Questions answered in this file

Where are deed records kept?

Usually at the county recorder, register of deeds or county clerk; property tax records are held by the county assessor or tax office.

What is a chain of title?

It is the sequence of ownership transfers for a parcel, traced through grantor-grantee indexes and the recorded deeds they point to.

Can land records show where someone lived?

They can show ownership and tax mailing addresses, but renters will not appear, so combine them with directories and other records.

Where can I search early federal land patents?

The Bureau of Land Management's General Land Office Records site lists early transfers of public land to private owners.

Should I publish addresses found in property records?

Generally no. Use them for research and verification, since publishing private addresses can expose people to harassment.