Mifflin County, PA Property Records

Mifflin County has approximately 46,000 residents. The county seat is Lewistown, which anchors the Lewistown, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area. Located in the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachian region of central Pennsylvania, the county is defined geographically by its mountain ridges and the Juniata River corridor, with manufacturing and healthcare serving as its primary employment sectors.

The average home value in Mifflin County is $164,225, up a notable 8.8% over the past year; well below the Pennsylvania statewide average of approximately $286,351 and one of the more affordable markets in the state. Homes typically go pending in around 7 days, one of the fastest contract timelines in this series, reflecting a tight supply environment where buyer demand is quickly outpacing available inventory despite the county's modest income base.

According to Federal Reserve Economic Data, approximately 27–29% of Mifflin County households are cost-burdened, spending 30% or more of their income on housing, which is meaningful given the county's median household income of approximately $61,400. Property records are maintained at the county level by the Recorder of Deeds, with assessments and tax data handled through separate county offices.

Who Keeps the Official Land Records

The official custodian of all land records in Mifflin County is the Mifflin County Register & Recorder, a combined office serving as Recorder of Deeds, Register of Wills, and Clerk of Orphans' Court. The elected official is Ellen L. Amspacker. The office is located at the Mifflin County Courthouse, 20 North Wayne Street, Lewistown, PA 17044 (second floor, take the elevator to the second floor, turn right, first office on the right).

Online deed records are accessible through the Infocon County Access System, a subscription-based service; the index begins in 1993. In-office records date from 1789. E-recording is available through Simplifile (launched December 2023); contact the office or Simplifile to confirm whether additional vendors have been added since launch.

What Mifflin County Property Records Include

The Recorder of Deeds' function maintains all instruments affecting real property within the county. Recorded document types include: deeds (warranty, quitclaim, corrective, deed of dedication, deed of distribution, decree of distribution), mortgages (and modifications, amendments, extensions), mortgage satisfactions and releases, assignments of mortgage, easements and deeds of easement, rights of way, agreements of sale, installment sales agreements, leases (including those over 30 years), subdivision plans, highway maps, agricultural security area documents, articles of agreement, powers of attorney, UCC financing statements (all types), condemnation notices, charters, and other instruments affecting real estate. Veterans' discharge papers (DD-214) are recorded at no charge and are secure records not open to the public.

Pennsylvania uses a recorded land title system statewide. Documents are indexed by grantor/grantee name and book and page reference. A UPI (Uniform Parcel Identifier) number is required on documents that affect real property. The Mifflin County Assessment Office maintains assessment records and can assist with parcel identification.

The county's strong agricultural character means that agricultural security area documents and Clean & Green agreements appear in title chains for farmland parcels. The presence of the SCI Smithfield federal correctional institution and several manufacturing employers in the county creates occasional deed activity related to institutional land purchases. The Juniata River and adjacent state game lands create a body of easement and right-of-way instruments relevant to rural parcels.

How to Access Mifflin County Property Records

Records can be accessed online via Infocon, in person at the courthouse, by phone, by mail, or via e-recording (Simplifile and possibly others).

Online Access

Mifflin County uses the Infocon County Access System for remote deed and land record access. Infocon is a subscription-based service; the index for the Recorder of Deeds begins with 1993. Access is available through the county website. For records before 1993, in-person research at the courthouse is required. In-office records extend to 1789.

In Person

Address: 20 North Wayne Street, Lewistown, PA 17044 (2nd floor); Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Recording cutoff: 3:30 p.m. Plan to arrive before 3:30 p.m. for same-day recording. Copies: $0.50/page; Certification with seal: $1.50. No search of any kind will be performed by the office.

By Phone

Call (717) 242-1449 during office hours (Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.).

By Mail

Mail documents and payment to: Mifflin County Register & Recorder, 20 North Wayne Street, Lewistown, PA 17044. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return of documents. Include all required fees. No refunds of overpayments are issued.

E-Recording

E-recording was introduced at the Mifflin County Register & Recorder's Office in December 2023. Simplifile is a confirmed vendor. Contact the office at (717) 242-1449 or Simplifile at (800) 460-5657 (simplifile.com) to set up an account and confirm whether additional vendors are available.

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

The Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court functions are combined with the Recorder of Deeds in the same elected office. Estate records, probate, marriage licenses, and guardianship records are all maintained at 20 North Wayne Street. Vital statistics (birth and death records 1893–1905) are also maintained in this office.

Property assessments are administered by the Mifflin County Assessment Office at the courthouse (phone: 717-248-5783; 2nd floor, turn right off the elevator, go down the hallway, Assessment straight ahead). The Assessment Office has computerized records on public access terminals. Delinquent taxes are handled by the Tax Claim Bureau.

