Harrington Deed Records

Harrington deed records are filed at the Kent County Recorder of Deeds at 555 Bay Road in Dover. The drive from Harrington to Dover runs about 20 minutes. Online search for Harrington deeds is free through the Kent County Real Property Search. Records go back to January 30, 1874. Anyone can look up a Harrington deed by grantor name, grantee name, book and page, or parcel ID. This page covers where to file a new Harrington deed, how to use the online search tools, and how to get a certified copy of any Harrington record.

Where to File Harrington Deed Records

Harrington sits in Kent County. All Harrington deeds, mortgages, and liens get recorded at the Kent County Recorder of Deeds at 555 Bay Road in Dover. The office is led by Hon. Eugenia Thornton, the elected Recorder of Deeds.

Harrington residents can use the drop box outside the Kent County building for after-hours filings. A local title company or attorney usually handles the trip to Dover for a typical home closing. You can also send a deed by mail with the right fees, and the office will return the certified copy.

Search Harrington Deed Records

Search Harrington deed records online through the Kent County Real Property Search. Records go back to January 30, 1874. Type a name in the search box to see matching Harrington records right away. Watermarked viewing is free. Downloading or printing a clean copy costs $2 per page for casual use, or $75 per month for an unlimited subscription.

For property assessment data, use the Kent County Property Records Search. Search by address, owner name, or parcel ID to see ownership, source of title, sale prices, transfer dates, legal descriptions, and a history of assessments for any Harrington home.

To search Harrington deed records, you need:

• Full name of the grantor or grantee
• Harrington street address or parcel ID
• Approximate date of the transfer
• Book and page for older records

Harrington property owners can also pull ownership and tax details from the Kent County Levy Court Property Records. The system ties together ownership, deed records, values, taxes, and assessment history for any Harrington parcel.

Harrington sales follow the Delaware attorney closing rule. Only a Delaware-licensed attorney can run the closing and release the settlement funds. Both buyer and seller usually have their own attorney. The attorney handles the title search at the Kent County office, runs the closing, and sends the deed to Dover for recording.

Harrington Deed Record Types

The Kent County recorder takes every kind of paper tied to a Harrington property. Warranty deeds and quitclaim deeds lead the volume. Mortgages and satisfaction pieces sit right behind. The office also indexes easements, liens, and subdivision plats.

Common Harrington filings:

• Warranty deeds and quitclaim deeds
• Mortgages and satisfaction pieces
• Federal and state tax liens
• Easements and deed restrictions
• Assignments of mortgage
• Plot plans and subdivision maps
• Transfer on Death deeds

Harrington deed records follow the same Delaware rules as the rest of Kent County. Under Delaware Code Section 9605, the recorder must accept deeds, indentures, mortgages, and related instruments within a reasonable time. The statute also bars the recording of any deed that limits sale, lease, or use of property based on protected traits. These old covenants can be struck from a Harrington deed on request.

Harrington Recording Fees

Recording fees for Harrington properties match the Kent County schedule. A two-page Harrington deed costs $56. A 20-page mortgage runs $231. Each extra page adds $10.

Copy costs for Harrington deeds:

• Online printing: $2 per page
• Monthly unlimited subscription: $75
• Staff-printed copy: $1 per page
• Certified copy: $3 at the counter

Transfer tax on a Harrington home sale is 1.5% state and 1.5% county, for a combined 3%. Buyer and seller typically split the total 50/50. Harrington does not add a local transfer tax. First-time home buyers can get the county share waived if they meet the Delaware test.

Historical Harrington Deed Records

Harrington grew around the railroad line in the late 1800s. Most Harrington deed records therefore start in the online system from 1874 forward. Paper books at the Kent County office cover earlier years for any Harrington parcel tied to older farm land.

For deeper research, the Delaware Public Archives in Dover holds bound books and microfilm for Kent County records back to the late 1600s. Microfilm copies of Kent County deeds from 1680 to 1850 and indexes from 1680 to 1873 are also available at the FamilySearch Library. These are helpful for any Harrington property tied to an older Kent County farm grant.

Harrington Deed Records and Delaware Law

Harrington recordings follow Delaware Code Title 9, Chapter 96. Under Section 9605, the Kent County recorder must accept deeds, indentures, mortgages, and letters of attorney tied to a Harrington property. The recorder cannot accept a deed that lacks an affidavit of residence and gain. The deed must also show the tax parcel number in a conspicuous place on the first page. The "prepared by" line must show the name and address of the drafter.

Title 25, Section 151 requires each Harrington deed to be recorded in Kent County, since that is where the land sits. Recording creates public notice and serves as sufficient evidence of the transfer. A gap in the chain of title can cloud a later sale, so most buyers order a full title search before closing.

Harrington is an attorney closing city. Only a Delaware-licensed attorney can conduct a Harrington closing and release the settlement funds. Both buyer and seller typically have their own attorney, who run the title search, handle the closing, and send the recorded deed to Kent County.

Harrington Deed Research Tips

Harrington deed research moves faster when you use the right tool in the right order. Start with the Kent County Real Property Search online for anything after 1874. Pull the book and page, then move to the Kent County Property Records Search for the current assessed value and owner info.

A few Harrington-specific tips:

• Old Harrington records may reference Mispillion Hundred or Northwest Fork Hundred
• Many Harrington deeds in the 1880s tied to railroad expansion
• Always verify current ownership through the parcel search
• Use the free Property Fraud Alert to watch for new filings on your Harrington home

The Kent County office also keeps fact sheets on how to add or remove a name from a Harrington deed, how to record a Transfer on Death deed, and how to ask the recorder to strike old race-based covenants. Fact sheets are free at the counter and online.

Kent County Deed Records

Harrington is in Kent County. For more on the county office, search tools, and fees, see the county page.

View Kent County Deed Records

Nearby Cities

These Delaware cities are near Harrington. Each files deeds through its own county recorder.