Dekalb County Recorder Information

Land records in Dekalb County are recorded by the County Clerk & Recorder. The office is held by Tasha Sims.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: About the Clerk - DeKalb County Clerk & Recorder

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

Other charges

Fee schedule effective January 1, 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.

Plat (Subdivision & Condo), maximum size 30" x 36", original with 5 signed paper copies: $112.00. State of Illinois or Federal Government: $11.00 (additional names $1.00 each). Local Government, State Agency or Public Utility standard documents: $55.00. Military (DD 214): no charge. Certified copy: same as current recording fee. Plats & Maps copies $5.00; certified plats & maps $10.00.

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.

DeKalb County imposes a county real estate transfer tax on the privilege of transferring title to real estate, as represented by the deed filed for recordation, and on transferring a beneficial interest in a land trust, as represented by the trust document filed for recordation, at the rate of $0.25 for each $500.00 of value or fraction thereof, in addition to the state real estate transfer tax. The recorder of deeds collects it at the time of filing (DeKalb County Code Sec. 7-2).

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 · Predictable Fee Schedule - Effective January 1, 2025 · DeKalb County Code Chapter 7 - Taxation

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

Submitting documents

Beginning December 1, 2025, the Recorder's Division processes PTAX forms only through the Illinois Department of Revenue's MyDec portal; paper PTAX forms are no longer accepted.

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 · DeKalb County Recorder's Office Expands Recording Services with Electronic Recording! · NOTICE TO PTAX PREPARERS – MyDec ONLY beginning December 1, 2025