Bucks County Property Search
Bucks County property records refer to legal documents, including deeds, reports, surveys, and index maps, that detail information about a specific area of land or real property within the county. Also referred to as land or real estate records, Bucks County property records help individuals determine the legal ownership of a property. These documents also inform interested persons about any activity on a piece of property.
Since property records reveal a property's history and transactions, the documents remain an important aspect of due diligence for prospective property buyers or investors. Such parties can search property records to detect encumbrances and ensure they do not receive a defective title. A person can also conduct a property search to resolve boundary line and other real estate disputes.
Per the Pennsylvania Unconsolidated Statutes, 1875 Act 36, the Bucks County Recorder of Deeds is primarily responsible for recording, maintaining, and dispensing records of mortgages, deeds, and other documents relating to real estate in the county. The Recorder of Deeds receives documents for recording in paper or electronic form per the Uniform Electronic Transaction Act (UETA).
Other agencies that handle subsets of property records in Bucks County include the Bucks County Board of Assessment and Tax Claim Bureau.
Are Bucks County Property Records Public?
Yes, Bucks County property records are public documents and can be accessed, inspected, or copied by any individual. Per the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, records maintained by state and local government agencies are presumed open to the public. Besides helping to promote public trust in government activities, this law also ensures accountability and transparency as it relates to public transactions (including property) within the state.
Note, however, that there are exceptions to Pennsylvania's Public Records Law. As such, some information may be restricted or removed from public access. For example, property owners' sensitive personal information (like Social Security numbers) and details that may pose a security threat are not included in property records.
What Do Bucks County Property Records Contain?
Buck County property records refer to a wide range of legal documents that include:
- Deeds
- Mortgages
- Easements
- Satisfactions
- Property tax records
- Leases
- Plats
- Liens
- Subdivision plans
Depending on the document type and custodian, one can expect to find varying information in Bucks County property records. For example, a property search at the Bucks County Board of Assessment's Office may uncover the following information:
- Current property owner information (name and mailing address)
- Ownership history (previous owners' names, addresses, recording dates, sale dates, book/page numbers, homestead information)
- Property description (location, municipality, school district, building/unit, etc.)
- Parcel information (parcel ID, utilities, class, LUC, living units, etc.)
- Property tax assessment and history
- Residential information (year built, number of stories, bedrooms, estimated ground living area, total fixtures, etc.)
- Commercial information
- Land details
- Legal description
- Assessment values and history
- Exemptions
- Sale details
Where to Perform a Bucks County Property Lookup
Individuals who wish to look up a Bucks County property can utilize these methods:
- A Phone Call
Requesters can call the Bucks County Recorder of Deeds Office at (215) 348-6209 to speak with staff. However, they are advised to do this only when requesting general information or copies of a deed or mortgage. Members of the public who require in-depth information about a property should consider the alternatives below.
- An In-Person Visit to the Recorder of Deeds Office
Bucks County Recorder of Deeds Office maintains an index of deeds and mortgages grouped by year. For example, there is an index book containing property records from 1684 to 1919 and another from 1999 to present.
To access these index books, interested parties should visit the Bucks County Recorder of Deeds at the location below:
55 East Court Street
Doylestown, PA 18901
Requesters will need to provide the full name of a party to the deed or other property document and an approximate year in which the transaction was made.
Individuals can find the newest indexes on the public access computers at the Recorder of Deeds office. A person who does not know how to use the index books can ask any available staff for help. Keep in mind, however, that office employees are not allowed to search on a requester's behalf.
- A Mail Request
Another way to search for a Bucks County property record (specifically a deed or mortgage) is to send a mail request to the above address. This method attracts a fee of $1 per page and an additional charge of $1.50 for a certified copy. Meanwhile, it costs $5 per sheet for available plans.
Each mail request should contain a self-addressed, stamped envelope that the recorder can use to return requested copies. (The office sends an email containing a complimentary copy of a requested deed to a property owner).
How to Perform a Property Owner Lookup in Bucks County
An individual can conduct a property owner lookup in Bucks County using any of the above-mentioned methods to obtain documents confirming a property's legal ownership (e.g., deeds, tax liens). They can also use the county assessor's property search tool (see below). No one should have any issues performing this search, as property owner information is typically public and appears in most property documents.
How to Find Bucks County Property Records Online
Individuals who do not want to visit Bucks County's Recorder of Deeds Office in person or send a mail request can perform a property record search online using the office's LANDEX system. Users must create an account (user ID and password) to access the system. Another alternative is the Buck County Board of Assessment's property search tool, which allows searches by a property owner's name, address, and parcel ID.
Besides the official property search tools, there are other private websites that individuals can leverage to find Bucks County property records online. These sites are typically searchable with a name or address. However, it is advisable to determine a site's reputability or reliability before use.
How to Find Property Owner by Address for Free
Individuals can find out who owns a local property for free via the Bucks County Board of Assessment's Property Records Search tool. The system can be searched with an address, parcel ID, or owner's name (an advanced search option is also available).
A person conducting a property search by address should click "Property Address" in the top menu and enter the street name, unit, and number into the search fields. Search results include the property owner's full name, among other crucial details.
Bucks County Property Tax Lookup
Individuals may carry out a property tax lookup for different reasons, including due diligence before purchasing or investing in real estate and gathering evidence to appeal property taxes.
Any member of the public who wants to conduct a property tax search can email the Office of the Treasurer at treasurer@buckscounty.org. They may also visit the Treasurer's Office at the following address during regular business hours:
Bucks County Administration Building
55 East Court Street
5th Floor
Doylestown, PA 18901
Phone: (215) 348-6244
The Treasurer's Tax Claim Bureau (the department responsible for collecting and maintaining records of delinquent real estate taxes in the county) also provides a Bucks County Property Tax Inquiry page that individuals can access to find property tax information.
The Tax Inquiry website has a "Basic Search" tool to find property tax information by parcel number and an "Advanced Search" tool to search by house number, street name, city, zip code, etc. The search results reveal if a property has delinquent taxes and include other property information like tax status, tax code, and assessments.
How to Find Bucks County Property Appraiser
Anyone looking for a property appraiser in Bucks County can search the Pennsylvania's State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers website. The website has a Verify a License section where individuals can look up licensed appraisers by person, facility, disciplinary, or provider.
An individual looking for an appraiser in Bucks County can select the "Person" search option, then fill in the country (United States), state (PA), county (Bucks), board/commission (State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers), and license type fields to retrieve the complete names, license numbers, license types, and license statuses of certified appraisers in Bucks County.
Bucks County appraisers provide different services, which include:
- Conducting detailed analysis to determine the current market values of properties
- Preparing appraisal reports
- Maintaining information about the valuation of real estate
Bucks County Property Assessor
The Bucks County Board of Assessment determines the current market value and assesses all properties in Bucks County for tax purposes. Other functions the Board undertakes include:
- Handling assessment appeals
- Maintaining property tax assessment records
- Updating and maintaining tax maps
- Honoring information requests from taxpayers, attorneys, surveyors, realtors, and the general public
- Determining tax exemptions
Below is the Bucks County Board of Assessment's contact information:
County Administration Building
55 East Court Street
6th Floor
Doylestown, PA 18901
Phone: (215) 348-6219
Fax: (215) 348-7823
Email: boa@buckscounty.org
