Maricopa County Property Records
Title Search | Lien Search | Deed Search | Deed Fraud Check | Chain of Title
U.S. Title Records provides professional property records search and title examination for all of Maricopa County, the fourth-largest county in the nation and home to Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, and the entire Valley of the Sun. Arizona recorded nearly $50 million in real estate fraud losses in 2024, and the 2025 deed-fraud law (SB 1479) added new safeguards. Records split between the County Recorder for deeds and liens and a separate County Assessor for valuation. Fast non-judicial trustee's sale foreclosure. Reports from $29.
Maricopa County Property Records Search and Title Examination
Maricopa County is at the center of Arizona's deed-fraud problem, and a 2025 state law (SB 1479) added major new safeguards that every buyer and owner should understand. According to a National Association of Realtors survey cited by the Maricopa County Assessor, Arizonans lost nearly $50 million to real estate fraud in 2024 alone. In response, Arizona enacted SB 1479, which makes filing a false real estate document a Class 5 felony (up from a misdemeanor), requires photo identification to record a document in person at the County Recorder (with limited exceptions for escrow officers, attorneys, and lenders), strengthens the Affidavit of Legal Value with mailing addresses and contact information, and directs county assessors to create an opt-in property-owner alert system by January 1, 2027. These tools help, but they are monitoring and deterrence measures, not a substitute for confirming a clean recorded chain of title before you buy. Our reports trace the recorded conveyance history to detect a forged or defective vesting deed.
Maricopa County splits property records between two separate offices, and confusing them is the most common Phoenix-area mistake. The Maricopa County Recorder (111 South 3rd Avenue, Phoenix) records and maintains deeds, deeds of trust, releases and reconveyances, beneficiary deeds, mechanic liens, judgments, and notices of trustee's sale, pursuant to A.R.S. 11-461. The separate Maricopa County Assessor maintains valuation and ownership for tax purposes, including the Full Cash Value and the Limited Property Value, and sends an annual Notice of Value before March 1. The Recorder holds the documents that establish legal title; the Assessor holds the valuation picture. A buyer who searches only the Assessor will see an owner and a value but miss the recorded deeds of trust, liens, and beneficiary deeds. Our reports examine both the Recorder and the Assessor for every property.
The recorded sale price of a Maricopa County property is only available through the Affidavit of Legal Value attached to the deed, not the deed itself. When a property sells, the parties record an Affidavit of Legal Value (formerly the Affidavit of Property Value) alongside the deed, stating the sale price, unless an exemption code applies (for example, a transfer between family members or into a trust). If an exemption was used, the sale price is not disclosed. To establish the true consideration and confirm an arm's-length sale, the affidavit must be located and reviewed. Our Property Detail Report ($29) retrieves the most recent recorded sale and affidavit of value where available.
Arizona Deed-Fraud Law (SB 1479, 2025)
With roughly $50 million lost to Arizona real estate fraud in 2024, SB 1479 made filing a false real estate document a Class 5 felony, required photo ID for in-person recording, strengthened the Affidavit of Legal Value, and directed an opt-in owner-alert system by January 1, 2027. These are deterrence tools, not a title guarantee. Our reports trace the recorded chain of title to detect a forged or defective vesting deed.
Recorder vs. Assessor (Two Offices)
The County Recorder (111 S 3rd Ave, Phoenix, A.R.S. 11-461) holds deeds, deeds of trust, beneficiary deeds, liens, and notices of trustee's sale. The separate County Assessor holds valuation (Full Cash Value and Limited Property Value) and the annual Notice of Value. The Recorder establishes legal title; the Assessor shows value. A search of the Assessor alone misses recorded liens. Our reports examine both.
Affidavit of Legal Value (Sale Price)
The recorded sale price appears on the Affidavit of Legal Value filed with the deed, not in the deed itself. If an exemption code was used (family transfer, trust), the price is not disclosed. To confirm true consideration and an arm's-length sale, the affidavit must be located. Our $29 report retrieves the recent sale and affidavit where available.
