Szafran Takes Deed Recorder Oath

During an early afternoon ceremony in Bucks County Courthouse Courtroom No. 1, Joseph J. Szafran, Jr. of Bensalem, became the county’s new Recorder of Deeds.

According to a county release, Szafran received the oath of office from the Hon. James M. McMaster. He was joined by the Hon. Robert J. Mellon, Commissioner Robert G. Loughery, fellow county row officers and family members.

Szafran’s brief remarks included mention of former Bucks County Recorder of Deeds Ed Gudknecht, who passed away on June 8, 2010. Gudknecht served the residents of Bucks County as Recorder of Deeds for 25 years.

Gov. Tom Corbett appointed Szafran to succeed Gudknecht on May 23. The appointment “to hold the said office, together with all the rights, powers and privileges thereunto belonging,” is to serve until the first Monday of January 2014.

Szafran, a longtime Bensalem Council member, will oversee an office that records and maintains for permanent record all documents related to real estate (deed, mortgages, subdivision plans, etc.) and various other documents such as veterans' discharges and notary public commissions.

For more information about the Recorder of Deeds and its services, please visit the official county website, www.BucksCounty.org.