If you want to obtain a copy of the deed to your home, contact your local county recorder.
In Ohio, county recorders are responsible for maintaining land records and making them accessible to the public. The Ohio Revised Code establishes fees recorders may charge for various services. For photocopies of deeds, they may charge up to $2 per page. Most deeds are only a few pages long, so you should be able to obtain a deed for minimal cost.
Additionally, some county recorders allow non-certified copies of deeds and other land records to be downloaded for free from their websites.
Nevertheless, some homeowners are receiving offers from private vendors offering to provide copies of their deeds for fees of $80 or more. These letters or solicitations may appear to be official documents even though they are not associated with the government.
If you receive this type of solicitation, remember that you can easily obtain a copy of your deed from your county recorder at little to no cost.
Also, before paying for a copy of the deed, check your own records. Deeds are among the documents included in a property sale’s closing, so you may already have a copy.
If you suspect a scam or believe you have been treated unfairly, file a complaint with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at
www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov or 800-282-0515.