Trustee's Sale Foreclosure + Anti-Deficiency
Maricopa County foreclosures are typically non-judicial trustee's sales under A.R.S. 33-807, completing in about four months, searchable in the Recorder by "Notice of Trustee Sale." Arizona's anti-deficiency statute (A.R.S. 33-814) protects qualifying purchase-money homes. For auction buyers, our $195 report identifies postings and lien priority. See our Arizona page.
Maricopa County Title Search Reports
Professional examination for Phoenix and every Valley city
Property Detail Report ($29)
Maricopa County ownership verification and Assessor data.
- Current vested owner and tenancy type
- Assessor parcel number (APN)
- Full Cash Value and Limited Property Value
- Open deeds of trust
- Recorded beneficiary deed flag
- Affidavit of Legal Value (sale price)
- Tax payment status
Full Owner Lien Report ($195)
Comprehensive Maricopa County property AND owner lien search.
- Everything in the $29 report
- All recorded liens (deeds of trust, mechanic liens, lis pendens)
- Notice of trustee's sale and foreclosure status
- Judgment lien search (A.R.S. 33-961)
- AZ Department of Revenue tax lien search
- IRS federal tax lien search
- UCC financing statement search
- Federal bankruptcy records
Expanded Title Search ($375)
The most comprehensive Maricopa County examination.
- Everything in the $195 report
- Complete chain of conveyance with vesting deeds
- Deed-fraud and forged-deed analysis
- Beneficiary deed and probate analysis
- Easement, HOA, and CC&R research
- Recording number for every instrument
Additional: Deed Copy $45 | Title Search by Name $75 | Lien Report $95 | Chain of Title $275 | Full schedule of fees
Maricopa County Property Records by City
Direct County Recorder access across the entire Valley of the Sun
Phoenix
State capital and 5th-largest US city. Largest transaction volume in Arizona. Active investor and refinance market. $195 recommended for any purchase.
Scottsdale
High-value and luxury market. Resort, second-home, and trust ownership common, so beneficiary deeds and trust vesting matter. $375 Expanded recommended for luxury and trust-held property.
Mesa & Gilbert
Large East Valley cities with heavy new construction and master-planned communities. HOA and CC&R research and mechanic lien risk. $195 recommended.
Chandler & Tempe
Tech corridor and university market (ASU). Strong rental and investor activity. Recorder and separate Assessor. $195 minimum for purchase.
Glendale & Peoria
West Valley growth markets. New subdivisions, HOA covenants, and active resale. Easement and lien research. $195 recommended.
Surprise & Buckeye
Among the fastest-growing cities in the nation. Heavy new construction, builder deeds, and mechanic lien exposure. Confirm releases and lien status. $195 minimum.
Paradise Valley
The highest-value market in the county, with the highest effective property taxes. Luxury estates, trusts, and complex vesting. $375 Expanded strongly recommended.
All 27 Cities + Unincorporated
Same pricing across all 27 incorporated cities plus unincorporated Maricopa County (Sun City, Anthem, New River). County Recorder and separate Assessor everywhere. Search by address. BBB A+ since 2009.
Three Maricopa County Risks That Require Professional Examination
1. Deed fraud is a real and growing threat in the Phoenix market. With roughly $50 million lost to Arizona real estate fraud in 2024, a forged or fraudulent deed, recorded to steal or cloud title, is a recognized risk, especially on vacant land, rental property, and homes owned free and clear. SB 1479 added a photo-ID recording requirement, felony penalties, and a future owner-alert system, but these are deterrence and monitoring tools. The reliable protection is confirming a clean, unbroken recorded chain of title before you buy or lend. Our Expanded Title Search ($375) traces the full conveyance history and flags suspect or defective vesting deeds.
2. The Assessor shows value, not title, and relying on it can miss recorded liens. Many buyers search the Maricopa County Assessor, see an owner and a Full Cash Value, and treat it as the ownership record. But the Assessor maintains valuation for tax purposes; the recorded deeds, deeds of trust, beneficiary deeds, and liens that establish legal title live in the County Recorder. A buyer relying on the Assessor alone can miss a deed of trust, a judgment lien, or a recorded beneficiary deed that changes who can convey. Our Full Owner Lien Report ($195) examines the Recorder records plus the Assessor, court judgments, and tax data.
