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Welcome to the Geauga County Recorder's Office

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Preserving Your Past, Providing for Your Future

The Geauga County Recorder's Staff is dedicated to efficient, accurate, quality public service. The Geauga County Recorder's Office is open to the public Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. We look forward to serving you.

 

It is the County Recorder who has the important and indispensable task of keeping vital records pertaining to ownership in real estate (land) and to all encumbrances or liens upon it. Without the work of the County Recorder in recording, safekeeping and organizing all documents in a competent and logical manner it would be nearly impossible to purchase land and be assured of a clear title or to lend money with land as security.

The practice of recording real estate documents is based on law in England which traveled to the New World with the colonists. Public land registrars were appointed in colonial America to keep accurate records. A system of registration was necessary to prove the rights of persons who first made claims to property.

In 1787, the Northwest Territory was formed, encompassing all lands north and west of the Ohio River. A Recorder's office was established in each county. Ohio became a state in 1803 and although the state constitution did not provide for a Recorder's office, the first state legislature mandated that a Recorder be appointed in each county by the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas. In 1829, the Recorder's office became an elective position and in 1936, the term was established at four years.

Today, the County Recorder keeps and maintains accurate land records that are current, legible and easily accessible. An important aspect of the Recorder's work is to index each document so it may be readily located. Accurate indexing makes it possible for persons searching land records to find the documents necessary to establish a "chain of title" (history of ownership) and ensures that any debts or encumbrances against the property are evident. These invaluable records are utilized by the general public, attorneys, historians, genealogists and land title examiners.

 

Contact Information

Geauga County Recorder's Office
231 Main Street, Suite 1-C
Chardon, Ohio 44024
Map
 
440-285-2222, Extension 2020
Newbury and Burton Residents:  1-888-714-0006, Extension 2020
Direct Line:  440-279-2020
 
recorder@co.geauga.oh.us
 

Hours

Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Document Recording/Research Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
 
  • In inclement weather, please call ahead to make sure the offices are open.

COVID-19 Office Information

In an effort to protect our staff and to keep the Recorder's Office open to the public, we have implemented the following changes effective June 1, 2020:

  • Daily office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 pm.
  • DO NOT rely on email communication CALL the front desk at 440-279-2020. This is the only way to contact this office with certainty.
  • Documents to be recorded must be put in the basket provided on the desk.
  • Customers are to refrain from leaning on or using our front counter as work space. They can use the back counter to arrange their documents.
  • No more than one customer at the desk at one time for recording. Please wait in the hallway if you have a document to record and someone is already at the front desk. This includes persons waiting to use the search terminals.
  • Limited members of the public will be allowed in the office at a time to use the public terminals as long as social distancing is mandated. 
  • ALL changes are subject to immediate change with no notice as things seem to be changing from minute to minute. Stay healthy.
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