North Dakota · Document Recording
Recording a Deed or Document in McKenzie County, ND
McKenzie County (population 15,192) records real-property documents through the McKenzie County Recorder. Below is what it costs and how to submit. Filing a memorandum of contract? We record it with the county for $199, notary included — no trip to the courthouse.
McKenzie County recorder — contact
- Recording office
- McKenzie County Recorder
- Mailing address
- McKenzie County Recorder, McKenzie County Courthouse, 201 5th St. NW, Ste. 523, Watford City, ND 58854
- Phone
- (701) 444-3616 ext. 4 (fax (701) 444-3902)
- Checks payable to
- McKenzie County Recorder
- Electronic recording
- Available via Simplifile
McKenzie County recording fees
- First page / base fee
- $20.00 (1-6 pages, excluding plats)
- Additional pages
- $65.00 (7-25 pages); $3.00/page over 25 pages
- Other fees
- $10.00 margin fee if <1 inch margin on one side of each page; $3.00 per related document after first 10 listed; $1.00 per section after first 10 listed sections (per McKenzie County Recorder Fee Schedule)
Counties change fees without notice. Check with the McKenzie County Recorder before you mail a check.
What McKenzie County requires
- Page formatting
- 1-inch margins required or $10 fee applies; standard letter/legal paper, black ink
- Cover sheet
- No mandated cover sheet; top 3-inch blank margin required on first page for recorder stamp; sections must be listed individually (no paragraph-style legal descriptions)
- Submission & return
- Return by mail to submitter or pickup
Can you e-record in McKenzie County?
Yes. McKenzie County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile, so a properly formatted document can be recorded the same or next business day without mailing paper.
How to record a document in McKenzie County, North Dakota
- Prepare the document so it meets McKenzie County's formatting rules (above): legal description, grantee address, signature block, and the blank space the recorder reserves for its stamp.
- Notarize it if the instrument requires acknowledgment. Most deeds and affidavits do.
- Submit electronically through Simplifile, or by mail to McKenzie County Recorder.
- Pay the recording fee, payable to McKenzie County Recorder.
- Receive the recorded instrument back with its book/page or instrument number as proof of record.
Looking up a McKenzie County property
Owner names, parcel numbers and legal descriptions for McKenzie County property are searchable at McKenzie County Director of Tax Equalization (NorthDakotaAssessors.com Real Estate Search). A deed or memorandum needs the exact legal description, so pull it from there or from the last recorded deed.
Filing with Jurably in North Dakota
North Dakota isn't available quite yet — it's coming soon. See the states we file in.