Recording a deed in Franklin County, Ohio
Everything you need to get a deed on file in Franklin County. The office that records it, the formatting it checks, what it costs, and the three ways to submit.
- Recording office
- County Recorder
- Witnesses
- Notary only
- Transfer tax
- $1 to $4 per $1,000 of value
- First-page margin
- 3″ top
- Recording fee
- ~$34 up to 2 pages
- E-recording
- Approved submitters
Recording a deed in Franklin County
Deeds affecting property in Franklin County, Ohio are recorded with the County Recorder. Recording is what puts the world on notice of your ownership and fixes the priority date. An unrecorded deed can still transfer title between the parties, but it leaves you exposed to anyone who records first.
The recording rules the office applies come from Ohio Rev. Code §§ 317.08, 317.114, 317.32. Deeds themselves are governed by Ohio Rev. Code § 5301.01.
What to bring
- The original signed and notarized deed. Recorders do not record photocopies handed over the counter.
- A completed notarial acknowledgment, with the date, the place where you signed, and the commission expiry all filled in.
- Form DTE 100 (Real Property Conveyance Fee Statement of Value and Receipt) or, for an exempt transfer, Form DTE 100EX (Statement of Reason for Exemption From Real Property Conveyance Fee), which Ohio requires alongside the deed.
- Payment for the recording fee, about $34 for up to 2 pages and $8 for each page after that. Many offices do not take personal checks.
Formatting
- Ohio requires 10-point type in black or blue ink, 1-inch side and bottom margins, a 3-inch blank strip across the top of the first page reserved for county officials, and a 1.5-inch top margin on each later page (Ohio Rev. Code § 317.114). Nonconforming documents record with an extra fee.
- Deedly's layout, which suits this office: 8.5 × 11 inch paper, a 3-inch clear space at the top of page one for the recording stamp, 1-inch margins on the other edges, a 1.5-inch top margin on later pages, and type no smaller than 10 point. Deedly formats every document this way automatically.
- A legal description. A street address alone is not enough.
- A 'when recorded, return to' block so the stamped original comes back to you.
How to file
- In personTake the original to the County Recorder in Columbus. This is the fastest route. You usually walk out with the recording information the same day.
- By mailSend the original with a check or money order for the fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Allow one to three weeks for the stamped original to come back.
- E-recordingTitle companies, attorneys, and other approved submitters file electronically through services such as Simplifile, CSC, or ePN. Some offices accept filings from the public through those services; check the office's website. If you prepared the deed yourself, in person or by mail is usually simpler.
Confirm the address before you post anything
Offices move and hours change. Search for "Franklin County Ohio County Recorder" and use the official county website, not a directory listing, which is often years out of date.
Formatted to Ohio requirements, with Franklin County filing instructions included.
Common questions
With the County Recorder, located in Columbus. Deeds are always recorded in the county where the property sits, not where the owner lives.
Around $34 for up to 2 pages and $8 for each page after that. Ohio also charges conveyance fee at $1 to $4 per $1,000 of value, paid by the grantor to the county auditor (a mandatory conveyance fee of $1 per $1,000, minimum $1, under R.C. 319.54(G)(3), plus a county real property transfer tax of up to $3 per $1,000 under R.C. 322.02), though gifts between spouses and between parents and children are exempt (R.C. 319.54(G)(3)(d)). Confirm current fees with the office before you mail anything; they change.
Usually only through an approved e-recording submitter, such as a title company or attorney, using a service like Simplifile, CSC, or ePN. Some offices accept filings from the public through those services; check the office's website. Otherwise, record in person or by mail.
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Deedly is not a law firm
Its software and documents are not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. We provide self-help software and state-specific deed forms; you make your own decisions about your property. Using Deedly does not create an attorney-client relationship, and nothing here is legal advice. If your situation is complex or contested, talk to a licensed attorney in your state.