Illinois Forms

Stephenson County Special Warranty Deed Form

Stephenson County Special Warranty Deed Form

Stephenson County Special Warranty Deed Form

Fill in the blank form formatted to comply with all recording and content requirements.

Document Last Validated 8/15/2025
Stephenson County Special Warranty Deed Guide

Stephenson County Special Warranty Deed Guide

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.

Document Last Validated 8/12/2025
Stephenson County Completed Example of the Special Warranty Deed Document

Stephenson County Completed Example of the Special Warranty Deed Document

Example of a properly completed form for reference.

Document Last Validated 7/8/2025

All 3 documents above included • One-time purchase • No recurring fees

Immediate Download • Secure Checkout

Important: Your property must be located in Stephenson County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.

Where to Record Your Documents

Stephenson County Clerk and Recorder
Address:
50 West Douglas, Suite 500
Freeport, Illinois 61032

Hours: 8:30 to 4:30 Monday through Friday

Phone: (815) 235-8289

Recording Tips for Stephenson County:
  • Bring your driver's license or state-issued photo ID
  • White-out or correction fluid may cause rejection
  • Documents must be on 8.5 x 11 inch white paper
  • Make copies of your documents before recording - keep originals safe

Cities and Jurisdictions in Stephenson County

Properties in any of these areas use Stephenson County forms:

  • Cedarville
  • Dakota
  • Davis
  • Eleroy
  • Freeport
  • German Valley
  • Kent
  • Lena
  • Mc Connell
  • Orangeville
  • Pearl City
  • Ridott
  • Rock City
  • Winslow

View Complete Recorder Office Guide

Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Stephenson County

How do I get my forms?

Forms are available for immediate download after payment. The Stephenson County forms will be in your account ready to download to your computer. An account is created for you during checkout if you don't have one. Forms are NOT emailed.

Are these forms guaranteed to be recordable in Stephenson County?

Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed all formatting requirements set forth by Stephenson County including margin requirements, content requirements, font and font size requirements.

Can I reuse these forms?

Yes. You can reuse the forms for your personal use. For example, if you have multiple properties in Stephenson County you only need to order once.

What do I need to use these forms?

The forms are PDFs that you fill out on your computer. You'll need Adobe Reader (free software that most computers already have). You do NOT enter your property information online - you download the blank forms and complete them privately on your own computer.

Are there any recurring fees?

No. This is a one-time purchase. Nothing to cancel, no memberships, no recurring fees.

How much does it cost to record in Stephenson County?

Recording fees in Stephenson County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (815) 235-8289 for current fees.

Questions answered? Let's get started!

A special warranty deed is a legal document used to transfer, or convey, rights in real property from a grantor (seller) to a grantee (buyer). Also referred to as a limited warranty deed, this type of deed provides significant liability protection for the grantor (seller), and less protection for the grantee (buyer). In a special warranty deed, the grantor only warrants against defects in the title during his or her ownership, and that he or she has an actual right to the title, and is authorized to sell it. Unlike a deed with full warranty, however, it does not guarantee that there are no other claims on the title of the property before the grantor owned the property, nor does it bind the grantor to defend against them. Because of the risk of unknown claims on the title, special warranty deeds are less common than traditional warranty deeds for residential real estate transactions.

A special warranty deed, once acknowledged, should be recorded in the recorder's office in the county where such lands are located. If it is acknowledged in Illinois, acknowledgements may be taken before a notary public, United States commissioner, county clerk, or any court, judge, clerk, or deputy clerk of such court. When they are taken before a notary public or United States commissioner, they must be attested by his or her official seal; and if taken before a judge or clerk of a court, the acknowledgements must be attested by the seal of the court (765 ILCS 5/20).

A lawful deed includes the grantor's full name and marital status, as well as the grantee's full name, marital status, mailing address, and vesting. Vesting describes how the grantee holds title to the property. For Illinois residential property, the primary methods for holding title in co-ownership are tenancy in common, joint tenancy and tenancy by entirety. A grant of ownership of real estate to two or more persons creates a tenancy in common, unless a joint tenancy or tenancy by the entirety is specified. (765 ILCS 1005/1, 1005/1c.).

As with any conveyance of real estate, special warranty deeds must comply with all state and local recording standards, including a complete legal description of the parcel. Recite the source of title to establish a clear chain of title, and detail any restrictions associated with the property.

Include all relevant documents, affidavits, forms, and fees with the along with the deed for recording as well. Pursuant to 35 ILCS 200/31-10, documents conveying real property are subject to a documentary transfer tax. An Illinois Real Estate Transfer Declaration is required (35 ILCS 200/31-25), unless an exemption is claimed. See 35 ILCS 200/31-45 for a list of exemptions.

A Notarial Record Form is also required, unless an exemption is claimed. A list of exempt conveyances can be found on page 1 of the Notarial Record Form (5 ILCS 312/3-102). Some Illinois counties require a Plat Act Affidavit of Metes and Bounds pursuant to 765 ILCS 205/1 with all deeds, assuring that the land has not been divided or identifies specific types of division according to the plat act. Contact the local recorder for additional details about supplemental document requirements.

This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Consult an attorney with questions about special warranty deeds or for any other issues related to the transfer of real property.

(Illinois Special Warranty Deed Package includes form, guidelines, and completed example)

Important: Your property must be located in Stephenson County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.

This Special Warranty Deed meets all recording requirements specific to Stephenson County.

Our Promise

The documents you receive here will meet, or exceed, the Stephenson County recording requirements for formatting. If there's an issue caused by our formatting, we'll make it right and refund your payment.

Save Time and Money

Get your Stephenson County Special Warranty Deed form done right the first time with Deeds.com Uniform Conveyancing Blanks. At Deeds.com, we understand that your time and money are valuable resources, and we don't want you to face a penalty fee or rejection imposed by a county recorder for submitting nonstandard documents. We constantly review and update our forms to meet rapidly changing state and county recording requirements for roughly 3,500 counties and local jurisdictions.

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February 20th, 2022

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December 16th, 2020

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May 7th, 2019

Very quick and gave me exactly what I needed! I would have had to go down to the courts and take off work to get this info otherwise.

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Erika K.

July 3rd, 2020

Very Easy to use, especially since the county recorder's office is closed due to COVID-19

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Jim J.

February 8th, 2019

The forms were easy to use and the fields are tabbed so that you can enter your information and then move quickly to the next entry. The Guide for the documents was very helpful.

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November 23rd, 2019

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February 27th, 2020

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April 22nd, 2020

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James J.

October 2nd, 2021

Thank you for service. The deed process was easy to complete. My new deed was accepted by the county clerk and the tax assessors office.

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September 23rd, 2022

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March 19th, 2019

Forms & Guide easy to use. It would have been helpful if the counties with identical form packages were identified. I bought two packages when I could have used one.

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