Manchester Property Records

Manchester deed records are kept by the Town Clerk at 41 Center Street. Connecticut does not record land documents at the county level. Every town maintains its own system. This means all deeds, mortgages, liens, and maps for Manchester property are filed only in Manchester, not at Hartford County offices. You can search these records online through SearchIQS or visit the clerk in person. The office handles warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, mortgage releases, easements, and subdivision plans. Manchester land records date back to 1823 and are available in both paper and digital formats. Online access is available 24 hours a day through a subscription service.

Manchester Town Clerk Office

The Manchester Town Clerk manages all deed recordings for properties located in Manchester. This office is part of Hartford County, but it operates independently for land records. There is no county recorder in Connecticut. Each of the state's 169 towns keeps its own land records. The Manchester Town Clerk is located at 41 Center Street. Staff can help you search for documents, explain recording procedures, and answer questions about fees. You can also use electronic recording services to submit documents without visiting the office.

Office hours run Monday through Friday during standard business hours. If you plan to record a document in person, bring it before closing time. Most town clerks stop accepting land records about 15 minutes before the office closes. E-recording is available all day through approved vendors like Simplifile, CSC, and ePN. To use e-recording in Manchester, you need a customer ID from the town. Email townclerkdept@manchesterct.gov to request your ID. Once you have it, you can submit documents electronically through any of the approved vendors.

Address: 41 Center Street, Manchester, CT 06040
Phone: (860) 647-3037
Email: townclerkdept@manchesterct.gov
Website: manchesterct.gov

The Manchester Town Clerk land records page provides information about recording procedures, fees, and online access. The image above shows this webpage, where you can find details about SearchIQS and e-recording services. Manchester land records dating back to 1823 are available through the town's online portal.

Searching Manchester Land Records

Manchester land records can be searched online through SearchIQS. This system is free to search. You can look up names, addresses, book and page numbers, and document types. The portal displays indexed information and lets you view images of recorded documents. Manchester offers a 24/7 subscription service for viewing and printing document images. Subscriptions vary in price, but most towns charge around $30 for one month or $100 to $130 for a full year.

You can also use the Connecticut Town Clerks Portal to search Manchester records. This statewide system covers more than 70 towns. Select Manchester from the list, then enter your search terms. Results appear within seconds. For certified copies, contact the Town Clerk directly. Online searches are for informational purposes. Official copies come from the clerk with a certification stamp and require payment of copy and certification fees.

Important Change: Larger Record Books

Starting with book 4584, Manchester land record books now contain 1,200 to 1,300 pages. Previously, each book held about 350 pages. This change affects how you cite and search for documents. Newer books have more pages, so the book numbers advance more slowly. When searching for recent documents, you may need to look through more pages within a single book. The change makes the system more efficient but requires attention when researching property history.

If you are searching for a document recorded before book 4584, expect smaller books with fewer pages. If your document is in book 4584 or later, the book contains many more pages. This does not affect the way documents are indexed or the fees you pay. It is simply a change in how the town organizes its records. The clerk can help you understand which book system applies to your document.

Recording Fees in Manchester

As of July 1, 2025, the recording fee in Manchester is $70 for the first page and $5 for each additional page. These fees are set by state law under Connecticut General Statutes Section 7-34a and were updated by Public Act 25-168. If your document involves a nominee like MERS, the first page costs $160. The state adds a $2 fee for conveyances with consideration over $2,000. This surcharge funds the conveyance tax reporting system managed by the Department of Revenue Services.

Additional fees apply if your document is missing required information. If the grantee's current mailing address is not on the deed, the clerk adds $5. If names are not printed beneath signatures, you pay an extra $1. Copies of documents cost $1 per page. Certification adds $2 per document. Maps cost $20 to file, or $30 if the map shows a subdivision with three or more parcels. These fees are the same across Connecticut.

Document Requirements

All deeds recorded in Manchester must meet state formatting requirements. The document must be on white paper, either 8.5" x 11" or 8.5" x 14". Use black ink and a font size of at least 10 points. The grantor must sign the deed, and their name must be printed beneath the signature. The grantee's current mailing address must appear somewhere on the deed. Two witnesses must attest to the grantor's signature, and a notary must acknowledge it. The notary can serve as one of the two witnesses.

These rules come from Connecticut General Statutes Title 47, which governs land records statewide. Section 47-10 requires all conveyances to be recorded in the town where the land is located. Section 47-5 and 47-36c set out the requirements for proper execution and acknowledgment. If your document does not meet these standards, the town clerk will reject it. You must fix the problems and resubmit.

