I sold a house more than 20 years ago, and since then have lost the papers from the house sale in a family tragedy. I have need to recover these house sale papers to prove I was previously a home owner. From which office could I recover these papers proving that I sold the house? The real estate office which aided in the house sale in 1983 says that all transactions are available on the internet but does not direct me to a specific site where I can find them. Where can I find a record of this house being sold and my name on the papers?

It is possible that some states and/or counties have deed records online.

But most don't.

But you can go to the court house where the property is at and get a copy of the deed and records.

Thank you Chuck

Since I have been living out of the country since I sold the house, part of what I needed is the language with which to ask for records. Would the deeds records also show that I held the mortgage on this property?

That is fairly well it,

IF you don't live in the area, you can call a title search company locally in that area and tell them you need a copy of the deed that showed you owned the property, the copy of the deed showing where it was tranfered into your name and then the deed showing where you transferred it to the next owner. And they should have a release of the lien, showing that you paid the lien off.

But basically you can ask for any records that relate to your ownership of that property ( give them general years)

** different states , and even in some states they have various methods of recording deeds and/or title to property, so some of the wording varies.
We have been going though some of that in our real estate classes last month