Adams County Recorder Information

Land records in Adams County are recorded by the Recorder of Deeds. The office is held by Ryan A. Niekamp.

Free public terminals are available at the office to search land records.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Recorder of Deeds | Adams County, IL · Land Records Search | Adams County, IL

These government fees are separate from any Deeds.com service fees. Confirm current charges with the recorder's office.

Other charges

StatewideCounties set a predictable fee schedule by ordinance or resolution, with one all-inclusive aggregate fee for each document class (deeds; leases; mortgages, including assignments, extensions, amendments, subordinations and mortgage releases; easements; nonstandard documents; miscellaneous; maps or plats). Fees may not be based on page count or other individual attributes of a document. Statutory minimum aggregate fee for each of these classes: $31 (a minimum $13 county fee plus the $18 Rental Housing Support Program State surcharge). The minimum for maps or plats is $50. A county may adopt an additional fee for a document that references more than 5 tax parcels or document numbers. Certified and non-certified copy fees may not exceed the highest document class recording fee.

The minimum fee for land records applies to documents under 50 pages on 8½ x 11 paper. Plat of Surveys (5 copies required): $80.00. Plats of Subdivision (8 copies required): $104.00. Financing Statements: $58.00. Copies from microfilm for plats: $3.00 each. Certified copies, additional pages after the first 10: $0.50 each. Certified DD-214 / military discharge papers, first 3 copies: $0.00.

Transfer tax

Illinois Real Estate Transfer Tax. 50¢ for each $500 of value or fraction of $500 stated in the declaration required by Section 31-25. The tax is collected when the document is recorded. (statewide, 35 ILCS 200/31-10)

StatewideCounties may add a county real estate transfer tax at the rate of 25 cents for each $500 of value or fraction thereof stated in the declaration required by Section 31-25 of the Property Tax Code (55 ILCS 5/5-1031). The recorder or registrar of titles collects it before recording the deed or trust document. Home rule municipalities may levy their own transfer taxes. The amount of a mortgage remaining outstanding when real estate is transferred subject to it is not included in the basis.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: 55 ILCS 5/3-5018.2 · 35 ILCS 200/31-10 Imposition of tax · 55 ILCS 5/5-1031 County real estate transfer tax · Recording Fees | Adams County, IL

Confirm current requirements with the recorder's office before submitting documents.

StatewideThe first page must contain a blank space measuring at least 3 inches by 5 inches from the upper right corner. Margins may be used only for non-essential notations, such as form numbers, page numbers, and customer notations.

StatewideA document that does not meet the statutory standards (size, ink, paper, margins, blank space, no stapled attachments, 5 or fewer parcels or document numbers referenced) may be recorded in the nonstandard document class if it allows a legible reproduction.

Forms filed along with a transfer

• PTAX-203, Illinois Real Estate Transfer Declaration Statewide Illinois Department of Revenue
  At the time a deed, a document transferring a controlling interest in real property, or trust document is presented for recordation, except as provided in Section 31-45
• Adams County Plat Act Affidavit Adams County Recorder of Deeds
  Effective May 10, 2023, attached to all land transactions

Submitting documents

Documents for recording will be accepted until 4:30pm, however at 2:00pm the office stops recording and any documents left will be recorded the next day in the order received.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: 55 ILCS 5/3-5018.2 · 35 ILCS 200/31-25 Transfer declaration · 55 ILCS 5/3-5022 · 55 ILCS 5/3-5026 · 765 ILCS 5/35c · Recorder of Deeds | Adams County, IL · E-Recording | Adams County, IL