The image above shows Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 821, which covers land and land titles. Section 47-10 requires all deeds to be recorded in the town where the property is located. Sections 47-33b through 47-33l make up the Marketable Record Title Act. These laws apply to Manchester and every other Connecticut town.

Conveyance Tax in Manchester

When property changes hands in Manchester, both state and local conveyance taxes apply. The state rate is 0.75% on the first $800,000 of a residential sale and 1.25% on the amount over $800,000. Non-residential property is taxed at 1.25% on the full sale price. Manchester also imposes a local conveyance tax. The local rate is typically 0.25%. Check with the town clerk for the current local rate.

You report these taxes using Form OP-236, the Connecticut Real Estate Conveyance Tax Return. This form must be filed electronically through the Department of Revenue Services. The town clerk forwards a copy to the state within 10 days of recording. If your transaction involves more than two grantors, attach Schedule A. Multiple grantees or an entity grantee require Schedule B.

E-Recording Services

Manchester accepts electronic recordings through four approved vendors. To use e-recording in Manchester, you must first obtain a customer ID from the town. Email townclerkdept@manchesterct.gov to request your ID. Once you have it, you can use Simplifile, CSC, ePN, or Indecomm to submit documents. You set up an account, upload your document, and pay the recording fee plus a small vendor fee. The system submits the document to the Manchester Town Clerk.

The image above shows Simplifile, an e-recording vendor approved by Connecticut towns. E-recording saves time and money. You do not need to travel to the town clerk or wait in line. Other approved vendors include Corporation Service Company (CSC), eRecording Partners Network (ePN), and Indecomm. Each vendor works the same way. You upload the document, pay the fee, and receive a recorded copy electronically.

E-recording works for most land documents, including deeds, mortgages, releases, and assignments. Some transactions that require Form OP-236 may need to be filed in person. Check with your vendor or the clerk before submitting a conveyance electronically. Maps and subdivision plans may also require in-person filing. The Manchester Town Clerk can tell you which documents are eligible for e-recording and which must be submitted on paper.

Types of Recorded Documents

The Manchester Town Clerk records all documents that affect title to real estate. This includes warranty deeds, which provide full protection to the buyer, and quitclaim deeds, which transfer only the interest the grantor has. Mortgages are recorded when you borrow money to buy a house. When the loan is paid off, a release or discharge of mortgage is filed. Liens from contractors, tax authorities, and judgment creditors are also recorded.

Other documents include easements, which grant rights to use land for specific purposes like utilities or access roads. Affidavits of title clarify ownership when there is a name change or an error in a prior deed. Condominium documents, including master deeds and association bylaws, are filed when a new condo development is created. Maps and subdivision plans show how land is divided into lots. All of these records are public.

Marketable Title in Connecticut

Connecticut law requires title searches to go back 40 years. This rule is part of the Marketable Record Title Act, found in CGS Title 47. If you can show an unbroken chain of ownership for 40 years, you have marketable title. The root of title must be a document recorded at least 40 years ago. Claims or defects that arose before the root of title are extinguished unless they were re-recorded or fall under an exception.

This law simplifies title searches. Instead of going back to the original land grant, you only need to check 40 years of records. Manchester land records date back to 1823, but for most transactions, a 40-year search is enough. Title companies and attorneys use this law to determine if a property has clear title.

The Connecticut Town Clerks Portal serves more than 70 towns, including Manchester. This portal is open 24 hours a day and lets you search land record indexes and view document images. The image above shows the portal homepage. You select the town you want to search, then enter a name, date, or document type.

Legal Resources in Manchester

If you need legal advice about deed records, hire an attorney. The town clerk cannot give legal advice or tell you which type of deed to use. An attorney can prepare deeds, review title, and handle complex transactions. The Connecticut Secretary of the State provides business services and notary information, but does not offer legal referrals.

Legal aid organizations serve low-income residents who cannot afford private attorneys. Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut offers help with housing issues, which sometimes involve deed questions. Their services are free for those who qualify. You can find contact information on the Connecticut Judicial Branch website.

Nearby Cities and Towns

Manchester is located in central Connecticut, east of Hartford. Glastonbury is just south of Manchester. East Hartford is to the west. South Windsor and Vernon are to the north. Each town has its own clerk, its own online system, and its own office hours. If you own property in multiple towns, you must search each town separately.

When researching property in the Manchester area, make sure you know which town the land is in. Addresses can be misleading, especially near town borders. Check the property tax bill or ask the seller to confirm the town name. Recording a deed in the wrong town can delay closing and create title problems that are expensive to fix.