Find Multnomah County Deed Records

Multnomah County deed records cover the most active real estate market in Oregon. The county recorder in Portland maintains all deeds, liens, and land documents filed in Multnomah County. You can search deed records online through the Digital Research Room or visit the office at 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd. With records going back to 1849, Multnomah County holds the oldest deed records in the state. Whether you need a recent transfer or a historic land grant, the recorder office has tools and staff to help you find what you need in Multnomah County.

Multnomah County Recording Office

The Multnomah County Recording and Customer Service division handles all deed records for the county. This office records deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other real property documents. It sits at 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Suite 175, in Portland. Staff are on hand Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to help with deed record requests and new filings.

You can reach the Multnomah County recorder by phone or email. Call 503-988-3326 for recording questions. For general help, call 503-988-5123 or email dartcs@multco.us. If you want to mail documents for recording, send them to Multnomah County Recorder, P.O. Box 5007, Portland, OR 97208. The staff can answer questions about deed records, copy fees, and how to get documents filed in Multnomah County.

The Multnomah County Recording and Customer Service page is shown here.

Parking is available below the Multnomah Building at $1.45 per hour. Enter from Hawthorne Blvd or off Salmon Street between 5th and 6th Avenues.

Search Multnomah County Deed Records Online

The Multnomah County Digital Research Room lets you search deed records from your computer. This online system has recorded documents from 1965 to the present. You can look up deeds by name, document number, or recording date. The system runs around the clock, so you can search Multnomah County deed records at any time of day or night.

The Digital Research Room provides index data and document images for most records filed since 1965. Keep in mind that the images have not been certified as true copies of what was recorded with the Multnomah County Clerk. For a certified copy, you need to contact the recorder office or visit in person. The online tool is best for quick lookups and initial research on deed records in Multnomah County. It saves you a trip to Portland if all you need is basic information about a property transfer.

Below is a view of the Multnomah County Digital Research Room where you can search deed records online.

Public access terminals are also set up in the recorder office. You can use them to search and print deed records at $0.25 per page. This is cheaper than requesting copies at the counter.

Note: Records from before 1965 require in-person research at the Multnomah County office or a mail request to the recorder.

Multnomah County Deed Record Fees

The cost to get copies of deed records in Multnomah County depends on how you request them. The cheapest option is to use a public terminal in the office. Prints cost just $0.25 per page there. If you ask staff at the counter or send a mail request, the fee is $4 for the first page and $0.25 for each page after that.

Certified copies of Multnomah County deed records cost $7.75 for the first page and $0.25 for each extra page. You may need a certified copy for court, a title dispute, or a real estate closing. The recorder office accepts cash, checks, debit cards, and credit cards. Cards carry a 2% fee. Make checks out to the Multnomah County Recorder.

Recording fees for new deeds in Multnomah County follow the state schedule under ORS 205.320. The base rate is $5 per page. On top of that, you pay a $1 OLIS fee, a $10 assessment and taxation fee, and a $60 housing fee. A single-page deed costs around $76 to record. Oregon has no state transfer tax, so the recording fee is all you pay to file the deed in Multnomah County.

Recording a Deed in Multnomah County

Every deed filed in Multnomah County must meet the standards set by Oregon law. The paper must be no larger than 14 by 8.5 inches. It has to be on at least 20-pound stock. The text needs 10-point font or bigger. A blank space on the first page must be left for the recording label. These rules come from ORS Chapter 93 and ORS 205.232.

The first page of the deed must show certain details. You need the names of the buyer and seller, the type of deed, the return address, and the true price paid for the property. Tax statement delivery info is also required. If any of these items are missing, you can attach a cover sheet to fix the problem. The Multnomah County recorder will still accept a deed that fails to meet format rules, but they charge a $20 penalty fee on top of the normal recording cost.

Oregon's race-notice statute under ORS 93.640 makes it vital to record your deed fast. An unrecorded deed is void against a later buyer who pays value and files first. Title companies in Multnomah County typically record the deed the same day as closing to protect the new owner. Once recorded, the deed enters the public index and becomes a permanent part of the Multnomah County deed records.

Multnomah County Historical Archives

Multnomah County holds the oldest deed records in all of Oregon. The archives contain a book of deed records dated 1849 to 1854. These were first recorded for parts of what was then Washington County, which later became Multnomah County. For anyone doing genealogy or title research that goes back more than a century, these records are a rare find.

To visit the archives in person, you need to schedule an appointment. Call 503-988-3741 to set one up. Many items are also in the Multnomah County Digital Archives, which you can browse from home. Access to the archives is free, though fees may apply if you need copies or special help from staff. The Oregon State Archives is another source for early land records, including donation land claims and homestead entries from the pioneer era.

Below is a view of the Multnomah County Archives page, which provides access to historical deed records and other documents.

Researchers who live outside Portland can contact the archives with their question. Staff may be able to provide copies or scans by mail for a fee. This is a good option if you cannot travel to Multnomah County for an in-person visit.

Protect Your Multnomah County Property

Multnomah County offers a free Property Recording Alert Service, known as PRAS. This tool sends you an email any time a document is recorded under your name. It helps you spot fraud early. If someone tries to file a fake deed on your land in Multnomah County, you get a notice right away.

Deed fraud is a real concern in busy real estate markets like Portland. A bad actor might forge a deed and try to sell or borrow against your property. The PRAS alert gives you a chance to act before real harm is done. You can sign up through the Multnomah County website at no cost. It takes just a few minutes to set up. Once enrolled, you will get alerts for any deed, lien, or other document filed with your name in Multnomah County.

Note: PRAS is a monitoring tool only and does not block filings in Multnomah County deed records.

Public Access to Deed Records

Deed records in Multnomah County are public under Oregon's public records law, ORS 192.314. Anyone can ask to see them. You do not need to be the owner, the buyer, or a party to the transaction. The recorder must give you access or a copy upon a written request.

The Multnomah County recorder must respond within five business days. They will either provide the records or tell you they need more time. If the cost of your request will top $25, they must give you a written estimate first. Fees cover the actual cost of finding and copying the deed records. The Oregon Department of Justice has more guidance on how to exercise your right to access public records in Multnomah County and across the state.

What Multnomah County Deed Records Include

The recorder in Multnomah County files many types of documents that affect land ownership. Here are the main categories:

• Warranty deeds and bargain and sale deeds for property transfers
• Quitclaim deeds used to release interest in real property
• Trust deeds and mortgages that secure loans against land
• Liens filed by contractors, the state, or federal agencies
• Plats and survey maps that define lot boundaries
• Releases and satisfactions that clear old liens from the record

Each deed record in Multnomah County shows the names of the parties, the legal description of the land, and the amount paid. The recording date and document number are added by the clerk at the time of filing. All of this data flows into the index, which you can search by grantor name, grantee name, or document number. The index is what makes it possible to trace the chain of title on any lot or parcel in Multnomah County from one owner to the next.

Cities in Multnomah County

Multnomah County is home to Portland, the largest city in Oregon. All deed records for property in Portland are filed with the Multnomah County recorder. The same applies to Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview, Wood Village, and Maywood Park.

If your property sits in Portland but near the county line, check the legal description to confirm whether Multnomah, Washington, or Clackamas County holds the deed record. Portland spans parts of all three counties.

Nearby Counties

Multnomah County shares borders with Washington County, Clackamas County, Columbia County, and Hood River County. Each county keeps its own deed records. If you are not sure which county your property falls in, look at the tax lot number or legal description on an old deed. The county name will be listed there. You can also check with the Multnomah County recorder, and they can confirm whether the land is in their records or point you to the right office.