Explore a collection of frequently asked questions about the Department of Records and its services.
Deeds and property
How do I change ownership of a property, or add or remove a name from a deed?
To make changes to an existing deed, you must have a new deed prepared and recorded.
If your spouse dies and your name is on the deed, you do not have to change it.
How do I prepare a deed?
A certified professional should prepare a deed. Contact a real estate lawyer, title company, or other real estate professional.
How can I get a title if the owners are deceased?
- You must have the estate opened and probated at the Register of Wills before you can transfer the title.
Do I have to pay realty transfer tax when I transfer my property to a relative?
You do not have to pay realty transfer tax if you are transferring your property to a:
- Spouse.
- Sibling.
- Parent.
- Child.
- Grandparent.
- Mother-in-law.
- Brother-in-law.
- Sister-in-law.
- Father-in-law.
- Stepchildren.
- Step-parent.
You must provide proof of the relationship, such as a birth, death, or marriage certificate. This can be a copy. Do not send originals.
There are other reasons you may not have to pay a transfer tax, but these are the most common.
How can I get information about liens and judgments?
If you are looking for information about tax, water, L&I, or other similar liens, or information about legal judgments, contact the Judgments and Liens Index Office.
Where can I get property tax information?
You can get property tax information from the Office of Property Assessment.
How can I get information on a property or a copy of my deed?
Learn how to get a copy of a deed or other recorded document.
Once I pay my mortgage off, when can I expect to receive a new deed?
You will not receive a new deed when you pay off your mortgage. Your lender should record a satisfaction or release of mortgage and then send you a copy.
The name on my water and tax bills is not mine. How do I get this corrected?
Contact the Department of Records by emailing records.info@phila.gov or calling (215) 686-2262.
What should I do when I need a loan satisfied but the original lender is out of business?
Contact the PA Department of Banking and ask whether there is a successor company.
How can I see a map of my property lines?
To find information about a street’s boundaries, you can use the legal card application.
You can find some property information by using Atlas, an online mapping tool.
You can get plats in City Hall, Room 168. The fees are:
- $0.50 for 8.5 by 11 inches
- $1.00 for 11 by 17 inches
- $10.00 for the entire plat
If you have other questions, contact the Records Mapping Unit at mapping.info@phila.gov or (215) 686-1487.
I paid off my mortgage. Do I get a copy of my deed?
You should have received the original deed when you purchased your property. If not, you can learn how to get a copy of a deed.
I have a court order that orders the Department of Records to transfer property. What do I do?
You should have a professional prepare a deed. Then, submit the original document, a certified copy of the court order, and applicable fee and taxes to:
Department of Records
City Hall, Room 156
Philadelphia, PA 19107
The department will review the deed and the commissioner will sign it.
How do I repudiate an unlawful restrictive covenant in a deed affecting my property?
A property owner can officially repudiate unlawful restrictive covenants if they are contained in a deed affecting your property by filing the Repudiation of Unlawful Restrictive Covenants Form with the Department of Records at no cost.
Learn more about Rejecting Unlawful Restrictive Covenants that Affect Your Property.
Archives
How can I find out if a relative is still alive?
The Free Library of Philadelphia has past and present Philadelphia obituaries and phone books.
You may also try searching the internet or hiring a private detective.
How do I get a copy of a deed or find out who owned my home before I did?
Learn how to get a copy of a deed or other recorded document.
How can I find out when my house was built?
You need to locate the building permit. The availability of these records varies.
| Date range | Availability |
|---|---|
| Before 1889 | No records are available. |
| 1889 to 1986 | These records are in the City Archives. No index is available for 1889 to 1905. |
| 2006 and later | These records are on Atlas and can be requested from L&I. |
How can I get a copy of a marriage certificate?
The City Archives has marriage records from July 1860 to December 1885.
The Register of Wills keeps records for marriages after December 31, 1885.
How do I get copies of public safety reports?
Learn how to get a copy of a public safety report.
How do I get a copy of a divorce record?
The City Archives has Philadelphia divorce records before 1914.
For certified copies of divorce decrees filed in Philadelphia from 1885 to the present, contact the Office of Judicial Records Civil Filing Center (PDF).
How can I get a copy of my ancestor’s naturalization record?
Naturalization records are filed in city, county, state, and federal courts.
The City Archives has naturalization records filed in Philadelphia’s city and county courts from 1793 to 1930. Naturalizations were filed in several different courts:
- Court of Common Pleas
- Court of Quarter Sessions
- County District Court
- Mayor’s Court
After 1930, naturalizations were only filed only in federal courts. Also, before 1922, many women were not naturalized and records are incomplete.
For Philadelphia naturalization records filed at the state level, contact the Pennsylvania State Archives.
For Philadelphia naturalization records filed at the federal level, contact the Philadelphia branch of the National Archives.
Right to know and subpoenas
How do I file a right-to-know request?
Refer to the City’s Open Records Policy for instructions on how to file a right-to-know request.
How do I file a subpoena with the City?
All subpoenas directed to the Department of Records must be served on the Law Department. Then, the server must take the subpoena to:
Department of Records
City Hall, Room 156
Philadelphia, PA 19107
The Department of Records will be able to address the subpoena request.
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