How to Search Maryland Recorded Documents (Start Here)

Recorded documents in Maryland — deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other land records — are filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court (Land Records) in each county.

What this page covers: Maryland recorded document searches — deeds, mortgages, assignments, liens, plats, and other instruments filed in the public land records. What it does not cover: Property valuations or tax data (those are on the Property Records page).

Where to start: Go to the Clerk of the Circuit Court (Land Records) in the county where the property is located. Many county clerk of the circuit court (land records)s offer online document search by grantor/grantee name, book/page, or instrument number.

Common mistake: Recorded documents show what was filed — they do not confirm current ownership or lien status without a full title search. A deed in the index does not mean it is the most recent transfer.

Recorder of deeds
Land Records | Maryland Courts
UCC-1 filings
we strongly recommend use of the standard National UCC Financing Statement Amendment (Form UCC1)
Statewide deed index?
Land Records | Maryland Courts
Recording statute
Office of the Courts to establish standards to implement the Act
Legal system
Maryland Code and Rules Sources | Maryland Courts
Number of counties
23 counties
Population
6,263,220
Households
2,293,800
Median Income
$100,045
Median Home Value
$396,900
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: Maryland recorded documents URL verified against the official state publisher at egov.maryland.gov on the review date. 6 primary .gov sources cited below.

Maryland Recorded Documents — Key Facts (2026)

Deeds, mortgages, UCC filings, liens, military discharges in Maryland — what gets recorded and where in 2026.
County
Where deeds live
Permanent record
SoS
Where UCC live
Secretary of State
Article 9
UCC governs
Secured transactions
Public
Most recorded docs
With redaction
Federal
DD-214 / IRS liens
National-level
Common recorded document types — typical volume
Deeds
100
Mortgages
95
Liens (property)
70
UCC (business)
55
Powers of attorney
25
Military DD-214
10
Unit: relative volume (deeds=100).

What Changed in 2026 — Maryland Recorded Documents

2026
Maryland recorded documents portal active
The official Maryland portal at egov.maryland.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for recorded documents in 2026.
2026
Latest federal complement for recorded documents
The NASS UCC Filings overview at www.nass.org provides federal-level context that complements Maryland state records.
2026
Maryland access in 2026
For 2026, Maryland continues to publish recorded documents information through state-authorized portals; check egov.maryland.gov for current fees and processing times.
2026
Federal records framework refresh
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE Maryland's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for additional official portals.

The 5-Type Maryland Recorded Documents Map

1
Type 1 — Real property (Deeds, Mortgages)
Maryland County Recorder / Register of Deeds. Permanent record.
2
Type 2 — UCC (business collateral)
Most filed with Maryland Secretary of State. Some real-estate UCCs are county.
3
Type 3 — Liens (tax, mechanic's, judgment)
Property liens at the county. IRS federal tax liens may file at county OR state.
4
Type 4 — Personal documents (POA, military DD-214)
Often optional county recording in Maryland for safekeeping. Originals at federal NPRC.
5
Type 5 — Maps & subdivisions
Maryland county recorder; some at state mapping office.

Five Things People Get Wrong About Maryland Recorded Documents

MYTH"A printout equals a certified copy."
FACTCourts, lenders, and agencies usually want the certified copy with the county's seal — the free printout is for research, not proof.
MYTH"UCC filings are at the county."
FACTMost UCC financing statements are filed with the Secretary of State, not the county recorder. Searching only the county misses them.
MYTH"Everything about a property is recorded."
FACTOnly what someone chose to file. Unrecorded agreements, family handshakes, and old paper deeds exist everywhere — the index shows filings, not the whole story.
MYTH"If the index shows it, the image is free."
FACTPlenty of counties show the index for free and charge per page for the document image. Budget for the image, not the search.
MYTH"E-recording is a public search tool."
FACTE-recording is the submission pipe for title companies and lenders. The public searches the index — the two systems just meet at the recorder's desk.

Primary Sources and Official Record Portals

Related Recorded Documents Resources

Related Public Records
National view of this topic: All states: Recorded docs
Sample Maryland counties: Allegany · Anne Arundel · Baltimore · Calvert · Caroline

Recorded Documents Databases

2 official Maryland recorded documents sources.

Court Records Criminal Records Wants & Warrants Vital Records Voter Records Licenses Recorded Documents Property Records

Recorded Documents

MDLandRec *** BETA-TEST *** | A Digital Image Retrieval System for Land Records & Indices in Maryland
Official Free
Recorded documents for Maryland — deeds, mortgages, liens, and releases — are indexed through this office. Confirm details with the official recorded document office before relying on them.
🌐 landrec.msa.maryland.gov
Land Records | Maryland Courts
Official Free
You must create an account with the Maryland State Archives to view deeds on mdlandrec.net. Many courthouses also have computer terminals you can use to search or review deeds. If you have a deed reference number, or need additional assistance finding a deed, a clerk in the Department of Land Records can help find the deed for you.
🌐 mdcourts.gov

Maryland Counties

All 24 Maryland counties. Click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.

Montgomery Baltimore Anne Arundel Howard Harford Frederick Carroll Allegany Calvert Caroline Cecil Charles Dorchester Garrett

Which Maryland counties publish deed and recording indexes online

6 of Maryland's 24 counties run their own online source for deed and recording indexes, based on what this directory indexes. Every other county is covered by the statewide systems listed above — click a county for its full records page.

Frequently Asked Questions

In Maryland, deeds, mortgages, liens, and other real-property documents are recorded at the county level by the county Recorder (or Clerk-Recorder). The Official Maryland Recorded Documents at egov.maryland.gov handles statewide filings such as UCC-1 financing statements and corporate documents.

UCC-1 financing statements covering personal property and business collateral are filed centrally with the Official Maryland Recorded Documents at egov.maryland.gov. Fixture filings on real estate are an exception — those go to the county where the property is located.

Most Maryland countys publish a free online index of recorded documents (by name, document type, or date). Image access (the actual deed image) is often available either free or for a small per-page fee. Statewide UCC and corporate filings are searchable through the Official Maryland Recorded Documents at egov.maryland.gov.

Certified copies of deeds, mortgages, and other recorded documents are issued by the county Recorder where the document was originally recorded. Fees and ID requirements vary; see your specific county page below. The Official Maryland Recorded Documents (egov.maryland.gov) handles certified copies of statewide filings such as UCCs and articles of incorporation.

A deed is the recorded instrument that conveys ownership; the title is the legal concept of ownership itself. Deeds in Maryland are recorded with the county Recorder; title insurance and title searches are private-sector services that examine the chain of recorded deeds. The Official Maryland Recorded Documents at egov.maryland.gov publishes the statewide rules.