Access Lincoln County Deed Records

Lincoln County deed records are maintained by County Clerk Amy A Southwell at the courthouse in Newport, Oregon. The clerk office records all deeds, trust deeds, mortgages, and other property documents for land in Lincoln County. Whether you are buying coastal property, checking a title, or researching the history of a parcel, the deed records at this office have the information you need. Lincoln County runs along the central Oregon coast, and its deed records include homes, timber tracts, and beach properties. The recording staff can help you find what you are looking for.

Lincoln County Clerk Recording Office

The Lincoln County Clerk office is at 225 West Olive St., Room 201, Newport, OR 97365. The main phone number is 541-265-4131. For recording questions, call 541-265-4121. You can also fax documents to 541-265-0389 or email countyclerk@co.lincoln.or.us.

General office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Recording hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you need a passport or marriage license, the hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and an appointment is needed. The Lincoln County Clerk accepts deed records for recording during the stated recording hours only.

The clerk office records deeds, trust deeds, mortgages, liens, and other instruments that affect title to property in Lincoln County. All documents must be legible. The office will reject any deed that is not clear enough to produce a readable scanned image. Faxed forms are not accepted for recording in Lincoln County.

The image above shows the Lincoln County Clerk recording page. It has details on fees, requirements, and how to submit documents for recording in Lincoln County.

Lincoln County Deed Recording Fees

The standard fee to record a one-page deed in Lincoln County is $93. This total breaks down into several parts. The base recording fee is $5 per page. The land corner preservation fee is $11. The GIS fee is $7. The assessment and taxation fee is $10. The Oregon Land Information System fee is $1. The housing alliance tax is $60. Each extra page costs $5.

All common deed types cost the same $93 in Lincoln County. That includes warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, bargain and sale deeds, trust deeds, and mortgages. Liens that do not convey property cost $76 because they skip the land corner preservation and GIS fees. Federal tax liens cost just $5 to record.

• Warranty deed, one page: $93
• Quit claim deed, one page: $93
• Trust deed, one page: $93
• Construction lien: $76
• Federal tax lien: $5

Oregon has no state transfer tax on property sales. The recording fee is the only cost you pay to file a deed in Lincoln County. Payment is due at the time of recording.

Note: Lincoln County fees may change, so call 541-265-4121 to confirm the current schedule before you file your deed records.

Lincoln County Document Requirements

Every deed filed in Lincoln County must have a blank space of 3 inches by 2 inches on the top right of the first page. The clerk uses this space for the recording label. If there is not enough room, the office will reject the document. The document title must appear in large bold type at the top of the first page. If a deed describes more than one transaction, each title should be on a separate line.

All signatures and notary seals must be original. A notary seal that is blurred or hard to read will not pass the check under Oregon Administrative Rules. Documents must be in English as required by ORS 192.310. The text must be in 10-point type or bigger on paper no more than 8.5 by 14 inches. These are state rules under ORS 205.232 that every county in Oregon follows, and Lincoln County enforces them closely.

Some documents cannot be recorded in Lincoln County. The clerk will not accept affidavits of heirship, declarations of trust (unless attached to a deed), promissory notes, resignations of trustee, revocable living trusts (unless attached to a deed), water rights certifications, or possessory liens. If you are not sure whether your document can be recorded, call the Lincoln County Clerk office before you visit.

Lincoln County Property Resources

The Lincoln County official website connects you to the clerk office, the assessor, and other departments that deal with property and deed records. You can find forms, fee schedules, and contact info for all county services from this page.

From the main site, you can also reach the Lincoln County assessor for tax and valuation data on any parcel. The assessor tracks the value of all land and buildings in Lincoln County. This pairs well with deed records when you want a full picture of a property.

Under Oregon's race-notice recording law in ORS 93.640, an unrecorded deed is void against a buyer who pays value and records first without knowing about the earlier deed. Recording your deed at the Lincoln County Clerk office right away protects your ownership rights.

Note: The Oregon State Archives may have older Lincoln County deed records for historical research.

Nearby Counties

Lincoln County borders Benton County, Polk County, Lane County, and Tillamook County. Each county keeps its own deed records through its clerk office. Properties near a border should be checked to verify which county holds the deed records for that parcel.