Zoning is administered at the municipal level for each borough and township. Mifflin County does not maintain a county-wide zoning ordinance. Note that Wayne Township and the boroughs of Newton-Hamilton and Kistler are served by the Mount Union Area School District rather than the Mifflin County School District, relevant for transfer tax apportionment. For statewide data, see the Pennsylvania DCED.

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

Mifflin County uses the Infocon County Access System for online deed access:

Go to mifflincountypa.gov/regrec and follow the Infocon link to subscribe or log in. The Infocon index began in 1993.
Search by grantor/grantee name or book and page reference. Review the index results and obtain document images through your subscription.
For records before 1993, visit the office in person at 20 North Wayne Street, Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (no staff searches performed, you must search the in-office indexes yourself).
Notebook and page references for all related instruments in the title chain: deed, mortgage, releases, assignments, and any agricultural or easement instruments.
For parcel number lookup, contact the Assessment Office at (717) 248-5783 or visit the public access terminals at the courthouse.
For certified copies, contact the office at (717) 242-1449 or visit in person before 3:30 p.m.

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

All recorded property documents for every municipality in Mifflin County are maintained by the single Mifflin County Register & Recorder in Lewistown. The county has 16 incorporated municipalities, 1 borough, and 15 townships (and several additional unincorporated communities).

County Seat and Only Borough: Lewistown.
Selected Unincorporated Communities of Note: Milroy, McVeytown, Burnham, Yeagertown, Reedsville, Belleville.
Selected Townships: Armagh, Brown, Bratton, Decatur, Derry, Granville, Juniata, Kistler, Menno, Newton Hamilton, Oliver, Union, Wayne, and others.

Full municipality list at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mifflin_County,_Pennsylvania.

City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

Property assessments are administered at the county level by the Mifflin County Assessment Office at the courthouse (phone: 717-248-5783). Public access terminals with computerized property records are available in the office during regular courthouse hours. Delinquent taxes are handled by the Tax Claim Bureau.

Zoning is administered by individual municipalities. Wayne Township and the boroughs of Newton-Hamilton and Kistler are served by the Mount Union Area School District rather than the Mifflin County School District, a distinction relevant to transfer tax collection and deed preparation. When recording a deed for property in these jurisdictions, ensure the correct school district is identified for transfer tax purposes.

Mifflin County-Specific Nuances

Three separate checks are required for deed transfers: state tax, local tax, and recording fees. Each needs its own check. Mifflin County requires three distinct checks when realty transfer tax is due: one for the state transfer tax (1%), one for the local transfer tax (1%), and one for the recording fees. (Recording fees for multiple documents may be combined on a single check.)

This three-check requirement is among the strictest payment structures, alongside Greene County's and Huntingdon County's similar requirements. Prepare checks carefully before arriving or mailing.

The office closes at 4: 00 p.m., but the recording cutoff is 3:30 p.m. Documents presented between 3:30 and 4:00 p.m. will be recorded the next business day. At 3:30 p.m., Mifflin County's recording window closes earlier than any other county.
Certificate of Residence required on deeds, mortgages, and assignments of mortgage failure/rejection. A signed Certificate of Residence is required on all deeds, mortgages, and assignments of mortgage. The office specifies that failure to comply with this requirement is grounds for rejection, not a correctable error that incurs an additional fee (as in some other counties). Prepare the Certificate of Residence before submission.
No search performed by the office. The Register & Recorder's office will not conduct searches on behalf of the public. All index searches must be performed by the requester, either using the Infocon online system (index from 1993) or in person at the in-office indexes. This is an explicit policy stated on the fee schedule and reinforced in the office's posted procedures.
No refunds of overpayments. The office does not issue refunds of recording fee overpayments. Calculate fees carefully before submitting and avoid over-tendering. For mail submissions, confirm the fee before sending.
E-recording launched in December 2023. Simplifile confirmed. The Register & Recorder's Office introduced electronic recording in December 2023 under Register & Recorder Ellen Amspacker. Simplifile is a confirmed vendor. The county website and some third-party sources (including deeds.com) still reflect the pre-launch status; contact the office at (717) 242-1449 or Simplifile at (800) 460-5657 to confirm current vendors and set up an account.
Infocon online access index begins 1993; pre-1993 requires an in-person visit. The Infocon County Access System indexes Recorder of Deeds records from 1993 forward. There is no online access to pre-1993 instruments; those require an in-person visit to search the in-office indexes. Physical records at the office date to 1789, the year the county was created.
Statement of Value required for easements and rights-of-way. In addition to the standard PA requirement for SOV on deeds without stated consideration, gift deeds, and exemption claims, Mifflin County specifically requires a Statement of Value for easements and rights-of-way. The SOV must be submitted in duplicate with the reason for any exemption and the amount. For family transfers, the relationship must be stated on the deed itself.
Wayne Township, Newton-Hamilton, and Kistler boroughs are served by the Mount Union Area School District. Three Mifflin County jurisdictions. Wayne Township and the boroughs of Newton-Hamilton and Kistler are in the Mount Union Area School District rather than the Mifflin County School District. Transfer taxes for deeds in these jurisdictions must be apportioned to the Mount Union Area School District, not the Mifflin County School District. Confirm the correct school district before completing the transfer tax calculations.
The Mennonite/Amish community in Kish Valley creates distinctive deed characteristics. The Kishacoquillas Valley in northern Mifflin County hosts one of Pennsylvania's more significant Anabaptist communities.

