In 1803, Ohio was granted statehood and the Ohio Legislature established the Recorder as a mandated office. In 1840 Summit County started preserving their own records. In 1991, a charter amendment was passed in Summit County to merge the Recorder's Office with the county Auditor's office beginning in 1997. In 2001, the voters passed a charter amendment to merge the county Auditor's office with the county Treasurer's office into a new office.

The Records Division is responsible for the safekeeping of vital records pertaining to ownership in real estate and to all encumbrances or liens upon it. Documents are indexed so they may be readily located and include deeds, mortgages, easements, plats, financial statements, releases and assignments, land contracts and condominiums. These invaluable records are utilized by the general public, attorneys, historians, genealogists and land title examiners. Military Discharges (DD-214) are not viewable online.

In an effort to protect the citizens of Summit County, the Recorder Division is currently redacting (editing/revising) personal information from images viewed online. If you should see any personal information on a recorded document please contact our office immediately with book and page/reception number so it can be removed.