3. A recorded beneficiary deed or a trust can change who has authority to sell. Arizona beneficiary deeds (A.R.S. 33-405) and revocable trusts are widely used in the Phoenix retirement and luxury markets. If an owner recorded a beneficiary deed, the property passes to the named beneficiary at death outside probate, and the estate or heirs named in a will may not have authority to convey. Likewise, property held in a trust must be conveyed by the trustee under the trust's terms. A buyer dealing with a deceased owner's or trust-held property must confirm who actually holds the power to sell. Our $375 Expanded analyzes beneficiary deeds, trust vesting, and the post-death chain of title.
Maricopa County Property Records and Title Examination
Maricopa County property records are recorded with the Maricopa County Recorder (111 South 3rd Avenue, Phoenix) under A.R.S. 11-461, which maintains deeds, deeds of trust, releases and reconveyances, beneficiary deeds (A.R.S. 33-405), mechanic liens, judgments, and notices of trustee's sale. The separate Maricopa County Assessor maintains valuation and ownership for tax purposes, including Full Cash Value and Limited Property Value, with an annual Notice of Value sent before March 1. Arizona is a community property state, most loans use a deed of trust, and the recorded sale price appears on the Affidavit of Legal Value rather than the deed.
Four characteristics distinguish Maricopa County property records: (1) heightened deed-fraud risk and the 2025 SB 1479 safeguards (felony penalties, photo-ID recording, a coming owner-alert system), (2) a Recorder/Assessor split where recorded title lives only in the Recorder, (3) the Affidavit of Legal Value as the source of the recorded sale price, and (4) non-judicial trustee's sale foreclosure under A.R.S. 33-807 with anti-deficiency protection for qualifying homes. For statewide context, see our Arizona Property Records page covering all 15 counties.
How Maricopa County Property Records Search Works
Professional examination for the fourth-largest county in the nation
Enter the Address
Provide the address through the order portal. We identify the city, the Recorder records, and the Assessor parcel (APN).
Select Report Scope
$29 (ownership + values) to $375 (full chain, deed-fraud, and beneficiary deed analysis). $195 recommended for any purchase; $375 for luxury, trust-held, or vacant land.
Multi-Source Examination
County Recorder records, Assessor data, notice of trustee's sale, court judgments (A.R.S. 33-961), AZ DOR tax liens, UCC filings, beneficiary deeds, and federal bankruptcy.
Report Compiled
Recording numbers, deed of trust and lien priority, trustee's sale status, beneficiary deed identification, affidavit of value, and A.R.S. citations.
PDF Delivered
Report emailed. Email office@ustitlerecords.com with questions. Asset investigation through U.S. Asset Records.
No County Office Visit
No trip to the Recorder or Assessor. Full examination of both offices without in-person access. One property, one fee. BBB A+ since 2009.
Maricopa County Property Records Questions
Authoritative answers for Phoenix and the Valley of the Sun
How Do I Search Maricopa County Property Records Online?
Use the Maricopa County Recorder's Recorded Document Search for deeds and liens (search by name, recording date, or document number), and the Assessor's parcel viewer for valuation and ownership. Foreclosures appear under the "Notice of Trustee Sale" document code. Free tools miss court judgments, UCC filings, and bankruptcy. For multi-source examination of both offices, submit the address to U.S. Title Records. From $29.
Search Records →What Is Arizona's SB 1479 Deed-Fraud Law?
Enacted in 2025 after Arizonans lost roughly $50 million to real estate fraud in 2024, SB 1479 makes filing a false real estate document a Class 5 felony, requires photo ID to record in person at the Recorder, strengthens the Affidavit of Legal Value, and directs county assessors to launch an opt-in owner-alert system by January 1, 2027. These are deterrence tools, not a title guarantee. Confirming a clean recorded chain of title remains essential. Our $375 Expanded traces the conveyance history.
Expanded Search →What Is the Difference Between the Recorder and the Assessor?
The Maricopa County Recorder (111 S 3rd Ave) maintains the recorded deeds, deeds of trust, beneficiary deeds, and liens that establish legal title, under A.R.S. 11-461. The separate Assessor maintains valuation for tax purposes (Full Cash Value and Limited Property Value). A title search needs the Recorder records, not the Assessor. Our reports examine both. Relying on the Assessor alone can miss recorded liens and beneficiary deeds.
