Christian County Recorder

The recorder is responsible for maintaining real property records in Christian County.

STANDARD DOCUMENTS $87.00
A Standard Document is classified as a deed, lease, lease amendment, mortgage, easement or miscellaneous
document as defined in 55 ILCS 5/3-5018.1 (c).

NONSTANDARD DOCUMENTS $96.00
A Nonstandard Document is described in 55 ILCS 5/3-5018.1 as:
1. A document that creates a division of a then active existing tax parcel identification number;
2. A document recorded pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Code;
3. A document which is non-conforming, as described in paragraphs one (1) through five (5) of Section 3-5018;
4. A State lien or a Federal lien;
5. A document making specific reference to more than five (5) tax parcel identification numbers in the county in which it is presented for recording; or
6. A document making specific reference to more than five (5) other document numbers recorded in the county in which it is presented for recording.

RHSP fees are included. See NOTE at bottom of page for exemptions to RHSP

COPIES PER PAGE $.25
DD 214 - VETERAN'S DISCHARGE-NO CHARGE
CERTIFIED COPIES: $10

**RENTAL HOUSING SUPPORT PROGRAM (RHSP) SURCHARGE OF $19.00 DOES NOT APPLY TO THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF DOCUMENTS:
-PUBLIC UTILITY EASEMENTS
-ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION & RELATED DOCUMENTS
-BIRTH RECORDS, DEATH CERTIFICATES, MARRIAGE RECORDS
-JUDGMENTS, MEMOS OF JUDGMENT ETC.
-NOTICE OF PROBATE
-POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR PROPERTY
-TRANSCRIPT (INVOLVING A WILL, DEATH CERTIFICATE ETC.)
-UCC'S & WILLS

County recording fees are subject to change without notice. We recommend to contact the local recorder's office to verify this information.

The Recorders Office in Christian County records deeds, mortgages, and other legal documents pertaining to real property located in the county. The Recorders Office also has land records dating back to 1839.

Effect of Recording: All deeds, mortgages and other instruments of writing which are authorized to be recorded, shall take effect and be in force from and after the time of filing the same for record, and not before, as to all creditors and subsequent purchasers, without notice; and all such deeds and title papers shall be adjudged void as to all such creditors and subsequent purchasers, without notice, until the same shall be filed for record.

A document should consist of one or more individual sheets measuring 8.5x11 inches. Do not use permanently bound or continuous form documents. Graphic displays accompanying a document that measure up to 11x17 inches will be recorded without additional fees. Attachments should not be stapled or otherwise affixed to any page.

Use legible printing in black or blue ink by hand, type, or computer in a font size of at least 10 point. Signatures and dates can be in a contrasting color if they can be reproduced clearly.

Use white paper of not less than 20-pound weight with clean inch margins on the top, bottom, and sides. Margins can be used for non-essential notations that will not affect the validity of the recording, including but not limited to form numbers, page numbers, and customer notations.

The grantor must sign the document and have his/her signature acknowledged.

The first page should contain a blank space measuring at least 3x5 inches in the upper right-hand corner. If this space is not provided, additional fees will apply.

Provide the name and address of the grantee, for tax billing purposes, on the first page.

Include also the name and address of the person to whom the instrument is to be returned. This should be in the top left-hand corner of the first page, but should not extend into the 3x5 inch blank space.

The name and address of the taxpayer responsible for real property taxes (the grantee) should be listed below the return address information on the first page.

On the first page, list the consideration exchanged for the property.

Any instrument submitted for recordation wherein a property description is an essential part of the instrument must contain the legal description of the real property. If there is not enough room on the first page, the legal description can be attached on a separate 8.5x11 inch sheet.

Below the legal description and the property address, list the Permanent Index Number assigned to the property.

Corresponding names should be typed or printed beneath signatures.

The recorders document number (and book and page number) of any instrument referred to in the instrument being recorded must be present.

An instrument will not be recorded unless the name and address of the person who prepared and drafted it is printed, typewritten, or stamped at the conclusion of the deed in a legible manner. An instrument is in compliance with this if it contains a statement in substantially the following form:
This instrument was prepared by:
__________________________Name
__________________________Address


An affidavit for purposes of the Illinois Plat Act must be completed and submitted with deeds presented for recording.

ILLINOIS REAL ESTATE TRANSFER DECLARATION (PTAX 203)

The PTAX 203 and any required documents must be filed with the deed or trust document or an exemption must be noted on the original deed or trust document at the County Recorders office in the county where the property is located. The form should be filed for all real estate transfers except those qualifying for an exempt status under a, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, or l. A list of exemptions as well as the form is linked off the Christian County Recorders webpage.

The information requested on this form is required by the Real Estate Transfer Tax Law. All parties involved in the transaction must answer each question completely and truthfully.

County offices and the Illinois Department of Revenue use this form to collect sales data and to determine if a sale can be used in assessment ratio studies. This information is used to compute equalization factors, which are used to help achieve a state-wide uniform valuation of properties based on their fair market value.