Find Highland County Deed Records

Highland County deed records are on file at the recorder's office at 119 Gov Foraker Place in Hillsboro. You can look up property deeds, mortgages, liens, and other land documents by visiting the office during business hours. The Highland County Recorder stores all official land records for the county and indexes them by name so the public can search. Whether you are buying land, selling a home, or just need to check ownership on a parcel, this office handles the records you need. Staff can help you pull documents by owner name, property address, or legal description.

Highland County Recorder's Office

The Highland County Recorder is the official keeper of all land records in the county. The office is at 119 Gov Foraker Place in Hillsboro. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Documents received after 3:30 p.m. will not be recorded that day. They get held and run the next business day instead. Under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 317, the recorder must store every document in the official records and index it by both grantor and grantee name so the public can search.

The Highland County Recorder is elected to a four-year term. The office handles deeds, mortgages, liens, leases, releases, and powers of attorney. All of these go into the county's official records series. Section 317.08 requires the recorder to keep one general record series known as the "official records" for all instruments. The recorder also indexes documents so that title searchers can trace the chain of ownership on any parcel in Highland County.

Highland County Recording Fees

Highland County updated its recording fees effective January 1, 2025. The new rates are higher than the old state standard. A document of one or two pages costs $39 to record. Three pages runs $47. Four pages costs $55. Each additional page after that adds $8 to the total. These fees apply to deeds, mortgages, and all other document types the recorder accepts.

There are extra charges to know about. A marginal notation costs $4 per reference. Documents that do not meet Ohio's format standards face an additional $20 non-compliance fee under ORC Section 317.114. The format rules are clear: font size 10 or bigger, paper between 8.5 by 11 and 8.5 by 14 inches, black or blue ink only, no highlighting, one-inch side margins, and a three-inch top margin on the first page. Section 317.111 also requires the preparer's name on any deed that conveys title. If you plan to record a document in Highland County, make sure it meets all these rules before you bring it in. That saves you the extra $20 and speeds up the process.

UCC documents that involve real estate cost $12 per form and $4 per name. These must include a full legal description of the property.

All documents to be mailed back need a self-addressed stamped envelope. The county auditor also collects a separate conveyance fee of $1 per $1,000 of the sale price plus a $0.50 transfer fee per parcel when property changes hands.

Search Highland County Deed Records Online

The Highland County Auditor maintains property valuation and tax records that pair well with the recorder's deed data. You can look up parcels by owner name or address through the auditor's office. While the auditor focuses on tax assessments and valuations, this info helps you confirm who owns a property and what it is worth before you pull the actual deed from the recorder.

The Ohio Recorders' Association links the public to all 88 county recorder offices. Their site can point you to Highland County's recorder and any online tools the office offers. The association has worked since 1927 to help recorders serve the public better and push for laws that make land records more accessible. Highland County also offers a Fraud Sleuth program to help protect property owners from deed fraud. The recorder's office has step-by-step instructions with pictures to guide you through signing up for this service.

You can also check the Ohio Secretary of State's portal to verify a notary before signing any deed or mortgage.

Ohio Revised Code Chapter 317 sets the rules that every county recorder in the state must follow when filing and indexing deed records.

Deed Records Filed in Highland County

Warranty deeds and quitclaim deeds make up most of the recordings in Highland County. But the recorder also handles mortgages, mortgage releases, assignments, federal tax liens, and mechanic's liens. Under ORC Section 5301.25, all deeds must be recorded in the county where the property sits. An unrecorded deed can be treated as fraudulent against a later buyer who acts in good faith. This makes recording a critical step.

Every deed filed in Highland County must meet legal requirements set by state law. Section 5301.01 says the grantor must sign the deed and have it acknowledged before a notary public, judge, or clerk of court. Names that are hard to read must be printed or typed below the signature per Section 317.11. No Social Security Numbers can appear on recorded documents unless the law specifically requires it, per Section 317.082.

Discriminatory covenants in old deeds are void under Section 5301.05. If you find one in a Highland County deed, it has no legal force and cannot be enforced.

Get Copies of Highland County Deeds

Deed records in Highland County are public. Section 317.42(A) of the Ohio Revised Code says so. Anyone can ask for copies. You do not need to be named on the deed. You do not need to give a reason. Just visit the recorder's office at 119 Gov Foraker Place in Hillsboro before 3:30 p.m. and provide the name, address, or parcel number. Staff will find the records and make copies. Self-service copies may also be available at a lower rate.

You can request copies by mail as well. Write a letter with the property details and send it with a check payable to the Highland County Recorder. You must include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return. Certified copies that carry the recorder's official seal cost more but are needed for court filings, title insurance claims, and certain legal proceedings. If you think a fraudulent deed has been filed on your property, the Ohio State Bar Association can connect you with a real estate attorney who practices in Highland County.

Nearby Ohio Counties

Highland County shares borders with several other Ohio counties. If you need deed records for a property near the county line, you may need to check with the adjacent county's recorder as well. Each county keeps its own separate land records.