Search Prince George's County Property Records
Prince George's County property records are filed through a two-step process at separate offices in Upper Marlboro and Largo, and understanding that process is key before you try to record or research any deed in Maryland's second most populous county.
Prince George's County Overview
Circuit Court Clerk Office
Mahasin El Amin is the Circuit Court Clerk for Prince George's County. Her land records office is located at 14701 Governor Oden Bowie Drive, Room J1108, Upper Marlboro, MD. The main phone number for land records is (301) 952-3318. This is where recorded deeds, mortgages, liens, and related instruments are kept in the official public record. Prince George's County borders Washington, D.C., to the north and Montgomery County to the northwest. Despite the county's large suburban and urban population, the county seat at Upper Marlboro remains a small town, and the courthouse there serves the entire county for land records purposes.
For most research tasks, the land records office in Upper Marlboro is where you need to go or contact. Staff can help you locate recorded instruments, confirm filing requirements, and process copy requests. The office accepts walk-in visitors during business hours. If you plan to submit a deed for recording, read the two-step process section below carefully before arriving, since showing up at the Clerk's office first without the Finance stamp will send you back to Largo.
The land records portal for Prince George's County is at princegeorgescourts.org.
This page on the county courts site gives an overview of land records services, what the office accepts, and how to contact the right staff.
| Clerk | Mahasin El Amin |
|---|---|
| Address | 14701 Governor Oden Bowie Dr, Room J1108 Upper Marlboro, MD |
| Phone | (301) 952-3318 |
| Website | princegeorgescourts.org |
The Two-Step Recording Process
Prince George's County uses the standard Maryland two-step recording process, but the Finance office and the Clerk's office are in different cities. You must go to Finance first, then bring the stamped document to the Clerk. Do not reverse the order.
Step one is the Office of Finance, located at 1301 McCormick Drive, Suite 1100, Largo, MD. The phone number is (301) 952-4030. Finance staff calculate the recordation tax, the state transfer tax, and the local transfer tax, then stamp the document to confirm payment. The Prince George's County recordation tax rate is 0.55% of consideration. The state transfer tax is 0.5% (or 0.25% for qualifying first-time buyers under the Maryland exemption). The local transfer tax in Prince George's County is 1.4%, which is on the higher end for Maryland counties. Add it all together and the total tax burden on a typical transaction runs around 2.45% of the sale price. On a $400,000 home, that is roughly $9,800 in transfer and recordation taxes alone before recording fees.
For a detailed look at the deed recording workflow, the county courts site has a dedicated page.
The deed recording process page on the Prince George's County courts site explains each step, what documents are needed, and what to expect at both offices.
Review this page before you bring a deed in for recording to make sure it is properly prepared and that all parties have signed before stamps are applied.
Step two is the Circuit Court Clerk's land records office at the Upper Marlboro courthouse. Once Finance has stamped the document and collected the taxes, bring it to Room J1108. The Clerk's office collects the recording fees at this stage: $20 for the first two pages, $5 per additional page, and the $75 surcharge. The Clerk assigns a liber and folio reference and enters the document into the index. Under Real Property Article § 3-101, the deed is not effective against third parties until it is recorded. Credit cards are accepted at the Prince George's County offices, which is not the case in every Maryland county.
| Office of Finance | 1301 McCormick Dr, Suite 1100 Largo, MD |
|---|---|
| Finance Phone | (301) 952-4030 |
| SDAT Local Office | 14741 Governor Oden Bowie Dr, Room 1090 (301) 952-2500 |
| Recordation Tax | 0.55% |
| Local Transfer Tax | 1.4% |
| Credit Cards | Accepted |
Searching Prince George's County Property Records
Online searching is available through several platforms. MDLandRec at landrec.msa.maryland.gov is the primary source for recorded deeds and instruments in Prince George's County. The Maryland State Archives maintains this system, and it holds documents going back well into the county's early history. You can search by grantor name, grantee name, document type, or liber and folio. Images of recorded documents are available for many years of records.
SDAT at dat.maryland.gov handles assessment data. Prince George's County is SDAT Code 17. Search by property address or account number to see the current assessment, owner information, and property classification. SDAT does not support searching by owner name. The local SDAT office for Prince George's County is at 14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive, Room 1090, and can be reached at (301) 952-2500. This office handles assessment appeals, homestead credit applications, and tax credit programs for county property owners.
The county courts directory also provides reference information for the circuit court in Upper Marlboro. See the Prince George's County courts directory for current contact details and directions.
This directory page lists current office locations, phone numbers, and hours for the Prince George's County courthouse in Upper Marlboro.
Assessments and Tax Credits
SDAT reassesses all Prince George's County properties on a three-year cycle. When a new assessment arrives, property owners have 45 days to file an appeal with the Supervisor of Assessments. If the appeal at that level does not resolve the dispute, the next step is the Property Tax Assessment Appeals Board, and after that, the Maryland Tax Court. Most assessment disputes are resolved at the supervisor level.
The homestead tax credit limits how much the taxable assessment for an owner-occupied home can increase each year. This credit is particularly important in high-activity markets because it can significantly reduce the year-over-year tax increase when values rise fast. You apply through SDAT, and once approved, the credit stays with the property as long as you live there as your primary residence. The homeowners and renters tax credit programs also offer relief based on income levels. Contact SDAT at 410-767-1184 or sdat.411@maryland.gov to ask about eligibility.
Real Property Article § 8-703 applies to ground rent instruments, which can appear in title searches for older Prince George's County properties, particularly those closer to the D.C. border and in neighborhoods developed in the mid-twentieth century. Check the title history carefully to confirm whether any ground rent was ever created on a parcel and whether it has been redeemed.
Cities in Prince George's County
Prince George's County has a large population spread across many communities. Among those that meet the threshold for a dedicated property records page is Bowie, the county's largest city. All other cities in the county file property records through the same Circuit Court Clerk office in Upper Marlboro.
Other communities in Prince George's County include Laurel, College Park, Greenbelt, Hyattsville, Landover, Oxon Hill, Suitland, and many more. All record deeds and land instruments at the courthouse in Upper Marlboro.
Nearby Counties
Prince George's County borders several Maryland counties as well as Washington, D.C. If you need property records from a neighboring jurisdiction, start with the county clerk that serves the area where the property is located.