Powers of attorney.

      • UCC financing statements.

      • Orders of court and ordinances.

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

    All new deeds, mortgages, easements, and other instruments affecting real property in Lawrence County must be recorded with the Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds. Submissions may be made in person, by mail, or via e-recording.

    Before submitting, obtain Parcel ID (Control Number) certification from the Assessment Office and include the certified number on the document. Pay the $20.00 per-parcel certification fee separately.

    Pennsylvania's 2% Realty Transfer Tax (1% state + 1% local) applies to most deed transactions. For multi-municipality properties, state the transfer tax percentage for each municipality on the face of the deed. Include a Statement of Value where consideration is not stated or an exemption is claimed (CLR 1.97).

    The base deed recording fee is $86.75 (4 pages, 4 names), plus the $15.00 Demolition Fund surcharge and $3.50 Affordable Housing surcharge on applicable instruments. A SASE is required; add $2.00 if none is enclosed. Blanket assignments and blanket releases are not accepted. A $5.00 rejection fee applies to returned documents. Call (724) 656-2128 before recording to confirm the total fee.

    Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

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

    • Search online. Start at the Lawrence County Recorder of Deeds for a quick index search, or go to the Lawrence County, Pennsylvania Recorder of Deeds Online Services for full document access (1970–present).

    • Notebook page references for all related instruments. Satisfactions, assignments, and releases are filed individually; no blanket instruments accepted.

    • For pre-1970 records, visit in person. Records from 1849 to approximately 1970 are available only at the office, 430 Court Street.

    • Check for South New Castle Borough records. If researching an area formerly in South New Castle Borough, search under the old borough name for historical instruments.

    • Confirm the Ellwood City parcel county of record. Ellwood City straddles Lawrence and Beaver counties. Verify which county holds the specific parcel before searching or recording.

    • Obtain Parcel ID (Control Number) certification. Contact the Lawrence County Assessment Office to certify the Control Number before any recording submission.

    • Check assessment data. Contact the Assessment Office for parcel value and characteristics. CLR is 1.97 (July 2025–June 2026).

    • Verify zoning. Contact municipal planning for incorporated municipalities; contact the county Planning & Community Development Department at (724) 656-2144 for unincorporated areas.

    • Check delinquent taxes. Contact the Lawrence County Tax Claim Office.

    • Call the office before recording to confirm the total fee. The office explicitly instructs this. Phone: (724) 656-2128. With Parcel ID fees, Demolition Fund surcharge, Affordable Housing surcharge, AOPC fees, and page/name adds, the total varies significantly by document.

    • Prepare documents. Parcel ID certified; no blanket assignments or releases; SASE or $2.00 handling; SOV with CLR 1.97; municipality stated; multi-municipality tax split stated; correct total fee. $5.00 rejection fee if returned.

    Appendix A: Municipalities in Lawrence County

    Lawrence County has 27 incorporated municipalities: 2 cities, 9 boroughs, and 16 townships. Note: South New Castle Borough was annexed by Shenango Township effective January 1, 2026.

    • Second City: Ellwood City, Lawrence County.

    • Selected Boroughs: Bessemer, Enon Valley, New Beaver, New Wilmington, Pulaski, Volant, Wampum, and others.

    • Selected Townships: Beaver, Big Beaver, Mahoning, Mercer, Neshannock, North Beaver, Perry, Plain Grove, Pulaski, Scott, Shenango, Slippery Rock, Taylor, Union, Washington, Wilmington.

    Municipality list per Wikipedia and county sources. Confirm the current list and boundary changes at lawrencecountypa.gov.

    Appendix B: Key Contacts & Portals

    E-Recording: