Recorder Office
Contact the recorder's office directly for its records, copies, and recording requirements.
County Clerk/Recorder
About the Clay County Clerk & Recorder
Land records in Clay County are recorded by the County Clerk & Recorder. The office is held by Amy Britton.
Indexes are available from 1999 and document images from Sept. 25, 2001. Records can be searched at no charge at the office's 2 public access workstations; copies are $1.00 per page. Account-based Laredo access requires a signed agreement.
Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: County Clerk & Recorder - Clay County Government · Recorder - Clay County Government
Recording Fees
These government fees are separate from any Deeds.com service fees. Confirm current charges with the recorder's office.
| Deeds and other conveyances | $94.00 flat (Standard document; includes the $18 RHSP surcharge) |
|---|---|
| Mortgages and deeds of trust | $94.00 flat (Standard document; includes the $18 RHSP surcharge) |
| Releases and satisfactions | $94.00 flat (Standard document) |
| Other standard documents | $94.00 flat (Standard document) |
Other charges
| Document that does not meet the formatting standards | $112.00 per document when Non-Standard Document (all-inclusive fee replacing the standard fee) |
|---|---|
| Copies, per page | $1.00 |
| Certification | $20.00 |
Fee schedule effective October 28, 2025.
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.
Standard Document (Exempt RHSP) $76.00. Surveys (11x17 maximum) $94.00. Plats of Subdivision (30x36 maximum) $112.00; new subdivision plats require Plat Act Affidavits. UCC Fixture Filings/Terminations $76.00. Certified Copy of Plats $10.00. Only originals are accepted for recordation.
Paying the office
| Accepted | Cash, Check, Money order |
|---|---|
| Checks payable to | Clay County Recorder |
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 · Recorder - Clay County Government · Clay County Fee Schedule (Effective October 28, 2025)
Document Requirements
Confirm current requirements with the recorder's office before submitting documents.
| Paper size | 8.5 inches by 11 inches; graphic displays up to 11 inches by 17 inches (statewide, 55 ILCS 5/3-5018.2(c)(5)) |
|---|---|
| Other margins | 0.5 in (statewide, 55 ILCS 5/3-5018.2(c)(5)) |
| Ink and paper | Legibly printed in black ink by hand, type, or computer, on white paper of not less than 20-pound weight; signatures and dates may be in contrasting colors if they reproduce clearly (statewide, 55 ILCS 5/3-5018.2(c)(5)) |
| Prepared-by statement required | Yes (statewide, 55 ILCS 5/3-5022) |
| Grantee address required | Yes (statewide, 55 ILCS 5/3-5026) |
| Tax statement mailing address required | Yes (statewide, 765 ILCS 5/35c) |
| Printed names under signatures required | Yes (statewide, 765 ILCS 5/35c) |
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 RevenueAt 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
Submitting documents
| In person | Accepted |
|---|---|
| By mail | Accepted |
| Electronic recording | Accepted |
| eRecording through Deeds.com | Available for this office |
| How recorded documents come back | Returned to the address the submitter includes with the document |
Mailed documents must be originals and must include a check for the exact recording amount. The office takes part in the Illinois Department of Revenue MyDec program for electronic PTAX-203 declarations.
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 - Clay County Government
Deeds.com Resources & Services
Using Deeds.com is optional. Contact the recorder's office directly for its services and submission options.
How to Get a Copy of Your Deed
Read Deeds.com's guide to requesting document copies from the recorder's office.
Deeds.com eRecording
Available through Deeds.com
Use Deeds.com's paid service to submit documents electronically to the recorder's office. Deeds.com service fees are separate from government recording fees and taxes.
Recorder Office
Contact the recorder's office directly for its records, copies, and recording requirements.
County Clerk/Recorder
Deeds.com Forms
Blank legal forms sold by Deeds.com, not by the recorder's office.
Supplemental Document Resources
Recording-related forms and instructions for reference. Confirm which documents apply with the recorder's office.
Deeds.com Customer Care
For help with Deeds.com products, services, or your account. This does not contact the recorder's office.
Contact Deeds.com