Detailed answer — the single best first step

Start by locating and reviewing the deed and land-records for the parcel at the county Recorder of Deeds (sometimes called the Register or Recorder). In Pennsylvania, deeds and related documents (mortgages, liens, subdivision plats, and easements) are recorded at the county level. The recorded deed chain is the primary documentary evidence of who currently owns real property and how ownership has changed over time.

How to do that in practical terms:

1. Identify the county where the land sits. If you do not know the county, check historic addresses, tax bills, or ask family members. You can also use the Pennsylvania local government lookup to find county contact pages: https://www.pa.gov/local-governments/.
2. Search the county Recorder of Deeds website or visit the office in person. Most Pennsylvania counties provide an online search for recorded deeds, parcel identification (PIN or tax parcel number), and recorded maps. Search by the property owner’s name (your grandfather), by the parcel number, or by the legal description if you have it.
3. Pull the current deed and prior deeds (the chain of title). Look for the deed that transferred the parcel into your grandfather’s name, then follow subsequent recorded transfers. Pay attention to the legal description (metes and bounds or lot/block information), recorded plats, and any recorded subdivision plans that may show how the larger property was split.
4. Review probate (estate) and tax records if necessary. If your grandfather died, recorded deeds might show a transfer to heirs or a personal representative. If the property passed through probate, look for filings in the Court of Common Pleas (Orphans’ Court division) for the county where he lived. Pennsylvania guidance about probate and estate administration is available here: https://www.pa.gov/guides/probate-estate-administration/.

Why this is the right first step:

• Deeds and recordings are the official public record of transfers and interests that affect title.
• They often include the legal description you need to determine whether the disputed portion is included in a recorded transfer or subdivision.
• They reveal recorded liens, easements, and other encumbrances that can affect possession and use.

After you find the deed records, the next common steps are to (a) obtain a current survey to confirm physical boundaries, (b) hire a title company or attorney to perform a formal title search if the chain is unclear, and (c) address disputes through negotiation or court actions (for example, a quiet title action) if necessary.

When deed records may not give the full answer

There are situations where the recorded deeds won’t immediately resolve ownership:

• Boundary disputes where the written legal description differs from how fences or improvements lie on the ground.
• Claims by long-term occupants based on adverse possession or prescriptive easement (these can be complex in Pennsylvania and usually depend on long, uninterrupted use).
• Unrecorded agreements, clerical errors in recordings, or missing probate filings.

In those situations, a licensed land surveyor and a real estate attorney can help interpret the records, prepare a legal description, and advise on whether a court action (for example, to quiet title) is likely needed.

Who can help you

• County Recorder of Deeds staff — for copies of recorded documents and instructions on online search tools.
• County tax assessor or geographic information system (GIS) office — for parcel maps and parcel ID numbers.
• Title companies — to run a professional title search and issue title reports or insurance.
• Licensed land surveyors — to mark boundaries and produce a current survey.
• Real estate or probate attorneys — to interpret findings and, if necessary, bring or defend litigation relating to ownership.

Example (hypothetical): You believe your grandfather owned a 15-acre tract but a neighbor now uses part of it. You find the grandfather’s recorded deed in County X’s Recorder of Deeds website and confirm the legal description includes all 15 acres. But the neighbor points to a fence that has stood for decades. You would order a survey tied to the recorded deed, review surrounding recorded plats and deeds for any lot splits, and consult an attorney about potential adverse possession or boundary-line claims.

Reminder: property law involves statutes, court decisions, and local recording practice. The exact procedures and timelines can vary by county and by the specific facts.

Helpful hints — practical checklists to move forward

• Start online: search the county Recorder of Deeds and county GIS or tax office first. Many counties let you download deeds and maps.
• Collect identifying details: full legal name(s) used in documents, property address, and any parcel/tax ID number you can find.
• Get copies of the most recent deed, prior deeds back at least 20–30 years, and any recorded subdivision plats or surveys.
• Order a new boundary survey if physical borders are disputed or unclear. Surveys tie the written description to the ground.
• Consider a title search from a title company before making decisions about sale or use; title insurance protects against many hidden defects in the chain of title.
• If your grandfather died, search the county probate (Orphans’ Court) records for estate filings that might show how the property passed to heirs or beneficiaries.
• If someone else claims ownership or exclusive use, keep written records and photos of the dispute, and consult a real estate attorney quickly—timing matters for some claims.
• Use pa.gov’s local government pages to find county office contacts: https://www.pa.gov/local-governments/.

Practical note: Many straightforward ownership questions are resolved by locating the deed and a current county parcel map. When facts are messy (missing deeds, unclear boundaries, competing claims), professionals—surveyors, title companies, and attorneys—are the next step.