Cook County Recorder Information

Land records in Cook County are recorded by the Cook County Clerk's Recordings Division.

Real estate documents for 1985 to present may be searched online. Documents recorded before 1985 are in tract books available only at the downtown office. Copies of documents recorded after 1985 can be purchased online. The office does not perform historical research for the public.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Recordings | Cook County Clerk · Recording FAQs | Cook County Clerk

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

Added at recording

Other charges

Fee schedule effective April 1, 2024.

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.

Any document priced at $107 or more includes: $55 county recording fee, $23 GIS fee, $10 Document Storage Fee, $18 State Rental Housing Support Fee, and $1 non-government filer fee. Documents or filers not subject to the State RHSP fee are priced $19 lower. Leases, Lease Amendments and Similar Transfers (Class 2) and Easements (Class 4): $107. Blanket Recordings (Class 7): Class + Tier; Tier 1 (6-25 refs) $75, Tier 2 (26 or more) $150. Transfer On Death Instrument: $59. State or Federal Tax Liens/Releases: $38 (add'l $1 per name). Mechanic's Lien, Satisfaction and Release: $64. Labor and Storage Lien Act, Satisfaction and Release: $45. Plats of Additions or Subdivisions: $152 plus $2 each add'l tract, parcel or lot. DD-214: free. Non-certified copy, paper $27.50; electronic download $5; certified digital PDF $65.

Paying the office

Because the final recording fee can change upon inspecting the document, recording fee quotes are not given over the phone.

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.

Cook County transfer tax: .25/500.00 (enacted 1/1/1968 per the Clerk's table), collected with the State's .50/500.00; combined stamps are $0.75 per $500.00, $0.50 paid to the State of Illinois and $0.25 to the county. Municipal transfer tax amounts vary by municipality; the Clerk publishes a list by municipality. Exempt deeds carry exemption language citing 35 ILCS 200/31-45 and Cook County Ord. 93-O-27.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Recorder · 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 FAQs | Cook County Clerk

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.

Real estate documents must include the property's common address and complete legal description. All exhibits must be marked as Exhibits. Plats: original and three copies; no plat less than 8 1/2 by 14 inches or more than 30 by 36 inches; drawn on linen, Mylar, or good quality vellum.

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
• Statement grantor/grantee affidavit
  Exempt transfers and MyDec transfers
• State of Illinois Anti-Predatory Lending Certificate of Exemption or Compliance
  Any Mortgage and Trust Deed

Submitting documents

Mail to: Cook County Clerk's Office, Recording Division, 118 N. Clark St., Room 120, Chicago, IL 60602. Only title companies may e-record deeds/conveyances with consideration; e-recording of fully exempt deeds and non-conveyance documents like mortgages, assignments, and releases is open to any entity that complies with basic recording and e-recording requirements. Affidavits cannot be e-filed. Re-recording of instruments is no longer accepted (since February 2017).

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 · Recording FAQs | Cook County Clerk · Document Requirements | Cook County Clerk