Title Examination →How Do I Find a Maricopa County Sale Price?
The recorded sale price appears on the Affidavit of Legal Value filed with the deed, not in the deed itself. If an exemption code was used (a family transfer or a transfer into a trust), the price is not disclosed. To confirm the true consideration and an arm's-length sale, the affidavit must be located through the Recorder. Our $29 report retrieves the most recent recorded sale and affidavit of value where available.
Property Detail →How Does Maricopa County Foreclosure Work?
Most Maricopa County loans use a deed of trust, allowing non-judicial foreclosure through a trustee's sale under A.R.S. 33-807, completing in about four months. Foreclosures are searchable in the Recorder under "Notice of Trustee Sale." Arizona's anti-deficiency statute (A.R.S. 33-814) protects qualifying purchase-money homes from a shortfall judgment. For auction buyers, a $195 report identifies postings and lien priority.
Arizona Records →How Much Does a Maricopa County Title Search Cost?
Property Detail $29, Deed Copy $45, Name Search $75, Lien Report $95, Full Owner Lien $195, Chain of Title $275, Expanded $375. Same pricing as all Arizona counties. Schedule of fees.
Schedule of Fees →Maricopa County Property Records FAQ
How can I protect my Maricopa County home from deed fraud?
Arizona's SB 1479 (2025) added safeguards: filing a false real estate document is now a Class 5 felony, photo ID is required to record in person, the Affidavit of Legal Value was strengthened, and county assessors must offer an opt-in owner-alert system by January 1, 2027. You should monitor for any document recorded against your property and, before buying, confirm a clean recorded chain of title. With roughly $50 million lost to Arizona real estate fraud in 2024, vacant land and free-and-clear homes are common targets. Our $375 Expanded traces the conveyance history.
Should I search the Recorder or the Assessor for a deed?
The Recorder, not the Assessor. The Maricopa County Recorder (111 South 3rd Avenue) maintains the recorded deeds, deeds of trust, beneficiary deeds, and liens that establish legal title under A.R.S. 11-461. The Assessor maintains valuation for tax purposes and shows an owner name that can lag the recorded deed and does not show liens. For a deed or a complete title picture, use the Recorder records. Our reports examine both, plus court judgments and tax data.
Why can't I find the sale price in the deed?
Arizona deeds usually do not state the sale price. Instead, the price is recorded on the Affidavit of Legal Value filed alongside the deed. If the transfer used an exemption code, for example a transfer between family members or into a trust, the affidavit is not required and the price is not disclosed. To establish the true consideration and verify an arm's-length transaction, the affidavit must be located through the Recorder. Our $29 report retrieves the recent sale and affidavit of value where available.
How do I find a foreclosure in Maricopa County?
Foreclosures are recorded as a Notice of Trustee Sale and can be searched in the Maricopa County Recorder by that document code, or by the owner's name. Most Arizona foreclosures are non-judicial trustee's sales under A.R.S. 33-807, completing in about four months. For an auction buyer, confirming lien priority before bidding is essential, because a trustee's sale extinguishes junior liens but senior liens survive. Our $195 report identifies the trustee's sale status and lien priority.
How do I find the owner of a Maricopa County property?
The Assessor shows the owner for tax purposes by address or APN, and the Recorder shows the recorded deed by grantor/grantee name. A Property Detail Report ($29) combines both into a single verified result and flags any recorded beneficiary deed. For all Maricopa County properties owned by a person, a Title Search by Name ($75) covers the county. See our property owner search guide.
What do I need to order a Maricopa County property records report?
Only the property address. Submit through the order portal. APN also accepted. We identify the city, examine both the County Recorder and the Assessor, retrieve the affidavit of value, and check for recorded beneficiary deeds and trustee's sale postings. No account, subscription, or commitment. One fee per property. PDF via email. Same pricing as all Arizona counties. BBB A+ since 2009.
Search Maricopa County Property Records
Professional title examination for any property in Maricopa County and the Phoenix metro. Direct County Recorder access, deed-fraud and chain-of-title analysis, trustee's sale and lien priority, and comprehensive lien examination. Reports from $29.