How to Record a Deed in Maricopa County

Where to record

Record the deed with the Maricopa County Recorder, in the county where the property is located. The Recorder's digital recording program is for regular, high-volume recording customers: a customer must open an account and sign a memorandum of understanding before submitting digitally, and the Recorder states the method is not suitable for one-time recordings. A one-time recording is presented in person or by mail. The Recorder's office address stated on its digital recording page is 301 W Jefferson St., Second Floor, Suite 200, Phoenix, AZ 85003.

The Recorder records and preserves documents. This guide does not state that the Recorder's office will advise which document to record, prepare a document, or decide whether a deed is legally sufficient. Questions about which document accomplishes a filer's goal are legal questions for the filer's own lawyer. No Recorder FAQ page stating that limit verbatim was opened for this guide; the limit is stated here as the scope of the office's recording function, and the parent run should re-verify the Recorder's own wording before publication.

The fee: $30 per instrument

A.R.S. 11-475(A)(1) sets the fee at $30 per instrument for recording papers required or authorized by law to be recorded, if the fee is not otherwise specified in the section. A.R.S. 11-475(A)(2) sets $15 per instrument for recording papers to which the United States, the state, or a political subdivision of the state, including cities, towns, and irrigation, drainage, and electrical districts, is a party, when recorded at the request of that entity. The fees in paragraphs 1 and 2 include the amount charged under section 11-475.01.

No $9 fee figure is stated anywhere in this guide. Older per-page fee figures for Arizona recording are stale law and were not carried. No plat or survey fee figure is stated here, because no plat fee figure was verified on a Recorder or statute page opened for this guide. Copies are a separate charge from recording: preparing and certifying copies is $1 for each page or partial page, plus $3 for attaching the Recorder's certificate and seal, under section 11-475(A)(3). Buying a copy of an already-recorded document is not the same charge as recording a document.

Format rules: A.R.S. 11-480

Only an instrument that fails one of the following conditions on presentation may be rejected for recordation at the time of presentation:

1. A caption briefly stating the nature of the instrument, such as warranty deed or release of mortgage. The Recorder has no obligation to index an instrument under a subject index category unless that category is included in the caption.
2. An original, sufficiently legible for the Recorder to make certified copies from the photographic or micrographic record.
3. Original signatures, except when otherwise provided by law.
4. For an instrument dated and executed on or after January 1, 1991, no larger than 8.5 inches in width and no longer than 14 inches, with print size no smaller than 10-point type.

Each instrument dated and executed on or after January 1, 1991 must have at least a one-half inch margin across the top, bottom, and left and right sides. Markings within that margin are deemed not to impart the notice otherwise imparted by recordation, unless they appear in the reproduction produced under the Recorder's direction and control. Failure to meet the one-half inch margin requirement may affect notice but is not grounds for rejection under subsection A.

The first page must have a top margin of at least two inches, reserved for recording information. The left 3.5 inches of that top margin may be used to show the name of the person requesting recording and the name and address to which the document is to be returned after recording. If the first page does not comply with the top-margin requirement, a separate sheet meeting the requirements and reflecting the document title must be attached to the front of the document by the party requesting recording. An instrument that modifies a previously recorded document must state the date of recordation and the docket and page of the document being modified.

Affidavit of Legal Value: A.R.S. 11-1133

Each deed evidencing a transfer of title, and any contract relating to the sale of real property, must have appended at the time of recording an affidavit of the seller and the buyer, or the agent of either or both, in a form approved by the Department of Revenue. The affidavit jointly certifies:

1. The name, mailing address, and telephone number of the buyer and seller.
2. The name and address where a tax statement may be sent.
3. The complete legal description of the property.
4. The situs address, if any, of the property.
5. The date of sale.
6. The total consideration paid, the amount of cash down payment, and whether financing included cash, a new third-party loan, a new loan from the seller, an assumption of an existing loan, or an exchange or trade of property.
7. Whether the estimated market value of personal property received by the buyer equals 5 percent or more of the total consideration.
8. The assessor's parcel number or numbers, or the previous parcel numbers where a new parcel has no number assigned yet.
9. The conditions of the transaction, including the relationship, if any, of the parties.
10. The use and description of the property and, for a residential dwelling, whether it is to be owner-occupied or rented.
11. The name and address of the person to contact about the information in the affidavit.

The Recorder must refuse to record any deed or contract relating to the sale of real property if a complete affidavit of legal value is not appended, unless the instrument bears a notation indicating an exemption under section 11-1134. An affidavit is complete if all required information is stated on the form or indicated as "not applicable." The form used in practice is the Department of Revenue Affidavit of Property Value; the statute calls the instrument an affidavit of legal value. No exemption list is stated here, because section 11-1134 was not opened for this guide. Do not assume a transfer is exempt. Check the exemption notation requirement against the instrument before presenting it.

For recording requirements in other counties, see the Document Recording by County directory. To check fee and format requirements by county, use the Document Recording Requirements Checker.

Source

Sources: A.R.S. 11-475, Fees; exemption, FindLaw republication current as of January 1, 2025 (codes.findlaw.com); A.R.S. 11-1133, Affidavit of legal value, Arizona Legislature official text (azleg.gov); A.R.S. 11-480, Requirements for form of instruments, LawServer republication (lawserver.com); Maricopa County Recorder, Digital Recording Program (recorder.maricopa.gov). Facts verified 2026-11-03.

This page explains how the process works and what the official rules say. It is general information, not legal advice. For a dispute about your specific situation, talk to the Maricopa County Recorder.