Agricultural deeds in this area frequently involve transfers within extended family networks, agricultural security area instruments, and Clean & Green enrollment agreements. Family transfers may be exempt from the transfer tax, but the familial relationship must be stated on the deed, and a Statement of Value must be filed in duplicate.

Typical Contents of a Mifflin County Property Record

When reviewing recorded instruments at the Mifflin County Register & Recorder, you will typically find:

Deeds:
- Grantor and grantee names (consistent throughout document).
- Complete legal description including municipality, county, and state.
- Consideration amount or Statement of Value (in duplicate).
- For family transfers: relationship stated on deed; SOV filed.
- Certificate of Residence for the grantee (signed).
- UPI number.
- Notarial acknowledgment (date on or after execution date).
- For Wayne Township or Newton-Hamilton/Kistler Borough: Mount Union Area School District transfer tax.
Mortgages and Related:
- Certificate of Residence for the mortgagee (signed).
- Lender/borrower names, property description, and loan terms.
- Modifications, amendments, extensions, releases, satisfactions.
- Assignments of mortgage (Certificate of Residence required).
Other Common Instruments:
- Easements and rights-of-way (SOV required).
- Agricultural security area documents and Clean & Green agreements.
- Subdivision plans and highway maps.
- Agreements of sale and installment sales agreements.
- UCC financing statements.
- Veterans' discharge papers (DD-214, recorded at no charge, confidential).

Recording Changes to Property Titles

All new deeds, mortgages, easements, and other instruments affecting real property in Mifflin County must be recorded with the Register & Recorder. Submissions may be made in person (before 3:30 p.m. for same-day recording), by mail, or via e-recording (Simplifile; contact the office to confirm additional vendors).

Prepare three separate checks for a deed transfer subject to realty transfer tax: one for state transfer tax (1%), one for local transfer tax (1%), and one for the recording fees. Include a signed Certificate of Residence on the deed (and on the mortgage and any assignments, if also recording). Include a Statement of Value in duplicate if consideration is not stated, if it is a gift deed, or if an exemption is claimed. SOV is also required for easements and rights-of-way. Include a SASE for return of originals. No refunds of overpayments are issued.

The base deed recording fee is $85.25 (4 pages, 4 names). Additional pages: $2.00 each; additional names: $0.50 each. Affidavit of Value filed in duplicate: $1.00. Mortgage: $85.25. Assignment of Mortgage: $58.75. Easement/Deed of Easement: $58.75. Financial Statement (all types): $100.00. Re-recording fee: same as the original recording fee.

Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

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

Search online via Infocon. Subscribe and log in through the county website. Index from 1993 only.
For pre-1993 records, visit in person. Office is open Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Arrive before 3:30 p.m. The office does not perform searches. You must search the in-office indexes yourself.
Note all book page references. Collect all deed, mortgage, release, assignment, and easement references.
Check for agricultural instruments. For rural parcels, especially in Armagh, Oliver, and other northern townships, look for agricultural security area documents, Clean & Green agreements, and family transfer deeds.
Verify the school district for Wayne Township, Newton-Hamilton, or Kistler. These are in the Mount Union Area School District, not the Mifflin County School District.
Look up the parcel number. Contact the Assessment Office at (717) 248-5783 or use the public access terminals at the courthouse.
Verify zoning. Contact the specific municipality directly. No county zoning.
Check delinquent taxes. Contact the Tax Claim Bureau at the courthouse.
Prepare recording documents. Three separate checks for deeds (state tax, local tax, recording fee); signed Certificate of Residence on deeds, mortgages, and mortgage assignments; SOV in duplicate for easements, rights-of-way, gift deeds, and exemptions; SASE; arrive before 3:30 p.m.; or e-record via Simplifile (contact (717) 242-1449 to confirm current vendors); no refunds of overpayments.

Appendix A Municipalities in Mifflin County

Mifflin County has 16 incorporated municipalities: 1 borough and 15 townships.†

County Seat Only Borough: Lewistown.
Unincorporated Communities of Note: Belleville, Milroy, Burnham, Yeagertown, McVeytown, Reedsville, Newton Hamilton.
Selected Townships: Armagh, Bratton, Brown, Decatur, Derry, Granville, Juniata, Kistler, Menno, Newton Hamilton, Oliver, Union, Wayne, and others.