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1. How do I check easements, right of ways and deed restrictions on my ground?

This could be difficult since deed restrictions do not have to be spelled out in each new deed. A restriction could be in a deed ten owners back and still be in effect. Most attorneys do complete searches before granting title insurance. These restrictions will be reported. You can retain their professional services for your question. Our staff will help assist you in the procedure to look at prior deeds but we cannot do searches.

2. How can I determine my property line?

Your deed will have a legal description of the boundary of your property, but you need a surveyor to use this information to locate the property lines and place markers on the land.

3. Do you have plans showing the location of my building?

Some plans are filed here that show the proposed location of buildings but in general the location of a residence on an individual lot is not recorded.

4. What is the elevation of my property?

Topographic (TOPO) Quadrangle Maps are available in the Centre County Conservation District Office located in the Willowbank Building that show elevation and latitude and longitude of each area in the county.

5. Do you record deeds for cemetery lots?

No. Usually a cemetery lot deed only gives you permission to use the ground. The cemetery still retains title to the property. Such "Deeds" or "Titles" are maintained in the office of the cemetery company or association.

6. How can I check for liens against my property?

Except mortgages, most liens are filed in the Prothonotary's Office, not in the Recorder of Deeds Office. Our office maintains records of mortgages and secured transactions affecting real estate. Judgement liens, municipal liens and secured transactions affecting personal property are filed in the Prothonotary's Office.

7. How can I determine the owner of a property?

Our records are by names, not location. If you want all the property owned by an individual, our records will list that. If you want to know who owns a certain lot, that information will be available in the Centre County Tax Assessment Office, on the third floor of the Willowbank Building. Their information will tell you the owner. If you need to research the deed for more information, come to our office with the owner's name.

8. Who were previous owners of my property?

In most cases, following the legal description in your deed is a section known as "Recital" or "Being Clause." It should provide the name of the person(s) who sold the property to the person(s) who then sold to you and the deed book and page number of that transaction. You should be able to look at previous deeds to follow the trail all the way back to the year 1800.