What Does the Recorder's Office Actually Do?
- Aug 27
- 3 min read
One of the questions we hear most often is also one of the most important:
“What exactly does the Recorder’s Office do?”
If you’ve ever wondered, you’re not alone.
County government includes several different offices, each with its own responsibilities. Because many of those responsibilities involve property, taxes, legal documents, or public records, it can sometimes be difficult to know which office to contact.
The Lorain County Recorder’s Office has a very specific role: we record, preserve, index, and provide public access to documents related to land and real estate in Lorain County, as well as protected military discharge records.
That includes commonly recorded documents such as:
Property deeds
Mortgages and mortgage releases
Easements
Liens
Powers of attorney related to land and real estate
Military discharge records, including DD-214 and NGB-22 documents
These responsibilities are established under Ohio law, including Ohio Revised Code Section 317.08. You can learn more about the types of documents recorded and the Recorder’s legal responsibilities on our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Why does recording matter?
When an eligible document is recorded, it becomes part of Lorain County’s official public record.
A deed helps document a transfer of property ownership. A mortgage records a lender’s interest in a property. An easement or lien can become part of the property’s recorded history.
Maintaining these records accurately is important because homeowners, attorneys, title professionals, lenders, surveyors, businesses, researchers, and local governments rely on them when researching property and completing real-estate transactions.
Residents can also access many of these records through our online Property Search, making it easier to locate recorded documents and obtain available copies without first visiting the office.
Just as important: what does the Recorder NOT do?
A significant part of helping residents navigate county government is explaining where our responsibilities end.
The Recorder’s Office:
Does not set property taxes
Does not determine property values
Does not collect property taxes
Does not settle property disputes
Does not issue marriage licenses or birth certificates
Cannot alter a deed or provide legal advice
Does not provide blank legal forms or complete forms for residents
Property taxes are handled by the Lorain County Treasurer and Auditor, while marriage licenses and certain vital records are handled through Probate Court. Property disputes and legal questions generally require assistance from the courts or an attorney.
Knowing these distinctions can save residents time and help them reach the right office more quickly.
Need a copy of your deed?
That's one of the most common reasons people contact us.
You can search for and download an available copy using our Property Search. If you need a certified copy, you can visit the Recorder’s Office.
Recording fees and information about recordable documents are also available through our Fees & Recorded Documents page. Recording fees are established under Ohio law, rather than independently set by the Recorder’s Office.
Still wondering what the Recorder actually does?
We created a short educational video specifically to answer that question.
Visit the Lorain County Recorder homepage and look for “Clearing the Record: What Does the Recorder Actually Do?” to watch the video. You can also visit our FAQ section for answers to common questions and misconceptions.
Our job may happen largely behind the scenes, but the records we maintain affect homeowners, businesses, veterans, and families throughout Lorain County.
Throughout this series, we’ll continue explaining how the Recorder’s Office works, highlighting services residents may not know about, and sharing practical resources designed to make county government easier to understand.
Our responsibility is clear: preserve the public record, keep it accessible, and serve the people who depend on it.
