Land records · Parcel maps · October 6, 2026
How to Find Old Deeds for a Property
How to find old deeds: start with the current deed, trace back through recorder indexes, and use deed books, microfilm, archives, and online images.
How to find old deeds usually means working backward from the current deed through the county land records. Each deed typically names the prior owner and often cites the earlier deed by book and page or instrument number. Using those references and the recorder’s grantor-grantee index, you can step back through owners, sometimes for a century or more. Recent records are often online; older ones may be in deed books, on microfilm, at a state archive, or in digitized collections. This page is general land-records background, not legal advice.
Start with the current deed
Get the current owner’s deed from the county recorder or register of deeds. Look for:
- Grantor (seller) and grantee (buyer) names.
- Recording date and book and page or instrument number.
- Legal description.
- A “being the same premises” clause citing the prior deed.
See how to get a copy of my deed.
Step back through the chain
Use the prior deed reference to pull the earlier deed, then repeat. When there is no citation, search the grantee index for the seller’s name to find when they acquired the property. This sequence of deeds forms the chain of title. See what is chain of title and how to use a grantor-grantee index.
Where older records live
| Era | Likely location |
|---|---|
| Recent decades | Recorder’s online system |
| Mid-1900s | Recorder’s deed books or scanned images |
| 1800s and earlier | Deed books, microfilm, state archives |
| Original land grants | State land office or federal land records |
Many counties have scanned historic deed books, even if their online index only starts later. FamilySearch has digitized deed books from many U.S. counties, and state archives often hold older volumes or microfilm.
Tips for older deeds
- Handwritten records: older deeds are often in cursive; transcribe carefully.
- Name variations: spellings changed; search variants.
- County changes: if the county was formed later, older records may be in the parent county.
- Probate: property often passed through wills or estates without a deed. Check probate records.
- Metes and bounds: older descriptions use landmarks, trees, and neighbors’ names.
Gaps in the chain
Missing links happen with unrecorded deeds, inheritance, or courthouse fires. Probate files, tax records, and maps can help fill the gap. See how to do a title search.
Why people search old deeds
House history, genealogy, boundary questions, easements, mineral rights, and title problems all lead back to older deeds.
When to hire help
Abstractors and title companies search chains of title professionally. For legal disputes, an attorney should review the records.
Bottom line
To find old deeds, start with the current deed, follow prior deed references and the grantor-grantee index back through the chain, and check deed books, microfilm, archives, and digitized collections for older volumes. Watch for name changes, county boundary changes, and probate transfers. Find county recorders via the Platbookmapper map.
How to find old deeds FAQ
How far back can I find deeds?
Often to the county’s formation, sometimes over a century, depending on records survival.
Are old deeds online?
Many counties and genealogy sites have scanned deed books, but indexes may be limited.
What if a deed is missing from the chain?
Check probate records, tax records, and grantee indexes for the gap.
Who keeps old deeds?
The county recorder, state archives, and sometimes local historical societies.
Can a title company find old deeds for me?
Yes, title and abstract companies search chains of title professionally.