Clearfield Deed Records
Clearfield is a Davis County city located in the heart of the Wasatch Front corridor, close to Hill Air Force Base and adjacent to several other cities in the northern Salt Lake metropolitan area. Its population sits near 32,000. Property deed records for Clearfield are held at the county level. The Davis County Recorder in Farmington is the office that records, indexes, and maintains all real estate documents for land within Clearfield city limits. If you need to research a deed, file a new property document, or confirm ownership, that is the office to contact, not Clearfield City Hall.
Clearfield Quick Facts
Who Keeps Clearfield Deed Records
The Clearfield City Recorder is located at 55 South State Street, Clearfield, UT 84015, and can be reached at (801) 525-2700. This office maintains city government records including meeting minutes, local ordinances, resolutions, and city contracts. Property deeds are not part of that function. The city recorder has no role in the recording or retrieval of real estate documents.
All deed records for property within Clearfield are filed at the Davis County Recorder's office, 61 South Main Street, Farmington, UT 84025, phone (801) 451-3222. This is the legally designated office for recording real property instruments in Davis County. The requirement comes from § 57-3-101 of the Utah Code Title 57, which mandates that any instrument affecting real property be recorded with the county recorder to be effective against third parties. Without recording, a deed has no legal effect against a subsequent buyer or creditor who has no knowledge of it.
Utah's race-notice recording system rewards prompt filing. If two parties both claim rights to the same Clearfield property, the one who recorded first generally wins, provided that person had no notice of the other's prior unrecorded claim. This is why buyers and lenders are careful to record immediately after closing.
Note: The $40 recording fee in Davis County is the base charge for most standard documents; additional fees may apply for extra pages or special handling.
Clearfield Deed Records via REDI Online
Davis County's REDI system is the primary tool for searching Clearfield deed records online. REDI stands for Real Estate Document Index. The portal provides public access to recorded instruments, ownership data, and other real estate filings for all parcels in Davis County, including those within Clearfield.
The Davis County web portal is the entry point for the REDI system. Some features are available without an account, while others require free registration. Once inside, you can search Clearfield deed records by parcel number, grantor name, grantee name, or document type. The system displays filed instruments and often links to scanned copies of the original documents. This is useful for confirming ownership, checking for liens, or reviewing the chain of title before a real estate transaction.
The REDI index is updated as documents are processed by the recorder's office. Most new recordings appear in the online system within one to two business days. For time-sensitive research, calling the recorder's office directly at (801) 451-3222 gives you the most current information.
Historical Deed Records for Clearfield
Clearfield's history includes significant growth tied to wartime industrial activity and the proximity of Hill Air Force Base, which was established in 1940. Deed records from that era and earlier are part of the county's historical files, though the oldest records may not be available through the REDI online system. For research into Clearfield properties that changed hands before the county's electronic index was established, additional resources are needed.
The Utah State Archives maintains historical government records from across the state, including older real estate documents that predate modern county indexing systems. Researchers studying Clearfield's property history from the mid-twentieth century or earlier can request records through the archives. Some materials have been digitized and are available online, while others require an in-person visit to the archives facility in Salt Lake City. The archives also hold records from predecessor governmental units that may be relevant to understanding land ownership history in the Clearfield area.
Genealogists tracing family land ownership through Clearfield often use the archives alongside the county recorder's records to build a complete picture of a property's history. The combination of both sources provides the most thorough coverage across different time periods.
Deed Record Types for Clearfield Properties
The Davis County Recorder holds many types of real estate documents that affect Clearfield properties. Warranty deeds are the primary instrument used in residential sales. The seller warrants clear title back through the property's full history. Quitclaim deeds convey whatever interest a person holds without any such warranty, making them common in family transactions, estate distributions, and name corrections on existing deeds.
Trust deeds are the loan security documents used when a Clearfield homebuyer takes out a mortgage. The lender records a trust deed that encumbers the property until the loan is paid. A reconveyance deed releases that lien once the debt is cleared. Mechanics liens filed by unpaid contractors, judgment liens from court orders, and easements for utilities or access are also part of the deed records held for Clearfield properties. Each of these instruments contributes to the chain of title that any buyer or lender reviews before completing a transaction.
Accessing Clearfield Deed Records as a Public Record
Under GRAMA, Utah Code § 63G-2, deed records are public documents. Any person can request access without having to prove a legal interest or explain the reason for the request. The Davis County Recorder provides certified and uncertified copies of recorded instruments. Certified copies bear the official recorder's seal and are used when a legal proceeding or formal transaction requires official documentation. Uncertified copies are adequate for most personal or research purposes.
Copy requests can be made in person at the Farmington office, by mail, or in some cases by printing directly from the REDI portal. Fees vary by document type and page count. Contact the recorder's office at (801) 451-3222 for the current schedule. For large research projects covering many Clearfield deed records, visiting the office in person and working with staff can often be more efficient than submitting individual written requests.
Note: The Davis County Recorder's office is at 61 South Main Street in Farmington, which is a short drive from Clearfield along the corridor connecting the cities of Davis County.
Recording a Deed for Clearfield Property
New deeds and other real estate documents affecting Clearfield property must be submitted to the Davis County Recorder. The office accepts documents in person, by mail, and through approved e-recording vendors. Electronic recording has become the preferred method for title companies and law firms because it is faster, eliminates mail delays, and results in quicker indexing of the document in the public record.
Documents must comply with § 57-3-101 and § 57-3-103 of the Utah Code. This means including a legal description of the Clearfield property, identifying all grantors and grantees, stating the consideration, having the document properly notarized, and meeting the required page format. The recorder's office reviews each submission before recording. Documents that do not comply are returned. Once a deed is recorded, it is part of the permanent public record and is indexed immediately in the REDI system.